Table of Contents

• Big News! PediatricAnswers.com is Going FREE for E …

• What I’m Seeing In My Office: Oh No. Flu!

• Money-Saving Tip: Flu Shot Savings

• Tip: Does Your Kid Have a Band-Aid Allergy?

• Recalls & Alerts: Squeeze Plush Toys

• Funny Things: Legos Make Me Poop 🤣

Big News! PediatricAnswers.com is Going FREE for Everyone

To all the amazing parents out there,

I’ve got some exciting news! After putting out this newsletter every week for the past 7+ months, I’ve decided to make PediatricAnswers.com completely free—no more subscriptions, no paywalls. All users get full access to this and every past article, recall alert, home remedy. Everything!

Why the change?

Simple. I’m discovering it’s becoming increasingly difficult for parents to find good, true health information—as opposed to the garbage I sometimes see circulating on social media that’s 1) not accurate/true, and 2) can cause more harm than good.

My patients are asking me about this stuff, and sometimes, we’re trying to fix things after the damage has already been done.

So, from the late-night fever googling to the “is this rash really normal?” moments, you and your family and friends can now get solid answers without the hassle of a paid subscription. If more parents use this resource, they’ll save more money and have healthier kids. I consider that a win.

Starting next week, everything on the site is yours to explore, binge, and share with your parent friends. Whether you’re diving into potty-training tips, talking about puberty, or trying to survive the next teething phase, it’s all here. For FREE! If you’ve been a paid subscriber, I will automatically stop the billing for you. You should not see any charge for November.

Thanks for all you’re doing to keep your kids safe and healthy!

With love,
Monica Wonnacott, MD
Creator of PediatricAnswers.com

P.S. If you love what you find on the site, PLEASE help spread the word! Forward this email to a friend. The more, the merrier 💕.

What I’m Seeing In My Office: Oh No. Flu!

I’m hoping this is a one off case, but brace yourselves, I saw my first case of Influenza this week. It was lab-confirmed Influenza A. We don’t typically see influenza in October in Utah, so let it be a warning. Stay away from sick people, wash your hands, and get your Flu shot.

Money-Saving Tip: Flu Shot Savings

Did you know it’s (almost always) free to get your kid a flu shot? And often one for you, too?

If you have health insurance (even a high deductible plan), the flu shot should be free. The only exception I can think of is the “health share” plans, which are not true health insurance plans. If you have no insurance, your child should qualify for a fully covered vaccine for children (VFC) flu shot. Most larger clinics will contract with the government to provide these vaccines for children at no cost. To qualify for a VFC vaccine, you simply have to have NO health insurance. It is NOT income based (like Medicaid).

I have this talk every day in my office around this time of year. And while I remind parents the flu shot is free, I also remind them about the cost of missing work, daycare, school, activities, etc. if their child gets sick because they didn’t get a flu shot.

It’s simple math. What’s the cost of your kid getting sick? (And heaven forbid they get so sick they wind up in the hospital.)

COST SAVINGS: $200+

Tip: Does Your Kid Have a Band-Aid Allergy?

I often joke that if it weren’t for my profession, we’d be at the doctor’s office weekly with one of our four kids. I use my skills at home all the time. Here, I’ll share a recent example from home and how I handled it, including the products I used. This isn’t an advertisement—I don’t have any financial interest in these products. I simply have parents ask me all the time about what to do in certain situations and the products I use.

The reaction was a surprise to me as she has used many Band-Aids over her lifetime. But allergic reactions can be funny like that. They can show up seemingly out of the blue.

When I discovered the reaction, here’s what I did.

1. Washed the area thoroughly (careful to get all the remaining adhesive off).

2. Applied a steroid cream to the red area left by the adhesive (not over the scrape).

3. Applied some Aquaphor over the scrape

4. Did NOT apply any bandage, just left it open to the air.

I did this 3 times a day for 2 days and it cleared beautifully.

Recalls & Alerts: Squeeze Plush Toys

Funny Things: Legos Make Me Poop 🤣 

I had a cute little boy in my office the other day who’s right in the midst of that potty training stage. We gave the little guy a box of Legos to play with in the office (a take-away toy often offered after well visits), when suddenly the kiddo declared:

Kid: “I need to go poop in the toilet!”

Mom, laughing, explained that every time he goes poop in the toilet, he gets Legos as a reward. Apparently, Legos elicit a Pavlovian response at their house.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice or medical treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or the health and welfare of your child. We do not endorse any specific products or brands mentioned in this article. Readers are encouraged to perform their own research and consult with appropriate professionals before making any decisions based on the information provided herein.