Although in rare instances spit-up may be a sign of a real problem, in most cases it is a normal, benign, transient symptom. Here's how to understand the difference between normal spit-up and a more serious problem

Our pediatrician explains how warm-weather sniffles differ from winter colds -- and shares her tips for keeping your family safe and healthy

Don't let those sniffles and sneezes make your family miserable. Have your best spring yet with these smart parenting tips

Time for your child's next doctor appointment? Our expert pediatrician shares what parents can do to make the visit go smoothly

Plagued by allergies? In addition to over-the-counter and prescription medications, there are a few additional moves that can help ease the sniffles, sneezes and watery eyes. Consider these following strategies

Our hands allow us to work, interact and take care of our children -- but they can also make us sick. And, most of us aren't washing correctly. Here's the clean truth about how to kill germs with proper hand-washing protocol

Although colds and the flu are both respiratory illnesses, they're caused by different types of viruses. The problem is that colds and the flu share symptoms, like coughing and sneezing. Here's how to distinguish between the two

Helping a sick child is much more than taking temperatures and doling out medicine. Our expert swears by the following four staples to comfort and soothe

To keep your family healthy and safe this flu season, it's important to know all you can about the flu. Here are seasonal flu fundamentals on everything from symptoms to prevention

Here are three myths that I hear often in my practice ... and the truth behind each one. Read on; you just might be surprised at the truth behind cold and flu myths

How do you keep sick kids comfortable and entertained? We asked real moms and dads for their go-to moves

Antibiotics are not always helpful -- in fact, sometimes it can be harmful. Our pediatrician explains

In an effort to keep up with my tech-savvy patients and their parents, I read a study from a well-known software maker that confirmed something we all know: Our kids are extremely wired

Although digital communities enable youths to socialize with peers and develop multimedia skills, these online forums also have risks. Fortunately there are ways for parents to help their children avoid these new types of harm

Swelling of the lymph nodes, known as lymphadenopathy, is quite common during childhood. This is most noticeable in the head and neck area

There's has been a lot of discussion lately (in both medical and lay literature) surrounding the use of prebiotics and probiotics. The first question patients and parents often ask is, what's the difference between the two?

I received an email via our iPhone App from a mom who was very worried after her daughter had been bitten by a friend's dog. This is a common concern pediatricians hear

Flu vaccines are being shipped and should be in your doctor's office by now. This year's vaccine contains three strains of influenza virus that are identical to last year's chosen strains

To start teaching children about healthy eating habits, we need to begin in early elementary school. Sit down with your child and review the school lunch menu. It might be wise to make a deal that they may buy their lunch two days a week and you'll pack a lunch on the other three days

It's always good news when I read research-based studies validating that vaccines are one of the most important advances in public health

I get a lot of questions from new parents who are runners about the use of jogging strollers. When researching the issue in the pediatric literature, I couldn't find a consensus about when it's safe and appropriate to use such a stroller with a newborn

Are you confused about over-the-counter liquid medication dosages? You're not alone. The good news is, changes are coming. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just released new guidelines in an effort to reduce the risk of overdoses when giving children liquid OTC medications

A new study confirms something pediatricians and parents already suspected: One key to having happy, healthy and less depressed children is to have earlier bedtimes.

I just read an interesting study about teenagers with headaches. About 1 to 2 percent of adolescents have chronic daily headaches, defined as greater than 15 headache days per month for more than three months.

I've been reading and reviewing several articles on food allergies and their diagnosis. One piece appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (May 2010 issue) and another in the March issue of Consultant for Pediatricians. Both articles emphasized that there continues to be a great deal of confusion and lack of uniformity for diagnosing food allergies

Parental concerns about children with fever continue to be the primary reason for phone calls to pediatricians' offices, visits to the doctor and late-night trips to the ER. The term 'fever phobia' is not new, and one of the hardest things to 'teach' parents is the mantra: Fever is your friend. What? How can that be?

