Children's physical health and well-being. See also the tag [hygiene] for matters of cleanliness.
41
votes
8answers
2k views
Should we circumcise our son?
My wife and I will be having a son in about a month and we are still deciding if we should have him circumcised.
There does not seem to be a strong medical opinion on the matter but we are ...
22
votes
10answers
4k views
What are the pros and cons of a chicken-pox party vs immunization?
Growing up in the US, most kids I knew (myself included) were exposed to Chicken Pox through Chicken-Pox parties where kids were allowed to play with a child who already had the Chicken Pox. Now that ...
16
votes
11answers
513 views
What is a good strategy for getting our 5 year old to finish dinner before expecting dessert?
More and more lately, I'm finding that our 5-year old daughter starts asking for dessert before she's finished her dinner.
Obviously, I'd like to find a way to manage this without it ending in a ...
16
votes
3answers
17k views
My child has chickenpox, am I infectious?
My 3-year-old has had chickenpox for about 2-3 days, but a close friend has just had a baby and I want to go and help. Is it possible that I am infectious, despite not having the illness? I had it as ...
15
votes
9answers
19k views
How do you know when it is time to take a child to the Doctor?
Our children have recently been sick and I am wondering when is the right time to take them to the doctor. They both have had runny noses with coughs, diarrhea, and fevers off and on for a week, ...
14
votes
5answers
1k views
How long is breastfeeding effective and worthwhile?
I realize that this question can have many personal or subjective viewpoints, so the answer I'm looking for is what the best-known data shows us from two perspectives:
1) Is there an average ...
14
votes
6answers
768 views
What's the best way to extract baby snot?
Our baby currently has a cold which means her nose is streaming with snot.
She is quite unhappy with us wiping it away with a tissue every few minutes. I can imagine her upper lip is getting quite ...
12
votes
6answers
424 views
How soon until I can take my newborn to take a walk outside?
I understand that newborn's immune system is still weak and crowds/strangers are to be avoided. Knowing this, how soon can I take my newborn outside, for example to take ~1 hours walk in a non-crowded ...
12
votes
2answers
936 views
Are trace amounts of caffeine through breastmilk safe for babies?
I am a student parent and find that coffee helps me study. I drank coffee while pregnant and kept it well under the daily allowed amount. I am unsure what I can have while breastfeeding though. How ...
12
votes
4answers
182 views
How can we prepare a pre-schooler to manage his asthma?
Given: a 5 year old kid with what is believed to be false spasmodic croup. Once in several months he experiences a sudden asthmatic fit in the middle of the night - specifically he has a mild spasm in ...
10
votes
8answers
270 views
What to read or learn before expecting?
We want to be prepare for our 9 months period as a couple and be sure to give a proper environment for our baby. What should we read before and during the 9 month period?
Please note: answers should ...
10
votes
3answers
750 views
Are signs of early puberty in a primary-school aged child a cause for concern?
My son is less than 6 years old, and last week we discovered that he has grown a little bit of pubic hair. This seems way too soon for this to happen. My older son, who is 9 years old, only now ...
10
votes
5answers
335 views
How do you respond to a teenager who has started to smoke?
How can you best handle this? Coming off as too strong and authoritative might invite "rebellion". Too lenient makes it seem okay.
What is the best response for driving home the dangers and risks ...
10
votes
2answers
6k views
How much noise does it take to negatively impact an infant's hearing?
In our apartment complex we have fire alarms that are outrageously loud. Last night, we woke at 4:30 am to the alarm going off all through the building. We got out as quickly as possible, but I'm ...
9
votes
3answers
269 views
How can I handle a child that claims medical problems as a bad excuse?
I have 3 kids who seem to use medical reasons for excuses, most often to not go to bed. For instance, my 7 year old periodically "Can't move" at bed time to get to his bed, but when he gets in there, ...
9
votes
4answers
589 views
At what age is a child able to brush his or her teeth unaided?
At what age is a child able to brush his or her teeth unaided?
I don't necessarily mean what age in years and months, rather the general development process.
I let my child brush his teeth on his ...
9
votes
3answers
3k views
Is it healthy for toddlers to play outside when it is cold?
