I came across this schedule and thought that it will be good to share with all for your easy reference. But bear in mind that some of the vaccines are optional in some countries.

DTaP, to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough):
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 15 and 18 months (can be given as early as 12 months as long as it’s at least six months after the previous shot)
• Between 4 and 6 years old
• A booster shot at 11 or 12 years of age

Hepatitis A, to protect against hepatitis A, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis.
• Between 12 and 23 months, two shots at least six months apart

Hepatitis B (HBV), to protect against hepatitis B, which can cause the liver disease hepatitis:
• At birth
• Between 1 and 2 months
• Between 6 and 18 months.

Hib, to protect against Haemophilus influenza type B, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglottitis:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the PedvaxHIB or ComVax brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)
• Between 12 and 15 months

HPV, to protect against human papillomavirus, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States and a cause of cervical cancer:
• Three doses between 11 and 12 years, for girls (one version of the HPV vaccine prevents genital warts in males, but isn’t on the official schedule)

Influenza (the flu shot or, for age 2 and up, nasal spray vaccine); two doses to protect against H1N1 flu and one to protect against seasonal flu:
• Age 6 months and up, every year in the fall or early winter

Meningococcal, to protect against meningococcal disease, the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in U.S. children in pre-vaccine days:
• Between 11 and 12 years

MMR, to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles):
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

Pneumococcal (PCV), to protect against pneumococcal disease, which can lead to meningitis, pneumonia, and ear infections:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months
• Between 12 and 15 months

Polio (IPV), to protect against polio:
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• Between 6 and 18 months
• Between 4 and 6 years old

Rotavirus, to protect against rotavirus, which can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and dehydration (given orally, not as an injection):
• At 2 months
• At 4 months
• At 6 months (not needed if the Rotarix brand of vaccine was given at 2 and 4 months)

Varicella, to protect against chicken pox:
• Between 12 and 15 months
• Between 4 and 6 years.

I started this blog when my little prince was born in year 2007. It has been almost 4 years since then. I must admit blogging is not easy and requires a lot of time. I have been inactive and not updating my blog regularly.

One thing I realised is that this blog has been growing along with my little prince. It started with the articles about babies and as the years go by, my little prince grown from baby to toddler, the articles also grown from babies articles like breastfeeding, baby food, baby illness to potty training, vaccination for toddlers and toys for kids.

As my little prince grows, I tend to follow issues relating to his current age. That’s the reason for this blog to grow together with him. I think I should continue to post more babies articles to encourage new parents as they go through the challenge and fun of bringing up babies.

Fisher-Price has recalled about 2.9 million (about 2.8 million in the U.S. and about 125,000 in Canada) infant playzones, playgrounds, and other toys with hazardous inflatable balls attached to them in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). 7 million Fisher-Price Trikes and Tough Trikes tricycles in the United States and 150,000 in Canada, 1 million high chairs (about 950,000 in the U.S. and about 125,000 in Canada) have also been recalled.

The valve on the inflatable balls on these toys can come off, posing a choking hazard to young children. Fisher-Price and the CPSC are aware of 46 incidents in the U.S. where the valve came off and eight similar incidents in Canada.

This recall involves all of the Baby Playzone Crawl & Cruise Playground, Baby Playzone Crawl & Slide Arcade, C3068 Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium, Baby Gymtastics Play Wall, and Bat & Score Goal toys..

This recall also involves the H8094 Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium and J0327 1-2-3 Tetherball manufactured before 2008. The date code for the Ocean Wonders aquarium toy is located on the back side of the quilt’s fabric tag. The date code for the J0327 1-2-3 Tetherball is located on the bottom of the base. If the fourth digit of the six-digit date code is 7 or less, the product is included in the recall. No other Fisher-Price products with inflatable balls are included in this recall.

The Baby Playzone Crawl & Cruise Playground, Baby Playzone Crawl & Slide Arcade, and Baby Gymtastics Play Wall were made in Mexico. The Ocean Wonders Kick & Crawl Aquarium, 1-2-3 Tetherball, and Bat & Score Goal were made in China.

