Did you leave your pediatrician’s office and then remember all your questions? Send me your questions about WHY babies and children do the things they do.
Preventing Sibling Rivalry
If your kids aren’t fighting yet, here are some strategies you can use now. Catch your older child being kind toward a sibling. If you have a new baby, praise your child for being gentle or waiting her turn while you finish changing the baby’s diaper before you help...
What’s so Bad about Measles? Symptoms and the MMR
Read Part 1 in this series: Why Worry About Measles? Measles outbreaks happen among people who aren’t immune to the disease. There are classrooms of kids where only half the kids are vaccinated. And there are schools where virtually everyone in the school is...
Why Worry about Measles?
Measles is all over the news right now - Is it really a big deal? I took care of a patient with measles about 10 years ago, and I will never forget what patients with measles look like. I walked into the exam room and saw this 3 year old, it was unmistakable, she...
What to do When Kids Fight
Arguing, name-calling, tattling, physical fighting, and taking one another’s things gets on everyone’s nerves. Why are your kids fighting? The root of sibling rivalry is usually the feeling of competition. Siblings might also fight because they want to see how much...
How to Raise a Happy Kid
What do you want for your kids? Most people say “I just want them to be happy” Today I want to challenge this, talk about what it really means to be happy and how to get your kids there. What I see parents doing in clinic, way too often, is trying to make their kids...
What’s autism, what’s not?
Don’t freak out if you catch your child head-banging, echoing others words’ or hand flapping. Yes, those are symptoms of autism, but they don’t define your child as having an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Every regular developing kid will do many of the same things...
Toxic Exposures in the Home
What's the fuss about toxic household cleaners, endocrine-disrupting compounds in sunscreen and non-stick cookware? Episode 47 Transcript: Toxic Exposures in the home: Tips for a healthy family Listen to the Episode Dr. Wendy: Every new year I decide I’m going to...
Simple Plan to Stop Thumb-Sucking
Thumb and finger sucking can cause a high palate, crooked teeth and lead to problems like snoring. How can you help your child stop? How to Stop Thumb-sucking: step-by-step First, review this plan and if your child is over 2 1/2 and can cooperate with this program,...
Uncovered: how to care for the diaper area
Diaper irritation leads to an irritated baby. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth, soft, irritation-free bottom. Diapers and wipes are just tools for keeping moisture away from the skin. Here’s what you need to know to use them to your advantage. (And pay attention;...
New Treatment for Tics in Kids
Eye-blinking, sniffing, throat-clearing, finger-flexing, shoulder-shrugging – they are all simple tics, most of which go away. Pediatricians will advise you to ignore them. And that’s fine. Tics are really common, about 1 in 5 elementary school children will have one...
What Age is Best for Starting Team Sports?
Four-year-olds running amuck on the soccer field are adorable, but what is your child learning from team sports at this age? Pick the right time to start sports and you’ll boost their confidence and develop skills. Starting kids in sports before they are...
What to do if a kid eats … How to Handle Accidental Poisonings at Home
I generally don’t put non-food substances in my mouth. But young kids exploring this new world might eat deodorant, nail polish remover, grandma’s pills, or hand sanitizer just in case they might be delicious. How worried should you be? Accidentally swallowing a...
Was That a Seizure? Abnormal Movements That Fake Us Out
Every parent has thought at some point that a weird baby movement was a seizure. So I’m here to tell you about my favorite baby seizure fake-outs. Movements during Sleep All babies have some abnormal movements during sleep. Babies don’t have muscle paralysis during...
Why Do Kids Wet the Bed? Nocturnal Enuresis Explained
Nighttime bedwetting indicates that a child’s nervous system is still developing. And that’s a good thing! You want them to keep growing and changing. Bedwetting is not a physical illness or a psychological problem. So, don’t waste any of your precious mental energy...
What Can You Do About Bedwetting?
Healthy 5-to-12 year-old kids who are potty-trained during the day can wet the bed at night - and it's normal. Ten percent of 7 year-olds wet the bed at least occasionally, and five percent wet every night. The normal age range for achieving bladder control at night...
Do Kids Need Multivitamins?
Listen to the Podcast episodeIs your child a picky eater, vegetarian or only eats white foods? Then you’ve wondered what their diet is missing. Children have a natural instinct to eat just the right amount of calories to grow. Unfortunately, they don’t automatically...
Baby not rolling over? Don’t panic yet!
When and how should a normal baby roll-over and what does it mean? Rolling over is the most mysterious of the milestones. Some babies roll from front to back before they roll back to front and others choose the opposite order. Some babies roll over once and never...
Dangers Worth Worrying About
Parenting is anxiety-provoking. When you know what is dangerous and what’s not it’s easier to worry less.
Pulling on Ears is Super-Fun According to Kids
Every parent (including myself) has suspected that their child has an ear infection when in fact they don’t. How does such deception occur? According to my two-year old source, it is very cool to play with your ears. This 21 month-old patient I saw in the ER admitted...
When should kids wear shoes?
Just like kids need to wear a helmet during activities where they could be injured, children only need to wear shoes when they might injure their feet. For example, you don't want your toddler stepping on glass, getting a splinter or walking on hot asphalt in bare...