MD, FAAP
Dr. Regina Hardin is a board-certified pediatrician with over 20 years of experience in outpatient and inpatient pediatrics. She also has extensive training in diagnosing and treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Dr. Hardin completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at Talladega College in Alabama. Her medical school training was completed at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia, pediatric internship at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida and pediatric residency at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout her training, she demonstrated academic excellence by graduating from college and medical school Magna and cum laude respectively. She also achieved the top physician academic honor of induction into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and American Board of Quality Assurance, Utilization Review Physicians in Health Care Quality and Management, and she is a Certified Lactation Consultant. She currently hold licenses to practice medicine in the states of Florida and Georgia.
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Most babies receive their second dose of vaccines during their 4-month vaccinations. These vaccines help prevent diseases and offer long-term protection against several serious diseases. Doctors may also advise additional vaccinations such as meningococcal vaccines in some cases for high-risk infants. Although most babies receive their first dose by the second month, the second dose of vaccines is recommended to boost their immune system. Therefore, as per recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, all newborns should be given scheduled vaccinations. Read this post to learn more about the vaccinations administered to infants at four months. [mj-toc] Which Immunization Shots Do Four-Month-Olds Get? According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), a second dose of the following vaccines are included in the immunization schedule of...
Many parents deal with restless sleep in babies and are curious to find a solution. However, sleep patterns vary from one child to another. Some babies wake up briefly during the night and go back to sleep, while others wake up frequently and cannot soothe themselves to sleep again. If babies have disrupted dozing, it may be due to several factors. For example, they may not have started identifying the difference between day and night, need to feel more secure, are hungry, or have not developed a sleep routine. Therefore, to help babies sleep properly, parents need to be patient and observant of their needs. Read this post to learn some effective tips to ensure restless babies calm down and sleep peacefully. [mj-toc] 7 Effective Tips On Making Your Restless Baby Sleep Most moms are worried that their baby might lack in good sleep. Don’t forget that sleep comes naturally to babies, once their tummies are full! Thus, the key...
Warming up is a prerequisite before any strenuous physical activity such as games or exercise. Warm-up exercises for kids help prepare the muscle before the activity and prevent injuries due to muscle sprain. Children should be encouraged to warm up for optimal performance in sports. However, it is important to identify the best warm-up exercises suitable for children depending on the type of activity that follows. Keep reading as we share a list of exercises that can help prepare your active child before hitting the field. [mj-toc] Why Warm Up Exercises For Kids? Warm-up exercises help prepare the muscles of the body by increasing blood flow to increase the body’s agility and flexibility. The dynamic movement of the warm-up exercises reminds the body of all the actions that it needs to perform during the sport and thus, promotes overall health and wellness. Children also prepare themselves mentally so that their physical actions and minds are connected well. The ideal warm-up...
A nursing mother should be careful of what she consumes, including medicines, since what she eats can reach the baby through breast milk. Certain drugs may not be suitable for babies and have harmful side effects. Many mothers may consider having a nasal decongestant such as phenylephrine while breastfeeding. However, phenylephrine may reduce the supply of breastmilk (1). Therefore, it is strongly recommended to consult with your doctor to avoid any adverse fetal exposure due to the medication. Read on to know about the effects of phenylephrine during breastfeeding, its safety regarding the baby, and the necessary precautions that you should take. [mj-toc] What Is Phenylephrine? [caption id="attachment_889472" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Phenylephrine is a type of decongestant. It helps treat nasal congestion or discomfort that occurs due to illnesses such as hay fever, cold, flu, sinusitis, and allergies. The use of phenylephrine doesn’t actually treat the illness. But it helps reduce the inflammation of the nasal blood vessels and...
