Babies & Sleep: Our 4 month old routinely wakes up during the middle of the night – usually 2-4x. She doesn’t need to eat, just needs her pacifier replaced and a pat on the tummy. Do we let her cry it out, or just keep going in and replacing the pacifier until she can put it back in on her own? What are your thoughts on sleep training?
I would love some perspective on the area of toddler nutrition – I’m losing sleep over this! My 20 month old refuses to eat/drink anything with calcium (milk,cheese,yogurt,etc.) and iron (beans,etc.). We’re mostly vegetarian although I’ve been buying some chicken sausage (he loves it!) as a last resort. I’m trying to include fortified foods where I can but feel like this is somehow cheating and not “good enough”??? Consequently, I’ve let myself become a short order cook so that he’ll eat something. Like so many things, I swore I wouldn’t be THIS Mom… C’est la vie.
(Sidenote: worth noting toddler is right track in terms of growth and development-he’s thriving)
Also, are gummy kids vitamins legit? I wondering if I should start including those too as a back up. My four year old daughter has always eaten pretty well. Where did we go wrong with the second? : )
Pacifiers. . . when to wean and how to do it.
Signs of autism. . . and what’s just “normal.”
Hitting (friends, mom, the dog, etc.) in both younger babies and also in toddlers and preschoolers. Throw biting in there, too.
Sleep training is always a good one, but also what about sleep regressions? I’m finding sleep isn’t just an infant problem.
Along the same lines as Jessica, how old is too old/young to do CIO? Are doctors (Ferber/Weisbluth) reluctant to encourage CIO on babies under 4 or 6 months because it is still high risk SIDS time and they don’t want anyone pegging it on CIO, or is there a legit reason not to then?? And if you wait until your kid is older (9-12mo) is there any problem?
I would love more information on circumcision. Not necessarliy the procedure itself but the pros and cons associated with it.
Thanks for all of your wonderful, extremely helpful posts!
This may not be cover-able in 101 seconds, but I’d love to hear anything you have to say about keeping children safe from sexual abuse (even if you do a longer blog post about it). This is one of my “things” that I am more paranoid about than I probably should be, but considering the statistic that 1 in 4 women is sexually abused in their lifetime, I think it is a real threat. I myself was molested (by a stranger) when I was 5, so now that my daughter is 5 and in school and at playdates, this is something I really struggle with – how to arm them with knowledge without freaking them out and how to make protective but also rational decisions about when to let your child out of your sight. There is a pediatrician in our town who found out several years ago that her husband was sexually abusing their daughters – I know her, and she is a great mother who honestly had NO idea. What freaked me out, is if a pediatrician didn’t know that about her OWN HUSBAND, how could I ever know who was okay to trust?
Vera, do you have any contact info on your blog? can’t seem to find it. I also vote for a keeping kids safe from sex abuse topic but I don’t know if 101 seconds covers it. I had a similar experience and recently in the parent ed class for my daughter’s preschool we had a 2+ hr discussion. I am happy to share the bibliography of books to read/discuss with kids from that discussion with you and Dr Swanson over email.
How do you know the diff between a picky eater and a kid with a sensory / oral issue?
Would love to hear advice about how to discipline children who are 4-6. Are timeouts the best approach? That’s what I do with my two sons (ages 6 1/2 and almost 5), but I feel like they’re not learning to stop the bad behavior. The timeout seems to work in the moment, but the minute it’s over, it seems like they forget the consequence and go right back to the bad behavior…if not in minutes, then later that same day or the next day. I’ve tried using star charts to reward good behavior and put more emphasis on focusing on the positive, but those negative behaviors keep trickling through. I know they’re growing and learning and won’t be perfect little angels all of the time, but is there a better way to approach channeling good behaviors and eliminating bad ones?
Also, this may be more than a quick video’s worth, but what’s a good way to help a child cope with his anger? My 6-year-old is a “0-60” kid – if you rock his boat, he rages. For example, if I tell him it’s time to turn the TV off, he gets really upset and screams at me and sometimes even hits me. I try to give him advanced warning in such situations (“OK, C, it’s almost time for bed. We need to brush teeth…we’ll need to turn off the TV in 10 minutes” repeat at 5 minutes, 2 minutes…) but it doesn’t seem to matter. He still gets upset. How can I teach him that anger isn’t the best choice? And what do I do in the moment when his fire is fueled?
Thank you!
Viki thanks so much for offering to share! If you go to the “About Me” page on my blog (top left) and scroll to the very bottom, there is a link to email me. Thank you!
I just wanted to say you are a brave doc for requesting questions from your readers! Most of the topics I’m interested in have already been suggested by previous posters (dealing with anger and protecting against abuse/stranger danger). “The Lovely Bones” scared the bejeezes outa us.
I would also be interested in your views on “growing up with a foreskin” 😉
Re: Gummy Vits. Keep in mind that they are made with Glucose, and other REAL sugars, so they are cavity-promoters if you aren’t good about having your kid(s) brush after eating them (or any other carbohydrates that stick to teeth, such as cereal, crackers, etc).
