Local pediatric occupational therapist Jaime Patillo and pediatric physical therapist Lindsay Mullen are collaborating on a book that will provide home exercises and activities to promote motor skills in children with Down syndrome.

Jaime and Lindsay know parents of children with Down syndrome are aware of the joys, rewards and challenges of raising a child with special needs. They would like to draw upon your experiences and request your participation in one of two ways.

They’re looking for parents willing to complete a short questionnaire about their experiences. Additionally, they’re looking for children between the ages of birth and 8 years of age to photograph for illustration of various activities from the book.

If you are interested in being a part of this project, or would like more information, please contact Jaime or Lindsay at: DSmotorskills@gmail.com.

Looking for a pediatrician in the Savannah, Pooler, Richmond Hill area?

Here’s some help:

SouthCoast Health Pediatrics locations

Savannah: SouthCoast Health Pediatrics Savannah
Eisenhower Drive Medical Center
310 Eisenhower Dr, Bldg 16
912.303.3500

Richmond Hill: SouthCoast Health Pediatrics Richmond Hill
St. Joseph’s / Candler Medical Office Park
10055 Ford Ave,Ste 4A
912.527.5352

Rincon: SouthCoast Health Pediatrics Rincon
814 Towne Park Dr East
912.826.4866

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Coastal Pediatrics locations

Coastal Pediatrics- Savannah
2 Wheeler St.
Savannah 31405
912.353.7744

Coastal Pediatrics- Pooler
1000 Towne Center Blvd
Building 1000B
Pooler 31322
912.353.7744

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Pediatrics Associates of Savannah locations

Pediatric Associates in Savannah
4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100,
Savannah 31404
912.355.2462

Pediatric Associates of Savannah in Pooler
110 Medical Park Drive
Pooler 31322
912.330.5010

Pediatric Associates of Savannah on Whitemarsh Is.
1001 Memorial Dr
Savannah 31410
912.898.9800

SouthCoast Health, Coastal Pediatrics & Pediatrics Associates of Savannah are SouthernMamas.com advertisers 

We asked for local moms’ input on best pediatricians in the Savannah area. And you answered -in much appreciated enthusiasm – on our SouthernMamas Facebook Fan Page. Here are your picks for top Savannah pediatricians.

TOP PICKS

Dr. J. Stephen Hobby, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, 912-355-2462

Dr. David Mozer, SouthCoast Health Pediatrics, (912) 303-3500‎

Dr. Elam Nelson, SouthCoast Health Pediatrics in Richmond Hill, (912) 756-3075‎

Dr. Ramon Ramos,  (912) 354-3400

Dr. Micah Riegner,  SouthCoast Health Pediatrics (912) 303-3500

Dr. Ericka Russell-Petty,  SouthCoast Health Pediatrics, 912.303.3552

Dr. Keith Seibert, SouthCoast Health Pediatrics in Richmond Hill, (912) 756-3075‎

Dr. Robert Shelley, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462‎

Dr. Benjamin Spitalnick, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462‎

Dr. Dudley W. Stone, Coastal Pediatrics , (912) 353-7744

Dr. Linda Winders, Georgia Pediatrics, (912) 354-3130

Other recommended local pediatricians include:
Dr. Robert M. Cossio, Georgia Pediatrics, (912) 354-3130‎
Dr. Michael Demauro, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462
Dr. Monica B. Manocha,  Savannah Pediatrics, (912) 354-5814
Dr. Paul Nave, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462
Dr. Ivette D. Rico, Savannah Pediatrics, (912) 354-5814
Dr. Yolanda M. Rivera-Caudill, Kids First Pediatrics , (912) 748-4527
Dr. Diane Savage-Pedigo, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462
Dr. Adria Wilkes, Pediatric Associates of Savannah, (912) 355-2462‎
Angela Wooley, Nurse Practitioner, Georgia Pediatrics, (912) 354-3130‎

Bluffton area
Palmetto Pediatrics  of the Lowcountry, (843) 706-3206‎

My Monday newspaper column on moms losing the baby weight – which many SouthernMamas readers contributed to – focuses on the trend of celeb moms who quickly drop the baby weight. Then take a lot of criticism for doing so.

Bravo star Bethenny Frankel of The Real Housewives of New York recently came under fire after she lost 30 pounds of baby weight three weeks after giving birth. Read the column here. (A big thank-you to the SouthernMamas readers who shared their takes for the article)

In response, a Savannah mom emailed me about a Pregnancy & Body Image Survey her grown daughter is working as part of her doctorate in psychology at Berkeley. The study is looking at postpartum moms, body image, and exposure to postpartum celebrities in the media. It is online, anonymous, and takes about 20-30 minutes to complete. Anyone who does it can be entered in a drawing for $20 gift cards to Target. The survey is online now through July 31. Feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested!

