How can I tell if my child is getting dehydrated when she is vomiting or has diarrhea?

My five-year-old daughter grinds her teeth when she sleeps. I would like to know the cause, and if there is anything I should do about it.

When is a child's cut serious enough to require stitches?

When is it safe to put sunscreen on my baby?

My pediatrician just prescribed an antibiotic for my child and the directions say "one teaspoon full three times a day." Does that mean the medication should be given at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, or every eight hours?

I would like to know what my child's prescription says. What are the meanings of all those little letters?

My teenage son went to our pediatrician for a sport physical and the physician said he had an "innocent heart murmur" and was okay to play soccer. What is an innocent murmur? Is it dangerous?

My four year old always has bad breath. What can cause this problem in a child?

I've been told that families should eat their meals together no matter what. Is that true?

Should decisions in our family be handled in a democratic way?

I do not think it is correct to reward or bribe my child for work they do around the house. Do you agree?

We must put our pet to sleep. What should we tell our children?

Is it okay to coax my child to try a new food by offering a cookie or sweat as a reward?

My daughter has a "lazy eye." What is meant by a "lazy eye?"

My son recently started running cross country. He describes a dull aching pain on the lower front part of his shin bone. His running coach says he has shin splints. What are shin splints?

What is a sty?

My child's dentist uses nitrous oxide to treat my child. What is nitrous oxide and is it safe?

Is there any way to prevent "swimmers' ear?"

What are those red boxes I see on the wall of our pediatrician's office?

What things can I do to keep my child healthy?

How can I tell if my child is really sick and should stay home from school?

Two of my child's adult teeth are coming behind the baby teeth. Is this normal?

My child developed a strange rash over her face after a night of coughing. I took her to our pediatrician who said they were "blood spots." She also used another name for the rash that I cannot remember. Is this serious?

My child was diagnosed with pneumonia by his pediatrician. Is pneumonia contagious and when can he go back to school?

I wore braces throughout high school. Will my daughter need braces too, or is it too early to tell?

Are mouth guards important for student athletes?

How does my child's diet affect his dental health?

What should I do if my child complains of a toothache?

My husband is seriously ill and the doctors say he will not live longer than six months. What is the best way to prepare my six and ten year old children?

My husband and I disagree on how to discipline our child. What is the best way to handle this?

While cleaning my teenage daughter's bedroom, I found an empty box of Vivarin in the wastebasket. Is this medicine dangerous?

I live 2000 miles from my grandchildren. How can I stay in touch with them?

My son is marrying a woman with two children. What should they call me?

My grandchildren never acknowledge my Christmas or birthday gifts. I do not know what to do. I hate to stop remembering them with gifts, but it hurts when they do not call or write to say thanks, especially when I've spent a great deal of effort selecting

What should I do about my daughter who refuses all dairy products. I am worried she is not getting enough calcium.

The doctor told my sister-in-law that their new baby girl had a hole in her heart. Is that serious?

What can be done to make a child more comfortable during a middle of the night ear infection?

How do I know not to worry after a head injury?

What does it mean that my pediatrician is "board certified?"

Is there still a need to vaccinate my child? Most of the diseases he is being vaccinated against no longer pose a health risk in the United States

My 8-year-old nephew is extremely thin. He is about 3'10" - 3'11" tall and weighs 50 pounds. My sister and her husband are VERY "health conscious," eat only low- or no-fat foods, exercise 1-2 hours per day, and my nephew's diet is extremely controlled-

Do you have any ideas that will help make traveling with children easier?

The breast bone of my son has caved inward since he was a baby. As a teenager, he is now embarrassed by the deformity and will not take off his shirt. What can be done about this condition?

At my twelve-year-old daughter’s sports physical our pediatrician noted a curve in her spine. He suggested that we see a specialist, but we could not get an appointment for two months. I am worried that she will need an ugly brace or worse, surgery. Can

My doctor says calcium is important for teenagers. How can I tell if I’m getting enough calcium?

How much tylenol should I give my 15 month old child for fever?

I have a 6yr old granddaughter that just started 1st grade and refuses to eat lunch at school. That her mother packs for her. What can be done?

