Monthly Archives: May 2012

My granddaughter (2 1/2)has developed an aversion to moving her bowels. She had some painful BMs recently due to constipation and now is holding her stool for many days at a time. in the meantime she cries with terrible cramps and discomfort. Per my pediatrician she is on an adult dose of Miralax but still no results. suppositories are out of the question as she is so traumatized when any attempt is made to administer one I’m not sure it’s a good idea. Any ideas. Thank you. 

My one-yr old son has a rash on his arms and legs … it looks like really dry/bumpy skin … I have been putting baby lotion on twice a day as well as a healing salve. The salve cleared it up once, but it came back again a week or so ago. Could it be a food allergy? He has a 15 mth check-up in April, is that too long to have it checked by his doctor (you)?

Rashes are really hard to do without seeing them…it’s kind of like me asking you what color my shoes are right now! However, this does not sound like anything that needs immediate attention and can probably wait for his well check up. Rashes from food sensitivity typically are hive like in nature and very itchy. They also usually start and stay around the mouth. Most likely it is a form of atopic dermatitis or eczema. The best cure for that is moisturizer, specifically one designed for sensitive skin with no perfumes in it. This type of rash is usually worse in the winter and improves with warm weather and sun exposure. Hope that helps!

I just discovered a small wart on my 6 year old’s hand. Is there a way to get rid of it without using any harsh medicines?

Lice is hitting our school. What are the steps I should take if my daughter should get them? Ick.

My 8-month old wakes up about every 2 hours at night and the only way I can get him to go back to sleep is to nurse him. Can he really be that hungry or is is just habit? He had been sleeping though the night until about a month and a half ago.

The cough that came with my 5 yr old’s cold won’t seem to go away. She has been coughing for about a month now. At times she seems to improve, then there will be a bad spell for days or week. There are no other signs that she is ill, and she is not having any trouble breathing. Should she see a doctor or does this just need to run its course? Thanks!

We are going to the beach this summer with our four month old baby, should I put suncreen on him?

Suncreens have not been tested in controlled laboratories in age groups below 6 months. For this reason, you will see on the label “Under 6 months ask your doctor”. It is better at that age to limit sun exposure through the use of shading, and light clothing. Newborn skin is very sensitive and they may get a burn or rash from sun exposure or they may get an irritant rash from sunscreen. Many places sell cabana like set ups that are inexpensive, big enough for an adult to crawl in, and provide a lot of protection for a baby.
However, in places like the beach the sun can be hard to avoid and you should use some sunscreen. Look for a pediatric sunscreen whose main ingredient is titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. Based on most recent evidence these ingredients are less irritating and more is known about their safety than other sunscreen chemicals. There are lots of brands that use the above compunds as their main ingredients.
An important thing to remember is that babies do not tolerate heat well. They cannot really sweat so they do not have a good mechanism for cooling themselves. So even if you are protecting them from the sun you need to remember that more than an hour of heat, less in extreme heat, can be dangerous. Do not ever give a newborn water to combat heat exposure as their kidneys do not concentrate well and it can lead to a low sodium level and even seizures. Breast milk or formula have plenty of water in them and they are balanced with the electrolytes your baby needs to stay hydrated safely. On hot days you may find that the baby nurses more or takes more formula to compensate for the heat.

With the encouragement of several grandparent friends who enjoy grandchildren spending the night, I am writing to find out the best way to handle sleepovers that at some point after everyone appears to be enjoying “sweet dreams”, a tearful cry in the dark requests the desire to go home. Nothing seems to remind them that before lights out, they were so glad to be with us. If all else fails, do we make that late night exchange to “Mommy and Daddy”?

My six year old is complaining about a burning in her throat that when described sounds like acid reflux. This has been going on for about a week. The burning comes and goes throughout the day. We have been trying to keep her diet rather bland and taking out acidic foods. Can this reflux type symptom be caused by something other than food? Should we see our pediatrician or is there something we can be doing at home?