An article published in the journal Pediatrics from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on nutrition sets new guidelines for iron intake in infants and children. The news is not good. As such, the AAP guidelines now recommend the following

Pregnancy is a time of joy, but for many women, a time of unprecedented worry. Along with the admonitions about caffeine, lunchmeat and wine, many pregnant women are told they should get rid of their cats because of health risks. With a few basic safety precautions, the Centers for Disease Control states that pregnant women do not need to give up their cats

MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus) is a bacterial infection of the skin and soft tissue. With the frequency of such infections rising, parents should be aware of the fact that an unusual 'bite' that's becoming more tender, has surrounding redness (erythema), feels warm to the touch and has the appearance of a large pimple or boil, needs to be examined

As we continue our allergy series, we thought it would helpful to offer a few tips on how to keep many pesky allergens from bothering your kids in your home. A wide array of things can trigger an allergy attack in the home, including dust mites and mold

The surge in allergies this year has been due to a very wet winter, and the weather this spring has brought erratic changes of temperature and lots of wind. This is the perfect storm for an 'allergic cascade' to attack everyone's nasal mucosa. Intranasal steroids appear to be the best preventative and treatment for nasal allergy symptoms

An article published recently in the journal Pediatrics, from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on nutrition, sets new guidelines for iron intake in infants and children. The news is not good. According to Dr. Frank Greer, co-author of the report, 'iron deficiency remains common in the United States'

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a condition that begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood. Between 20 and 50 percent of children diagnosed with ADD will continue to have clinically significant symptoms in adulthood

If there's one thing I know after looking down thousands of throats during my pediatric career, tonsils come in many shapes and sizes. Here's what else I have learned about children's tonsils and tonsillitis

The best way to prevent stomach upsets in small children is to teach good eating habits from a very young age. These easy to implement eating tips will set the stage for a life-time of good eating habits and help avert uncomfortable tummy aches and pains

Our hands allow us to work, interact and take care of our children -- but they can also make us sick. Hand-to-face contact is the most common way germs are spread. That's why proper hand-washing is the best defense against cold and flu. Read on to get the clean truth about how to kill germs with proper hand-washing

Monday's in the office are always busy, and one of the most predictable visits will be for a child who has had a fever over the weekend. Fevers and kids are like salt and pepper; they just go together. The most frequently asked question is, 'When do I need to see the doctor for a fever?' There is not one simple answer. Here are some simple rules of thumb for calling your pediatrician

A mother with a 9-year-old daughter asked, 'Could my daughter could be allergic to strawberries, as she gets a stomachache and sometimes vomits after she eats them? She hasn't had problems eating strawberries before.' This is interesting because I've been reading and reviewing several articles on food allergies and their diagnosis

No mom wants her child to feel miserable -- and the common cold can really wipe a kid out! Fortunately, combining a few simple moves with time-tested remedies can help ease your little one's symptoms. So the next time she starts coughing and sneezing, try these savvy tricks to soothe your sick kid in no time

Your child drops an animal cracker on the floor, then bends over to pick it up and eat it. You think to yourself, '10-second rule!' But how bad is it, really? Are you letting your kids pick up germs and bacteria, or are they actually boosting their immune systems? To find out when -- and if -- being a germophobe mom pays, we talked with expert Carole Marsh. Here's what she had to say

If you're considering whether your children get enough sleep, these healthy and simple sleep habits will help

Dealing with sick kids is her job! Get our blogger's tips of the trade so you can fend off germs too

I've been seeing a lot of cases of 'hand, foot and mouth disease' (HFM) in the office lately. This illness is usually caused by a Coxsackie virus A-16, a member of the enteroviral family. These viruses are typically seen in the summer and early fall

I attribute the fact that my four year old daughter eats everything, from oysters and rabbit ragu to kale and carrot juice, to pure and simple luck. Other parents ask, especially when they see her slurp down an oyster, how we get her to eat so well. When I say it is all luck, I'm not lying. But the truth is, I also use a few tricks

Students from preschool through college are in full end-of-the-school year mode. Unfortunately, there also seem to be several spring/summer viruses lurking around that are disrupting many students' (and parents') end-of-year plan

For many families, battling the flu is a seasonal rite of passage: Up to one in five children will suffer through a bout. To help ease your worries, we asked the experts to spell out what day-by-day flu symptoms to expect, how you should treat them, and when to call your pediatrician. By arming yourself with the flu facts, you can stop fretting -- and start taking charge

RSV is the acronym for respiratory synctial virus, a wintertime upper respiratory infection that causes colds and coughs, but also an illness known as bronchiolitis.