Puberty Books and Resources for Boys

Resources for the Male Child

Here are a some suggestions of useful resources to help in parenting your young male child. These are only suggestions and are provided as additional tools for your consideration and should not be construed to mean our implicit or explicit endorsement of their content. Please use your parental discretion.

What’s Happening to My Body? Book for Boys: A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Sons

by Lynda Madaras

About this title: Written for pre-teens and teens (with a special introduction for their parents), this in an introduction to the physical and emotional changes most boys go through during puberty. Topic covered include body hair, acne, sexuality, and what happens to girls during puberty. Illustrations accompany the text.

My Body, My Self for Boys: The “What’s Happening to My Body?” Workbook

by Lynda Madaras, Area Madaras

About this title: This fact-filled and fun journal/activity book, inspired by thousands of letters from boys all over the world, encourages boys to address their concerns about puberty head on. Includes illustrations & quizzes.

What’s Going on Down There?: Answers to Questions Boys Find Hard to Ask

by Karen Gravelle, Ph.D.

About this title: Describes the physical and emotional changes that occur in boys (and, to a lesser extent, in girls) during puberty and discusses sexual activity, homosexuality, AIDS, and other related topics.

AMA Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen

by American Medical Association, Kate Gruenwald Pfeifer, Amy B. Middleman (Editor)

About this title: Becoming a teen is an important milestone in every boy’ s life. It’s even more important to get answers and advice to the most common health issues boys face from a trusted source. The “American Medical Association Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen” is filled with invaluable advice to get you ready for the changes you will experience during puberty. Learn about these important topics and more: Puberty and what kinds of physical and emotional changes you can expect— from your developing body to your feelings about girls The importance of eating the right foods and taking care of your body Pimples, acne, and how to properly care for your skin Your reproductive system— inside and out Thinking about relationships and dealing with new feelings.

The Teenage Guy’s Survival Guide: The Real Deal on Girls, Growing Up and Other Guy Stuff

by Jeremy Daldry

About this title: A humorous guide for boys ages ten to fourteen, offering advice on dating, sex, body changes, and social life.

The Guy Book: An Owner’s Manual: Maintenance, Safety, and Operating Instructions for Boys

by Mavis Jukes

About this title: A humorous yet informative look at the changes and pressures that adolescence brings into the lives of boys. Topics covered include hygiene, nutrition, personal relationships, and sex. Illustrations accompany the text.

From Boys to Men: All about Adolescence and You

by Michael Gurian, Daphne, Brian Floca (Illustrator)

About this title: Answers questions about the physical, emotional, sexual, and social changes that teenage boys undergo during adolescence.

Changes in You and Me: A Book about Puberty Mostly for Boys

by Paulette Bourgeois, Louise Phillips (Illustrator), Kam Yu (Illustrator)

About this title: As natural as puberty is, boys 10 to 13 are often confused and hesitant about the changes they can see and feel going on in their very own bodies. Changes in You and Me provides easy-to-understand information, colorful illustrations, and acetate overlays that lift the mystery to show the changes. Over 50 line drawings.

Puberty Boy

by Geoff Price

About this title: An invaluable source of information for growing boys, parents, and caregivers, this beautifully packaged guide offers pre-teen boys an appealing and fresh take on entering adolescence. Straightforward, conversational advice presents young boys with answers to the questions they may be too embarrassed to ask. This celebration of maturing bodies and spirits is invariably positive and provide factual information on acne, sexual development, body odor, and other physical changes. Also honestly detailed are the emotional changes that young boys encounter, as well as advice on interacting with girls. Complete with real-life stories from other boys and grown men, this book includes colorful photographs of real boys that create a sense of shared community, while instructional illustrations teach young boys about their changing bodies.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: A Christian Health and Puberty Guide for Preteen Boys and Girls

by Lori Stubbs, Robert Earl Stubbs (Illustrator)

About this title: A Health Guide for preteens stressing abstinence and Christian principles.