What is the developmentally appropriate time to allow kids to have cell phones? Facebook? At what age are most kids developmentally capable of handling such privileges and properly understanding the risks involved?
Discipline ideas and techniques for preschool age. How to help them cope and manage their emotions.
How diet effects behavior/foods that help keep your kids focused.
How to help your child deal with teasing or bullying at school.
Love the weekly Vlog idea!!
How to talk to your child’s doctor, how to think about questions as she does. In other words, how to avoid the “ships passing in the night” problem that too often happens in the examining room.
I would like to see stuff on nutrition and the growing obesity rate in kids. I want to know how to tell if your child is too big for their age and how much they should really be consuming. I worry about keeping my preschooler active and eating good, but its hard to do with all the temptations out there (friends, school, fast food).
Getting rid of the pacifier (my son turns 4 on June 3rd) and we have let it go on way too long. Used only for bed and car rides, he really seems to love it though, and is resisting getting rid of it.
Also, pooping in the toilet. He is toilet trained with respect to #1, but refuses to put #2 in the toilet unless we really force him, and it ends up being a real struggle with tears and frustration. Help!
Thanks in advance!
How to help the tween girl with the changes she is experiencing with her body and hormones. Any recommendations for books or videos would be great.
Another would be helping your preschooler transition to Kindergarten.
Here’s another one:
How much privacy (or lack of) is appropriate for children online? I’m speaking about the kids who have parents blogging, facebooking, etc. I know you never show clear full-on faces of your kids (my personal preference too), but some parents have thousands of photos of their children online, or on their blogs, etc. I have allowed family members to post my kids’ photos online, feeling somewhat “silly” for saying, “No, please don’t show their faces or use their real names, I’m paranoid…” Am I too paranoid? Is online privacy for children not as big of a deal as I fear it is? What do you think about this?
Jessica says
Babies & Sleep: Our 4 month old routinely wakes up during the middle of the night – usually 2-4x. She doesn’t need to eat, just needs her pacifier replaced and a pat on the tummy. Do we let her cry it out, or just keep going in and replacing the pacifier until she can put it back in on her own? What are your thoughts on sleep training?
Judith says
I would love some perspective on the area of toddler nutrition – I’m losing sleep over this! My 20 month old refuses to eat/drink anything with calcium (milk,cheese,yogurt,etc.) and iron (beans,etc.). We’re mostly vegetarian although I’ve been buying some chicken sausage (he loves it!) as a last resort. I’m trying to include fortified foods where I can but feel like this is somehow cheating and not “good enough”??? Consequently, I’ve let myself become a short order cook so that he’ll eat something. Like so many things, I swore I wouldn’t be THIS Mom… C’est la vie.
(Sidenote: worth noting toddler is right track in terms of growth and development-he’s thriving)
Also, are gummy kids vitamins legit? I wondering if I should start including those too as a back up. My four year old daughter has always eaten pretty well. Where did we go wrong with the second? : )
Katie says
Pacifiers. . . when to wean and how to do it.
Signs of autism. . . and what’s just “normal.”
Hitting (friends, mom, the dog, etc.) in both younger babies and also in toddlers and preschoolers. Throw biting in there, too.
Sleep training is always a good one, but also what about sleep regressions? I’m finding sleep isn’t just an infant problem.
Laura says
Along the same lines as Jessica, how old is too old/young to do CIO? Are doctors (Ferber/Weisbluth) reluctant to encourage CIO on babies under 4 or 6 months because it is still high risk SIDS time and they don’t want anyone pegging it on CIO, or is there a legit reason not to then?? And if you wait until your kid is older (9-12mo) is there any problem?
Jen says
I would love more information on circumcision. Not necessarliy the procedure itself but the pros and cons associated with it.
Thanks for all of your wonderful, extremely helpful posts!
Vera says
This may not be cover-able in 101 seconds, but I’d love to hear anything you have to say about keeping children safe from sexual abuse (even if you do a longer blog post about it). This is one of my “things” that I am more paranoid about than I probably should be, but considering the statistic that 1 in 4 women is sexually abused in their lifetime, I think it is a real threat. I myself was molested (by a stranger) when I was 5, so now that my daughter is 5 and in school and at playdates, this is something I really struggle with – how to arm them with knowledge without freaking them out and how to make protective but also rational decisions about when to let your child out of your sight. There is a pediatrician in our town who found out several years ago that her husband was sexually abusing their daughters – I know her, and she is a great mother who honestly had NO idea. What freaked me out, is if a pediatrician didn’t know that about her OWN HUSBAND, how could I ever know who was okay to trust?
DS says
Wendy Sue – in response to Vera, I finished re-reading that book and will get started asap on a guest post that you can use if you like it.
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Can’t wait to see it, DS!
