March 2022
This Month's Newsletter

The unusual snow we experienced this weekend will soon melt and the flowers will begin to pop through the ground as we welcome spring on March 20th!

In this month's newsletter, we remind you of our on-site Lactation Support Center that is available to all our new moms. We recognize National Nutrition Month with a guideline of food and drink introductions for babies and beyond. In addition, we pay tribute to female physicians in history to honor National Women's History Month. And NJ Family voting is still open for Favorite Kids' Docs! Finally, we continue to include information on our office hours and procedures, services we offer and complimentary new mom and baby classes.
 
The Pediatric Center is here for all of your urgent medical needs, even when the office is closed. There is always someone available from our practice. All you have to do is call: 908-508-0400.
 
Our goal is to further develop our relationship with our patients and create an open forum. We welcome your comments and ideas. If you would like to see something included in this newsletter, please email us at pedcenter.com@gmail.com with ideas only, please no medical requests.
 
As always, we welcome you to share your experience with our practitioners with an online review. 
 
Sincerely,
The Pediatric Center Staff
On-Site Support
The Pediatric Center continues to offer an on-site Lactation Support Center including a private breast feeding and lactation suite. These resources are readily available to our patients and we invite you to take advantage of the service at no additional charge.

Our Director of Lactation Support, Clare Cardo McKegney, DNP, APN, CPNP, is a board certified pediatric nurse practitioner and certified breastfeeding counselor with over 18 years of advanced practice in pediatrics. Her clinical experience has spanned over a variety of sub-specialty areas. Her certification as a breastfeeding counselor allows her to see mother and baby as patients for any breastfeeding concerns. Her approach to the breastfeeding dyad therefore is comprehensive and all-inclusive and plays a significant role in the overall success of the breastfeeding experience.

Once you and your newborn infant leave the hospital, The Pediatric Center continues to support the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI). This initiative is a global program that was launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in 1991 to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding and mother/baby bonding.

Our modern and private on-site lactation suite provides a warm and relaxed environment for the mother and infant to enjoy a positive breastfeeding experience.

Simply call our office to reserve time or inquire while you are here in our office.

Good Nutrition Starts Early
March is National Nutrition Month and a good reminder that a kids' early eating experience can affect how they eat when they get older. It's so important to start young and incorporate healthy eating habits into the home.

Foods to Introduce First
Starting at 6 months old, a baby can start to transition from breast milk and formula to other foods and drinks. The order of introducing foods is not that important.

By 7 or 8 months old, they can start to experiment with different food groups. They need a variety of vitamins and minerals to grow healthy and strong.

Eating can become a fun activity. Foods can be a visual rainbow for children, especially when they are laid out on the plate. A few examples include:

Fruits: bananas, strawberries, pears, oranges, melons, or avocados
Vegetables: cooked spinach, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, or beets
Whole grains: whole grain breads, crackers, or pastas
Meats: soft, small pieces of beef, lamb, chicken, fish, or turkey
Dairy: yogurts or cheeses (pasteurized only)

Water can be introduced between 6 and 12 months old (4-6 oz/day). By 12 months old, fortified cow's milk can be offered.

Foods to Avoid
There are certain foods and drinks to avoid giving a child. If they are under 12 months, avoid foods and drinks such as:

Honey - It could cause a serious type of food poisoning called botulism in children under 12 months.

Unpasteurized drinks or foods - These items may put your child at risk for E. coli, a harmful bacteria that can cause severe diarrhea. Common unpasteurized foods include raw milk, juice, yogurt, or cheeses.

Fortified cow’s milk - It may put your young child under 12 months old at risk for intestinal bleeding.

Fruit juice and other sugary drinks - The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children not drink 100% juice or juice drinks with added sweeteners before 12 months old.

Be Their Role Model
Once your child is 12 months old or older, they’ll be eating more of the foods that you eat. Eating a healthy diet sets a good example for your children.

It’s important for children and adults alike to limit foods that are high in sodium and added sugars.

Eating a healthy diet can help children get the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. For adults, a healthy diet can help protect against a number of serious and costly chronic diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.

A healthy diet is rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat or fat-free dairy. The USDA’s ChooseMyPlate can help you choose the healthy foods and drinks that work for your family.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Female Pediatricians in History
The tributes to women in the month of March are endless as we recognize National Women's History Month.

There are some remarkable women that paved the path for female pediatricians. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to attend medical school in the United States in 1847. She paved the path for female doctors to come. She was the first female student from the United States to publish a thesis in the Buffalo Medical Journal in 1849, portraying a strong sense of empathy, sensitivity ot human suffering and strong advocacy for economic and social justice.

One of the first female pediatricians practiced medicine for 74 years and lived to be 114. Leila Denmark was born in 1898 and retired in 2001. She is known for some remarkable achievements including helping to develop a vaccine for whooping cough, writing a renowned book about parenting and claiming second-hand smoke endangered children. She also did not eat sugar, believing it contributed to a number of health problems, including cancer.

