Over-the-Counter Medications

Before you give your child any over-the-counter medication, be sure to note whether the product is for infants or children. Infant pain relievers are more highly concentrated than the children’s version of the same drug and should not be given to children older than three years. Always use the measuring devices that come with the products and use these devices as instructed. Never use home utensils such as spoons and never allow a child to drink directly from a medicine bottle.

We do not recommend Ibuprofen (Motrin) for children younger than 6 months.

The FDA issued a recommendation against using over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children younger than 4 years. If your child has a cold or cough, we recommend the following alternatives to medication:

• Moisturizing the air with a vaporizer or humidifier

• Using saltwater nose drops or sprays to dry up a runny nose

• Using a bulb suction to remove nasal congestion

• Honey (children 1 and over ONLY)

• Propping your child’s upper body with extra pillows or elevating the head of the bed. If your child sleeps in a crib, use a wedge under the mattress to elevate your child’s head. Do not use pillows in a crib.

• Keeping your child well hydrated with extra liquids

• Bringing the child to the doctor if symptoms are severe or persist more than 7 days

Websites and Books

General Pediatrics

• American Academy of Pediatrics Healthy Children 

• Up-to-Date Physician Database Resource for Parents

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Parenting Tips from Dr. Spock

• Children’s Hospital of Boston Health Library

• Kids Health – information about health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years

Immunizations

• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Info

• Information on Immunizations – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Safety

• Carseat Safety: www.seatcheck.org 

• Online Health and Safety Resources from American Academy of Pediatrics

• Domestic Violence: www.safeharborshelter.com

• Tips for minimizing your child’s exposure to lead – Leadsafe

• CPR classes: www.healtheducatorsinc.com

Nutrition 

• Obesity Prevention from American Academy of Pediatrics

• Nutrition Guidance: www.myplate.gov

• Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network

• Baby Food Recipes: www.wholesomebabyfood.com 

• Dr. Yum

• Chop Chop Family  

• Baby Led Weaning

• How to Get Your Kid to Eat: But Not Too Much  by Ellyn Satter

• Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense by Ellyn Satter

Infant and Young Child Care 

• Baby 411, Clear Answers & Smart Advice For Your Baby’s First Year by Denise Fields and Ari Brown

• Your Child’s Health: The Parents’ One-Stop Reference Guide to: Symptoms, Emergencies, Common Illnesses, Behavior Problems, and Healthy Development by Barton Schmidt

• On Becoming Babywise: Giving Your Infant The Gift of Nighttime Sleep by Gary Ezzo

• The American Academy of Pediatrics, The Complete and Authoritative Guide, Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5

• Good Behavior by Stephen W. Garber, Marianne Daniels Garber Ph.D., Robyn Spizman

• How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish

Breastfeeding 

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Breastfeeding

• La Leche League

• Kelly Mom

• Breastfeeding Basics

• The Complete Book of Breastfeeding: Revised Edition S. Eiger, Sally Wendkos Olds, Wendy Wray

• Medications and Mothers Milk: A Manual of Lactational Pharmacology by Thomas W. Hale, Ph.D

• Nursing Mothers Companion by Kathleen Huggins

Body Autonomy

• Randy Children's Hospital 

• For preschool and younger: Some Parts are NOT for Sharing by Julie K. Federico

• School age: My Body! What I say Goes! by Jayneen Sanders  

Teens

• CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health Programs: www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth

• Adolescent Girls:  www.youngwomenshealth.org

• Adolescent Boys: www.youngmenshealthsite.org

• A site for parents and teenagers: www.docmikebradley.com

• HPV: www.hpv.com

• Yes, Your Teen is Crazy. Loving Your Kid without Losing Your Mind. by Mike Bradley

• Yes, Your parents are Crazy. A Teen Survival Guide. by Mike Bradley.

• Questions Children Ask: And How to Answer Them by Miriam Stoppard

• The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls by Valorie Schaefer and Norm Bendell

• What’s Happening to Me?: Boys Edition by Alex Firth, Susan Meredith, Adam Larkum

• What’s Happening to Me?: Girls Edition by Susan Meredith

• Growing Up: All About Adolescence, Body Changes and Sex. by Susan Meredith

Mental Health 

• Cameron K. Gallagher Mental Health Resource Center - Hub for Education, Resources and Support 

• Virginia Treatment Center for Children- Counseling and Psychiatric Services

• Child Savers-  Counseling including Play Therapy, Family Therapy and Psychiatrics Services

• Jewish Family Services- Counseling

• Launch Pad Counseling- Counseling including Play Therapy and Music Therapy

• Lifestance - Counseling and Psychiatric Services

• Richmond Creative Counseling-  Counseling and Psychiatric Services

• Thrive Works - Counseling and Psychiatric Services

• Westhampton Family Psychologist- Counseling, Psychological and Educational Testing,  Limited Medication Management 

• Whoa Behavioral Health- Counseling and Psychiatric Services

ADHD, Autism and Special Needs

• Resources for special needs children – Medical Home Plus

• ADHD: www.chadd.org

• Services for Virginians with Autism – Commonwealth Autism Service

• Learning Disabilities: www.ldonline.org

• Moms in Motion: https://momsinmotion.net  Good resources for children with special needs.

LGBTQIA

• Side by Side

• Planned Parenthood Gender Affirming Care

• PFLAG.ORG

Travel- click here see our section on International Travel 

• CDC Travel 

• WHO Travel

• MD Travel Health 

• International Travel Health Guide by Stuart Rose, Jay Stephen Keystone

Special Needs

• National Organization for Rare Disorders

• For children with cancer – Connor’s Heroes:

• For chronically ill children – Noah’s Children

• Resources and products to help with bedwetting – The Bedwetting Store

• Handbook of Herbs and Natural Supplements by Linda Skidmore-Roth

Asthma- How to use your spacer videos

Breastfeeding 

We wholeheartedly endorse breastfeeding your infant. Breastmilk is the best form of nutrition and has many benefits including lower incidence of respiratory illnesses (e.g. common cold) and gastrointestinal infections (e.g. stomach virus), ear infections, urinary tract infections, and wheezing. Over the long term, breastfeeding has also been associated with lower rates of obesity, diabetes, food allergies, adult onset heart disease related to high cholesterol, and some types of childhood cancers. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding from birth through 12 months. We feel that breastfeeding is a personal decision that you should continue for as long as it is mutually desirable for you and your child.

We recommend the following books and websites for helpful information on breastfeeding

• Complete Guide to Breastfeeding by Marvin Eiger & Sally Olds

• Medications and Mother’s Milk by Thomas Hale

• Nursing Mother’s Companion by Kathleen Huggins

• American Academy of Pediatrics, Breastfeeding

• La Leche League

Local Lactation Consultants  

• Coming Home RVA  

• Lacation Arts