Simply Pediatrics

Simply Pediatrics Holistic Healthcare for Infants and Children

POISON IVY, OAK & SUMACWhat every parent should know this summer 🌿The rash is NOT contagious.The rash is NOT spreading.T...
06/17/2026

POISON IVY, OAK & SUMAC

What every parent should know this summer 🌿

The rash is NOT contagious.
The rash is NOT spreading.
The real culprit is an oily plant resin called urushiol.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM:

🌿 Poison Ivy
• "Leaves of three, let it be"
• Most common in the Eastern U.S.
• Can grow as a vine, shrub, or ground cover

🌿 Poison Oak
• Usually has 3 leaves
• Leaves resemble oak leaves

🌿 Poison Sumac
• 7–13 leaflets
• Found in wet, swampy areas
• Often considered the most potent of the three

MYTHS PARENTS OFTEN BELIEVE:

❌ The rash spreads from scratching
❌ Blister fluid spreads the rash
❌ The rash is contagious

✅ New spots often appear days later because different areas absorb urushiol at different rates.

THE RASH MAY KEEP COMING BACK IF...

Urushiol is still hiding on:

👟 Shoes
🎒 Backpacks
🥎 Sports equipment
🧤 Gardening gloves
🐶 Pet fur
👕 Clothing

Many "new exposures" are actually old oil left behind.

AFTER EXPOSURE:

✔ Wash exposed skin ASAP with soap and cool water
✔ Wash under fingernails
✔ Clean clothing, shoes, and gear
✔ Bathe pets that may have been exposed
✔ Avoid touching eyes, nose, or mouth before washing

The sooner urushiol is removed, the better.

NATURAL WAYS TO SOOTHE ITCHING:

🌾 Oatmeal baths
🧊 Cool compresses
🌿 Aloe vera
🌼 Calendula
🌱 Jewelweed
🌸 Chamomile
💧 Witch hazel

Parent Tip:
Store aloe gel, witch hazel, or jewelweed preparations in the refrigerator for extra itch relief.

WHEN TO CALL A DOCTOR:

🚩 Rash involves the eyes, mouth, or ge****ls
🚩 Significant facial swelling
🚩 Large areas of the body are affected
🚩 Signs of infection:
• Increasing redness
• Warmth
• Pus
• Fever
🚩 Difficulty breathing after exposure

Find More Information on this Subject on the Simply Pediatrics Blog - Click the link in the first comment or visit the BLOG page of the Simply Pediatrics website.

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Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey.
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Hot Salt Pack for Nausea & VomitingA hot salt pack is a traditional remedy that some families find soothing for stomach ...
06/16/2026

Hot Salt Pack for Nausea & Vomiting

A hot salt pack is a traditional remedy that some families find soothing for stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting.

The warmth is applied directly over the stomach area and can help relax the muscles of the digestive tract and provide comfort during an upset stomach.

How to Make a Hot Salt Pack

Place about 1 cup of natural sea salt in a skillet and heat for 3–5 minutes, until very warm.

Carefully pour the heated salt into a cloth bag, old pillowcase, or cotton sack. Fold or shape the bag so it covers the stomach area.

Wrap the salt pack in a thin towel before placing it on the skin. The salt can become extremely hot, so always test the temperature first. If it feels too warm, add another layer of towel.

Place the pack directly over the stomach (rather than the entire abdomen) and leave it in place until the child feels comfortable and relaxed.

If needed, allow the skin to rest for at least 30 minutes, then reheat the same salt and repeat the treatment.

Important: The pack should feel pleasantly warm, never hot enough to cause discomfort or burn the skin. Always supervise young children during use.

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio.

Nara Organics Infant Formula Recall: What Parents Need to KnowThe FDA, CDC, and New York State Department of Health are ...
06/15/2026

Nara Organics Infant Formula Recall: What Parents Need to Know

The FDA, CDC, and New York State Department of Health are alerting families about a recall of Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula after three infants in different states developed infant botulism and had consumed this formula.

Investigators are still working to determine exactly how the cases may be connected.

While infant botulism remains very rare, health officials are taking this situation seriously and recommend that families stop using the formula while the investigation continues.

If you have this formula at home:

✅ Stop using it for now.

✅ Return or discard unopened cans.

✅ If you have an opened can, consider saving it (clearly labeled “DO NOT USE”) for up to one month in case testing is needed.

Symptoms of infant botulism may include:

*Constipation
*Poor feeding
*Weak cry
*Low muscle tone or “floppiness”
*Difficulty holding up the head
*Unusual eye movements

Symptoms can appear up to 30 days after exposure.