Leila is known to have said, “When I was a child, there was no such thing as a baby doctor on earth. We had very little medicine, very little surgery, no immunizations and no baby food,” she told an interviewer. “Yet the children weren’t sick like they are today because their mothers fed them right… Today, 85 per cent of children in the United States are sick all the time. I’m not one to say let’s go back to the past, but there is something to be learned from that.”

Female physicians are still working hard for equal opportunities and equal pay, despite making incredible strides over the last few decades.

Source: smithsonianmag.com
We Need Your Vote


It's that time again! NJ Family has opened up nominations for Favorite Kids' Docs for 2022.

Every vote counts! Cast your today by clicking the button below. We are so grateful for the support of our patients.
Our Office Hours







Please note our
office hours.

If you have any questions, please contact the office.

Thank you.
TPC Continues to Book Covid Appointments
We continue to book 5-11 year old patients for the Covid vaccine. When you call to schedule a vaccine, we will put you on the list and call you back with your specific time and day.

Booster shots are coming soon. We will be announcing details in the near future. Stay tuned.
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Covid-19 Office Procedures
Our strict CDC guidelines continue. Our office is sanitized and treated before each appointment. We continue the following protocols:

  • Phone screening prior to a visit
  • No patients in the waiting rooms
  • Scheduled appointments only
  • Patient clearance prior to entering the office
  • Car visits, when needed
  • Virtual telemedicine, if requested
Please continue to limit your visit to one parent only for all patients over 2 years of age, wear a face mask while in the office and maintain social distancing. Please do not make an appointment or come to the office if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.
In-House Covid-19 Testing & Guidelines
The Pediatric Center continues to offer Covid-19 testing for all patients and their families.

Do you need a test to travel, return to school or any other reason?
The Pediatric Center offers testing with an instant
20- minute Rapid test and PCR test results within 48 hours.

Please visit our Covid-19 Testing page to learn more about the types of tests, what to do if you are exposed to Covid-19 and isolation and quarantine guidelines.
Virtual Prenatal Class
On-Site Lactation Support Center

The Pediatric Center's Lactation Support Center and lactation suite are available to you to support breastfeeding your child.  We offer complimentary lactation consultations and are now offering virtual visits.
 
To schedule your lactation consultation, attend our free prenatal class or make an appointment please call us at 908-508-0400.
Patient Portal

The Pediatric Center's patient portal provides personal access to your family's medical records. 
 
You can access information such as immunization records, visit summaries, request appointments, view dates for upcoming appointments and pay your bill.
 
Sign up is quick from our website. Click here.
Do You Need A Pediatric Specialist?
The Pediatric Center works with a wide network of doctors we can refer to a pediatric specialist if you need one. 
 
As part of our practice, we specialize in developmental & behavioral health and focus on positive parenting practices. We can offer guidance on depression, eating disorders, developmental concerns and many other issues. You are not alone. 
 
Please call to make an appointment to meet with one of our physicians: 908-508-0400.
Online Bill Pay

Online Bill Payment
The Pediatric Center offers the ease and convenience of online bill payment from our Bill Payment & Insurance page on our website. 
 
Payments Over The Phone
If you prefer, you can still make a payment over the phone by calling The Pediatric Center's billing department,

Office: 908-508-0400 / Billing Department: 786-249-1234
ImPACT Concussion Testing

The Pediatric Center offers on-site ImPact concussion testing. ImPACT, an FDA cleared tool for baseline and post-injury testing, measures visual and verbal memory, reaction time, and processing speed to help determine if a patient (ages 12-59) can safely return to activity.
Vaccine Education Center

Our website offers a Vaccine Education Center with immunization schedules for your child.
 
Reminder - we offer all students going to college the Meningococcal B vaccine. This vaccine is covered by insurance. It is recommended it be administered to all students starting college as part of their pre-college physical. We also offer the Gardasil vaccine.
Find More Topics On Our Blog
The Pediatric Center's blog is an invaluable resource for pediatric and parenting topics. The blog is right on our website. It includes topics such as "12 Super Foods for Lactation Aid", "Best Winter Skincare Tips" and so much more. 
We Love Your Feedback!

Your feedback is very important to us! We would love to hear about your positive experience with our doctors and nurse practitioners. You can  write and post a review right on our website or on our Facebook page.  Thank you for your kind words!
Free Virtual Prenatal Class
Join our free, virtual prenatal class on the 3rd Thursday of every month with our own
Dr. McKegney!
For Parents
Resources for breastfeeding, immunization schedules, what to do if your child is sick, online references & much more!
Lactation Support
The Pediatric Center's Lactation Support Center and lactation suite are available to you for breastfeeding guidance.  
Follow Us On Facebook!

Keep up to date with pertinent news information and important announcements on Facebook including time sensitive topics and office closings, etc.
 
Simply like us
by clicking on the button to the right!
 
Announcements will also be posted on the home page of our website under "What's New".
The Pediatric Center
556 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974
908-508-0400