As for the tricycles, A child can strike, sit on, or fall on the protruding plastic ignition key resulting in serious injury, including genital bleeding. The CPSC and Fisher-Price are aware of 10 reports of incidents resulting in injury. Six of the incidents required medical attention after young girls, ages 2 to 3 years old, fell against or on the protruding disc-shaped and D-shaped pretend key. The model numbers are located under the seat in the storage compartment. The pretend keys are located about 3 inches in front of the seat and protrude at least 5/8 inches above the trike’s body. The trikes are intended for children 2 to 5 years of age.

The trikes manufactured after June 16, 2010 are not included in this recall. These trikes have a modified key in a flattened D shape and a manufacturer run number higher than 1670Q2. The run number indicates the trike was manufactured on the 167th day of 2010 or on June 16, 2010. The run number is found under the seat below the model number

Fisher-Price high chairs have pegs on the rear legs of the high chair. Children can fall on or against these pegs, resulting in injuries or lacerations. Fisher-Price and the CPSC are aware of 14 incidents, including seven reports of children requiring stitches and one tooth injury

This recall includes the Healthy Care, Easy Clean, and Close to Me high chairs with pegs on the back legs intended for tray storage. All of these high chairs have a folding frame for storage and a three-position reclining seat. The model number and date code of the high chair are on the back of the seat. All Easy Clean and Close To Me high chairs are included in this recall. Only Healthy Care high chairs manufactured before December 2006 are included in this recall. If the fourth digit in the date code is 6 or less, the Healthy Care high chair is included in the recall

My son is now 2 years and 3 months old. We plan to bring him to the doctor for his Pneumococcal vaccine jab. Doctor says that at his age , he needs only one jab. Below is some information adapted from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Immunization Program. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Vaccine information statement 7/18/2000. Retrieved March 2001, from: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-PneumoConjugate.pdf

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease is the main cause of bacterial meningitis (an infection of the covering of the brain) in the United States. Each year, pneumococcal disease causes many health problems in children younger than 5 years, including these problems:

• More than 700 cases of meningitis
• About 13,000 blood infections
• About 5 million ear infections

Children younger than 2 years are at highest risk for serious disease. Pneumococcal disease causes about 200 deaths each year in children younger than 5 years.

What is the pneumococcal vaccine?

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is a shot for infants and toddlers. It helps prevent pneumococcal disease, and it also helps stop the disease from spreading from person to person.

The vaccine’s protection lasts at least 3 years. Because most serious pneumococcal infections happen during the first 2 years of life, the vaccine protects children when they are at greatest risk. (Some older children and adults may get the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine–a different vaccine used to prevent pneumococcal disease.) 

Why should my child get this vaccine?

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine can prevent pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcus bacteria are spread from person to person through close contact. Pneumococcal infections can be hard to treat because the disease has become resistant to some of the medicines that have been used to treat it. This makes preventing the disease even more important. 

Who should get the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and when?

The following groups of children should get this vaccine:

1. All children younger than 2 years. Healthy infants and toddlers should get 4 doses of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine:

• One dose at 2 months of age
• One dose at 4 months of age
• One dose at 6 months of age
• One dose at 12 to 15 months of age

Children who miss the first dose at 2 months of age should still get the vaccine. Ask your doctor for more information.

2. Some children between 2 and 5 years of age. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is recommended for children between 2 and 5 years of age who:

• Have sickle cell disease
• Have a damaged spleen or no spleen
• Have HIV/AIDS
• Have other diseases that affect the immune system, such as diabetes or cancer
• Take medicines that affect the immune system, such as chemotherapy or steroids

3. This vaccine should also be considered for use in all other children between 2 and 5 years of age, but especially those who:

• Are younger than 3 years
• Are Alaska natives, Native Americans or blacks
• Attend group child care

The number of doses a child needs depends on the how old the child was when he or she started getting the shots. Ask your doctor for more details.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine may be given at the same time as other childhood vaccines.

Are there some children who should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine or who should get it when they are older?

Children should not get pneumococcal conjugate vaccine if they had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine.

Children who are moderately or severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine. Children with minor illnesses, such as a cold, may be vaccinated.

What are the risks from pneumococcal conjugate vaccine?

