Ep 191: Summer Q&A Minisode! Hydration, Constipation, Sunscreen Battles & Motion Sickness

In this special "minisode" of Your Child is Normal, Dr. Jessica Hochman answers four of the most common summer questions she hears from parents:
– Is it normal if my kid doesn’t drink much water?
– Why does my child get constipated when we travel?
– What if my child refuses sunscreen?
– How do I prevent motion sickness in the car?

The goal is to help parents learn practical tips of normal parent concerns to help you feel more prepared during the summer months.

Dr Jessica Hochman is a board certified pediatrician, mom to three children, and she is very passionate about the health and well being of children. Most of her educational videos are targeted towards general pediatric topics and presented in an easy to understand manner.

For more content from Dr Jessica Hochman:
Instagram: @AskDrJessica
YouTube channel: Ask Dr Jessica
Website: www.askdrjessicamd.com

-For a plant-based, USDA Organic certified vitamin supplement, check out : Llama Naturals Vitamin and use discount code: DRJESSICA20

-To test your child's microbiome and get recommendations, check out:
Tiny Health using code: DRJESSICA

Do you have a future topic you'd like Dr Jessica Hochman to discuss? Email Dr Jessica Hochman askdrjessicamd@gmail.com.

The information presented in Ask Dr Jessica is for general educational purposes only. She does not diagnose medical conditions or formulate treatment plans for specific individuals. If you have a concern about your child's health, be sure to call your child's health care provider.