Any new moms who have had their FIRST child in the last 12 months can do the survey. Click here to take the survey.

Trevor Parker of Savannah had a brain tumor removed last week.

He’s 6.

Perhaps too young to fully grasp the severity of his medical condition.

But someday he’ll understand how important it was that the tumor was found, that his parents were persistent in search for answers to his symptoms and that a doctor finally listened to them.

Fortunately, the tumor does not appear to be cancer and is instead a benign teratoma. But doctors are awaiting test results to be certain.

Trevor’s story is a reminder of what parents of children who are sick know all too well: trust your gut instincts when it comes to your kids’ health.

Trevor Parker’s family is facing mounting medical bills as a result of his condition. If you’d like to help, you can donate to the Trevor Parker Fund at any Sea Island Bank branch, or send an e-mail to TrevorParkerFund@hotmail.com.

Below is a guest post from Sarah Leonard of Nursing Degrees.

As parents, we do the best we can to make sure our kids are healthy, well-adjusted little people. But our endeavors can only go so far. You may make a concerted effort to keep your own house free of chips, soda, and processed foods, but what happens when they go over to little Debbie’s house down the street and come home stuffed full of ding-dongs and pizza? Or when you send them off to school only to find that they’ve traded their PB&J for money to use in the vending machine? How can you be sure your kids are making healthy choices when you’re not there to guide them?

It’s easier than you think. Kids are receptive to learning the lessons you want to dish out, if you can just find a way to make it fun. When kids are small, this is pretty easy. Are you teaching your child the names of colors? Use different fruits and vegetables to demonstrate. Whenever they list the right color, give them a bite. This will probably work better if you use foods you know they like, but getting them to branch out by throwing in interesting items that are also tasty (exotic produce like starfruit, guava, and kiwi, for example) can make it more fun. Or make a story out of snack time by coming up with a reason that the celery, peanut butter, and raisin concoction is called ants on a log. Creativity will earn you major points when it comes to teaching your kids about nutrition.

As they start to get older, turn to the internet for a little help. Dozens of health-conscious websites cater to kids with information and activities. One of the best is Kids Health , which offers games, movies, and even experiments that teach your kids about eating right and staying healthy. Kidnetic is also great in that it offers not only games and quizzes, but also a section on easy-to-make recipes that kids will not only love, but they can help make. Don’t forget, the internet can be a great tool for you, too. There is a wealth of information available for parents looking for the latest news on children’s health issues, as well as tips and tricks to get your kids to eat right.

And don’t forget exercise. A healthy child is an active child, so be sure they’re spending some time running around each day. Take them to the park, or just head to the backyard for a little soccer or a game of catch. Kids need to hone their motor skills and I don’t mean with an Xbox controller. And be honest, you could probably use a little movement yourself. Get out there and join them…you’ll all have some healthy fun!

Guest Post by: Sarah Leonard of Nursing Degrees.

The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial University Medical Center invites breast cancer survivors and their caregivers to a free afternoon retreat.

Young Breast Cancer Survivors Retreat
10 AM-2 PM Sat. June 5
Jepson Center for the Arts Auditorium, 207 West York St., downtown Savannah

RSVP by May 28 to Jennifer Currin-McCulloch at 350-7845 or currije1@memorialhealth.com

Speakers include: John Duttenhaver, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the Anderson Cancer Institute, on factors that influence a
healthy survivorship; Christopher Haberman, M.D., medical oncologist at Summit Cancer Care, on genetic aspects of cancer and inherited family cancer syndromes; Susan Lamb, Ph.D., psychologist at Savannah Psychotherapy Center, on relationship dynamics
after cancer and how to open communication and intimacy and regain self-esteem; Whitney Shingler, R.D., clinical dietitian at the Anderson Cancer Institute, on nutrition tips to live healthy and keep cancer from returning.

Free and open to all breast cancer survivors and their caregivers.

This program is made possible by a grant from the Southeast Georgia Cancer Alliance, part of the Georgia Cancer Coalition.

It’s time to get ready for the summer including the pool and the beach.

Just for Baby & More – a sponsor of SouthernMamas.com – wants to help you provide safety in and around the water. With lessons such as: always swim with a buddy and never swim alone. Be knowledgeable of the water environment you are in and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.

The more informed you are, the more aware you will be of hazards and safe practices.

