Sleep is one of the most commonly discussed topics in our well child visits. We all know how vital sleep is for our bodies to function well but, how much sleep do children really need? The following age-based recommendations are from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Infants 4 months to 12 Read More
Common Sense Eating
As the new year comes and goes, I hear so many people talking about resolutions, often related to “diet”. I also read about different fad diets- restricting this, avoiding that, eliminating entire food groups. As a pediatrician, these “diets” really frustrate me. Decades of research and thousands of Read More
Meatless Monday
Taking a day a week to eat plant based is good for your health and for the planet! We all get into our habits of what we eat on a routine basis. Some it comes from how we grew up and some is convenience. My family grew up on the traditional Meat and Potato with green beans on the side – very Read More
Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It is when we break our nightly fast, literally. And our bodies need this fuel to concentrate better at school and work, have needed energy to start the day and make better food choices throughout the day. I don’t believe in skipping meals but if Read More
Teen Driving/Distracted Driving
Congratulations!! Your teen has passed the driver’s test. You must be very proud and if you are at all like me, you are a bit terrified. The statistics on teen drivers are scary! Car crashes took more than 2,400 young lives in 2016- that’s 6 teen deaths per day. All new drivers- even straight Read More
Is Caffeine Safe for Children and Teenagers?
In recent years, soda consumption in the United States has been dropping. Unfortunately, many other sugary and caffeinated drinks have taken the place of soda. We have seen a proliferation of energy drinks, fancy coffees, “healthy” teas and even caffeine supplements over the past few years. Many Read More