Monthly Archives: January 2012

A flood of (mis)information: parenting in the digital age

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photo by Heath Brandon

These days, when we have a question or doubt about our health or our child (or about anything really), our first thought is not likely to get out a book, or make a phone call. It is to search the web.  The internet brings answers to our questions within a few seconds.  This is an amazing thing- patients bring questions to clinic about things they have read, the patient/physician relationship becomes less paternalistic, e-patient communities are formed.  Patients and health care providers are more well-informed and empowered.

But what happens when the information we find is not correct? Continue reading →

The toddler, the toothbrush, and the timer: How does one keep a toddler’s teeth clean?

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The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is now recommending that infants see a dentist before their first birthday, or shortly after the first teeth erupt.  This may seem early, but it is for good reason.  Poor oral health and dental decay are all too prevalent in young children and can be cause of significant pain and suffering.  Baby teeth serve important functions in chewing, language development, and as place-holders for adult teeth. An early visit to the dentist can help catch any cavities and offers an opportunity to discuss dental care and fluoride needs. Practically speaking, I encourage parents to at least get to the dentist between the first and second birthday.

I took my son to his first dentist appointment around sixteen months of age.  Continue reading →

One bad burger: Is it food poisoning?

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Staph aureus: Cool to look at. . . not so cool to have.

Recently I’ve taken care of a few kids who came into the clinic with vomiting that suspiciously started soon after eating a hamburger (two at school and one at a fast food restaurant).  Is this food poisoning or a routine viral infection?  What is “food poisoning” and what causes it?  What should parents do if they suspect their child has food poisoning?  Read on to find out. Continue reading →

Feeding Toddlers, Part Two: The Picky Crowd

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Photo by Martin Cathrae

After a lovely holiday hiatus, I am back, as promised, with part two in the series on feeding toddlers.  Today I’ll focus on kids who are choosy.  For this post I lean on professional experience.  We have no shortage of patients in our practice whom one could describe as “picky eaters” or who are sometimes diagnosed with “feeding problems”.  I have trouble with the diagnosis “feeding problems or mismanagement”, as it comes up in our electronic medical record.  Why?  Well, and this hopefully serves as a bit of comfort, toddlers who are picky eaters are pretty much the norm.  It is, in fact, an expected developmental stage.  If you have a toddler who refuses dinner, but then begs for chicken nuggets, this post is for you.  If you have a toddler who only takes two bites at each meal, and then runs off to play, this is for you.  If your child seems to refuse all vegies, this is for you.  If, on the other hand, you have a child with true “failure to thrive” or difficulty gaining weight and growing well, please consult with your pediatrician, as I won’t be addressing those problems here. Continue reading →