Your bundle of joy has arrived just the last month, and you are on a roller-coaster ride to figure out the best one month baby care tips. All the body systems are at a developing stage when your baby is one month old, making their responses difficult to predict. Definite sleep patterns take time to establish, and some babies may even prefer the daytime for sleep, keeping you awake the whole night. They also need to be fed very frequently, and you may have a hard time chalking out a feeding timetable. Continue reading this post, where we have put together some important tips that can help you take care of your month-old baby and ensure their safety and proper development. 1 Month Baby Care Tips 1. Feed them frequently: [caption id="attachment_889869" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Newborns need to feed many times a day. Feed your one-month-old infant at least six times a day. If you are breastfeeding your baby,...
Brain gym exercises for kids are an excellent way of developing the [simple_tooltip text="cognitive" tooltip="The brain’s ability to acquire, process, store, and retrieve information." ] and intellectual skills of a child, while also enhancing their mental agility. Brain training exercises may also make the child smarter, aiding their overall growth and development, which may differ for every kid. These exercises also provide an opportunity to improve your child’s cognitive skills, enhance brain function, and display different learning strategies. It may eventually make children brighter, sharper, and more confident than their peers. This post discusses some fun brain gym activities for children that you may do with your child. 1. Cross Crawls [caption id="attachment_881642" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: iStock[/caption] The exercise helps release excess stress in kids with the possibility of concentration improvement, resulting in an effective focus on studies. Instruct your child to move his left arm to the right leg and switch sides. The slow lateral movement enhances the attention...
Glucosamine is naturally present in the fluid surrounding the joints. It is also available as a supplement for improving bone and joint health, and managing osteoarthritis. However, you should check with your doctor if you wish to take glucosamine while breastfeeding. Whatever a nursing mother eats or drinks may secrete into the breast milk and pass on to the baby. Therefore, during lactation and breastfeeding, mothers should be careful about their diet and follow necessary safety measures before taking any medication or supplements to avoid causing any harm to the baby. This post presents useful information about consuming glucosamine while breastfeeding, including whether it is safe, when doctors prescribe it, and some points to consider before consuming it. [mj-toc] What Is Glucosamine? [caption id="attachment_891459" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Glucosamine is a substance that occurs in the fluids around your joints and is one of the many natural remedies to support bone health. It plays a major role and helps build...
Polydactyly in babies occurs in 1 in every 1000 babies and is a congenital condition where the baby has an extra finger or toe. The extra digit is called a supernumerary digit. The extra digit, toe or finger, may be poorly developed or fully formed. In several babies, the extra digit can be poorly formed and smaller than the others. Polydactyly is usually most commonly seen on foot (extra toes). However, it may also occur on hands, feet, or both. [mj-toc] Causes Of Polydactyly In Babies Isolated or non syndromic polydactyly occurs without other genetic issues. It may occur due to random genetic changes or positive family history of polydactyly. Syndromic polydactyly occurs in conjunction with other genetic conditions or syndromes, such as those mentioned below (1). Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13) [caption id="attachment_892236" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Carpenter syndrome Bardet–Biedl syndrome Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome Jeune syndrome Ellis-van Creveld syndrome [mj_protip type="Did you know" title="Did you know?"]Alcohol consumption, tobacco use,...
Bedbugs, the tiny nocturnal parasites, are typically found in the narrow crevices of rooms or objects such as tables, beds, and windows. Do not be alarmed if you happen to notice bedbug bites in babies. They create more of an annoyance than health problems. The bites appear in red clusters and are mostly treatable with topical application of ointments. Although harmless, the continuous itching and scratching may lead to an infection. Read on to know about baby bedbug bites, including their treatment and steps to prevent them. [mj-toc] What Are Bedbugs? [caption id="attachment_891846" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) are small, flat, nocturnal parasites that survive on human blood. Bedbug infestation is common in places like hotels, shelters, dorm rooms and public transport vehicles. Bedbugs hide in mattresses and other dry and warm places such as dressers, wall crevices, bed frames, rugs, and window casings (1). After a blood meal, the bedbugs don’t stay on the skin but instead will...
