5 Simple Steps to Reduce Allergies

Is your child sniffling? Try our pediatrician's tricks to lessen the symptoms

Are School Lunches Getting Healthier?

New school-lunch guidelines take effect after summer break. But some experts think they don't go far enough. Here's some food for thought

Top 10 Cold and Flu Soothers

The next time your little one is under the weather, try using a few of these tips and tricks

Stay Healthy With a Sick Kid

Staying well when your child is sick can be tricky. So it's important to fend off colds all season long -- even when you don't think they're in your house. Here's how

Many Kids' Cereals Loaded with Sugar

A new report says many kids' cereals have more sugar than many sweets or desserts

5 Scents That Heal

Research shows that certain smells can boost sleep, lessen stress and even ease cold symptoms. Get a whiff of this!

Are Kids Too Wired?

In an effort to keep up with my tech-savvy patients and their parents, I read a study from a well-known software maker that confirmed something we all know: Our kids are extremely wired

Protect Youth From Online Harassment

Although digital communities enable youths to socialize with peers and develop multimedia skills, these online forums also have risks. Fortunately there are ways for parents to help their children avoid these new types of harm

Swollen Lymph Nodes Common in Childhood

Swelling of the lymph nodes, known as lymphadenopathy, is quite common during childhood. This is most noticeable in the head and neck area

Prebiotics and Probiotics

There's has been a lot of discussion lately (in both medical and lay literature) surrounding the use of prebiotics and probiotics. The first question patients and parents often ask is, what's the difference between the two?

Dealing With Dog Bites

I received an email via our iPhone App from a mom who was very worried after her daughter had been bitten by a friend's dog. This is a common concern pediatricians hear

Let's Talk Flu Vaccines

Flu vaccines are being shipped and should be in your doctor's office by now. This year's vaccine contains three strains of influenza virus that are identical to last year's chosen strains

The Importance of a Healthy Lunch

To start teaching children about healthy eating habits, we need to begin in early elementary school. Sit down with your child and review the school lunch menu. It might be wise to make a deal that they may buy their lunch two days a week and you'll pack a lunch on the other three days

Chicken Pox Vaccine Has Saved Lives

It's always good news when I read research-based studies validating that vaccines are one of the most important advances in public health

Babies and Jogging Strollers

I get a lot of questions from new parents who are runners about the use of jogging strollers. When researching the issue in the pediatric literature, I couldn't find a consensus about when it's safe and appropriate to use such a stroller with a newborn

New Guidelines Aimed at Reducing Overdoses of OTC Medicines

Are you confused about over-the-counter liquid medication dosages? You're not alone. The good news is, changes are coming. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just released new guidelines in an effort to reduce the risk of overdoses when giving children liquid OTC medications

Earlier Bedtimes May Fend Off Teen Depression

A new study confirms something pediatricians and parents already suspected: One key to having happy, healthy and less depressed children is to have earlier bedtimes.

Teens and Headaches Seem To Go Together

I just read an interesting study about teenagers with headaches. About 1 to 2 percent of adolescents have chronic daily headaches, defined as greater than 15 headache days per month for more than three months.

Medical History Key to Diagnosing Food Allergies

I've been reading and reviewing several articles on food allergies and their diagnosis. One piece appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (May 2010 issue) and another in the March issue of Consultant for Pediatricians. Both articles emphasized that there continues to be a great deal of confusion and lack of uniformity for diagnosing food allergies

No More Fever Phobia!

Parental concerns about children with fever continue to be the primary reason for phone calls to pediatricians' offices, visits to the doctor and late-night trips to the ER. The term 'fever phobia' is not new, and one of the hardest things to 'teach' parents is the mantra: Fever is your friend. What? How can that be?