For Parents

Real Boys. Rescuing our Sons form the Myths of Boyhood.

by William Pollack

Helpful Websites

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/body/interactives/lifecycle/teenagers/

http://kidshealth.org/kid/grow/boy/boys_puberty.html

http://www.teengrowth.com/index.cfm?action=info_article&ID_article=1348&category=body&catdesc=Body&subdesc=Puberty

http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/adolescent/pam.html (for the parents)

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Bottle Feeding

Once the decision to breast feed is made, the next important thing is to select the type of formula you want to use. For most babies who are bottle fed, this process is usually initiated in the newborn nursery, and if the chosen formula is being well tolerated, there is really no need to switch to a different formula.

If there is a need to change to another type of formula, please call your pediatrician, or contact our office, to make an appointment to have your child evaluated. We will be very happy to discuss the options with you.

Choosing a Formula

Be sure to choose a DHA-enriched formula. Most, if not all of the US formula companies offer AA/DHA-enriched formulas.

There are some subtle differences among the major brands of infant formulas which may affect how your baby tolerates one formula over another. The vitamins and minerals in all formulas are similar, however, the nutritional fine points of the fats, carbohydrates, and proteins differ from one brand to another.

Standard formulas are those that are tolerated by most infants. Infants with special digestive needs require special formulas.

You may click here for some guidelines on how standard formulas differ and compare formula content. This may be of help in matching the formula to your baby’s needs.

Bottle Feeding Basics

Most mothers who make the decision to bottle feed their babies usually have a lot of questions about the process. There are several things to consider if you choose to bottle feed. These include formula preparation, sanitizing utensils, and feeding positions.

Here are seven simple steps that you can follow to successfully bottle feed your baby.

  1. Make sure all bottles, nipples, and other utensils are clean.
    If the water in your home is chlorinated, clean the utensils in your dishwasher or wash them in hot tap water with dishwashing detergent and then rinse them in hot tap water. If you have well water or non-chlorinated water, either place the utensils in boiling water for five to 10 minutes or use a process called terminal heating.In terminal heating you clean, but do not sterilize, the bottles in advance. You then fill them with the prepared formula and cap them loosely. Next, the filled bottles are placed in a pan with water reaching about halfway up the bottles, and the water is brought to a gentle boil for about 25 minutes.
  2. Read the directions.
    Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions exactly for the formula type you choose. Too much water and your baby won’t get the calories and nutrients she needs; too little water and the high concentration of formula could cause diarrhea or dehydration.
  3. Preparing the formula.
    Bring the water you plan to use in the formula to a boil for approximately one minute. Then add it to the formula powder. If you’re preparing this in advance, be sure to store it in the refrigerator. If the formula is left out of the refrigerator for longer than one hour or if you don’t use refrigerated formula within 24 hours, throw it out.
  4. Warm the refrigerated formula.
    Refrigerated formula doesn’t necessarily have to be warmed up for your baby, but most infants prefer it at least at room temperature. The easiest way to warm refrigerated or frozen milk is to place the container in a pan of water on the stove at low heat and rotate it frequently. Microwave ovens should not be used for heating bottles; this can overheat the milk in the center of the container. Even if the bottle feels comfortably warm to your touch, the superheated milk in the center can scald your baby’s mouth. Also, the bottle itself can explode if left in the microwave too long.If you warm a bottle or use it immediately after terminal heating, test it in advance to make sure it’s not too hot for your baby. The easiest way to test the temperature is to shake a few drops on the inside of your wrist.
  5. Place your baby in a proper feeding position.
    Cradle her in a semi-upright position and support her head. Don’t feed her lying down — formula can flow into the middle ear, causing an infection. To prevent your baby from swallowing air as she sucks, tilt the bottle so that the formula fills the neck of the bottle and covers the nipple.
  6. Take note of your baby’s intake.
    The pediatrician will probably ask you how much your baby has eaten, so be prepared to answer the question. Your newborn will probably take between two and four ounces per feeding during his first few weeks (during the first few days, he may take less than an ounce at feedings), and will probably be hungry every two to four hours. It’s best to feed your baby on demand.Don’t force your baby to finish the bottle if he or she is not interested. And if your baby is still sucking enthusiastically when the bottle is empty, offer more.
  7. Burp your baby.
    Babies get fussy and cranky when they swallow air during feedings. This happens more often with bottle fed infants, though breast fed infants can also swallow air. To prevent a tummy full of air, burp your baby frequently — after every two or three ounces of formula. If your baby doesn’t burp after a couple of minutes of trying, resume feeding. Here are the three best positions:

    • Over the shoulder: Drape your baby over your shoulder and firmly pat or rub her back.
    • On the lap: Sit your baby upright, lean her weight forward against the heel of your hand, and firmly pat or rub her back.
    • Lying down: Place baby stomach-down on your lap and firmly rub or pat her back.