Assuming the child is dressed properly and it isn't extremely cold (I'm thinking high 50ºF or 10ºC with wind). Their hands and face will be exposed and they may be sweaty from running around, but ...
9
votes
7answers
411 views
When should I introduce different foods to an infant or toddler?
It is often said that you should introduce certain foods in a certain order. These reasons often have to do with allergies, choking hazards, digestive system maturity, etc. What ages should your child ...
8
votes
5answers
9k views
Are ExerSaucers/walkers/jumpers bad for children or is that simply a misconception?
I have heard my whole life that the above mentioned types of toys delay walking and/or independent sitting (depending on the age they're used). I've even heard that they can hurt the infant's legs. ...
8
votes
5answers
359 views
How do you ensure proper nutrition for a child in a vegetarian or vegan household?
I do not yet have children but I am a vegetarian. I am curious to know how vegetarians, and vegans, address the issue of nourishment. If it helps, I am vegetarian more for ethical reasons than health ...
8
votes
5answers
6k views
New born seems to be spitting up entire meals. Should I be worried?
We have a baby that is a little over a week old and it seems like after some feedings she is spitting up what looks like her entire meal (breast feeding). I've been weighing her and she still seems ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Is my 15-month old drinking too much fluids?
My 15-month old is Mr. Thirst. He is weened (about 2 months now), but he has ravenous thirst and drinks about 50-60 ounces (ca. 1,6 liters) a day of fluids. We give him soy milk (he might be ...
8
votes
5answers
7k views
At what age should I enroll my child in dental and vision plans?
Background:
Most insurance coverage in the US has separate policies and payroll withholding for health, dental, and vision insurance plans. One can typically decide who's covered independently for ...
8
votes
2answers
294 views
What activities/sports are optimal in developing body awareness in children age 4-5?
I believe any physical activity a child age 1-3 finds interesting is great for developing body awareness. Tag, throwing balls, running around the house, jumping, rolling around, wrestling, dancing... ...
7
votes
3answers
3k views
Are there things to watch out for after a tongue-tie operation?
My son is going in for a Tongue Tie clip, basically to do a small snip under his tongue to free it up, he fed well when he was young so it never came up until our dentist noticed it with his teeth and ...
7
votes
5answers
549 views
Should we switch from cloth to disposable diapers?
Our son is 17 months old and has been in cloth diapers since he was 1 month old. About two months ago he got blisters on his penis. The doctor said it was a bacterial infection and to put triple ...
7
votes
5answers
2k views
How much sun is too much for a child?
My three months old son really likes to sit or lie in the spots where the sun shines through our windows unto the floor. I guess he likes the additional warmth.
Currently it's winter in Germany (from ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Recommended method for checking a baby is not too cold
At our antenatal classes we were told that it can be misleading to feel a baby's hands to check if they are too cold, because the extremities can get cold even when the baby is ok. A better method is ...
7
votes
1answer
136 views
What items should an infant first-aid kit contain?
Let's say we want to put together a little first-aid kit for home and travel for our newborn. What items would you suggest to be in there?
6
votes
1answer
101 views
Painting around baby?
I was going to do some indoor painting today and I was wondering if it is ok for me to throw my 1 year old daughter into her backpack while I do it. I would open all of the doors/windows in the room ...
6
votes
5answers
697 views
How do I get my toddler to eat fruit?
I have a 2 year old kid who does not like fruits in any form.
We have tried a lot but he would not eat fruits. Even if we make fruit shake with pieces of fruits in it, he would drink the shake and ...
5
votes
9answers
2k views
Is it cruel to deny laughing gas for a teen getting a tooth filled?
My 13 yr old daughter has a cavity. They plan on giving local anesthesia, with an option for laughing gas.
When I had teeth filled, I never recall getting laughing gas.
I'd like for her to learn ...
5
votes
5answers
1k views
Is my infant boy's scrotum too large?
Our infant is now 8 weeks old.
When his legs are joined together the scrotum hangs through them and below the legs (can be seen below his bum). The doctor says it's fine but others who've seen him ...
5
votes
8answers
463 views
Thermometer for babies and children
We have a digital oral/rectal thermometer, but is difficult for our toddler to be still long enough to get an accurate reading (sometimes it seems to to take several minutes before hearing the ...