Swollen baby eyes can leave parents worried since eyes are delicate and essential organs. The swelling of the eyes can be of different intensities, depending on the underlying reasons. Sustained swelling may increase the risk of vision and other eye-related problems. Prompt identification and treatment can help improve outcomes and prevent complications. Read this post to know about the various reasons, home remedies, and treatment options for swollen eyes in babies. [mj-toc] Severity Of Baby’s Swollen Eyes The swelling in a baby’s eyes includes swelling in the tissues of the eyelids, eyeballs, and the orbits where the eyeballs are located. The severity of eye swelling in babies can be determined through the following scale (1). Mild swelling: The swelling is considered mild when the puffiness is limited to the eyelids, but they open normally. Moderate swelling: The eyes are more than puffy, but the eyes are still opening normally. Severe swelling: The eyelids’ swelling causes the eyes to shut or...
Babies are eager to discover all the new attributes of their surroundings and bodies. As a result, it is not uncommon to see babies pulling their ears when they realize those flappy protrusions on the sides of their heads can be pulled. While most reasons that cause babies to pull their ears are harmless, this behavior may also be due to serious underlying conditions such as allergies or infections. Keep reading this post to learn more about why babies pull their ears, how to deal with this behavior, and when to be concerned about it. [mj-toc] Why Does Your Baby Pull Their Ears? Below are some of the possible reasons why a baby may pull their ears. 1. Play and self-soothing Most babies may pull their ears while playing or when they discover their body parts. For instance, a baby may pull their ears while also pulling their nose or toes since they may discover these body parts and their...
Research has shown that encouraging your child to develop their drawing skills can have several benefits. However, are you wondering what the role of drawing could be in your child’s growth process and what the stages of drawing development in children are? If yes, this post could help you understand the benefits of promoting this skill to enhance your child’s overall developmental skills. Keep reading to discover the important stages of drawing development in children at different ages and their significance in your child’s life. [mj-toc] Drawing Development In Children [caption id="attachment_886985" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: Shutterstock[/caption] Typically, drawing development stages include general art development guidelines, as each child has a different growth trajectory. Some kids may never reach their potential in terms of drawing development, due to reasons such as lack of interest. This is quite normal and does not affect your child’s development. [MJ_RELATED_LINKS href="https://www.momjunction.com/articles/stages-types-of-plays-child-development_00671046/" title="9 Types Of Play For Child's Development And Growth"] Psychologists and educators have long...
As parents, you may want your children to consume natural foods and beverages to develop a healthy lifestyle. One such popular and refreshing natural drink during summertime is coconut water. The benefits of coconut water for kids are numerous; it keeps them hydrated while boosting their energy levels. Coconut has not been known to cause any harmful effects in children. Its antimicrobial properties help promote a healthy digestive system and skin while preventing urinary tract infections. Scroll through this post to learn more about the goodness of coconut water for children, how to choose the best coconuts, and how much coconut water children can consume. [mj-toc] What Is Coconut Water? Coconut water is a natural, nutritious, and refreshing liquid inside the coconut fruit. Coconut water is low in fat and calories but rich in minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients. Key nutrients include iron, chloride, potassium, sodium, phosphorous, magnesium, lauric acid, and calcium. It boasts of twice the potassium content than...
Anticipating the color of a baby\'s eyes may excite many expecting parents. Many parents believe that all babies are born with blue eyes, and the color changes as they age. Parents may also take a cue from their eye colors and guess the possible eye color of their baby. Blue eye color is many parents’ favorite, though. But are all babies really born with blue eyes? Also, can a baby be born with blue eyes even if none of the parents have blue eyes? Read the post to know the factors determining and regulating babies\' eye color. [mj-toc] Do All Babies Have Blue Eyes At Birth? [caption id="attachment_881410" align="alignnone" width="720"] Image: iStock[/caption] No, not all babies are born with blue eyes. The eye color is determined by the eye color genes found on chromosome 15 and the possible interplay of some other genes. No two sets of parents have exactly similar genes even within the same family tree. Since each...