What do pediatricians really think about screen time and vaccines?
When someone loses a child, it’s hard to know what to say. The pain is unimaginable—and for many of us, that fear of saying the wrong thing keeps us from saying anything at all. In this week’s episode of The Pediatrician Next Door…
Have you stared at a jar of peanut butter wondering if giving it to your baby is safe—or if you might end up in the ER? The idea of introducing allergenic foods to a baby can feel terrifying, but the latest research actually says: do it, and d…
If you’ve found your child naked with another child or heard they were touching someone at school, your heart might be racing—but take a breath. You can handle this. Believe it or not, these types of behaviors are actually quite common a…
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…
We can handle sniffles and scraped knees. A hug usually works. But when your child says, “Nobody played with me today,” or “They didn’t invite me,” — well, that hits different. It hits us right in the parenting gu…
You know that moment when you're trying to drop your kid off at school and suddenly your leg becomes their new emotional support animal? Maybe they're in tears, maybe you're in tears, and maybe both of you are wondering what happened to the confiden…
Lost in the sea of sunscreen choices? Here’ s how to choose the perfect sun protection for every situation Although there is no perfect sunscreen, it’s a little easier to choose a good one these days. Older sunscreens were only designed…
Will your child be an Olympic athlete? A math whiz? We adults love guessing what kind of grown-up our little one will become. If you’ve ever seen your baby reach for a toy with their left hand and thought, Hmm… maybe they’re a lef…
Are you up late, scrolling through parenting forums looking for help with a weird rash or stubborn sleep regression? Are you more confused then before you started? You're not alone. We’re raising kids in an age of too much advice. Blogs, podc…
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 b…
Every baby is capable of sleeping through the night. Studies of billions of babies [1] have shown that, developmentally speaking, their brains and stomachs can endure 8 hours without parental intervention sometime between 4 and 6 months of age.…
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 wast…
Kids are naturally curious, and sometimes they ask questions that catch us off guard. If your child wonders why a friend has two moms, how a baby was born through surrogacy, or what IVF means, how should you respond? These conversations are a great …
Is 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 automaticall…
If your kids aren’t fighting yet, here are some strategies you can use now to prevent them from starting the bickering and hitting and poking and.... Catch your older child being kind toward a sibling. If you have a new baby, praise your…
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 spor…
It happens every year. On Thursday night your kid is up past 10 watching a show or reading under the covers, and by Sunday you’re frantically googling:“How to get a feral child back on a school sleep schedule in 24 hours.” Sound f…
How does Plain Jane milk come out the other end as Technicolor poop? Baby poop’s unique color is a combination of intestinal bacteria, bile and whatever was swallowed. Two jars of squash equals orange poop. But even when baby is only taking f…