Missouri American Academy of Pediatrics

The Missouri Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MOAAP) is offering tips and resources on how families can remain safe this joyous holiday season.

The holidays can be really overwhelming when kids get off their routines and their schedules. It can make them feel a little anxious, said Dr. Maya Moody, MOAAP president. It's important to make sure that you keep mealtimes and bedtimes the same, to the extent you can, for both little kids and teenagers too. Sleep is really important for mental health, and so is making sure kids have those routines, their general schedule, and they know what to expect.

To help families keep holiday spirits high while avoiding ill-timed emergencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers these 12 health and safety tips:

Stick to your child's usual sleep and mealtime schedules when you can. It's not always possible when you are juggling the demands of shopping, cooking and travel, but maintaining household routines will help ward off tantrums and maintain holiday cheer.

Take care of yourself, mentally and physically. Children sense the emotional wellbeing of their parents and caregivers, and if you cope with stress successfully, your children will learn how to do the same.

Don't feel pressured to overspend on gifts. Consider helping your child make one or two gifts. The chances are these will be the gifts most treasured by a parent, grandparent or special adult.

Participate in a volunteer activity and include your child, whether it's helping serve a holiday meal at a local food bank or shelter or writing letters to members of the armed forces who can't be home for the holidays.

Toys don't need to be expensive or electronic to make great gifts, but they should be suited to the child's age, abilities, skills and interest level. Be cautious about toys that contain button batteries or magnets, which can be swallowed by small children and cause serious internal damage. For more help with toy safety, go here.

Speaking of toys, if you are considering a digital device for a child or a teen, such as a tablet, smartphone or game system, think about the purpose of the device and the rules you want to set around its use. AAP offers a family media planning tool here.

Cooking with children can be a great way to bond over a family recipe and offer a sense of accomplishment to budding chefs. Be sure to follow food safety guidelines, wash hands frequently and keep hot foods and liquids away from the counter's edge. More kitchen safety tips are here.

When decorating, watch for fire hazards. If you have an artificial tree, make sure it's labeled "Fire Resistant," and if it's live, make sure it's fresh and not losing too many needles. Keep it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters.

Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling pieces. Find more tips on decorating safely here.

When visiting friends or family, remember that the homes you visit may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots like unlocked cabinets, unattended purses, accessible cleaning or laundry products, stairways, or hot radiators. When visiting others or hosting guests, make sure that any medications are stored safely away from curious kids. Pay special attention to narcotics and other prescription medications.

After a holiday party, clean up immediately. A toddler could rise early and choke on leftover food or come into contact with alcohol, tobacco or vaping products.

Most important of all, enjoy the holidays for what they are- time to enjoy your family. Find ways to spend time together, whether it's on a sled outdoors or over a board game or good picture book.

We hope these tips help remove some stress for caregivers and help families remain safe and healthy this holiday season, said Dr. Heidi Sallee, MOAAP Vice President/President-Elect. Parents and caregivers need to take care of themselves and ensure our own emotional well-being as well because kids pick up on that.

The Missouri Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (MOAAP) represents more than 1,100 physicians, trainees, and pediatric-provider members throughout Missouri. Our mission is to promote the health of all Missouris children through advocacy, education, and collaboration. For more information, visit missouriaap.org.

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Missouri pediatricians provide holiday tips for families and children - Kirksville Daily Express and Daily News