Health Tips for October 6

Health Tip: If Your Child Stutters

Many young children stutter, but they often outgrow it by about age 5, the Nemours Foundation says.

If it lasts longer, there is no known cure for stuttering. But you can help your child overcome this difficulty in speaking, the foundation says. It offers these suggestions:

* Don't push your child to speak correctly all the time. Just encourage the child to talk, and allow it to be enjoyable.
* Have plenty of family conversations during meals, without television or radio to distract your child's attention.
* Don't worry your child with instructions that may make him or her more self-conscious. Don't tell the child to slow down, start over, relax, etc.
* If your child is upset or nervous, don't force talking.
* Maintain a relaxed and peaceful home environment, and make sure that you speak to your child in a non-hurried, calm and clear manner.
* Make eye contact with your child when he or she is talking, and don't seem upset or frustrated if your child begins to stutter.
* Let your child finish talking, and don't stop to interrupt or correct.

Health Tip: Booster Seat Safety

When children reach about 40 pounds, it's probably time for them to graduate from an infant car seat to a booster seat.

The Nemours Foundation offers these suggestions about booster seats:

* A booster seat should be placed in the back seat, facing forward and preferably in the middle seat, secured with both a lap and shoulder belt.
* Always read the manual on how to install and fasten a booster seat. Also read the manual for your car, which may explain how its seat belts work with a booster seat.
* Make sure the booster seat is safely and tightly secured before each trip.
* Adjust the lap belt so that it fits low and snug across your child's lap, and the shoulder belt is snug across the shoulder. The shoulder belt should not interfere with the neck or face.
* Always keep shoulder belts flat against your child, and never allow them to twist.