The Wiggles: Social Distancing

Real life stories, tips, photos
and videos about those things
we do as a part of our
everyday lives, to be healthy

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Staying healthy

Staying safe in summer

Sydney summer means some very hot days and warm nights. We spoke to the nurse manager of Child and Family Health Services Sydney Local Health District, Paola Gordon, about how your family can beat the heat and stay cool this summer.

Healthy teeth, healthy body

Baby teeth are important for your child’s health but if we don’t look after them, the teeth might decay. This can be painful and make life difficult for your little one! Read on to find out what you can do to fight tooth decay and keep your child’s mouth healthy.

Keeping little ears healthy

Middle ear infections are common in children. However there are a few simple things you can do to help keep your child's ears healthy.

Fight the flu and stay healthy this winter

Winter is fast approaching and it is important that you and your family are ready for the cooler weather. This means taking out your coats and beanies, swapping leafy salads for hot soups and protecting your family against the flu. Read on to find out how you can protect your children from the flu this winter.

World Allergy Week 2018

Awareness April we are calling it! From 22 to 28 April we will be celebrating World Allergy Week to raise awareness of Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema. We spoke to Dr Robert Loblay the Director of Royal Prince Alfred’s Allergy Unit to find out more about Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema.

Healthy Hips Week

This month families and health professionals across the country are celebrating Healthy Hips Week from 23 – 29 April. According to Healthy Hips Australia, one in 6 newborns will have some hip instability.

Autumn Fun

As the weather starts to cool down, Autumn is a great time of year to get outside and get active! As Sydney Local Health District’s Health Promotion Officer Nadia Levett explains, the new season brings new ways for kids to explore and have fun.

A growing family

Are you expecting your second baby and wondering how your first born will handle the change? Sydney Local Health District’s Child and Family Health Nurse Kim Dunlop has some tips to make the transition as easy as possible!

Beat the heat

Sydney can become very hot and humid in summer. With some simple precautions you and your family can avoid dehydration and other heat-related health problems.

Helping children stay in the healthy weight range

We know children need to grow and gain weight, but it’s best if they stay within a certain weight range for their height and age. Sydney Local Health District’s Early Childhood Dietitians, Kalliope Polyronis and Kate Holland, explain how to keep children in the healthy weight range.

Best barbecues

As the weather warms up, we’re spending more time outdoors and that means cooking barbecues! While a barbecue can be a great way to get together with family and friends, there are some hazards – especially for young children. Dr Elizabeth Guingi from Concord Hospital’s Emergency Department explains how to keep your outdoor cook-up safe.

Battery safety

With Christmas fast approaching and many parents starting to think about buying presents, it’s important to know which toys are safe and which aren’t – especially when it comes to batteries.

Be asthma aware

Asthma affects one in nine Australians - many of them children. But the good news is Sydney Local Health District’s experts say it can usually be kept under control so kids are free to run and play.

Medicine safety

Medicines are there to help us when we’re sick but if they are stored or used in the wrong way, they can be dangerous.

Protecting what you love

Children are offered a range of immunisations from the time they are born through to their teenage years.

Get active

For many mums and dads, the thought of fitting exercise into an already busy family schedule can seem like too much.

Brushing up for sparkly smiles

As part of Dental Health Week our experts give their tips on how to keep your child's smile bright and healthy.

Brushing up for sparkly smiles

As part of Dental Health Week our experts give their tips on how to keep your child's smile bright and healthy.

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How to brush your child's teeth

Stand behind them, support their head with one hand and hold the toothbrush with the other.

Look directly into your child’s mouth or into a mirror to see where to brush.

Move the toothbrush gently in small circles to clean the front surfaces of your child’s teeth. To reach inner surfaces, tilt the toothbrush.

Itchy bites

Long sunny days, gorgeous outdoor evenings and yep, you guessed what comes next...
“Is anyone else being eaten alive?”

Itchy bites

Long sunny days, gorgeous outdoor evenings and yep, you guessed what comes next… “Is anyone else being eaten alive?”
Itchy bites are fairly common this time of year, we spoke to RPA’s Paediatric Staff Specialist Phil Coote about what to do about them.

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Tips

Ensure flyscreens on your children’s bedroom windows are intact.

Wear long-sleeved clothing if outside in the evening.

Wear insect repellent - safe for children over 2 months.

Be careful around pool fences or places where spiders frequent!

Feeling good in 2017

Tips from Sydney Local Health District's mental health expert Dr Jean Starling.

Feeling Good in 2017

When we think about being healthy, we often think about eating right, exercising regularly and getting a good night’s sleep, but according to mental health expert Dr Jean Starling, feeling good this year starts with a little ‘attitude’.

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Tips

Try to say positive things to each other.

Be kind and apologise if you say something you wish you hadn’t.

Look after yourself by eating regularly, exercising and getting enough sleep.

Do something fun with your family - grab an ice cream together after school or go for a bike ride.

Lead by example - your kids will mirror what you do.

Is your family sun safe?

RPA's skin cancer expert Professor John Thompson has some tips on how to make sure we’re all protected from the sun.

Is your family sun safe?

As we head into the hottest months of the year, many parents ask what they need to do to make sure their children are protected from the sun.
RPA's skin cancer expert Professor John Thompson says summer is a timely reminder that we all could be a little more sun safe.

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Tips

Avoid being out in the midday sun - and outdoors from 10am-4pm.

Generously apply sunscreen and reapply throughout the day.

Cover up - hat, clothing - and seek shade when possible.

If you do notice a change (in a mole or other lesion on your skin), get it checked out urgently.