Answered by Linda Jonides R.N., C.P.N.P.
"I have worked as a pediatric nurse practitioner (P.N.P.) for over 30 years," says Linda Jonides. "I continue to thoroughly enjoy forming new relationships with parents and newborns and working with them through infancy, childhood, and adolescence."
Linda Jonides is a pediatric nurse practitioner in a private pediatric practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She received her Diploma in Nursing and Certificate as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is a past recipient of the Michigan PNP of the Year Award. She has a B.S. in Nursing from Eastern Michigan University. She has published articles and lectured on childhood obesity, infant colic, role of the P.N.P., growth and development issues, and infectious diseases. She was an author of "Clinical Insights Column," published biannually in the Journal of Pediatric Health Care for nine years. Jonides is past president of NAPNAP. Currently, she is a steering group work member of NAPNAP's HEAT (healthy eating and activity together) project. One outcome of this group's work is the clinical practice guideline, "Identifying and Preventing Overweight in Childhood," that was published as a supplement to the March/April '06 issue of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care.
Ms. Jonides has been married to John, a university professor, since 1971.
Question
Is it okay to give my 2 1/2-year-old candy and gum?
Answer
When I'm asked when children can have candy and gum, my usual reply is "Why are you in a hurry to offer these items?" They offer no nutritional value and can take the place of more nutritious snacks. They are also a potential cause of tooth decay.
Gum is not advised for children younger than 3 to 4 years of age because of the concern of choking. Even a small piece could be swallowed incorrectly and cause choking. If choking does not occur and your child swallows the gum, it is not harmful in small amounts. However, many brands of gum and some candies contain sorbitol, which can cause abdominal pain if ingested regularly.
If you and your husband have candy and gum often, your child will obviously want to try them. This may be a good time for you to change some eating habits also. Good luck!
