Kiddo cave

🤧🦷 Runny Nose & Teething: Are They Really Related?

One of the most common things I hear from parents is:
"It’s just teething… that’s why my child has a runny nose and fever."

Let’s clear this up 👇

🦠 A viral “snotty nose”

If your child has:

• A runny or blocked nose
• Thick yellow/green mucus
• Fever
• Cough
• Irritability
• Reduced appetite

👉 This is most likely a viral infection, not teething.

Viruses are extremely common in babies and toddlers, especially in crèche or school settings.

🦷 What teething actually causes

Teething can cause:

• Drooling
• Chewing on everything
• Mild irritability
• Gum discomfort
• Maybe a very slight temperature increase

👉 But teething does NOT cause:
• High fever
• Persistent runny nose
• Thick green mucus
• Cough
• A sick child

⚠️ Why this matters

If we assume everything is “just teething,” we may miss an actual illness that needs attention.

It also has an impact on others 👇

🏫 A quick note for parents

If your child has a viral infection, they are contagious.

Sending a sick child to school or crèche:
• Spreads infection to other children
• Leads to repeated illness cycles
• Affects vulnerable children more severely

👉 If your child is unwell, it’s always best to keep them at home until they improve.

🧠 A simple way to think about it:

👉 Teething = local symptoms (mouth & gums)
👉 Viruses = whole-body symptoms (fever, snot, cough)

🚨 When to take your child seriously

Don’t ignore symptoms if your child has:

• Fever
• Thick nasal discharge
• Cough
• Poor feeding
• Lethargy

These are signs of illness — not teething.

Teething can make babies uncomfortable, but it does not make them sick.

If your child seems unwell, trust your instinct and have them checked.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

👂🔥 3am Ear Pain? It’s Probably an Ear Infection… Here’s What Parents Should Know

If your child has ever woken up crying in the middle of the night, holding their ear, you are not alone.

Ear infections are one of the most common reasons children visit the doctor, especially in babies and toddlers.

The good news? Most of them get better quickly with the right care.

🦠 What actually causes an ear infection?

Most ear infections happen after a cold.

When children have a runny nose, the tiny tube that connects the ear to the back of the nose (the Eustachian tube) can become blocked. Fluid builds up behind the eardrum and sometimes becomes infected.

Because children’s ear tubes are shorter and more horizontal, infections happen much more easily than in adults.

👶 Signs your child might have an ear infection

• Ear pain
• Pulling or rubbing the ear
• Fever
• Crying or irritability
• Trouble sleeping (very common!)
• Reduced appetite
• Fluid draining from the ear
• Temporary hearing difficulty
• Problems with balance

In babies, the signs are often subtle,sometimes just being unsettled or refusing feeds.

💊 Do all ear infections need antibiotics?

No.

Many ear infections are viral and will improve on their own within a few days.

Antibiotics may be needed if:
• The infection is clearly bacterial
• The child is very young
• Symptoms are severe
• Fever persists
• The infection is not improving

Your doctor will decide based on the examination.

😴 Why ear infections hurt more at night

When children lie down, pressure inside the ear increases, which makes the pain worse.

That’s why many parents notice symptoms late at night or in the early hours of the morning.

🌟 Fun facts parents often don’t know

• 80% of children will have at least one ear infection before age 3
• Ear infections often follow a simple cold
• Temporary hearing loss during infection is very common
• Most children outgrow frequent ear infections as their ear anatomy develops

🛠 What helps your child feel better?

✔ Pain relief (paracetamol or ibuprofen when appropriate)
✔ Fluids
✔ Rest
✔ Keeping your child comfortable

Pain control is usually the most important treatment in the first 24–48 hours.

🚨 When to see your doctor

• Severe ear pain
• Fever lasting more than 2–3 days
• Fluid or pus coming from the ear
• Your child seems very unwell
• Repeated ear infections

Ear infections are very common in childhood, and the vast majority of children recover completely without long-term problems.

If you are unsure whether your child has an ear infection, it’s always reasonable to have them checked.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

💩 Toddler Constipation: Why It Happens (and What to Do About It)

Constipation is extremely common in toddlers, especially between ages 1 and 4.

It often starts very simply:
One hard, painful stool…
Your toddler remembers…
And then they start holding it in.

And that’s when the cycle begins.

🚼 What does constipation look like in toddlers?

It’s not always “not going.”

Signs include:
• Hard, dry stools
• Crying or straining when passing stool
• Very large stools
• Hiding, standing stiff, crossing legs
• Refusing to sit on the toilet
• Tummy pain
• Skid marks in underwear
• Loss of appetite

That “dance” toddlers do?
That’s often stool withholding.

🔁 Why the cycle continues

When a toddler holds stool:
• It stays in the bowel longer
• It becomes harder and bigger
• The next bowel movement is more painful
• Fear increases

Over time, the bowel stretches and toddlers may:
• Lose the urge to go
• Leak stool without knowing
• Develop chronic tummy pain

This is not stubbornness. It’s physiology.

🥛 Common triggers in toddlers

• Too much dairy
• Not enough fluids
• Picky eating
• Starting crèche
• Toilet training pressure
• A previous painful bowel movement

🛠 What helps?

✔ Encourage regular water intake
✔ Increase fibre slowly (fruit, vegetables, oats, whole grains)
✔ Don’t force toilet training
✔ Create a calm toilet routine (after meals is best)
✔ Use a footstool so knees are slightly higher than hips
✔ Praise effort — never punish accidents

In many cases, stool softeners are needed for a period of time to allow the bowel to recover. These are safe when prescribed and monitored correctly.