In clinical trials, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was associated with only mild reactions, such as:

• Tenderness or swelling where the shot was given
• Mild fever
• Fussiness
• Tiredness or poor appetite
• Vomiting

A vaccine, like any medicine, could cause serious problems, such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk of this vaccine causing serious harm or death is extremely small. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor.

What if my child has a moderate or severe reaction? What should I look for?

Look for any unusual condition such as a serious allergic reaction, high fever or unusual behavior. If a serious allergic reaction is going to happen, it will happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. Signs of a serious allergic reaction include the following:

• Difficulty breathing
• Hoarseness or wheezing
• Hives
• Paleness
• Weakness
• A fast heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Swelling of the throat

What should I do if my child has a reaction?

• Call a doctor or take your child to a doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor what happened, when it happened and when the vaccination was given.
• Ask your doctor, nurse or health department to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form, or call VAERS yourself at 800-822-7967.

How can I learn more about this vaccine?

• Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert and/or suggest other sources of information.
• Call your local or state health department immunization program.
• Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ( see “Other Organizations”).

My little prince will be 2 years old in a week’s time. At this stage he is able to utter simple words and make a simple sentence such as “take back home”, “baby eat porridge” or “papa drive car”. He calls himself baby. At times he calls himself “wa wa” . Not sure where he learns it from. Maybe because of the sound of baby crying. If only he can tell why.

As parents, how we wish we could understand our babies, especially when they are at the young age of a few months old. I can still remember how frustrated I was when our baby cried trying to tell us something but we just could not make out what he wanted. We can only assume and guess. Is he in pain or hungry?  Now that he is able to talk, it is very much easier to communicate with him.

When he was about a year old, I noticed that he used to point at things that he wanted. He wanted to communicate but not able talk, so he used his hands to show. At times he threw tantrums and got irritated just because we did not understand what he was trying to tell us. Yea, if only we could communicate then.

I have come across recently an article which says that baby can learn sign language even at the young age of 6 months old. By 7 to 8 months old, he is able to use the sign language. If only I have come across this when my baby was 6 months old then. Much frustration could have been avoided. We could have taught our baby sign language. Beside communicating, he could be more intelligent , better IQ,  more confident  and high self-esteem as explained by Maria Sinclair, Managing Director of Baby Sign Online.

If you have a baby and you may want to learn how to use sign language. Do not let the chance pass by just like what we did. If only we can turn back the clock.

How do you tell whether your child is having constipation? When it comes to bowel movement, there is no normal number of times or schedule that your child passes a stool – just what is normal for your child. He may have bowel movement after a meal , every day or every two days. It is also very much depends on his diet. Drinking more water and diet rich in fiber will make bowel movement easier. Each individual has its own pattern. High level of physical activities and the rate he digests his food will also effect the bowel movement.

Signs of constipation.

If you think that your child is constipated, look out for the following signs:
1. Less frequent bowel movement. If he has not had one for four or more days and feels uncomfortable when he does have one.
2.  Dry and hard stools that are difficult to pass.
3. Loose or very liquid stools in your child’s diaper or underwear. Liquid stools can slip pass the blockage in the lower intestine. When you see this, don’t assume that he has diarrhea. It may be evidence of constipation.

The reason for constipation.

The common reasons for constipation are:
1. Lack of or eating too little fiber food such as fruits, vegetable and whole grains. Too much of diary products such as milk, cheese, yogurt or peanut butter can lead to constipation.
2. Stress of toilet training. A child may deliberately hold back his stools if he feels pressured about toilet training.
3. If he didn’t spend enough time to completely remove his bowel and feces buildup may cause the colon to stretch and cramp.
4. Dehydration cause by lack of liquid intake. His system will absorb liquid from what he eats and drinks and from the waste in his bowels as well. This will result in hard and dry stools.
5. Lack of activity. Being active helps the blood flow to your toddler’s digestive system.

Treatment for constipation

1. Try to include more fiber in his diet.
2. Increase his fluid intake. Water is the best choice. A little fruit juices or prune juice may help but do try to limit it to 4 ounces a day in order not to ruin his appetite and prevent tooth decay.
3. Encourage him to be more active to get blood flow to his digestive system.
4. Don’t pressure him to toilet train before he is ready to avoid toilet training anxiety.
5. Talk to your doctor about treatment options such as using laxatives, lubricants, or suppository.

