The initial movements that newborn babies make are primitive reflexes and part of normal neurological development. Some of these movements may surprise new parents if they have never been around a newborn baby before. Reflexes are involuntary, which means they happen without trying. This is similar to when a doctor taps your knee with a hammer and your leg
Outside time and play is important for everyone! Whether it is a winter walk, or an activity like skating or sledding, there are plenty of activities to be had during the long Canadian winters. But getting outside in the winter is more challenging with the inclement weather, and proper clothing is important to protect everyone so
When I was a child, our television was always on. My parents allowed my brother and I to watch television as much as we wanted. I remember wondering why some of my friends had restrictions on how much television they could watch. As a family physician, I advise parents to follow recommendations set out by the Canadian Paediatric
Shaving is an effective and relatively cost-effective form of hair removal that removes hair temporarily just below the skins surface. But does shaving cause your hair to grow thicker and darker? Does shaving cause your hair to grow thicker and and darker? I was told growing up that shaving causes hair to grow back thicker,
Croup can be a very scary experience for parents. Your child may have a cold and suddenly develop a hoarse voice, noisy breathing, and a telltale barky cough. It often sounds worse than it really is but can be distressing for both parents and children. What is Croup? Croup is an infection most commonly caused by respiratory viruses. These viruses
In my family medicine practice, I often see patients that have trouble sleeping. Particularly difficulty falling asleep. In medicine, this is known as “initial insomnia”. I recommend a proper sleep hygiene routine to all my patients that are suffering from poor quality sleep. But I also talk with them about relaxation techniques for sleep. Trouble
While it is commonly known that many medications cannot be taken while pregnant, mothers are often left wondering what is safe to take while they are breastfeeding their baby. The good news is that most medications are compatible with breastfeeding. Unfortunately, many mothers are given inaccurate advice with regard to medications and breastfeeding or avoid taking essential medications
de Quervain tenosynovitis is a common cause of hand or wrist pain in adults. It is sometimes called “mommy’s thumb” or “mommy’s wrist” because it seems to be more common in women especially during the newborn period. It seems to present itself in the first 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. I had “mommy thumb” during my first
I think most parents have been frustrated at some point in time when it comes to baby sleep. There are many sleep-training methods out there. Choosing “the best” sleep-training method can be confusing. I know when I was sleep-training Madi and George – implementing the sleep-training techniques turned out to be more difficult than I
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection. It most commonly occurs in children under the age of 5. Because it is contagious, it can spread to other areas of the body or to other people easily. It can spread when someone touches an impetigo rash, or through items that have been in contact with infected skin. What Causes Impetigo?