🚨 When to see your doctor

• Blood in stool
• Severe tummy pain
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Constipation starting in infancy
• Ongoing problems despite dietary changes

🤍 The most important thing to remember:

Constipation in toddlers is common.
It is manageable.
And the earlier we treat it, the easier it is to break the cycle.

If your toddler is struggling, don’t wait months hoping it will pass.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

🧴☠️ HOUSEHOLD POISON SAFETY: The dangers parents often don’t think about

We baby-proof plug points and cover sharp corners… but many poisonings in toddlers happen in seconds— often in places parents don’t expect.

Here are a few everyday dangers I see in practice 👇

🚪 Toddler “Counter Surfing”

Once toddlers can stand on tiptoes or climb, no counter is safe anymore.

Common hazards left within reach:
• Painkillers (paracetamol, ibuprofen)
• Vitamins & supplements
• Cleaning products
• Dishwashing tablets & pods
• Hand sanitiser & alcohol
• E-liquids / v**e refills

🔹 Tip: Keep all medicines and chemicals in locked cupboards, not just “high up”.

🔋 Small batteries & 🧲 magnets (very dangerous!)

Button batteries (small round batteries found in toys, remotes, watches, car keys, musical greeting cards) can cause severe internal burns within hours if swallowed.

High-powered magnets (often in toys or fridge magnets) can cause life-threatening bowel injuries if more than one is swallowed.

Common sources:
• Remote controls
• Toys & novelty items
• Key fobs
• Musical cards
• Fridge magnets

🔹 Tip: Secure battery compartments on toys and remotes.
If you think a battery or magnet was swallowed, go to ER immediately.

🐶 Pet medications = big risk

Pet meds are often much stronger than human doses and can be extremely dangerous for children.

Common culprits:
• Flea & tick treatments
• Deworming tablets
• Pain medication for pets

🔹 Store pet meds separately from human medication and completely out of reach.

🌿 Poisonous plants in your home & garden

Some beautiful plants can cause vomiting, mouth burns, heart rhythm problems, or serious poisoning if chewed.

Common risky plants:
• Peace lily
• Dieffenbachia
• Oleander
• Sago palm
• Philodendron

🔹 If your toddler puts everything in their mouth, consider removing toxic plants from areas they can reach.

🛠️ Garage & outdoor hazards (often overlooked)

Garages and storage areas are a major source of accidental poisoning, and are often where the most dangerous substances are kept.

Common risks:
• Paints, paint thinners & turpentine
• Paraffin (kerosene)
• Petrol and car products (antifreeze, brake fluid, windscreen washer fluid)
• Garden chemicals & pesticides
• Drain cleaners
• Pool acids & pool cleaning products

🔹 Tip: Lock garage cupboards and never store chemicals in drink bottles.
Dads are often (lovingly!) guilty of leaving these products within reach in garages and sheds, please double-check these spaces.

🧠 Why toddlers are most at risk

• They explore with their mouths
• They don’t understand danger
• They move fast
• They can open containers surprisingly easily

Poisoning often happens when a parent turns away for a moment.

🚑 What to do if your child may have swallowed something

❌ Do not induce vomiting
❌ Do not give food or drinks unless advised

📞 Call your doctor or the Poisons Information Helpline immediately:
0861 555 777 (24 hours)

🚗 If your child is drowsy, vomiting repeatedly, seizing, or struggling to breathe, go to ER urgently.
👉 Take the product container with you when seeking help.

🛡️ Simple prevention that saves lives

✔ Lock cupboards
✔ Use child-resistant caps
✔ Never call medicine “sweets”
✔ Keep handbags out of reach
✔ Educate grandparents & caregivers
✔ Store chemicals in original containers
✔ Lock garages and outdoor storage areas

🧡 These are things paediatricians advise daily but many parents only realise the danger after a scare.
Save this post. Share it with another parent.
It might prevent an emergency.

Dr Willem Smit | Paediatrician

🚨 HEALTH ALERT: MENINGOCOCCAL MENINGITIS

Confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis have been reported at a local school in Durbanville.

Meningococcal disease can progress within hours, and children can become critically ill very quickly. In some cases, children can deteriorate and die within 24 hours if treatment is delayed. Even when children survive, this infection can cause devastating long-term complications such as hearing loss, brain injury, limb damage, scarring, and learning difficulties.

❗ Seek URGENT medical care if your child develops ANY of the following:

* Sudden high fever
* Severe headache
* Neck stiffness
* Vomiting
* Sensitivity to light
* Drowsiness, confusion, or difficulty waking
* A rash that does not fade when pressed
* Cold hands and feet, pale or mottled skin, severe muscle pain

⏱️ Do not wait. Do not “see how it goes.”
If you are worried at all, rather have your child checked immediately. Early antibiotics and hospital care save lives.

🛡️ Vaccination saves lives
Meningococcal disease is preventable. Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe disease and death.

👉 Children and teenagers should be protected with:

* MENACTRA vaccine (protects against strains A, C, W, Y)
* BEXSERO (protects against strain B, that is the most common cause of disease in infants and adolescents in the Western Cape) If you live in the Western Cape and you can only afford one then get this one.

Together, these two vaccines provide the best available protection against meningococcal disease.

I would advise all children 2 months and older to get the BEXSERO Vaccine immediately and to be repeated in 2 months time and all children 9 months and older to get both the BEXSERO and MENACTRA vaccines if they have not had it yet.
They are not part of the Government recommended vaccines.

👨‍👩‍👧 What parents should do now:

* Monitor your child closely for any symptoms
* Keep unwell children at home
* Follow guidance from the school and health authorities
* Check your child’s meningococcal vaccination status and speak to your doctor about catch-up vaccination if needed
* Inform caregivers, grandparents, and schools about the warning signs

If you are worried about your child at any point, seek medical attention immediately. Trust your instinct.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

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Email - [email protected]

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