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How is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Diagnosed?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common mental health disorders in children. The core symptoms of ADHD are in areas of attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. As a physician, I often have parents coming into my office with concerns that their child may have ADHD. Sometimes a child’s teacher may bring

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What is Kangaroo Care (Skin to Skin)? What are the Benefits?

Those first moments, when your newborn baby is placed on your chest, is an unforgettable moment. Skin-to-skin contact is not only for satisfying a mother’s desire to bond with their newborn baby, but has also been shown to have significant positive effects on a baby’s health and breastfeeding. By definition, skin-to-skin contact is when a baby

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What is Sleep?

Sleep is an incredibly important part of our natural biological processes.  It involves important chemicals known as neurotransmitters, those being serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and dopamine.  It also involves a hormone called melatonin.   The parts of the brain that are particularly involved in sleep include: the brainstem – which helps regulate wakefulness the pineal gland – which

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Guest Post: What is Delayed Cord Clamping and Why do we do it?

The first few minutes after your baby is born is a whirlwind of emotions. While you are focused on your beautiful newborn, your healthcare team is busy taking steps to optimize your child’s health for months to come.  After your baby is born, they are still connected to the placenta by the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is

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Transitioning From Two to One Nap Per Day

I struggled figuring out nap time, and once I had nap time under control the next challenge was transitioning from two to one naps per day. Madi transitioned from two naps to one nap per day when she was 15 months old. George is 14 months old and continues to fluctuate from two to one

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What is Cradle Cap and How Can it be Treated?

Both of my children had cradle cap when they were newborns. Cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, is a relatively common skin condition that can affect infants between the ages of 2 weeks to 12 months.  It occurs most commonly within the first 3 months of life.   What Does Cradle Cap Look Like? Infants will have thick white or yellow

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Folic Acid for Pregnancy: Do I Really Need it?

With all the appointments and tests that occur during pregnancy, it’s hard to keep track of everything and easy to question, “Is all of this really necessary?” One question that patients have asked me is “Do I Really Need Folic Acid for Pregnancy?” The answer is YES! Folic acid is a B vitamin that is

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The Importance of Eye Exams for Children

Last week, I assessed a 6 year old girl for recurrent falls. Her parents were concerned their daughter had a neurological condition that could be affecting her balance. The first test I sent her for was an eye exam and it was discovered that she was nearsighted and required glasses. It is recommended that children

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Eczema in Children

Eczema is a skin condition where inflammation causes the skin to be dry, crust, crack, and ooze. Eczema can often get worse in the winter because the cold winter air can further dry out the skin. It is common, and can affect up to 1 in 5 children. What causes eczema? The cause of eczema is

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Common Baby Skincare Concerns

Baby skin health is a popular topic for many parents. Although term babies have fully competent skin when they are born, their skin continues to develop during their first year of life and is more susceptible to infections and damage than adult skin. This is one of the reasons our family uses Pampers diapers and

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