The Montreal Children's Hospital Newsletter

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Winter is nearing its end, and spring time will bring with it many seasonal fruits and veggies for you and your family to munch on. This edition, we are focusing on Nutrition Month by offering you tips on everything from how to handle a picky eater to guidelines on how to make mealtime exciting for kids in the kitchen. We’ve also included some interesting articles about the importance of what our children are drinking, to make sure they are staying hydrated and getting the right kinds of nutrients.

In other news, we’ve included a story about Jeffrey, a 10-year-old boy who has visited The Children’s three times due to a heart condition and whose spirit of determination is inspiring.

Finally, we’ve included news about new programs and protocols introduced here at The Children’s that are making significant improvements in the treatment of various conditions.

Until next month, happy reading!
The editorial team at Where Kids Come First


			Jeffrey Mylocopos is ten years old and in grade five. Like most other kids his age, he enjoys playing hockey and video games. Recently though, Jeffrey has learned a critical skill that few children his age have: how to listen to his heart – literally. Since last November, Jeffrey has found himself at The Children’s on three separate occasions due to a dangerously high heart rate. Now, his first defence against the problem is his own vigilance. [+]

15 tips for feeding preschoolers and toddlers

Kids in the kitchen: let them in on the fun

How to Help Your Kids Avoid Type 2 Diabetes

What Kids Drink is Important Too


			Mealtimes with young, finicky eaters can be difficult, especially when they refuse to eat the foods in front of them. We offer some tips on effective ways to get kids to eat well and avoid mealtime melt-downs from Shani Lugasi, nutritionist at The Montreal Children's Hospital. [+]

STUDENTS GAIN INSIGHT FROM STAFF DURING MCH’S ANNUAL CAREER DAY

Seventeen-year-old Ben Landry doesn’t know exactly which career path he will take just yet, but after considering the advice of MCH staff at the hospital’s annual Career Day, he may be better educated about future job prospects and his post-secondary education options. [+]

NEW ASTHMA ACTION PLAN MAY BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing are hallmarks of an asthma-attack. According to Dr. Francisco Noya, head of the Asthma Department at The Montreal Children’s Hospital (MCH) of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), asthma-attacks account for six per cent of Emergency Department visits. New research findings, conducted at the MCH, show that a unique written treatment action plan goes a long way to keeping these children out of the Emergency Department. [+]

NEW PROCEDURE OFFERED FOR CHILDREN WITH CLEFT PALATE

Parents who give birth to a child with a cleft lip or palate now have new treatment options. A new corrective procedure, offered by an orthodontist at The Montreal Children’s Hospital is delivering impressive results. [+]


	Do you have a question of a general nature that you'd like to ask our specialist? If your question is selected, the answer will be published in the next edition of the newsletter. Ask a question [+]

	Hello, I have a 5 year old son. Although he decided to bid adieu to diapers right before he turned 3 years old, he still wets his diaper every night. He tells me he wants to stay dry overnight, but it’s as if it’s beyond his control and that he doesn’t feel the urge to urinate. I’m wondering if there are tricks or things that I can do to help teach him to avoid wetting his bed at night. Should I simply let time pass? How long should I wait before worrying that this might be a bigger problem? I’d like to know what I can do to help. Thanks, Apprehensive Mom R : Dear Mom, Wetting the bed is a very unpleasant experience for your child, but it is an involuntary, unconscious and generally harmless phenomenon. In the vast majority of cases, wetting the bed is not a medical problem, but a developmental issue. Your child will grow out of it. The medical term for wetting the bed is nocturnal enuresis. Wetting the bed is very common, especially in boys. About 20 per cent of five-year olds are regular bed-wetters, but the problem invariably resolves itself as the child grows up. [+]


	The Scotiabank Charity Challenge: A chance to run in support of our young patients Runners, mark Sunday, April 17, 2011 in your agenda� The Scotiabank Group Charity Challenge to benefit The Montreal Children’s Hospital Foundation is waiting! Once again this year, the Foundation is among the causes for which the thousands of runners expected at this event will be able to raise funds. Thank you, Scotiabank! [+]


	Good sources of fiber can include fruits, vegetables and legumes. True: Among other foods, fruits, vegetables and legumes provide excellent sources of fiber, as do whole-grain breads, cereals or rice, as well as nuts and seeds. Most children don't get enough fiber in their diets, and that should change. A fiber-rich diet may decrease the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes later in life, so it's wise to get children in the fiber habit at a young age. [+]

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