Jennifer Stahl MD's Blog (11)

Most moms shudder at the thought of starting the potty training process with their stubborn, independent, "perfectly happy in their diaper" toddlers.  The key is watching for their signs of readiness and then making it a process that they can proudly do on their own.

 

I recommend you start teaching the basics around the age of 18 months.  This includes defining "pee pee" and "poo poo" (or whatever words you use for it), showing them how you do it and getting a potty that they…

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Every child should have at least an hour a day of free play time to expand their imagination, practice their social skills and learn important things about the world they live in.  Please take a look at this great New York Times article as well as this recommendation from the AAP's Healthy Children website.…

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One of the most common questions I get is "how do I get my picky eater to eat healthy foods"?  This is definitely a difficult task and unfortunately there is no quick easy solution.

 

I found this article in the New York Times that beautifully goes through the steps you need to take.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/15/health/healthspecial2/15eat.html

We pediatricians feel really helpless when it comes to the common cold. Children can be expected to catch a few a year and there really isn't much we can do to help alleviate their symptoms. Of course ibuprofen or acetaminophen work great for pain or fever. Saline and humidifiers can help keep phlegm loose. Honey can ease an cough. There is no evidence though that OTC cough and cold medicines help children, and there is the risk of significant side effects and unnecessary ER visits for… Continue

"The more people have studied different methods of bringing up children the more they have come to the conclusion that what good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is usually best after all. Furthermore, all parents do their best job when they have a natural, easy confidence in themselves.… Continue

My very favorite place to bring my girls is Pretend City in Irvine. It's a place where they are free to roam and explore freely, to use their imagination and learn new things by actually doing them. They can be waitresses in the restaurant, police officers at the police station, a doctor or nurse in the clinic, farmers plowing in the field or a construction worker building a kid size "house". They have watched chicks hatch from their shell, made pinwheels that really work, listened to many an… Continue

Just in time for back to school, the AAP has tips on how to prepare your little one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo

I love this site for good info on how to start foods for infants, how to ease them into table foods and how to prepare healthy foods for toddlers that they will want to eat!

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http://www.toddler411.com/baby411/drbrown.html