Iron Deficiency Can Have Serious Consequences

An article published in the journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on nutrition sets new guidelines for iron intake in infants and children. The news is not good. As such, the AAP guidelines now recommend the following

Pregnancy, Babies and Cats

Pregnancy is a time of joy, but for many women, a time of unprecedented worry. Along with the admonitions about caffeine, lunchmeat and wine, many pregnant women are told they should get rid of their cats because of health risks. With a few basic safety precautions, the Centers for Disease Control states that pregnant women do not need to give up their cats

Spider Bite or MRSA

MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) is a bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissue. With the frequency of such infections rising, parents should be aware of the fact that an unusual 'bite' that's becoming more tender, has surrounding redness (erythema), feels warm to the touch and has the appearance of a large pimple or boil, needs to be examined

Try These Tips To Control Indoor Allergens

As we continue our allergy series, we thought it would helpful to offer a few tips on how to keep many pesky allergens from bothering your kids in your home. A wide array of things can trigger an allergy attack in the home, including dust mites and mold

Steroid Sprays Effective Weapons Against Nasal Allergy Symptoms

The surge in allergies this year has been due to a very wet winter, and the weather this spring has brought erratic changes of temperature and lots of wind. This is the perfect storm for an 'allergic cascade' to attack everyone's nasal mucosa. Intranasal steroids appear to be the best preventative and treatment for nasal allergy symptoms

New Iron Recommendations Issued For Children

An article published recently in the journal Pediatrics, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on nutrition, sets new guidelines for iron intake in infants and children. The news is not good. According to Dr. Frank Greer, co-author of the report, 'iron deficiency remains common in the United States'

Get Smart About Antibiotics

Many parents are bringing in their young children with recurrent coughs and congestion, and strains of 'can't we just have an antibiotic?' are ringing through the office. There isn't a parent who doesn't want to make their sick child feel better faster, but antibiotics are usually not the answer

Creative Indoor and Sick-day Activities for Kids

Here, a few creative and simple sick-day activities to make the most of your day together

Parents Guide to Cold Medicines

We asked the experts for a guide to cold medicine that helps clear up the confusion

Homemade Cold Remedies That Work

Many of the homemade remedies your grandmother use to push really do help relieve cold symptoms. Here are a few worth trying

Youth Football Players at Increased Risk for Stroke

Young football players may be at a higher risk of suffering a stroke than their peers, according to a new study

Heading Soccer Ball Linked with Brain Injuries

Soccer players who frequently head the ball face the possibility of brain injury and cognitive impairment, according to a new study

Window Falls Injure Thousands of Kids Annually

Windows Are Big Source of Kids' Injuries. Window falls send more than 5,000 kids and teens to emergency rooms each year, and are serious enough to require a hospital stay a quarter of the time

Keep Your Kids Safe in Sports

To protect your kids from serious sports injuries, prevention is key. But if an accident does occur, be prepared. Here's how to spot and treat the most common injuries in kids' sports

Stop Back-to-school Stress

Whether your children are starting at a new school or returning to their stomping grounds, heading back into the classroom can be stressful. To make things easier on your entire family, try these moves to ease back-to-school stress

Be Ready to Deal With Motion Sickness Before You Travel

During the summer travel season, I get many calls from parents about children who suffer from motion sickness.

Remember, Drowning Is Silent

In the summer, many families create memories and cool down at the beach, lake, or pool. Of course, the main concern is fun, but the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of water is safety

Summertime Can Mean Snakebite

Due to wet weather and heat, news reports have families on alert: Snakes are being pushed out into the open. More snakes means the potential for snakebite.

6 Summer Illnesses You Need to Know About

The summer months are prime time for certain viruses -- and kids have the greatest chance of getting them. Here's what you need to know about the most common warm-weather illnesses

How the New USDA Guidelines Change Your Meals

The age-old food pyramid is a goner. Can the new MyPlate icon improve your eating habits? Learn more here.

