Bryanston Baby and Family Clinic

24/08/2026

Have your babies and kids had the new Men B Vaccine?

Health Alert: Meningococcal meningitis.

Once again, there are two suspected cases of bacterial meningitis at a pre-school in Durbanville.

What to look out for (possible meningitis symptoms):
• Fever
• Vomiting
• Severe headache
• Neck stiffness
• Bulging fontanelle in a baby
• Non-blanching rash (rash that does not fade when pressed)
• Convulsions (seizures)
• Altered level of consciousness
• Lethargy

• What to do:
Ensure your children are fully vaccinated, and that they have had 2 doses of the Bexsero vaccine.
Routine vaccines help protect against:
• Haemophilus influenzae type B
• The most common strains of pneumococcal (Streptococcus pneumoniae) bacteria • Both can cause bacterial meningitis.
Bexsero covers the B strain of meningococcus, which is the most prevalent strain in the Western Cape.
Menectra helps protect against the other strains of meningococcus.

Follow these steps:
• Prevention through vaccination:
Get Bexsero done today.
• Early detection: Watch for the signs and symptoms listed above.
• Early treatment and isolation: A doctor will begin treatment and isolation as soon as needed.
• Contact tracing: Those who were exposed to a confirmed case will be identified and prophylactic antibiotics will be prescribed to them.

Dr.Willem Smit
Paediatrician

04/06/2026

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Please use 0829282449 to contact the practice (WhatsApp please!) The other number is not active!
Thank you
Sr Nicky 🩷

27/05/2026

Remember Navy? The cutest little button who used to laugh with his vaccines and the famous ‘ball’? He came for his flu and meningitis B jabs. Took them like a champ and is cuter and cleverer than ever. Love my ‘job’! 🩷🩷 Nicole Cloud Nicky Thompson

24/04/2026

GREAT NEWS FOR Discovery Medical Aid FAMILIES👶✨

If your baby is born between February and June 2026, and you’re on Discovery Health, they are now eligible to receive the Beyfortus vaccine for protection against RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) infection.
This is a R6500 benefit !!

✔️ Covers preterm, full-term, healthy, and high-risk babies
✔️ No special motivation needed
✔️ Simply call Discovery for an authorisation number

Once approved and with a valid script, your baby can receive protection during the 2026 RSV season.

RSV can be serious in little ones, this is a big step in keeping our babies safer this winter 💙

Message me to pre order based on baby’s weight 🩷

(Info credit to Dr Smit)

21/04/2026

😮‍💨❄️ BE AWARE !
BRONCHIOLITIS SEASON IS HERE!

If your baby has a runny nose that suddenly turns into a chesty cough and fast breathing…
👉 this could be bronchiolitis.

This is a very common winter illness, but in young babies, it can become VERY SERIOUS quickly.

🫁 What is bronchiolitis?

It’s a viral infection of the small airways in the lungs.

👶 Most common in:
• Babies
• Infants
• Children under 2

👉 The younger the baby, the higher the risk.

🦠 What causes it?

The most common cause is:
• RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

But other viruses can also cause it.

👉 It spreads easily through:
• Coughing & sneezing
• Hands of caregivers

⚠️ If your child has symptoms, keep them home from crèche/daycare.

📈 How it usually starts

1️⃣ Starts like a normal cold
(runny/blocked nose)

2️⃣ After 3–5 days:
• Moves into the chest
• Wet, phlegmy cough
• Wheezing or rattling breathing
• Sometimes fever

🚨 When to worry and contact your paediatrician

Seek urgent care if your baby has:

• Fast or difficult breathing
• Chest pulling in when breathing
• Struggling to feed
• Vomiting feeds
• Very sleepy or weak
• Lips or tongue looking pale or blue

👉 These are signs your baby needs medical care urgently

🏥 Why some babies need hospital

In hospital, babies can receive:

• Oxygen
• IV fluids if not feeding
• Close monitoring
• Nebulisation treatments
• Support if breathing becomes difficult
• Physiotherapy

👉 Early treatment can prevent serious complications.

🛡️ Prevention tips

• Have ALL babies under one year vaccinated against the RSV during winter.
• Avoid crèche for babies under 6 months in winter if possible
• Wash hands regularly
• Keep sick contacts away
• Avoid smoke exposure

💡 There is a preventative injection for all babies. (Beyfortus for babies and Abrysvo for pregnant women between 28 and 36 weeks)
It could save your baby’s life!
Babies that are premature or have heart/lung conditions are at an extremely high risk of serious complications due to bronchiolitis

💊 Treatment

There is no single “cure”, but treatment focuses on:

• Reducing inflammation
• Helping breathing
• Clearing phlegm
• Preventing dehydration
• Treating secondary infections if present

Your baby may cough for weeks after bronchiolitis, this is common.

