Food jags, or when a child will only eat one food item at a time, is a common behavior in early childhood. It usually represents a way for children to show growing independence and is a normal part of their dev... continue reading  about  My 2 1/2 year old was once a great eater, but now wants to eat only cereal - plain Cheerios to be exact. He won't eat any dinner but complains he's hungry before bed, so I let him have some cereal. How do I break the cycle?

A cold will typically start with a sore throat, then lead to thick yellow or green mucus and possibly a cough. The symptoms last about seven to 10 days. Allergy symptoms include itchy eyes and throat, and clear... continue reading  about  My 6-year-old daughter has recently been sneezing, coughing and is tired. How can I tell if this is caused by allergies or if it's a common cold?

Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is normal even up to the age of 7. There is pretty clear evidence that it is genetic to a large extent, so children who take longer to grow out of it may have parents who were... continue reading  about  What causes bedwetting? My grandson (age 11) has wet the bed continuously. The medication he was given didn't help. He says he just can't wake up and sleeps right through it. I want him to feel good about himself, so I'm reaching out for any guidance.

A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has advanced education and training in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions, disease prevention, and the promotion of health an... continue reading  about  My ob-gyn doctor's office recently added a nurse practitioner. Can you tell me more about their qualifications and what they do?

The pneumonia vaccine helps protect you from S. pneumoniae, a bacterial germ that causes serious lung infections like pneumonia as well as blood infections and meningitis. It protects you from the most common t... continue reading  about  At what age should I have a pneumonia vaccination? Thank you!

"Pink eye" is a very common patient complaint and usually refers to the experience of eye redness, swollen red eyelids, itching or burning, or drainage from the eye. The patient is most often diagnosed with con... continue reading  about  What are the symptoms of pink eye? How is it treated?

I have a formula that you can use to calculate the calories you will need for your ideal body weight. Get ready for some math! Let's start by looking at how many calories you would need per day just to maintain... continue reading  about  How do I compute my basic healthy calorie intake? What are some basic facts about how many calories a person needs to burn to lose weight?

Energy drinks are advertised to give a person a boost of energy. A lot of that claim comes from the effect of the caffeine and sugar content of the drink. Sugar content in energy drinks vary by brand, but somet... continue reading  about  My kids drink those energy drinks every day. Is this bad for their health? How would I convince them of that?

Teens in organized sports, such as soccer, football and lacrosse, are particularly vulnerable to concussion. Approximately nine percent of all high school athletic injuries are concussions.Before enrolling your... continue reading  about  I'm concerned about my child getting a concussion while taking part in organized athletics. What can I do?