Altitude Sickness Usually Mild

With summer vacation season in full swing, many families are traveling. Some are heading out across the U.S., while others are seeking adventure in Europe, South America, Africa, or even Asia, where they may encounter high altitudes

Choose Insect Repellent Carefully

It's that time of year again when pediatricians see a host of children suffering from uncomfortable bug bites. The best way to prevent bites from mosquitoes, mites, chiggers, flies and fleas is to use insect repellent

There's No Such Thing As a Sterile Waiting Room

Someone had written in to suggest that doctors needed to stop providing magazines and toys for people in the waiting room. Her feeling was that if doctors stopped furnishing these items, patients would bring their own, reducing the spread of germs. I couldn't believe someone would suggest that doctors have empty waiting rooms! Have we gone overboard with germ fears?

Allergy Season Has Arrived: Protect Your Kids As Spring Blows In

Spring is the season for allergic rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal passages), triggered largely by tree pollens and grasses as spring blows in. Allergy symptoms affect about 1 in 5 people, and the first symptoms often begin in childhood

Diagnosing Ear Infections Not Always Easy

One of the most frequent reasons for a visit to the pediatrician continues to be ear infections (otitis). Especially at this time of year, when we're still in the throes of 'cough and cold' season, the otoscope (device used to look into the ear), is getting worn out!

Screening Essential To Curb Sudden Cardiac Death in Young Athletes

Each year, 10-12 million kids in the U.S. participate in sports. The tragedy of a sudden death in an otherwise 'presumably healthy' child causes not only sadness, but also deep concern as to how the death might have been prevented

ADD Begins in Childhood But Can Continue Into Adulthood

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a condition that begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Between 20 and 50 percent of children diagnosed with ADD will continue to have clinically significant symptoms in adulthood

All About Tonsils

If there's one thing I know after looking down thousands of throats during my pediatric career, tonsils come in many shapes and sizes. Here's what else I have learned about children's tonsils and tonsillitis

Improving Children's Digestive Health

The best way to prevent stomach upsets in small children is to teach good eating habits from a very young age. These easy to implement eating tips will set the stage for a life-time of good eating habits and help avert uncomfortable tummy aches and pains

Hand-washing 101: Kill Germs, Don't Spread Them

Our hands allow us to work, interact and take care of our children -- but they can also make us sick. Hand-to-face contact is the most common way germs are spread. That's why proper hand-washing is the best defense against cold and flu. Read on to get the clean truth about how to kill germs with proper hand-washing

Fever May Not Always Warrant a Trip to the Doctor

Monday's in the office are always busy, and one of the most predictable visits will be for a child who has had a fever over the weekend. Fevers and kids are like salt and pepper; they just go together. The most frequently asked question is, 'When do I need to see the doctor for a fever?' There is not one simple answer. Here are some simple rules of thumb for calling your pediatrician

Food Allergy or Food Intolerance?

A mother with a 9-year-old daughter asked, 'Could my daughter could be allergic to strawberries, as she gets a stomachache and sometimes vomits after she eats them? She hasn't had problems eating strawberries before.' This is interesting because I've been reading and reviewing several articles on food allergies and their diagnosis

8 Ways to Soothe a Sick Kid

No mom wants her child to feel miserable -- and the common cold can really wipe a kid out! Fortunately, combining a few simple moves with time-tested remedies can help ease your little one's symptoms. So the next time she starts coughing and sneezing, try these savvy tricks to soothe your sick kid in no time

Is It Really That Icky?

Your child drops an animal cracker on the floor, then bends over to pick it up and eat it. You think to yourself, '10-second rule!' But how bad is it, really? Are you letting your kids pick up germs and bacteria, or are they actually boosting their immune systems? To find out when -- and if -- being a germophobe mom pays, we talked with expert Carole Marsh. Here's what she had to say

Is Your Family Sleep-deprived?

If you're considering whether your children get enough sleep, these healthy and simple sleep habits will help

A School Nurse's Tricks to Avoid Getting Sick

Dealing with sick kids is her job! Get our blogger's tips of the trade so you can fend off germs too

5 Immune-Boosting Recipes

Here, we've put together a day's worth of easy, delicious meals and snacks packed with cold- and flu-fighting nutrients

A New Strain of Flu?