The water safety class will be at Just for Baby & More, 7701 Waters Ave., 10:30 AM-noon, Sat. May 22

Cdost is $15 per person and $25 per couple. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Please register by calling Casey at 912-355-4455 or email welshcasey@gmail.com .

First 20 registrants will receive a $15 gift card to the store.

Attention Lowcountry parents of children with special needs.

Interested in having your child partake in a kids’ yoga therapy class specifically for children with special needs? If so, Jaime Patillo of Little Lights Yoga would love to hear from you. Jaime is looking into teaching such a class, but wants to find out first how much interest exists before starting one.

Email Jaime at Jaime@littlelightsyoga.com . To find out more about Jaime’s work, read Jaime’s blog by clicking here.

Katie, Lucy and Ella Marchese

With broader prenatal genetic testing, the number of children with Down syndrome could radically decrease. Earlier this month, I had the chance to talk to local parents who hope that doesn’t happen.

Molly and Joe Marchese of Springfield are parents of three beloved and beautiful daughters (pictured here), including a 4-year-old with Down syndrome, Ella, who has enriched their lives in countless ways. The Marcheses are among those families who have become Down syndrome advocates in the face of broader prenatal testing to prevent the genetic condition.

The Marcheses are the focus of my newspaper column today. Read it by clicking here.

The Marcheses, along with other members of the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society, are working to help parents dealing with a definitive prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis and invite prospective parents of babies with Down syndrome to monthly support group meetings.

Contact the Lowcountry Down Syndrome Society by clicking here or email jmarchese@LDSSGA.org

Upset about what your child eats at school? Here’s a chance to voice your opinions about your child’s school meals and school partnerships with fast-food restaurants.

The public is invited to a free Community Health Forum, 6-8 PM at Savannah Civic Center.

Healthy Savannah will join with local co-hosts St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System, Memorial Medical Center, Savannah State University, Junior League of Savannah, A Phillip Randolph Institute, GeoVista Credit Union and 100 Black Men of Savannah to sponsor this first Community Health Forum.

Healthy Savannah is working on several issues including getting junk food out of public schools. Find out more here.

Can anyone pry chicken nuggets from school lunch menues? Maybe Chef Jamie Oliver, who successfully reformed the school meal system in the United Kingdom.

In the UK, Oliver spearheaded a healthy school lunch campaign that persuaded the government there to allocate more than $400 million for the lunches.  Can he do it here with the new TV series “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution?

Oliver will be on CNN’s Larry King Live at 9 PM Thurs. March 25

Krispy Kreme school fund raisers. School spirit night with Pizza Hut. Elementary school carts that hawk Snickers to first graders.

All done in the name of raising money for budget-strapped schools.

The school system has the difficult task of fitting school meals into caloric and fat-content guidelines, but also making those meals appeal to kids. All with a limited budget of a little more than $1 per plate.

Yet, individual elementary schools can hold a Little Caesars School Spirit Night fund raiser or sell snacks, no matter how high the fat and caloric content, to raise money.

What’s your take on fast-food partnerships in elementary schools? And school snack carts that sell candy to students? My Sunday newspaper column on the topic has generated a slew of hate mail from folks who see nothing wrong with elementary schools endorsing fast food. “Don’t blame the obesity problem on fast-food” one reader wrote. So getting kids hooked on eating a school-endorsed meal of nuggets and fries at an early age doesn’t have any effect on the obesity problem? Seriously?

There have to be better ways to raise money. St. Andrew’s, a fast-food free school on Wilmington Island, hosted a successful school benefit last year that was the opposite of fast-food fundraiser: a slow foods dinner with local (non-fast food) restaurants to raise money for an outdoor classroom that will be a place for gardening and ecology. The benefit featured foods by Brighter Day Natural Foods Market, Cha Bella, Local 11 Ten, The Sentient Bean and Thrive.

Schools have been successful in reducing or eliminating soft drinks from cafeterias: Can’t they do the same with fast-food?

You can learn how to share the benefits of yoga with children in a two-day Savannah Yoga Center workshop.

The Childrens Yoga Teacher Training Certification Workshop, taught by Joanne Spence, is open to all yoga practitioners who desire to share the benefits of yoga with kids -yoga teachers, parents, classroom/PE teachers, counselors and para-professionals.

The workshop is Sat. March 27, 10 AM-5 PM and Sun. March 28, 10 AM-5 PM. Cost: $185 if registered before Feb. 22 and $210 after Feb. 22.

