Children's Health

As it stands now, the AAP does not actively endorse routine circumcision, but is leaning more in favor of recommending circumcision to expectant parents of boys. Current evidence suggests the medical benefits t... continue reading  about  I chose not to circumcise my son. Now the AAP issued a policy statement that actively endorses circumcision. While my son is only two years old, I worry that I made the wrong decision. Should I have him circumcised now?

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?

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?

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.

Swimmer's ear is a term commonly used to describe an infection of the ear canal. People who repeatedly wet the ear canal (swimming, surfing, scuba diving) can develop persistent dampness that allows either bact... continue reading  about  What is "swimmer's ear" and what is the best way to deal with it?

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?

Don't give up! As many women approach menopause they find themselves experiencing unexplained weight gain, especially around the waist and hip areas, despite their best efforts to watch what they eat and to inc... continue reading  about  I'm a very active pre-menopausal 50-year-old who eats right and works out four to six times a week. Why in the world can I not lose my belly cellulite and build more muscle? I'm ready to quit everything and just get fat and eat junk food!

Generally it is not recommended to take low-dose iron if you're not anemic. Excessive iron can be deposited in the liver and can cause problems. Runners often get "runners anemia" which is why some coaches reco... continue reading  about  Is it safe to take a low-dose iron supplement if you're not anemic? My teenage daughter is a distance runner, and her coach recommends them for girls on the cross country team.