More than 30% of toddlers are still sucking their thumbs. Fortunately, thumb sucking is harmless until your child’s permanent teeth have erupted about age of six. Your main response to thumbsucking in the meantime should be to ignore it, especially when your child is tired. If it occurs when your child is bored, try to […]
We are a greatly overmedicated society both with prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Some people believe that every symptom needs a drug; I disagree. ⢠First, let’s set the record straight about antibiotics. Antibiotics only kill bacteria; they have no effect on viruses. Antibiotics can neither reduce symptoms nor shorten the course of viral illnesses. Since
Slowpoke eaters are usually not hungry. A few are just being negative. A good rule for these kids is, “That the meal was over when everyone else is done eating.” Then it’s time to clean up, clear away your child’s plate and put her down. Don’t keep her sitting at the table longer than other
If you’re sleeping with your child and want to change it, here are some suggestions. As you probably have learned, children don’t need to sleep with you, but they sure like it, and once it’s begun it’s rather hard to undo. I suspect you want to change this for the same reason other parents do
Some children are ready to be toilet trained by 18 months of age, and many, by 24. Toilet training is a gradual process that takes from two weeks to two months. In general, it involves about four steps. First, purchase a potty chair and make it clear that this is your child’s special chair. Put
It’s not harmful for your children to sleep with you, but don’t start until you have all the facts. – First, your child does not need this arrangement to be secure and happy. – Second, this is not quality time. If your child is asleep, it is neutral time, and if your child is keeping
Weaning from the bottle to the cup should always be done gradually. Trying to wean fast will make your child angry, clinging, and miserable. ⢠First, reduce bottle feedings to three or four per day, and don’t allow your child to carry a bottle around during the day. After you cut back on the number
Yes, infants like to be in a walker, but is it worth it? Over 40 per cent of children who use walkers have an accident requiring medical attention. They get skull fractures, concussions, dental injuries, and lacerations. There have even been some deaths. ⢠Most of the serious walker injuries occur from falling down a
Spitting up is that effortless bringing up of a little milk from the stomach, and often when you least expect it, it’s also called reflux or regurgitation. It is usually seen shortly after feedings. It begins in the first month of life and clears by a year of age. More than half of children have
Most damage to the teeth during the first two years of life is due to “baby bottle caries”. Sleeping with a bottle in the mouth that contains milk, fruit juice, fruit punch, or any other sweetened liquid, can cause severe decay of the newly erupting teeth. The sugar in these drinks is converted into acid