Here's what every parent needs to know about these flu strains going into the 2011 – 2012 season

The Science Behind Your Favorite Childhood Remedies

Researchers have studied the effects of your mom's chicken soup, steamy baths and more on colds. We'll tell you what really works

Kids, Media and Childhood Obesity

A new study looks at mounting research showing a child's media use may be linked to body weight -- not only because they don't get as much exercise if they're watching TV and using other media, but also due to other issues related to media exposure

Heading For the Woods This Summer? Watch Out For Ticks

After playing outdoors, your child comes home with a tick embedded in his/her back. You've done your best to remove the dreaded insect but are worried sick that your son or daughter may contract Lyme disease. What should you do?

Vegetarian Diet Can Be Safe, Healthy Choice for Children

My teenage daughter wants to become a vegetarian. Is it a safe choice for growing kids? Will she be able to get everything she needs from this type of diet?

Kids' Nutrition: Remake Snacks Into Treats You Can Live With

While you wouldn't dream of banning frozen treats, you feel justified putting the kibosh on the ones containing red No. 3 and other wacky ingredients. One way to minimize the food dyes and unpronounceables is to remake your kids' favorite snacks from scratch

Skin Rash Could Be Fifth's Disease

Even though summer has arrived in most parts of the nation, I'm still seeing typical spring illnesses like Fifth's disease. Fifth's disease is a common viral illness seen in children, often in the late winter and spring

When are Allergy Medications Appropriate for Kids?

First, it's important to make sure that your child is suffering from allergies and not a cold. Here are some of the most common treatments, including age restrictions, as of May 2011

Cell Phones and Cancer: Get Your Hands Off That Phone!

Looking for a great gift for your favorite high school or college grad? Pick up a hands-free headset for their cell phone. There's a healthy reason behind this. The World Health Organization (WHO) just announced that radiation from cell phones may cause cancer

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Is Back

I've been seeing a lot of cases of 'hand, foot and mouth disease' (HFM) in the office lately. This illness is usually caused by a Coxsackie virus A-16, a member of the enteroviral family. These viruses are typically seen in the summer and early fall

The Apple Trick: On Not Tricking Kids into Eating Well

I attribute the fact that my four year old daughter eats everything, from oysters and rabbit ragu to kale and carrot juice, to pure and simple luck. Other parents ask, especially when they see her slurp down an oyster, how we get her to eat so well. When I say it is all luck, I'm not lying. But the truth is, I also use a few tricks

Viruses Linger During End of School Year

Students from preschool through college are in full end-of-the-school year mode. Unfortunately, there also seem to be several spring/summer viruses lurking around that are disrupting many students' (and parents') end-of-year plan

Your Day-by-day Flu Guide

For many families, battling the flu is a seasonal rite of passage: Up to one in five children will suffer through a bout. To help ease your worries, we asked the experts to spell out what day-by-day flu symptoms to expect, how you should treat them, and when to call your pediatrician. By arming yourself with the flu facts, you can stop fretting -- and start taking charge

Wintertime Upper Respiratory Infection Sends Some Kids to the Hospital

RSV is the acronym for respiratory synctial virus, a wintertime upper respiratory infection that causes colds and coughs, but also an illness known as bronchiolitis.

Stay-happy Tricks for Sick Kids

Keeping your child healthy is probably the most important job you have as a parent. But as every mom knows, it often requires asking your little one to do some of her least favorite things. And that can make your life, well, challenging. These expert-approved stay-happy tricks will keep your sick kids smiling during even the most difficult situations

Get Your Kids to Trade in Screen Time for Sleep

It's time to reign in the connectivity: Recent studies have found that teens who sacrifice sleep time for screen time are at a greater risk for sleep disorders, mood swings and depression -- not to mention a less-than-stellar performance at school due to shortened attention spans. Here are five ways to help them find a better balance

Mono and Epstein Barr Virus: What You Need to Know

Mono is most frequently caused by the Epstein Barr virus, but other viruses may mimic the symptoms of mono. Many of us have been exposed to Epstein Barr virus (EBV) and may not even realized it, while others will develop a viral illness which typically causes sore throat, fever, congestion, swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. Here's what you need to know

Don't Forget Skincare and Sun Protection in Winter

With winter upon us in full force, don't forget skin care and sun protection. Due to the drier air and the need to turn up the heat, it's important to protect your child's skin (and your own) and keep it from drying.

