Are you familiar with the harmful effects that may result from medications you give your children? That when you give more than one medication, the two may interact and cause adverse reactions not caused by one alone? That travel-related factors can cause additional interactions?
(This is Part 1, one of a two-part series. Watch for our [...]

Posted in Prevention, Safe & Healthy Travel Comments Off
Tags: adverse effects of medication, antacids, blood test strips, children, children medications, children travel doctor, Dehydration, Diarrhea, dimenhydrinate, Dizziness, Dr. Karl Neumann, dramamine, exotic foods, insulin, Kids Travel Doc, kids travel doctor, medication, medication interactions, medications overseas, motion sickness, motion sickness-related nausea, over the counter medication for kids, Travel, travel-related, vitamins, Vomiting

There is an old saying that children always become ill at inopportune times. But are there opportune times? 
Especially exasperating is when they choose family vacations for their illnesses. Worse, you then discover that your insurance policy does not reimburse you for medical expenses incurred away from home, provides no assistance in finding medical care, and [...]

Posted in Safe & Healthy Travel Comments Off
Tags: Caribbean Island, child health care, children, co-pay, co-payment, copay, cruises, Destinations, domestic travel, family vacations, fever, healthy travel for kids, HMO, hospitalization, illness, in-network facility, insurance card, insurance coverage, kids health care, land excursions, medical bills, medical expenses, non-emergency visits, overseas, reimburse, scuba diving, skiing, Travel, travel plans, traveler's assistance insurance

Common sense, air conditioning and readily available drinking water have greatly reduced the incidence of heat-related illness in infants and children. But don’t let your vigil down. Cases do still occur, generally due to lack of forethought, and sometimes with horrific results.
Here is what you must know:
1. The younger the child, the more susceptible to [...]

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Prevention, Safe & Healthy Travel, Sun Comments Off
Tags: acclimatization, air conditioning, air temperature, baby carriers, children, Dehydration, drinking water, fluids, healthy, heat index, heat-related illness, HI, hot weather, Infants, national weather service, obesity, perspiration, Prevention, relative humidity

Just when you thought that you knew all you had to know about children’s car safety seats, the experts come up with a slew of new recommendations, forcing you to rethink what you were sure that you already knew.
1. The new recommendations:  Children should ride in rear-facing safety seats until they are two years of [...]

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Prevention, Safe & Healthy Travel, Travel Comments Off
Tags: AAP, car accidents, car seats, children, front-facing car seats, infant car safety seats, kids car seats, kids travel doctor, nhtsa, parents, pediatrics, rear-facing safety seats, safe car seats

All children should learn to swim, and learn to do so at an early age. But there is no consensus as to the optimum age to start; guidelines vary from six months to four years. In addition, there are health issues to consider regarding placing infants in public pools. 
Here is what you should know: 

Teaching young [...]

Posted in Outdoor Recreation Comments Off
Tags: AAP, babies, children, children swimming, chlorine, drowning, flotation devices, indoor pools, Infants, outdoor pools, public pools, swim, swimming lessons

Update on Children/Vacations*
Unreasonable parental expectations and poor parental planning mar more family vacations than obstinate children. While traveling with kids will always have its ups and downs, savvy parents can keep the inevitable squabbles down to a manageable few.
Here is what you should know:

Your primary goal should be kids having fun. Family vacations need not [...]

Posted in Destinations, Safe & Healthy Travel, Travel Comments Off
Tags: airport, behavioral issues, campers, children, Destinations, Dr. Karl Neumann, homesickness, hotel rooms, inclement weather, kids, Kids Travel Doc, kids travel doctor, motion sickness, museum, parents, ski resort, Toddlers, travel doctor, vacations

The Modern Medical Kit for Family Travel
A small, customized medical kit can be a real lifesaver when traveling with children.  Never leave home without one.
1. Technology is the new first aid. Cell phones enable you to consult with all your child’s health care providers – pediatricians, orthodontists and allergists, for example.  (Surprise! they may [...]

Posted in Prevention, Safe & Healthy Travel Comments Off
Tags: Allergies, allergists, antibiotics, children, diagnosis, Dr. Karl Neumann, emergency numbers, health insurance, immunization records, Kids Travel Doc, medical issues, Medical kit, Medications, orthodontists, pediatricians, personalized first aid kit, reimbursement, smartphone, travel doctor, World Health Organization

For many people one of the biggest fear of flying is sitting next to a screaming child, says the New York Times,  “Please Refrain from Tantrums Aboard,” (November 14.)
According to the article, some travelers are doing some fussing of their own. They’re calling for airlines to implement child-free flights, designate “family-only” sections, or provide seat [...]

Posted in Air Travel, Safe & Healthy Travel Comments Off
Tags: Air Travel, airlines, antihistamines, child-free flights, children, children flying, crying, ear pain, family only flights, flying, flying with kids, infant sleeping patterns, Infants, kids, why infants cry in flight

When your family gathers for Thanksgiving Day, use the opportunity to gather information about the health of all your relatives. Such information may help improve your own health, that of your children, and that of unborn generation.
In the U.S, the Surgeon General has declared Thanksgiving Day as National Family Health Day. However, any family gathering [...]

Posted in Prevention Comments Off
Tags: biological relatives, cancer, children, cholesterol, Diabetes, family history, genes, genetics, heart disease, hypertension, My Family Health Portrait, national family health day, relatives, Thanksgiving health

A frequent dose of sunshine is the right tonic to keep your kids hale and hearty if you reside where winters are long and the days short.
Here is what you should know:
1. Sunlight helps minimize being sad and having SAD.  Sad (small letters) is having the “winter blues.”  SAD (capital letters) stands for Seasonal Affective [...]

Posted in Outdoor Recreation, Prevention Comments Off
Tags: antidepressant medication, artificial light, children, counseling, cranky, depression, Dr. Karl Neumann, Forest Hills Pediatrics, Health, kids, Kids Travel Doc, kids travel doctor, mental health, pediatrician, SAD, safety, seasonal affective disorder, sunlight, winter blues