Other Pediatric Recommendations
Other pediatric recommendations that have been endorsed or issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics include policy statements about:
- Alternative Immunization Schedules - the AAP strongly endorses universal immunization and supports immunization requirements for school entry. The AAP does not endorse or recommend any alternative immunization schedules.
- Cough and Cold Medicines - children younger than two to four years of age shouldn't be given over-the-counter cough and cold medicines.
- First Visit to the Dentist - can be as early as six to 12 months of age, especially for children at high risk for cavities, including those with special health care needs, mothers with a lot of cavities, or if they already have staining, cavities, or plaque buildup. Children who sleep with a bottle or breastfeed at night, have older siblings, or in families with low socioeconomic status, should also see a dentist at an early age. Other kids might have their pediatrician evaluate their teeth and see a pediatric dentist by the time they are two or three years old.
- First Visit to the Gynecologist - unless there is another indication for a speculum or bimanual examination, teen girls may be able to wait for first visit to the gynecologist until they are twenty-one years old, the time when the first pap test is now recommended. Even if a pelvic examination is needed at an earlier age, such as for persistent vaginal discharge, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or UTI symptoms in a sexually active girl, etc., a gynecologic exam is something that your teen's pediatrician might do.
- Fluoride - infants need supplementary fluoride, usually from fluoridated tap water, beginning when they are six months old.
- Fruit Juice - children between the ages of one and six years should be limited to no more than four to six ounces of 100% fruit juice each day, while older children should have no more than 8 to 12 oz or 2 servings per day. Infants under age six months should not have any juice and kids of all ages should be encouraged to eat whole fruit instead of drinking juice.
- Milk - kids should switch to low-fat milk when they are two years old, although they can make the change to low-fat milk as early as twelve months (if not continuing to breastfeed) if obesity is already a concern or if there is a family history of obesity, dyslipidemia, or cardiovascular disease.
- Pacifiers - since they may reduce a baby's risk of SIDS, a baby may be given a pacifier when he is going to sleep, although you should delay giving a pacifier to your baby until he is one month old and breastfeeding well. Also, you should not force your baby to take a pacifier, and you should not reinsert the pacifier in your baby's mouth once he falls asleep.
- SIDS - infants should be placed to sleep on their back to help reduce their reduce their risk of SIDS.
- Physical Activity - kids should be physically active for at least 60 minutes each day, including age-appropriate active free play (less than six years), organized sports (six to nine years), and more complex sports and weight training (tweens and teens) as they get older.
- Vitamin D - parents should not rely on sunlight exposure for their kids' vitamin D needs. Kids who aren't getting enough vitamin D from a vitamin D-fortified food, including exclusively breastfeeding newborns and infants, should get a vitamin D supplement.
- Wait-and-See - the AAP discourages pediatricians from taking a wait-and-see approach when evaluating kids' developmental problems, especially when parents are concerned about autism.
Sources:
AAP Policy Statement. Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity. PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 2 August 2003, pp. 424-430.
AAP Policy Statement. Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 2005 115: 496-506.
AAP Policy Statement. Lipid Screening and Cardiovascular Health in Childhood. Pediatrics 2008 122: 198-208.
AAP Clinical Practice Guideline. Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in the Newborn Infant 35 or More Weeks of Gestation. PEDIATRICS Vol. 114 No. 1 July 2004, pp. 297-316.
AAP Clinical Practice Guideline. Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. PEDIATRICS Vol. 120 No. 5 November 2007, pp. 1183-1215.
CDC. Use of World Health Organization and CDC Growth Charts for Children Aged 0--59 Months in the United States. MMWR. September 10, 2010 / 59(rr09);1-15.
CDC. Sexually Transmitted Diseases Treatment Guidelines, 2010. MMWR. December 17, 2010 / 59(RR12);1-110.
AAP Position Statement. Principles and Guidelines for Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Programs. Pediatrics 2007 120: 898-921.
AAP Clinical Report. Incorporating Recognition and Management of Perinatal and Postpartum Depression Into Pediatric Practice. Pediatrics 2010 126: 1032-1039.
AAP Policy Statement. Prevention of Drowning. Pediatrics 2010 126: 178-185.
AAP. Recommendations for Preventive Pediatric Health Care. Bright Futures/American Academy of Pediatrics. 2008.
AAP Policy Statement. Ultraviolet Radiation: A Hazard to Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics 2011 127: 588-597.
AAP Clinical Report. Gynecologic Examination for Adolescents in the Pediatric Office Setting. PEDIATRICS Vol. 126 No. 3 September 2010, pp. 583-590.
AAP Policy Statement. Oral Health Risk Assessment Timing and Establishment of the Dental Home. PEDIATRICS Vol. 111 No. 5 May 2003, pp. 1113-1116.
AAP Policy Statement. The Use and Misuse of Fruit Juice in Pediatrics. Pediatrics 2001 107: 1210-1213.
AAP Policy Statement. Media Violence. Pediatrics 2009 124: 1495-1503.
AAP Policy Statement. Hospital Stay for Healthy Term Newborns. Pediatrics 2010 125: 405-409.
AAP Policy Statement. Sexuality Education for Children and Adolescents. PEDIATRICS Vol. 108 No. 2 August 2001, pp. 498-502.
CDC. Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing of Adults, Adolescents, and Pregnant Women in Health-Care Settings. MMWR. September 22, 2006 / 55(RR14);1-17.