Transcript

0:00

Hi everybody, and welcome back to Your Child is Normal. I'm Dr. Jessica Hochman, and for the next couple of weeks I'm gonna try something a little different Instead of one long topic where I interview a guest, I'll be answering a few quick parent questions that are especially relevant during the summer. Each question will tie back to the idea that your child is normal. My hope is that this gives you some practical answers to common things that parents wonder about, now let's get into it. For the first question, let's talk about hydration. I hear all the time from parents, is it normal for my child to not drink that much water during the day? They say, How many ounces exactly should they be getting? And while I completely understand why parents wanna a number, what's actually most important is that fluids are being offered consistently throughout the day. We do not need to force our kids to drink. I recommend to parents all the time, let your child drink to their thirst. in fact, kids are exceptionally good when it comes to listening to their own bodies. Particularly when it comes to the feeling of thirst. in fact, if you find yourself trying to force a specific amount of fluids to your child, that actually can make the whole thing more stressful and anxiety provoking for both of you. So here's how I like to think about it. When babies are breastfeeding, for example, we never measure exactly how many ounces they're drinking. Sometimes they drink more, sometimes they drink less, but we don't worry about it because we have other clues that they're getting enough fluids, for example, they're making wet diapers, they're gaining weight, and they seem content. The same idea applies here to older kids. We look for clues that they're hydrated. For example, they're peeing every few hours. Their urine should be a pale yellow color. Their lips aren't dry. They're acting like themselves, and they're not losing weight. And don't forget, hydration also comes from food like watermelon, oranges, cucumbers, soups, yogurt, smoothies, even popsicles count. And all of this may explain why some days they drink more, and some days they drink less. So again, what's most important is that we're allowing a child to drink to their thirst content. If they're thirsty, let's give them fluids to help them drink. And if they're not drinking when it's offered, we're gonna trust that they're hydrated. Question number two, why does my child get constipated every time we travel? Now, travel constipation is a very real phenomenon. It's so common that it actually has a nickname vacation, constipation. And let me tell you, I have lived it myself with my children. The worst constipation that my kids have ever experienced has been while we're on vacation. I'll never forget it, my daughter was about six months old. We were away on a hot day walking through a farmer's market, and she was crying nonstop. And we realized she hadn't pooped in days And thankfully my daughter does not remember this, but I actually had to dis impact her myself with my pinky to help relieve her pain. And no, don't try this at home without talking to your pediatrician first. But I swear my husband has never been more grateful to be married to a pediatrician than on that day. So why does vacation constipation happen? Our digestive systems thrive on routine when you travel, kids are eating differently. Eating fewer fruits and vegetables, eating more processed foods, and let's be real. It's really hard when you're on vacation to eat as healthy as you typically do at home. Your child may be moving less. And also sometimes kids hold it in because a bathroom feels unfamiliar. So to prevent vacation, constipation, Try to encourage your child to drink to their thirst offer. High fiber foods, especially pitted fruits like peaches, plums, and apricots. Those pitted fruits contain sorbitol, which is a natural sugar alcohol that draws water into the intestines and helps soften stool. You can try adding in chia seeds, flax, or yogurt with live cultures that will help support digestion. Make sure and keep your kids active and give them some relaxed time to sit on the toilet with no pressure. Just time. After eating, it really sets the digestive tract into motion and you'll have the best chance for success. Now what if they don't go for a day or two? Should you be worried? Well, if they're not in pain or bloated, it's likely okay. And honestly, many kids will just wait until they're back home. Things tend to get back into motion literally once they're back in their regular routine, eating familiar foods and using their own bathroom. And again, if you have any questions or concerns, make sure and reach out to your pediatrician. Common concern. Number three, my child refuses to wear sunscreen. What should I do? This is one that I hear from parents all the time. We all know that sunscreen is incredibly important, especially during these hot summer months. It can be really hard if you have a picky child. And to be honest, I get where the child is coming from. Sunscreen is sticky, it smells funny, and often the timing feels rushed. Let's face it. If a kid wants to go swimming in the pool, the last thing they wanna do is spend five or 10 minutes getting lathered with sunscreen. But in an ideal world, your child would use a mineral-based SPF 30 every morning without complaint, but in real life it's not always that smooth or realistic. The best sunscreen is the one that your child will actually wear. Avoiding burns is more important than waiting for the perfect clean product. If you have a choice, I would get a mineral-based SPF 30 with no oxybenzone. And a broad spectrum sunscreen, those are great, but if your only option is a spray in your purse, I would use it. Sunburns are not only uncomfortable, they can be dangerous. I personally learned this the hard way with my own son. A few years ago, we were at the beach. He was wearing a rash guard all day, and at one point he took it off and we forgot to apply the sunscreen to his chest. And he burned badly. It was so uncomfortable that it ruined his vacation. He didn't wanna move, he couldn't sleep, and he was just miserable. So let me offer some tips so that this doesn't happen to you. First. Let kids try to apply the sunscreen themselves. Of course, parents, it's really a must to check their work when they're done. You can use SPF clothing to reduce how much skin needs sunscreen. Another helpful tip is to apply it before leaving your house, and I'd also recommend experimenting with options of sunscreens I'm hearing that a lot of kids are loving the whipped cream sunscreen. Yes. It looks exactly like a can of whipped cream. Which I think adds an element of fun, which is always gonna peak a kid's attention. So the bottom line is whatever format works for your family, just remember to apply it, especially during peak sun hours. And for the final and fourth question, how do I help my child avoid motion sickness in the car? This is another great question and one that I know all too well. First of all, I really wanna impress that motion sickness is way easier to prevent than it is to treat once it starts. So the goal here is really prevention. Here are some tips that work. First and most important, really important to have your child look out at the horizon. If they can focus on something outside the window that is steady, that will really help prevent motion sickness. You can also open the windows or keep the AC on for fresh air. Avoid screens and reading. You can try wrist pressure bands at an acupressure point. I personally haven't found too much success with this, but other people have and it can't hurt to try. Keep the snacks that you offer light. Avoid greasy foods, and some people have found that Ginger helps with motion sickness. You can also consider using medications like Dramamine. But first, talk to your pediatrician about their age and proper dosing. And again, I wanna say that prevention is really the key. Once the nausea hits, it's hard to stop. I personally remember a terrible car trip when my daughter was about three years old, and she threw up twice in her car seat. It was so bad that even after I washed her car seat multiple times, we just couldn't get the smell out and I honestly just had to get rid of the car seat and start fresh. After that, our family avoided long car drives for quite a while unless it was absolutely necessary. And when we did go on car rides, we planned plenty of stops and built in breaks to rest. So if your child is prone to motion sickness. I do have a video about this on my ask Dr. Jessica YouTube channel if you want more tips on motion sickness. All right, so that's a wrap for today's q and a. I hope that some of these tips help you feel more relaxed, more prepared, and most of all, less alone. If you have any questions that you'd like me to answer next week, please send it my way. And please don't forget, your child is normal. You're doing great, and I'll talk to you soon.