If you see that your toddler is gaining weight too fast, especially with a family history of obesity, it’s time to act. The longer your child remains fat, the greater the chance she’ll always be fat. Remember, during these years fat cells are multiplying and exercise habits are being established. It only takes small changes […]
The first time your baby holds her breath may scare you out of your wits, but these episodes are harmless – they never damage your baby in any way and are not related to epilepsy. The usual story is that of a baby who starts crying loudly and suddenly starts holding her breath. She may
Many infants and toddlers suck their thumbs and as far as I am concerned, you don’t have to worry about it a bit. I am against the use of any restraints, such as mittens or adhesive tape, or painting the thumb with a bitter-tasting substance. These methods not only don’t work, but they can cause
The stomach and intestines are easily affected by stress. Teens may find themselves getting stomach aches or diarrhea, for example, before exams or a much anticipated date or other major event. Relaxation exercises, reassurance and talking about their feelings with supportive family members or friends may help these teens and their digestive tracts to calm
Headaches occur for many reasons. Colds, flu, a sinus infection, or dental problems can cause headaches. So can allergies, high blood pressure, eye strain, or skipping a meal. But if your teen is getting regular headaches, he or she should see a physician to identify the type and possible cause of the pain. Only rarely
Acne is a teenage fact of life for 73% of young people between the ages of 12 and 19. The major cause of acne is heredity, which determines skin type. The surge of hormonal activity in adolescents can cause the oil or sebaceous glands, most numerous on the face, chest and back, to become more
Many teen girls worry about breast size, usually because they feel their breasts are too small. They wonder if they’re normal, and if they’ll grow more. Reassure your daughter that development is a process lasting some years. Studies show that the average white American female does not reach a final stage of breast growth and
Young people reach puberty at very different rates following their bodies’ own timetable. Being different from average is most stressful for girls when physical development starts at an early age. The first menstrual can happen in some very normal girls as early as the age of nine. Early development can be difficult for a girl
Two of the most common eating disorders seen in teens are anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Anorexia nervosa usually occurs in young women, but occasionally afflicts young men. The symptoms include obsessional fear of obesity coupled with refusal to eat, compulsive exercising, severe weight loss and body image distortion. This causes a severely underweight teen to
Teenage girls are most at risk for developing eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Both boys and girls can be at risk for compulsive overeating and obesity. Being even more specific, who are the teenagers most at risk for eating disorders? • First, perfectionistic teens are at high risk for anorexia nervosa and
