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Chapter 20 Peds

Preschoolers experience gradual physical growth, gaining about 5 pounds and growing 2.5 to 3 inches per year, with all deciduous teeth erupted by the end of this period. Their nutrition requires 1,200 to 1,600 calories daily, and they may exhibit picky eating habits, while sleep patterns typically include 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Language development progresses significantly, with children expanding their vocabulary from 50 words at age 2 to complex sentences by age 5, and medical concerns such as enuresis and medication safety are important for their overall health.

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7 views

Chapter 20 Peds

Preschoolers experience gradual physical growth, gaining about 5 pounds and growing 2.5 to 3 inches per year, with all deciduous teeth erupted by the end of this period. Their nutrition requires 1,200 to 1,600 calories daily, and they may exhibit picky eating habits, while sleep patterns typically include 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. Language development progresses significantly, with children expanding their vocabulary from 50 words at age 2 to complex sentences by age 5, and medical concerns such as enuresis and medication safety are important for their overall health.

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redheadprincess63076
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Physical growth and development of PRESCHOOLER

•Gains only 5 pounds (2.26 kg) per year in weight

•Grows 2.5 to 3 inches (6.35 to 7.62 cm) per year in height

•Slightly taller, leaner preschooler stands with an erect posture rather than with a
protruding tummy typical of a toddler

•All 20 deciduous teeth have erupted; Shed teeth toward end of preschool period

•Blood sugar begins to stabilize toward the end of this period

•Immunity continues to mature and the immunizations continue

•Visual acuity matures and visual disturbances often presents

•Hearing acuity is 100% intact with no expected deficits

Vital Signs

Heart rate of 65 to 110 bpm

•Respiratory rate between 20 and 25 bpm

•Blood pressure of 95 to 110 mm Hg over 60 to 75 mm Hg.

Nutrition

Approximately 1,200 to 1,600 calories a day

Demonstrate picky eating behaviors

Teach the parents a well-balanced diet

Trying new foods

Healthy options

Nutritious snacks

Monitor for allergies


Eat as a family

Monitor for obesity

Sleeping Patterns and Requirements

12 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night

Common for reassurance during the night

Bedtime routine and night-light

Nightmares are scary dreams that may awaken the child, produce crying, and require
reassurance and comfort

Night terrors cause the child to demonstrate great fear, thrashing arms and legs, yelling,
and possibly running or walking out of her or his room or even out of the house

May nap or lie quietly with book or toy

Language Development

2 years: The toddler can be expected to say 50 words.

3 years: The child is verbally communicating with up to 900 words.

4 years: The preschooler is answering simple questions with simple answers.

5 years: The child rhymes, uses complex and compound sentences, talks in future tense,
and states his or her full name and address.

Speech problems, such as stuttering or lisping, should be identified and treated as early as
possible.

Enuresis

Inappropriate voiding (urinary incontinence) after the child is successfully toilet trained

Diabetes, having a small bladder, a UTI, or an overactive bladder; or experiencing


decreased antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or other problems. Constipation, if significant, puts
pressure on the bladder and can be associated with the development of enuresis

Nightmares, anxiety, or very deep sleep.

Enuresis may be related to the child’s inability to awaken to the physiological stimulus of a
full bladder.
It may also be related to excessive nighttime urine production or to the decreased
functional capacity of the bladder.

Two main types of enuresis: primary, which is associated with symptoms only at night, and
secondary, which involves daytime symptoms.

Boys experience enuresis more often than girls.

Associated with regression

Treatment includes changes in evening fluid intake, scheduled night voidings, bladder
training, counseling, and/or medications to increase ADH

Imaginary Friends

May be harmless and somewhat comforting for the child, but parents should be aware of
the relationships and monitor their effect on the child’s safety

Object like a teddy bear could become personified

Very important if the child experiences periods of actual loneliness

Fairly common among preschool children

May blame the imaginary friend for certain behaviors

Medical Concerns

Needs at least one well-child assessment by a pediatric health professional

Early identification of health problems in this period can assist in the prevention of later
poor health consequences

Providing well-balanced nutrition and promoting early care of the child’s emerging
permanent teeth are important for the growing child’s overall health and well-being.

Medication Safety

Need developmentally appropriate education about medications*

Pills may be mixed or crushed, or elixirs be created

Tips for parents administering medications

Praise the child for adhering to medication scheduling and dosing.

Never tell the child that medications are candy.

Do not allow the child to negotiate when to take medications. Minimize stalling behaviors.
Allow the child to take the medication cup or oral syringe and place the medication into his
or her mouth.

Health Promotions in the Community

Administer scheduled immunizations: DTaP, IPV, MMR, and varicella.

Assess the home for lead-based paint.

Ensure proper storage of household cleaning products, pesticides, and chemicals

Ensure supervision of young preschoolers (3-year-olds) in the bathtub.

Ensure presence of safety gates at the top and bottom of stairs.

Maintain safety around pets and teach the child manners and gentle handling of family
animals.

Provide at least 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.

Promote safe eating habits and prevent choking by always having the child sit down to eat.

Protect from excessive sun exposure while outdoors.

Ensure proper supervision while playing outdoors.

Reserve both skateboarding and in-line skating for children over 5 years of age

Insist on the use of protective equipment for sports activities.

Ensure that firearms are stored safely by keeping them unloaded, with trigger guards, in a
safe

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