Children's Health

Menarche (the start of a girl's menstrual period) is not dependent upon weight alone but the amount of body fat, height and weight all play a role in determining the start of puberty. A woman's genes and the ag... continue reading  about  Does a girl have to reach a certain weight before her periods begin?

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?

This rash sounds like it can be a contact allergy if it recurs. I would worry about an infection if it seeps. Since allergic rashes and infections are treated with completely different creams or even pills, I w... continue reading  about  My daughter has had a horrible rash around her eyes and sometimes ears for the past two years. The rash is not itchy, gets really dry and seeps at times. Do you have any suggestions?

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.

I'm SO glad that your family is remembering sunscreen! The most recent statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) show that approximately 70,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with melanoma... continue reading  about  My son is in school all day, then jumps into a car to travel to an outdoor swim practice. He has about five minutes to get ready. If we apply sunscreen in the morning, is it still effective eight hours later? What sunscreens are best for his situation?

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarian and vegan diets can meet all nutrient needs for infants and children. Diets for infants and children should contain enough calories to support gro... continue reading  about  Is it healthy for children to be vegetarians or vegans? I am a vegetarian, but I have some concerns that my children (4 and 8) might not get enough nutrients.

What a good question with a big answer. Puberty is an important rite of passage for both kids and parents. The average age for puberty is around 11 years old. Precocious puberty is defined as puberty body chang... continue reading  about  My six-year-old niece began to smell strongly of B.O. My sister-in-law mentioned this to their pediatrician who then diagnosed my niece with "precocious puberty." What are the causes and long term affects of this condition?

Rosacea is very uncommon in children. It is much more common for children to have facial redness due to being born with very fair skin that is easily damaged by the sun. The classical child with concerns about ... continue reading  about  Can children get rosacea? I just read your article about it and think my 13-year-old might have it. Please let me know if that is possible. She has fair skin and red cheeks almost all the time. Sometimes her cheeks burn and they feel warm to the touch.

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?