Health Tips for January 12

Health Tip: If Your Child Takes Medicine

While pharmacists can't diagnose an illness or condition, they can recommend over-the-counter medications or discuss side effects.

The Nemours Foundation suggests talking to your pharmacist whenever your child needs to take medication. Here are the foundation's safety suggestions:

• Store medications in the kitchen or in a closet -- never in the bathroom or another area with lots of moisture. Always keep medicines out of your child's reach.
• Keep medications in their original containers, so you can reference safety instructions and expiration dates.
• Throw away expired prescriptions, or any that your child has finished taking.
• Talk to your pharmacist about safe ways to make medication taste better for children.
• Administer liquid medications with a medication syringe, instead of a spoon.
• If it says "refrigerate" on the drug your child is taking, be sure to keep it cool while you're on the road.
• Never combine more than one drug in the same container.

Health Tip: Help Stop Thumbsucking

Many children suck their thumbs, but it can cause dental problems if children continue to suck their thumb beyond age 4.

Most children stop on their own, but continued thumbsucking could be a sign of a behavioral problem, such as anxiety or depression.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers these suggestions to help your child quit the habit:

• Ask your pediatrician about having your child use a thumb guard.
• Apply a bitter-tasting material on your child's thumb. But always check with the child's doctor to make sure it's safe.
• Make a deal with your child. If he or she agrees to stop sucking the thumb, offer a reward.
• Offer praise and attention when you notice that your child isn't thumbsucking.
• If your child's teeth have been affected by thumbsucking, talk to the child's dentist about what can be done to correct it.