Your Teenage Daughter
Diet:
- Offer 3 regular meals & healthy snacks. Eat meals as a family
if possible. Limit fast foods, junk foods and sweets.
- She should drink 16-24 oz. of skim or low fat milk each day.
Other dairy products, like yogurt & cheese are important for
calcium needs. If milk is not consumed or “only with cereal”
-substitute calcium fortified juice or ask about calcium supplementation.
- Express any concerns about her weight or “preoccupation
with weight”/ eating/food choices with your provider.
- Multivitamins may be necessary if her diet is consistently inadequate.
Sleep:
- A regular bedtime routine is very important. Between 15-18 years
of age, the average teen should sleep 8-10 hours each night, “Catching
up” on sleep on the weekends is not recommended.
Development:
- Peer relationships and acceptance are very important. She is
handling a great deal of peer pressure. Suggest and maybe practice
some ways of recognizing and resisting peer pressure.
- Abstract thought processes are forming and she may challenge
the family value system. Watch for her to begin to exert her autonomy
in words and actions.
- As her physical body is changing, expect intellectual and emotional
changes to occur as well. Provide an open forum for discussions
about emerging sexual/ physical/emotional feelings for others.
Encourage abstinence and ask lots of direct questions.
- Teens are “egocentric overthinkers” self centered
but not necessarily selfish- try to place yourself in her shoes-
talk to your teen about problems she may be experiencing, and
her tendency to “overanalyze”. She may think she is
invincible and that things could “never happen to her”.
- Your teen is having emerging feelings of independence from the
family, increasing peer identification, and possibly thinking
about goals for the future! In your discussions, ask simple direct
questions.
- Talk to your daughter about her menstrual cycle- encourage her
to plot its regular (or irregular occurrence) on a monthly calendar.
A responsible teen may wear tampons during the day- they must
be changed at least every 4 hours.
Safety:
- Wear a seatbelt at all times, as a driver or a passenger. Parents
should be a good role model and buckle as well.
- Driving teens should be given ample time and opportunity for
parent supervised driving before going solo.
- If your teen has a permit, limit driving to daylight hours until
more experienced.
- Absolutely no drinking and driving or riding with a drinking
driver-discuss a plan to get home safely.
- Wear appropriate protective equipment (helmet, mouth guard,
pads, shatterproof eyewear) while engaging in risky sports.
- Wear a life jacket on a boat, nonswimmers should wear a life
jacket at all times. Never dive into unfamiliar water.
- Use PABA-free sunscreen with SPF >15. Avoid tanning salons.
- Discuss privacy and boundaries at home and away from home.
- Discuss avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, drugs (including inhalants),
and guns. Keep an open line of communication about their hazardous
potential. Be a good role model!
Teen’s Acetaminophen Dose:
Every 4-6 hours & no more than 5 doses/day
72-95lb=3 tsp; 6 chewtabs; 1 325mg tab
96-150lb =2 325 mg tab or 1 500 mg tab
Teen’s Ibuprofen Dose:
Every 6-8 hours
72-95 lb. = 3 tsp; 6 chewtab; 1 200 mg cap
96-119lb = 4 tsp; 8 chewtab; 2 200 mg cap
121-50lb=6 tsp;12 chewtab; 3 200 mg cap
General Parental Guidance:
- Schedule dental visits every 6 months, brush at least twice
a day. Flossing should be done everyday.
- Limit the amount of TV, computer use-monitor their emails and
instant messages and track web sites visited if possible.
- Establish rules, limits, and curfews.
- Know your teen’s friends and their parents. A teen-friendly
home will encourage them to stay there.
- Rules & expectations should be discussed, clarified, and
enforced. A “safe ride home” contract should be signed-
an agreement that she can call at any time for a safe ride home
regardless of the time and place no questions asked.
- A first gynecology visit should be scheduled for 18 years or
we may refer if a consult is needed sooner.
- Acne is a common issue –give us a call.
- Exercise is very important- it can be a family effort- get involved
and bond with your teen as you exercise together
- Help her learn about healthy lifestyles – hygiene, exercise
and good nutrition. Be a good role model.
- She feels invincible, so encourage your teen’s independence
but also foster a sense of self-responsibility. Assign mutually
agreed upon household chores. Give a small allowance so she can
learn to manage money.
- Think about a prepaid calling card and/or a cell phone for emergency
use.
At Today's & Each Yearly Checkup:
- She will have a physical examination and have a chance to ask
confidential questions. A routine urinalysis will be done and
cholesterol levels may be obtained.
- Your teen will be given instruction on how to perform a breast
self examination.
- Please discuss any changes that have taken place in your household
recently with your provider.
- She may need a Meningitis vaccine, pertussis vaccine, and/or
a tuberculosis (TB) skin test.
Suggested Reading:
- "Positive Discipline for Teenagers: Empowering Your
Teens and Yourself Through Kind and Firm Parenting"
- "Healthy Teens, Body and Soul"
- "Caring for Your Teenager- The AAP’s guide"
- "The Teen Health Book"
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