My little prince has gone for an ultrasound test to rule out any urinary tract blockage which may cause urinary tract infection. This was done on the advice of his doctor. It was a long wait at the hospital on the morning that we went but the wait is worth it. The results was comforting as the kidneys, bladder and ureter are all normal. No abnormalities were observed.

He is fine now and eating well. Having a good appetite and as cheeky as usual. What a joy to see him in good health. Hopefully that he will put on more weight as he is quite a bit under weight. Way to go my little one.

This article is a follow up to my article entitled urinary tract infection. My 20 months old son has recovered from urinary tract infection after a week on antibiotic. The fever subsided and he is now back to his normal self. Following the advise of his doctor, we sent his urine for culture 3 days after he completed his course of antibiotic to ensure that all the bacteria was destroyed. We do not want any remnants to create another round of infection.

4 days later, we got the results. It actually gave us a shock. The culture showed a new strain of bacteria call Klebsiella infecting his urine. This strain of bacteria is not common and ussually acquired from an admission to the hospital. And this is one nasty bacteria which can also cause pneumonia. On the night of getting the results, my son came down with slight fever and runny nose. The first thought that came to my mind is that the new strain of bacteria is acting up. Fearing the worse, we sent another urine sample to the same lab to confirm the earlier results and another one to a different lab just to double confirm.

We got the results of the second sample from the first lab which tested positive for Klebsiella earlier. This time the results is negative. There is no bacteria growth in the urine. That means to say that the first results is not accurate. The sample may have been contaminated in the lab. This shouldn’t have happened and caused us unnecessary worries. Meanwhile we are waiting for the report from the other lab. If it is negative, then it proves that the first Klebsiella results is wrong and not accurate.

My 20 months old toddler was down with high fever last week for 5 days. Thought that it was viral fever as doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him. On looking back to the first day when he had fever, we realised that his urine had an odd smell. So we decided to send his urine for a urine FEME test. The result showed that there are white blood cells in his urine. This is a sign of urine infection but can only be confirmed by a urine culture. He recovered and has no more fever after 5 days. But today, four days after the fever subsided, it came back again. It was good that yesterday, we decided to send his urine for another urine FEME test and culture. Again the test confirmed that there are white blood cells in his urine and the culture shows positive for bacteria. Thus it is confirmed that he has urinary tract infection (UTI). The doctor put him on antibiotic to clear the infection.

The doctor told us that for a boy especially under two years old, there is a possibility that there are some problems with the child’s urinary tract. Problems that cause UTI may include blockages and a condition called vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR is where urine from the bladder backs up into the kidneys. VUR is found in 30 to 40 percent of babies and young children who have UTIs.

The doctor recommended some tests to be done to rule out blockages and VUR.

1. Ultrasound which uses sound waves to show a picture of the kidneys and bladder.

2. A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) which will show whether urine is backing up from the child’s bladder into the kidneys.During VCUG, X-rays are taken before and after a liquid dye is put into the bladder using a tube through the urethra.

The thought of VCUG and how they insert the tube worries me a lot. I can’t bear to see my little child goes through all these. The pain and the discomfort he has to go through. I will just pray that his infection is caused by bacteria from outside and not due to internal problem. Then he does not have to go through all these.

In an Australian study that looked into 2,100 children and their parents, it has been noticed that many parents have overlooked their children’s weight problems because they think that their kid’s weight is healthy.The researchers from The University of Melbourne have found that 43% of parents with underweight or overweight children believed their children had an average weight.

According to Dr Pene Schmidt, parents are more likely to take the necessary preventative actions if their perception of their child’s weight are correct.

But it is difficult to make the distinction nowadays. Fat or big is now common and seen as normal. So I guess it is easier to notice smaller built kids compare to big built kids.

My son age 20 months old but weighs only 8.5kg. We are concerned about his growth rate but it comforts us because he is eating well but just never put on weight. He has been on below 3rd percentile growth rate since when he was a few months old. His doctor said as long as his growth rate is constant even though it is below 3rd percentile, he is fine. Should there be a sudden drop from where he is now, then we should send him for a proper checkup. Hope he will put on more weight from now on.