Ultimate Guide to Talk to Your Child’s Doctor

When it comes to your child’s health, do you know the right questions to ask their doctor?

When you’re prepared and know what to ask ... that’s a victory! 

However, whether you’ve been a parent for some time or just recently became a new parent in the scary world of a sick child, you’re not alone. Being a parent is one of the scariest and most challenging things that we’ll do in our lifetime. It’s not easy, but the rewards are more than worth it!

According to About Kids Health, here’s how to get the most information out of your child’s doctor, including what to do beforehand and when you’re there:  

Beforehand:

• Write out questions and concerns so you won’t forget things.
• Write down any recent symptoms.
• Keep self-monitoring records current.
• Review what medications and dosages your child is currently taking.
• Review the main points you want to cover.
• If your child is older, talk to them about questions that they may want to have answered during the visit.
• Keep a diary that records your child's symptoms, tests undergone, results of tests and other related information.
• Make a note of anything you need from the health-care team, such as a letter for your child’s school or help finding community health services.

What to do when you’re there:

• Bring your diary of symptoms, tests, medications, dosages and any side effects.
• Request time to ask questions.
• Encourage your child to participate in the visit and ask their questions if possible.
• Write down the answers.
• When answers seem detailed or complicated, it may be helpful to repeat answers back when talking to your child’s health-care provider to ensure that you understand.
• Make a specific plan of action for any changes to the treatment or medication routine.
• Make an appointment for the next visit.
• Ask if blood tests or any other tests, should be done.
• If needed, ask for a refill of your child’s medications during the clinic visit.

Having an open communication with your child’s doctor is extremely beneficial to your child’s health and well-being. In addition, this allows a trusting relationship to develop between you and your child’s doctor. The more trust you have with the doctor, the better they can diagnose what ails your child.

We hope this information will help you become more aware of the things you need to prepare for before and during visits to your child’s doctor. At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare Ann Arbor, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. We want to ensure the safety of our students and their families.

Do you know of a parent looking for a quality daycare in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor or the surrounding areas? Please encourage them to contact us to schedule a tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare.

12 Symptoms That Tell You Your Child Needs Medical Attention!

Do you consider yourself an overprotective parent?

Do you worry at the first sign of a cold?

Do you know how to make your child comfortable when he or she is sick?

There are many types of colds children can get, however it’s important to know when the time comes to seek medical attention. Knowing when to seek medical attention may be critical to saving your child’s life.

According to the Mayo Clinic, occasional illness is usually nothing to worry about in an otherwise healthy baby — but sometimes it's best to contact a doctor. Look for these signs and symptoms:

1. Changes in appetite
2. Changes in mood
3. Tender navel or penis
4. Fever
5. Diarrhea
6. Vomiting
7. Dehydration
8. Constipation
9. Trouble Breathing
10. Ear trouble
11. Rash
12. Eye discharge

We hope this information will help you determine when it’s important to take your sick child to see a doctor. Moreover, we hope you trust your instincts when you believe something is wrong or out of the ordinary for your child. At Little Angels Preschool & Daycare in Ann Arbor, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. We want to ensure the safety of our students and their families.

Do you know of a parent looking for a quality daycare in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor or the surrounding areas? Please encourage them to contact us to schedule a tour of Little Angels Preschool & Daycare.

5 Tips for Safe Travel To & From Our Preschool in Ypsilanti

Are you preparing for another brutal winter?

It’s hard getting back into the groove of winter driving, but we live in Michigan, so we just have to deal with it!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are certain things you should know before hitting the roads this winter, including:

1. Get your car serviced- Have them check your battery, hoses, cooling system, tires, washer fluid, windshield wipers, defrosters, etc.
2. Know your car- Take the time to practice driving in the snow before you hit the main roads, because every car handles differently.
3. Plan your travel and route-Check the weather, road conditions, and traffic; plan to leave early if necessary.
4. Stock your vehicle- Carry a snow shovel, ice scraper, kitty litter, jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blankets, cell phone with charger, water, food, and medicines.
5. Learn what to do in a winter emergency-Stay with your car, don’t run your car for extended amounts of time, put bright markers on the antenna or windows, and keep the dome light on.

We hope this information will help you keep you and your family safe this winter season. Are there any other winter driving tips that that we didn’t mention that you’d like to suggest to other parents? Please let us know in the comments!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are winter tires necessary?

Winter tires are designed for colder temperatures, and slush, snow, and ice. Their traction is better than all-season tires. If new tires aren’t in your budget right now, make sure all your tires have a least a good tread. A good tread is 4/32-inch or deeper, “replace soon” at 3/32, “replace now” at 2/32-inch.

Does Michigan offer any winter driving classes?

Yes, Michigan does offer winter driving classes in different areas. Places that teach winter driving classes include Motor City Driving Academy and Michigan Tech Keweenaw Winter Driving School.

How do you brake with anti-lock brakes versus not having them?

If you have anti-lock brakes, apply firm constant pressure to stop. If you don’t have anti-lock brakes, you need to pump your brakes to a stop, which requires a little planning in order to stop in time. 
 
At Little Angels Preschool in Ypsilanti, we’re dedicated to our students’ health and well-being. If you need help with alternate routes due to the winter driving season backups check out the following traffic apps: Sigalert.com, Waze Social GPS, Maps, and Traffic, and Beat the Traffic Plus+.