I received an email today warning about the dangers of using waterproof sunscreen. It said that getting sunscreen in the eye can cause blindness. I am very concerned. Is this true?

My son was recently tested and found to have a blood triglyceride level of 331. He is 9 years of age and gets plenty of exercise. What foods would cause this level to be so high and what should we do?

Should I be concerned about my son's weight. He is 9 years old, 53 in. tall and weighs about 82 lbs. He's also perceptibly somewhat chunky, even overweight I would say.My preference would be to do nothing, but do worry that maybe I should try to chang

Our daughter is going to be eight years old next month and I am starting to think about talking to her about growing up, getting her period, etc. What do I say? How much do I tell her about sex at this age? Is eight too young? I bought her a workbook and

My Daughter is going to be 11 on July 2nd. I have tried several time to talk to her about what's happening to her body and what's going to happen in the near future. She doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't want to listen. Do you have any suggestions on

My teenage daughter often complains of chest pains. I have mitral valve prolapse. Could this be the cause of her chest pains?

I recently received a note from my child's school saying that a new student had developed hepatitis B. Is my child in any danger?

I work as a nurse at a pediatricians's office. The doctor ordered Emla Cream for the parents who felt it would numb the baby's thighs and the baby would not feel the injections. I told them I felt the baby would still feel them because the medicine goes

My 8 year old daughter is on the 5th percentile for height and was always small and underweight. She was hospitalized at 10 months of age for failure to thrive. However, over the past several months, she has been gaining weight rapidly and is now abo

I have an eleven year old daughter who suddenly is having trouble falling asleep at night. She works herself up into such a frenzy that it takes a while to get her to sleep, and she sometimes is up even after my husband and I go to sleep. She is doing w

My son (aged 8) has complained consistently for the last three weeks of pain in the middle of his chest. His sternum area appears quite sensitive to touch. Today the pain was worse after gym class. What could it be?

I have an active 5year old son. This spring he had Scarlet Fever and he now complains of different joint pains. Some days his wrists hurt, other days it is his elbow, knees, or ankles. He seems to always say his neck and spine hurt. It appears to alway

My son just turned 9 and I'm concerned he is going to be overweight. In just a year it seems he has grown a little belly. He has always been pretty slim. He's 55" tall which I know is 90th percentile (he's always been in the 90th for height & weight) and

I just read the response you gave to the parent that was worried about his/her son's weight. While I understand everything you said, I was wondering what you would tell a parent whose child is all ready what I consider to be obese? It's my nephew. He's 1

I am thinking about giving my 4 year old son Echinacea with gold seal to help boost his immune system when he gets a cold.(It seems to take him a long time to get over a cold). Is there any risk doing this and how much would I give him.

How do you get a 5 year old to have better eating habits? She resists trying any type of vegetable or red meat. Any way to entice her to eat veggies.

My question is about vitamins for my 11 year old son, and at what age the prescription vitamins that has been taking for years now (Polyvits with flouride) are considered babyish? In other words, when do I switch to an over-the-counter multi-vitamin? Than

My 10 year old son has always been in the lowest percent in weight which we felt was normal as his father and I are both thin. In the past year he has jumped from 65 to almost 90 pounds. We wouldn't be concerned so much but lately he has also been tired

Is it okay to sniff nail polish?

I have a 15yr old son who has been complaining of not being able to breath right, like a brick is on his chest. I have brought him to our pediatrician twice and she both times relates this to congestion in chest and says that he is ok. He had an ekg done w

My daughter is 11 years old. She has always been very healthy. Lately her heart has started racing. It can start racing whether she is active or just sitting down. She says that it feels like her heart is going to come out of her chest and it's difficult t

My son just turned 5 and has been delayed since birth. We have done all to rule everything out including Genetics Testing. They could not find anything that "stood out" but found just a few minor imperfections that they could only suggest was possible NOON

Why does the heart rate of children decrease as they get older?

What are the long term effects of the chronic use of antibiotics. My daughter has reflux and is on long term sulfa antibiotics to prevent a urinary tract infection.