5
votes
4answers
4k views
When drying baby bottles, do they have to be completely dry before using them for feeding?
After washing the bottles and associated parts in warm soapy water, we leave them on a drying rack to dry. Sometimes my wife will use the bottle even when there are a few drops of water remaining in ...
5
votes
4answers
523 views
How can I address issues that concern me at daycare (and school) without creating tension with the staff?
I realize that as a parent I will need to be my child's advocate at daycare and school and pursue issues that concern me.
How can I bring up issues of concern about the behavior of the staff ...
5
votes
4answers
553 views
What cheeses are ok for pregnant women to eat?
A useful answer might be a comprehensive lists of cheeses which are ok, and of those which are not (are any of them ok in smaller quantities?)
Alternatively is there a sure way of telling if a cheese ...
5
votes
2answers
155 views
My 2 month old daughter is trying to stand; can this be harmful?
This is about my second daughter, who is now 2 months old and happily smiling at me ^_^
An awful lot has happened with my 1st daughter since she was born...I've forgotten quite a bit about the ages ...
5
votes
3answers
94 views
Do we have to wrap an infant in the warm clothes after his birth?
My all relatives have been telling me that the inside of the womb is warm so when the baby comes out he needs to be wrapped from head to toe in warm clothes so that he doesn't get ill due to the ...
5
votes
5answers
310 views
What is the best way to give medicine to baby?
My 3 and half monthChild is having cold and refuse to take medicine. We force her to take medicine with dropper after holding her head and hand. Even if she take her medicine she simply do not swallow ...
5
votes
2answers
87 views
Basic guidelines for supporting psycological health of a sick 3 y.o.?
My 3 year old son has become ill over the last few days - his white blood cell count is low and the diagnosis is ITP.
The prognosis is good - he should get better in a few weeks or months. He also ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Is a cold with a very congested nose dangerous for an infant?
Noob parent here. I have a 9-mo who's currently pretty stuffed up: snoring, a little wheezing, constantly runny nose etc. I'm not worried about long-term, since it seems to be "only" a cold. But when ...
5
votes
2answers
6k views
Is my 7-year-old child sleeping too much?
My child gets very tired and sleeps very easily. While parents of babies might find this a nice problem to have, in a 7-year-old it's possibly a concern. She easily sleeps up to 14 hours a night, also ...
5
votes
2answers
127 views
What are the significant risks of taking children on a Caribbean cruise?
What would be the significant risks of taking children between the ages of one and seven on a 4 night cruise to Cozumel (an island off the coast of Mexico) if the children have never left the U.S.?
5
votes
2answers
3k views
How can I get my 7 m/o to stop rubbing her eyes?
We have observed our 7 month old rubbing her eyes ever since we can remember. She does this especially when she's tired, but also when she's bored or starting to get frustrated.
She'll oftentimes rub ...
5
votes
6answers
2k views
How do I figure out which infant formula is the healthiest?
With so many formulas out there, I am not sure which is the healthiest. Are there any studies that show which formulas are the best? OR what to look for in formula? Are there things that are unhealthy ...
4
votes
8answers
768 views
Pros and cons of C section (Cesarean) delivery?
Are prenatal classes worth it?
+1 for mentioning the unexpected information about the c-section. No one wants to have a c-section with their first baby, but I know so many women who wound up ...
4
votes
7answers
317 views
What age-appropriate sports allow the whole family to participate?
For a few years now I've been going to the gym three or four times a week, but since I've become a father if had to cut back my visits to the gym.
Since this cutback already shows on the scale, I ...
4
votes
4answers
204 views
What should my collgeaue do to stop her 20 year old son from smoking?
What are some ways to stop a 20 year old boy from smoking? We know that smoking is bad and cause all sort of cancers (such as lung / heart / throat cancer), are there ways to stop or discourage the ...
4
votes
3answers
553 views
Is it safe to travel by car without A/C when it's hot outside?
My in-laws want to take my kids soon on a day where the outside temp is supposed to be close to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32°C); unfortunately, their car does not have Air Conditioning. We live in the ...