If your infant has been using this formula and develops any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider promptly.

Health officials continue to investigate the recall and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Parents Worry About TikTok.But Snapchat May Be Where More Teen Drama Happens.A new Pew Research study found that Snapcha...
06/12/2026

Parents Worry About TikTok.
But Snapchat May Be Where More Teen Drama Happens.

A new Pew Research study found that Snapchat had the highest rates of teen harassment among the three major platforms.

Much of today’s teen drama, bullying, exclusion, rumor-spreading, and social pressure happens in private messages, group chats, and disappearing content that adults rarely see.

Ask your teen:
Do your friends ever get into drama on Snapchat?”

You may learn more from that conversation than from checking screen-time reports.

Source: Pew Research Center, 2026

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio.

Important Announcement for Simply Pediatrics Families!Simply Pediatrics is moving to a new platform for patient text mes...
06/11/2026

Important Announcement for Simply Pediatrics Families!

Simply Pediatrics is moving to a new platform for patient text messaging.

Read more here about what this services does, and does not, provide.

Click the link in the first comment if you are a family currently enrolled with Simply Pediatrics and would like to register for this service.

06/10/2026

Why Sleeping Alone Feels Unnatural

Find the link to the full podcast - The Pillars of Sleep - in the comments below....

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio or in the first comment below.

Baby Food PouchesI tend to be cautious about relying heavily on baby food pouches for several reasons… and now there’s a...
06/09/2026

Baby Food Pouches

I tend to be cautious about relying heavily on baby food pouches for several reasons… and now there’s another factor to consider.

A new study found microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals in every baby food pouch tested. Researchers believe some of these particles may actually be coming from the pouch packaging itself.

While these findings aren’t entirely unexpected to me, they do reinforce some of the reasons I’ve generally preferred not to rely on pouches and jars as a primary food source for babies and toddlers.

Here are a few of those reasons:

🥄 They may not reflect how we typically eat food.

Babies learn by watching us. We sit, use utensils, chew, smell, explore textures, and eat together. While pouches can be convenient, sucking pureed food from a pouch may offer fewer opportunities to practice those skills.

🍎 Many pouches are fruit-heavy.

Even when marketed as vegetables, many contain significant amounts of fruit, which may encourage a preference for sweeter flavors early on.

🌱 “Organic” doesn’t automatically mean ideal.

Many packaged baby foods are made from processed ingredients and produce that may not be the same quality some families would choose themselves at the grocery store.

👅 Babies benefit from texture.

Chewing, biting, self-feeding, and exploring different textures can play an important role in oral motor development and learning to enjoy a variety of foods.

🧃 And now we have concerns about plastic exposure.

This study found thousands of microplastic particles in some baby food pouches, adding to growing concerns about plastics in our food supply.

Every family uses convenience foods at times. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s simply to create as many opportunities as possible for children to experience a wide variety of real foods and textures.

My preference is to skip pouches altogether and focus on age-appropriate whole foods that help babies learn to chew, self-feed, and enjoy a wide variety of flavors and textures.

Source: New Study Highlights 'Hidden Risks' of Baby Food Pouches

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio.

06/08/2026

1963 Study - Milk Linked to Kids' Health Problems!

Find the link to the full podcast - Rethinking Milk - in the comments below....

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio or in the first comment below.

BREAKING NEWS:Apparently children learn better from teachers than screens.I know. Shocking.According to Newsday, New Yor...
06/05/2026

BREAKING NEWS:

Apparently children learn better from teachers than screens.

I know. Shocking.

According to Newsday, New York's teachers union (AFT) is supporting limits on smartphones, social media, and AI tools in schools.

My response?

It's about time.

We've spent years replacing books with screens, worksheets with apps, and teachers with technology.

Now we're surprised that attention spans, social skills, and independent thinking are suffering?

The AFT also recommends screen-free classrooms through 2nd grade.

That's a start.

But if screens aren't ideal for a 7-year-old, what magically changes in 3rd grade?

Technology is a tool.

It was never supposed to become the teacher.

Kids need books.
Kids need movement.
Kids need conversations.
Kids need boredom.
Kids need people.

And yes, I still don't think kindergarten needed a Chromebook.

Can't happen fast enough.

Source: Newsday, “Debate on Screens in Class,” May 2026 by Michael R. Ebert.

06/04/2026

Your Skin's SECRET Bacteria - Acne & Eczema Solution Revealed!

Find the link to the full podcast - Acne - in the comments below....

Visit the Simply Pediatrics Website for more holistic pediatric guidance and support for parents at every stage of their journey. Link in profile/bio or in the first comment below.

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