Viki says
Vera, do you have any contact info on your blog? can’t seem to find it. I also vote for a keeping kids safe from sex abuse topic but I don’t know if 101 seconds covers it. I had a similar experience and recently in the parent ed class for my daughter’s preschool we had a 2+ hr discussion. I am happy to share the bibliography of books to read/discuss with kids from that discussion with you and Dr Swanson over email.
How do you know the diff between a picky eater and a kid with a sensory / oral issue?
Laura says
Would love to hear advice about how to discipline children who are 4-6. Are timeouts the best approach? That’s what I do with my two sons (ages 6 1/2 and almost 5), but I feel like they’re not learning to stop the bad behavior. The timeout seems to work in the moment, but the minute it’s over, it seems like they forget the consequence and go right back to the bad behavior…if not in minutes, then later that same day or the next day. I’ve tried using star charts to reward good behavior and put more emphasis on focusing on the positive, but those negative behaviors keep trickling through. I know they’re growing and learning and won’t be perfect little angels all of the time, but is there a better way to approach channeling good behaviors and eliminating bad ones?
Also, this may be more than a quick video’s worth, but what’s a good way to help a child cope with his anger? My 6-year-old is a “0-60” kid – if you rock his boat, he rages. For example, if I tell him it’s time to turn the TV off, he gets really upset and screams at me and sometimes even hits me. I try to give him advanced warning in such situations (“OK, C, it’s almost time for bed. We need to brush teeth…we’ll need to turn off the TV in 10 minutes” repeat at 5 minutes, 2 minutes…) but it doesn’t seem to matter. He still gets upset. How can I teach him that anger isn’t the best choice? And what do I do in the moment when his fire is fueled?
Thank you!
Vera says
Viki thanks so much for offering to share! If you go to the “About Me” page on my blog (top left) and scroll to the very bottom, there is a link to email me. Thank you!
Kathy says
I just wanted to say you are a brave doc for requesting questions from your readers! Most of the topics I’m interested in have already been suggested by previous posters (dealing with anger and protecting against abuse/stranger danger). “The Lovely Bones” scared the bejeezes outa us.
I would also be interested in your views on “growing up with a foreskin” 😉
Re: Gummy Vits. Keep in mind that they are made with Glucose, and other REAL sugars, so they are cavity-promoters if you aren’t good about having your kid(s) brush after eating them (or any other carbohydrates that stick to teeth, such as cereal, crackers, etc).
Jenny says
What is the developmentally appropriate time to allow kids to have cell phones? Facebook? At what age are most kids developmentally capable of handling such privileges and properly understanding the risks involved?
Nicole says
Discipline ideas and techniques for preschool age. How to help them cope and manage their emotions.
How diet effects behavior/foods that help keep your kids focused.
How to help your child deal with teasing or bullying at school.
Love the weekly Vlog idea!!
Chris Johnson says
How to talk to your child’s doctor, how to think about questions as she does. In other words, how to avoid the “ships passing in the night” problem that too often happens in the examining room.
Rose says
Skin during the summer – not just treating sunburn, but how to scope-out a rash and know whether it’s doctor visit-worthy.
Tam B says
I would like to see stuff on nutrition and the growing obesity rate in kids. I want to know how to tell if your child is too big for their age and how much they should really be consuming. I worry about keeping my preschooler active and eating good, but its hard to do with all the temptations out there (friends, school, fast food).
Chrissy says
Getting rid of the pacifier (my son turns 4 on June 3rd) and we have let it go on way too long. Used only for bed and car rides, he really seems to love it though, and is resisting getting rid of it.
Also, pooping in the toilet. He is toilet trained with respect to #1, but refuses to put #2 in the toilet unless we really force him, and it ends up being a real struggle with tears and frustration. Help!
Thanks in advance!
Kathy says
After hearing of another adolescent accidentally dying from “the choking game”, I’m urging all parents to discuss this issue with kids. Perhaps you can add it to your ever-growing “Topics for the Blog” list. Thanks Dr. Swanson.
https://www.kare11.com/news/article/925005/396/Death-prompts-warning-about-choking-game
https://www.gaspinfo.com/en/home.html
Jennifer says
How to help the tween girl with the changes she is experiencing with her body and hormones. Any recommendations for books or videos would be great.
Another would be helping your preschooler transition to Kindergarten.
Kathy says
Here’s another one:
How much privacy (or lack of) is appropriate for children online? I’m speaking about the kids who have parents blogging, facebooking, etc. I know you never show clear full-on faces of your kids (my personal preference too), but some parents have thousands of photos of their children online, or on their blogs, etc. I have allowed family members to post my kids’ photos online, feeling somewhat “silly” for saying, “No, please don’t show their faces or use their real names, I’m paranoid…” Am I too paranoid? Is online privacy for children not as big of a deal as I fear it is? What do you think about this?
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
great topic, Kathy. Will get to this.
Sara brown says
My baby really dislikes tummy time. Any suggestions for effective alternatives to build strength in the neck and arms?