When to Worry About Stuttering

Stuttering at this age is called disfluency, or pseudo stuttering, and is quite common as children learn to speak and develop more complex speech patterns. In many cases, the stuttering occurs out of the blue, lasts for several weeks, then resolves, only to return off and on during the preschool years as the child learns more and more language.

Healthy Foods That Make Teeth Rot

Candy is bad for your teeth. Well, that's a no-brainer! Even 3-year-olds know that. But my patients are always caught off guard when I tell them that certain healthy foods are just as unkind to your chompers and can cause your teeth to rot. So grab a toothbrush and hear me out

Make Sledding Safety a Priority

As winter deepens and snowstorms sweep across much of the country, there may be several more 'snow days' with children (and sometimes their parents) home from school. As such, I decided to do a little research on sledding safety and accidents. Here's the findings

New Research Offers Hope For Eczema Patients

The newest theory is that children with eczema have extrinsically different skin, in that they have a defective skin barrier, which allows irritants into the skin resulting in inflammation. These children seem to have a defect in the filaggrin, a protein in the skin that's important in maintaining skin hydration. There seems to be a mutation in the gene that makes this protein.

Goal of Treatment for Alpers' Disease is to Ease Symptoms

Confusion Reigns Over Cough and Cold Medicines

Children Can Have Migraine Headaches

First They Came for My Twinkie ...