Types of Formula 

  • Ready To Feed – Premixed liquid. Do not add water. Be sure to shake well before feeding as it may have settled.
  • Liquid Concentrated – Mix with equal amount of water. Be sure to shake well before mixing to blend ingredients.
  • Powder – Mix 1 level unpacked scoop of powder, using the scoop that comes with the container, with 2 ounces of water. Be sure to shake all together.
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Recommended Well Visits And Physicals

At PrimeCare Pediatrics, we believe in and emphasize the importance and value of regularly scheduled well-visits for all children; this includes newborns, infants, pre-teens, and teens according to guidelines provided by the Bright Futures initiative of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for excellence in pediatric care for the prevention and health promotion for infants, children, adolescents, and their families .

These wellness visits are designed for the health supervision of your baby. Recommended immunizations are commonly given at these visits. They afford the physician the opportunity of providing you with important information regarding the growth and development of your child. They are also a means of identifying problems or potential problems and providing early intervention if necessary.

The typical periodicity of well visits as recommended by the AAP for all children from birth through 18 years is given below. You may click on Recommendations for Preventative Pediatric Health Care to access the full details.

Your child’s schedule may vary slightly. This is mainly because the immunization schedule is usually updated from time to time by the government and other regulatory bodies and may vary from the previous year. Other reasons include vaccine availability and the fact that different states and offices may also adopt a slightly modified schedule.

At Birth – Newborn Hospital visit

Dr. Tega will visit you in the hospital and examine your baby soon after birth, once our office is informed. The hospitals that we currently cover are Piedmont Newnan Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and Southern Regional Medical Center. Make sure you inform the nurses during registration, at check-in and at the delivery ward that your baby’s pediatrician is Dr. Tega, so the hospital can contact us once your baby is born.

Circumcision: If you elect to have your newborn son circumcised, Dr. Tega will be happy to perform this surgical procedure for you.

First Office Visit

Once your baby is discharged from the hospital, you will need to follow-up in our office within a week, usually in 1-3 days. The importance of this visit is to examine your baby thoroughly again and make sure that baby is healthy and both baby and mon are off to a great start. The baby’s feeding schedule will also be reviewed including weight and color check for jaundice.

After this initial office visit, the typical schedule is as summarized below.

1 month well visit

Review your child’s growth and physical development.

2 months well-visit

This visit is important because this will be the time that your baby starts the immunization series. Usually a number of shots are given.

4 months well-visit

Immunizations – first booster doses are given

6 months well-visit

Immunizations – booster doses continue

9 months well-visit

Focuses on your child’s physical development as well as issues regarding infant-toddler safety; includes tips for home safety and a comprehensive review of Child Home Safety Check List. We will also address your home’s childproof measures and safety concerns, and car seat safety issues if any.

12 months well-visit

The first in the series of vaccines for Chicken-pox and MMR prevention are usually given.

Child may also be screened for anemia.

15 months well-visit

Immunizations – booster doses continue

18 months well-visit

Initial series of immunizations may be completed at this visit

24 months well-visit (2 yrs)

Child may need to receive additional immunizations to catch-up

3-18 years well-visit

A yearly wellness physical is recommended.

Highlights:
4-5 yrs – Booster doses of immunizations given
11 yrs and beyond – Booster doses of Tetanus and other vaccines are given. Girls will need the HPV vaccine. College age kids will need to be vaccinated against meningitis.

Prenatal Visit

PrimeCare Pediatrics encourages all prospective mothers and parents-to-be, to make an appointment to meet with Dr. Tega and our office staff during the third trimester and before the arrival of their baby. This is a wonderful opportunity for them to meet with their pediatrician. It also provides us with the time to personally get-to-know the prospective parents and address any concerns they might have with regard to the expected baby.

Sports Physicals/College/Camp Physicals

These types of physicals are provided as needed.

Please contact us or your health care provider if you have any questions or need additional information.

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