You do not have to be a yoga teacher or even have the desire to be one to participate in this workshop. The Yoga Playgrounds Workshop is about discovering how to live your yoga in your professional and parental life. For more info on Yoga PlayGrounds, click here.

To pre-register, click here or call (912) 232-2994 or email kelley@savannahyoga.com.

You’re trying to keep your kids healthy this flu season by stuffing them with nutrient-rich meals.

But what to do with veggie-phobic tots? Convince them to take on what writer and mom Charlotte Hume calls
the World’s First Great Big Vegetable Challenge.

Charlotte convinced her 7-year-old son Freddie to take a vegetable journey of a lifetime, getting him to eat through the ABCs of veggies, trying each vegetable from asparagus to zucchini in alphabetical order.

Freddie had to try at least two recipes with each. His mom found recipes that she thought would appeal to her finicky eater’s appetite. The challenge resulted in Charlotte’s extremely helpful blog full of kid-friendly veggie recipes. Think
zucchini turkey burgers and a canneloni recipe with butternut squash.

Join the Great Big Veg Challenge here.

A thank-you to Urban Baby Daily Picks for letting us know about such a useful kid-friendly recipe blog.

Kids, work and winter are wrecking havoc on your poor skin.

It’s been so long since you’ve seen the inside of a spa, you hear “pampering” and think diaper change.

Get ready to start glowing again.

Glow Medical Spa & Beauty Boutique in Savannah is giving away a blissful package to a SouthernMamas reader this week: a free skin consultation with a licensed medical esthetician, a customized facial, a make-up makeover and $100 worth of products!

Seriously.

Glow – located in Governours Square at 415 Eisenhower Drive between Waters Avenue and Hodgson Memorial Drive – is all about helping you be healthy and happy so you glow from within. Visit Glow’s MedSpa Services page to see the services offered and read all about the cutting-edge cosmetic medical procedures that have made Glow the leading Medical Spa in Savannah- famous for offering the newest and latest beauty services.

Here are the rules on how to win free this unbelievably generous giveaway from Glow, which offers a variety of services including eye lash extensions, microdermabrasion, massage, chemical peels, Botox, Juvederm, laser leg vein treatments, laser facial treatments and more.

Ready. Set. Glow!

 The Food and Drug Administration has raised its level of concern over the safety of bisphenol-A, or BPA, an industrial chemical found in baby bottles, infant formula cans and the linings of canned goods and other consumer products. Read the article here.

Click here to read the article (Thanks to reader Amanda Ware for the info!):

A New York Times Science article from Monday, “To Treat Bedwetting, Healthy Doses of Patience,”  is a hot topic on mommy Web sites.

According to the article, an estimated 15 percent of five-year-olds still wet the bed at night.

Parents who worry that the bedwetting is connected with a parenting mistake can relax, writes Doctor Perri Klass in the Times:

“In other words, it is not about emotional problems, or mistakes a parent made during potty training, or laziness, which some still attribute to the bed-wetter himself. (The problem is about three times as common in boys as in girls.) Indeed, one of the worst things about bed-wetting is the stigma. Sufferers and their families have been accused of everything from poor parenting to latent criminality.”

Dr. Klass says bed-wetting is caused by the interaction of a variety of factors such as genetics, physiology, development stage, and the child’s environment. Bottom line: parents dealing with this problem are not alone.

Would love to read what SouthernMamas readers have to say on this topic.

Thanks Mama – a sweet, online cloth diaper store – has a new giveaway up and running on their blog www.clothdiapertalk.com.

Thanks Mama is giving away a new Thirsties Duo Diaper. The winner will be able to choose size and color of the diaper. Duo diapers come in cute colors and in two sizes: size 1 fits babies 6-18 lbs; size 2 fits 18-40 lbs. So you can get a lot of use out of it while still getting a perfect fit. Each diaper comes with a double microfiber/hemp insert and provides excellent absorbency.

Click here to enter to win.

Thanks Mama has cloth diapers, diaper covers, potty training pants and more from top brands like BumGenius, Fuzzi Bunz, Blue Penguin and Bummis. The online boutique carries a variety of cloth diaper styles and accessories like prefolds, pocket diapers, inserts, flushable and washable liners and swim diapers.

Free shipping on orders over $60.

Thanks Mama believes cloth diapers a great choice because they are more natural, expose your baby to fewer chemicals and are more environmentally friendly. Visit the Thanks Mama Cloth Diaper info page for answers to common questions about going cloth.

Thanks Mama offers a 30-day money back guarantee return policy for unused and unwashed items and offers quantity discounts on many brands.