Some children may also have recurrent wheezing for a while after.

RSV bronchiolitis increases the risk of developing asthma and COPD ( Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) later in life

💬 Has your baby ever had bronchiolitis or perhaps have it now? Act fast before it gets worse

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

31/03/2026

28/03/2026

FLU VACCINES HAVE ARRIVED!

Book online!!

24/03/2026

🪱 DEWORMING: DO OUR KIDS REALLY NEED IT?

It’s one of the most common questions parents ask… and the answer might surprise you.

Deworming isn’t just something we do “just in case”, it actually plays an important role in your child’s health, especially in growing bodies.

👶 Why is deworming important?
Worm infections can:
• Affect your child’s growth
• Cause tummy pain, bloating, or diarrhoea
• Lead to poor appetite
• Contribute to iron deficiency (and even anaemia)
• Impact concentration and energy levels

🦠 How do children get worms?
It’s easier than you think!
• Playing in soil or sand
• Not washing hands properly
• Nail biting or thumb sucking
• Sharing contaminated toys with other kids
• Eating undercooked meat , especially pork

💊 How often should you deworm?
In most cases, we recommend every 6 months, but this can vary depending on your child’s symptoms and environment. Start at 12 months of age generally.

⚠️ Signs your child might have worms:
• Itchy bottom (especially at night)
• Restless sleep
• Unexplained tummy issues
• Loss of appetite
• Grinding teeth

👨‍⚕️ Important:
Always use the correct medication and dosage for your child’s age, chat to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re unsure.

💛 A simple step like deworming can make a big difference in your child’s overall wellbeing.

📩 If you’re unsure when your child was last dewormed, feel free to reach out, we’re here to help!

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician

18/03/2026

Whilst we have had the vaccine protecting against Meningococcal Disease, serotypes ACWY (Menactra), in SA for several years, on the private schedule, we now have access to the B strain vaccine, given from 8 weeks. This vaccine can be, and should be, due to prevalence in SA of serotype B, given to all babies, children and adults: please message me on 082 928 2449, to book 🌻

12/02/2026

🤕 Toddler falls: when to worry (and what to look out for)

Toddlers fall. A lot.
Learning to walk, climb and explore comes with bumps and tumbles and most of the time, these falls look far scarier than they are.

The good news? Most minor head bumps do not cause serious injury.

But knowing what to watch for can give parents peace of mind.

🟢 Usually not serious if your toddler:

* Cries immediately after the fall (this is reassuring)
* Is quickly comforted
* Goes back to playing as usual
* Has a small bump or bruise
* Is alert, responsive, and behaving normally
* Eats and drinks as usual

🚩 Seek medical advice urgently if your child has:

* Loss of consciousness, even briefly
* Repeated vomiting
* Severe or worsening headache
* Unusual drowsiness or difficulty waking
* Confusion, disorientation, or behaviour that’s “not them”
* Seizures
* Unsteady walking, weakness, or clumsiness
* Bleeding that won’t stop
* Clear fluid or blood from the nose or ears
* A large swelling, deep cut, or soft spot on the head
* A fall from a significant height(change table, stairs, bed, high chair, couch)

👀 What to do at home after a minor fall

* Comfort your child and observe them for 24 hours
* Apply a cold compress to bumps (10–15 minutes, a few times a day)
* Let them rest, but they should be easy to wake and behave normally
* Offer fluids and light food
* Avoid rough play for the rest of the day

💡 Tip: It’s okay for your child to sleep after a fall.
You don’t need to keep them awake, just check in on them and make sure they are rousable and behaving normally.

🧠 Extra facts parents often ask about

* Toddlers’ heads are proportionally larger and heavier, so they fall head-first more often
* A bump (“goose egg”) looks dramatic but is usually a sign of minor injury to the scalp, not the brain
* Symptoms of concussion can sometimes appear hours later, which is why observation at home is important
* Helmets should always be worn for bikes, scooters and balance bikes

🏠 Prevention tips (because toddlers are fast!)

* Never leave toddlers unattended on high surfaces (change tables, beds, couches)
* Never allow children to stand in grocery trolleys
* Use safety gates on stairs
* Secure furniture and TVs to the wall
* Keep floors free of toys and trip hazards
* Non-slip socks or shoes help on smooth floors
* Supervise closely during bath time and on wet surfaces

🤍
Most toddler falls are a normal part of growing up.
Trust your instinct, if something about the fall or your child’s behaviour worries you, it’s always okay to seek medical advice.

Dr Willem Smit
Paediatrician