Keeping Lunch Boxes Interesting and Healthy

Kids Should Drink Milk, Even If It Is Chocolate

Protect Your Child From Iron Deficiency

Rare Muscle and Skin Disorder Can Be Difficult to Treat

Kids Should Drink Milk, Even If It Is Chocolate

Protect Your Child From Iron Deficiency

Rare Muscle and Skin Disorder Can Be Difficult to Treat

The Kid's Doctor: Kids and Choking Dangers

Pertussis Cases Continue to Rise

Alternative Treatments To Fight a Cold

Contact Lenses Appropriate For Kids Old Enough to Handle the Responsibility

Adverse Effects of Scoliosis Depend on Magnitude of the Curvature

How to Make Sure Your Kids Eat Enough Vegetables

Four Loko: Boozy Up-and-Down Makes This Loko Loco

The Kid's Doctor: Young Athletes and Overuse Injuries

The Kid's Doctor: Wart Treatments Vary

Colic -- Although Stressful -- is Temporary

Healthy Eating Guide to Cereal

Supplements for High School Athletes: How to Make Smart Choices

Why Sniffles Hit Hardest at Night

Child With High Body Mass Index at Increased Risk of Health Problems

Normal Weight Obesity - A Growing Concern

The Dangers of Diagnosing Online

Child's Height at Age 2 May Predict Adult Height

A Parent's Guide to Coughs

Team up With Schools to Fight Flu Season

Family Dinners Help Fight Obesity

Don't Take Hollywood's Advice on Treating Kids With Head Lice

Determine Cause of Child's Lack of Growth Before Considering Hormones

Teach Your Kids to Stress Less

Common Food Allergies in Kids

Healthy Lunches Your Kids Will Love Recipe

Teens' Chronic Headaches Often Fade With Time

Anxiety Before New School Year is Common for Many Children

Childhood Obesity From a Holistic Perspective

Whooping Cough Continues to Affect People of All Ages

5 Nutrition Facts About Milk & Healthy Kids

Keep Your Athletes Hydrated On and Off the Field

How to Stop Your Baby's Wheezing and Prevent Asthma

Fighting Drugs With the Power of Sleep

Milk: When the First Food May Be the Best Food

Introducing New Foods to Your Child

Coping With Altitude Sickness

Protecting the Future Health of Our Boys

The Power of Persuasion: Food Marketing Really Does Work

Fighting Childhood Obesity From a Holistic Perspective

Congress Must Act Now to Alleviate Child Hunger

Exercise for Kids: 5 Tips for Parents

Too Much Screen Time for Kids Means Poorer Health

Nutrition May Be Key to Helping Control ADHD

Foods to Reduce Allergy and Asthma Symptoms in Kids

Toddler With Recurring Ear Infections May Benefit From Tubes

Prevent and Treat Summer Rashes

Enjoy Breakfast as a Family

7 Nasty Germs That Could Land Your Kid in the Hospital And How to Avoid Them

What Parents Can Do to Keep Kids From Snacking Their Way to Obesity

Though No Cure for POTS, Symptoms Can Often Be Effectively Managed

Chicken Tortilla Wraps

Have a Healthy Vacation

Sick Day TLC

When to Call the Doctor

Sunscreen Facts You Need to Know

Asthma and Allergies Can Run in Families

HPV Vaccine For Boys?

Salivary Gland Stones Rare But Not Unheard of in Children

The Threat of Childhood Obesity

Tick-Borne Disease Risk Peaks in Spring and Summer

Are Carbonated Drinks Bad for Bones?

Secrets to Breathing Better With Allergies

Relationship Between RSV and Asthma in Children Unclear

Get the Lead Out: The Less Exposure to This Toxic Metal the Better

Nutrition May Be Key to Helping Control ADHD

Healthy Eating at Disney World is Possible

Is the Inside of Your Car Making You Sick?

How to Raise a Foodie

Food Allergy Update

Should My Baby Get the Rotavirus Vaccine?

Summer Safety: 8 Reasons Kids End up in the ER & How to Prevent It

How Positive Psychology Can Increase Your Happiness

How to Green Your Baby's Nursery

How much sleep should my kids get each night?

When Your Child Says 'I don't feel well'

At what age can a child be diagnosed with asthma

Moms: Stop Kids Fears Before They Start

Easing Kids' Cold Symptoms

SIDS Prevention

Kid-friendly Foods That Soothe

Sick-day Strategies for Keeping Kids Entertained

Is Your Child Obese?

Get Your Kids to Eat Healthy

Teaching Kids to Stop the Spread of Germs

Spotting Your Child's Cold and Flu Symptoms at Every Age

When to Keep a Sick Child Home

Healthy Snacks for Children: Choices May Surprise You

Making Baby Food: Easier & Healthier Than You Think

Make Your Own Healthy Breakfast Cereals

Parents Influence Kids' Relationship With Food

Preparing Kids - And Yourself - For Their Hospital Visit: 11 Tips

Recurring, Frequent Headaches in Child Should Prompt Visit to Doctor

Some mental-health experts think 'parental alienation' should be an official diagnosis

The Lure of an ADHD Treatment Minus the Meds

Help Your Kids Learn Better

Getting Kids to Eat Their Vegetables

4 Flu Vaccine Doses for Kids This Fall -- but Where and When

Neurofeedback: An ADHD Treatment That Retrains the Brain

Nutritious Meals Make Better Grades

Trick-or-Treat? Conquer Sugar by Offering Kids Sweeter Alternatives

Strong Genetic Component May be Associated with Asperger Syndrome

Healthy, Natural School Lunch is Easier Than You Think

Newborn Screening Can Identify a Variety of Treatable Conditions

Drug-Free Approaches to Managing ADHD

What Parents Should Know About Swine Flu Shots

School Lunches Go Vegetarian

The Huge Health Toll Obesity Takes on Kids

Vitamin D and Kids: How Much Sun Should They Get to Stay Healthy

Keep Kids Hydrated in Summer Weather

How to Use Tylenol So It's Safe for Your Kids

Teens Who Think They'll Die Young Take More Risks

Avoid Tick-Borne Illness