Just For Baby & More at 7701 Waters Ave. carries Guardian Sleepers.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently released information regarding the recent press around the tragic deaths of infants in defective cribs and bassinets. The Guardian Sleeper maintains the baby in the correct sleeping position to reduce the danger of SIDS. It helps to prevent the baby from slipping down under the blanket by means of a soft harness and therefore helps to protect the baby from overheating and suffocation.

This product positions the baby at the foot of the bed and away from the sides reducing the danger of suffocation while allowing airflow around the baby as it kicks to help maintain a healthy body temperature.

Cost of the Guardian Sleeper is $43.95.

For more info, call Just for Baby and More , a sponsor of SouthernMamas, at 912-355-4455.

A toll-free 2009 H1N1 influenza information line is now up and running in the Coastal Health District.

Residents can access general information on the H1N1 flu 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling 1-888-497-8444.

The toll-free line provides callers with information on how the H1N1 flu is spread, how to avoid getting the flu, and tips on what to do if you get sick. In addition, the information line provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the H1N1 flu.

The line was launched in an effort to educate citizens throughout the District, which includes Bryan, Camden Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties, regarding H1N1 flu.

“Flu activity still remains widespread and the 2009 H1N1 virus continues to be the current dominant influenza virus circulating in our communities,” said Dr. Diane Weems, Chief Medical Officer for the Coastal Health District. “It is my hope that the Coastal Health District information line will provide our citizens with the knowledge they need to help combat the spread of the virus.”

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. today announced the largest crib recall in United States history, involving cribs with dropdown sides, fearing they may be unsafe, even deadly.

The voluntary recall of more than 2.1 million Stork Craft drop-side cribs includes about 147,000 Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. The recall involves approximately 1,213,000 units distributed in the United States.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to immediately stop using the recalled cribs, wait for the free repair kit, and do not attempt to fix the cribs without the kit. They should find an alternative, safe sleeping environment for their baby. Consumers should contact Stork Craft to receive a free repair kit that converts the drop-side on these cribs to a fixed side.

Problems with the crib can cause the drop-side to detach in one or more corners. When the drop-side detaches, it creates space between the drop-side and the crib mattress. The bodies of infants and toddlers can become entrapped in the space which can lead to suffocation. Complete detachment of drop-sides can lead to falls from the crib.

Read more here.

This recall involves Stork Craft drop-side cribs and Stork Craft drop-side cribs with the Fisher-Price logo. This recall does not involve any cribs that do not have a drop-side. This recall does not involve any cribs with metal rod drop-side hardware. It involves only those cribs with plastic trigger and one-hand-system drop-side hardware.

Contact Stork Craft toll-free at (877) 274-0277 anytime to order the free repair kit, click here.

The Chatham County Health Department is now able to offer the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to all five target groups outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those groups are:

• 1. Pregnant women because they are at higher risk of complications and can potentially provide protection to infants who cannot be vaccinated;

2. Household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age because younger infants are at higher risk of influenza-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. Vaccination of those in close contact with infants younger than 6 months old might help protect infants by “cocooning” them from the virus;

1. 3. Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel because infections among healthcare workers have been reported and this can be a potential source of infection for vulnerable patients. Also, increased absenteeism in this population could reduce healthcare system capacity;

4. All people from 6 months through 24 years of age
o Children from 6 months through 18 years of age because cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in children who are in close contact with each other in school and day care settings, which increases the likelihood of disease spread, and
o Young adults 19 through 24 years of age because many cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza have been seen in these healthy young adults and they often live, work, and study in close proximity, and they are a frequently mobile population; and,

5. Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

The vaccine is given on a first come, first served basis, 8 AM- 5 PM, Mon.-Fri. The Chatham County Health Department has two locations: 1395 Eisenhower Drive and 1602 Drayton St.

Today Georgia received an “F” for its premature birth rate.

The March of Dimes issued that grade Tuesday in its Premature Birth Report Card, which grades each state’s rate of preterm birth compared to the nation’s objective of a 7.6 percent or less preterm birth rate by 2010. Georgia’s preterm birth rate was 13.6 percent.

The March of Dimes report card assesses states’ progress toward improving access to health care coverage for women of childbearing age, helping women quit smoking during pregnancy, and to preventing medically unnecessary c-sections prior to 39 weeks of pregnancy – three criteria that can reduce preterm birth rates.

One in eight babies are born prematurely in the U.S. and in Georgia 400 babies are born too early each week. Babies who survive a premature birth face the risk of serious life-long health problems including learning disabilities, cerebral palsy, blindness, hearing loss, and other chronic conditions including asthma.

Read more here.