Common School Age Questions and Answers
Review questions and answers about common school age issues and problems, like frequent nosebleeds, eating breakfast, glasses and contact lenses, car seat laws, depression, puberty, and staying home alone.
Ask the Pediatrician
Ask our Expert Pediatrician, Dr. Vincent Iannelli, a question about your child through this online submission form.
Ask our Expert Pediatrician, Dr. Vincent Iannelli, a question about your child through this online submission form.
Children and Sleep
Review some tips to help a five year old who is not eating or sleeping well and has a very late bedtime.
Review some tips to help a five year old who is not eating or sleeping well and has a very late bedtime.
Choosing a Doctor for Older Children
Review the issue of what type of doctor should see your older child.
Review the issue of what type of doctor should see your older child.
Childhood Obesity
My daughter is 4ft and she is 8 years old and 4 mon and she weighs 69lbs. Is she overweight and should I be doing something about it if she is?
My daughter is 4ft and she is 8 years old and 4 mon and she weighs 69lbs. Is she overweight and should I be doing something about it if she is?
Sensory Integration Disorder
Review why a child might be touching other children a lot, including have ADHD or Sensory Integration Disorder.
Review why a child might be touching other children a lot, including have ADHD or Sensory Integration Disorder.
Knee Pain
Review what might be causing an athletic teen to have knee pain after playing and practicing basketball.
Review what might be causing an athletic teen to have knee pain after playing and practicing basketball.
Prolonged Fever - Fever of Unknown Origin
Review what to do about a child who has a prolonged fever and is not getting any better.
Review what to do about a child who has a prolonged fever and is not getting any better.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Review the symptoms of hypothyroidism in children.
Review the symptoms of hypothyroidism in children.
Natural Treatments for Constipation
Review natural treatments to treat a child with constipation.
Review natural treatments to treat a child with constipation.
Preventing Migraine Headaches
Review when your child should take a prophylactic medication, like Periactin or Elavil, to prevent her migraine headaches.
Review when your child should take a prophylactic medication, like Periactin or Elavil, to prevent her migraine headaches.
Bad Habits and Fidgeting At School
Learn what to do about bad habits that children may have, such as fidgeting at school, biting their nails, or twirling their hair.
Learn what to do about bad habits that children may have, such as fidgeting at school, biting their nails, or twirling their hair.
Starting To Use Deodorant and Controlling BO
Learn how to control a child's body odor and at what age you should start using deodorant.
Learn how to control a child's body odor and at what age you should start using deodorant.
Picky Eaters
Learn about how to cope with a child who is a picky eater.
Learn about how to cope with a child who is a picky eater.
Heel Pain and Sever's Disease
Learn more about Sever's disease, a common cause of heel pain in athletic children.
Learn more about Sever's disease, a common cause of heel pain in athletic children.
Rabies
Review the ways that a child can get rabies.
Review the ways that a child can get rabies.
Night Terrors
Review why a child who may be having night terrors keeps screaming and crying for his mommy, even though she is right there with him.
Review why a child who may be having night terrors keeps screaming and crying for his mommy, even though she is right there with him.
Consequences of Head Injuries
Learn about the consequences of a head or brain injury and what you can do to help your child who may now have learning and behavioral problems.
Learn about the consequences of a head or brain injury and what you can do to help your child who may now have learning and behavioral problems.
When Should Puberty Start?
When should puberty start? Puberty usually occurs in a series of stages (tanner stages) between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys.
When should puberty start? Puberty usually occurs in a series of stages (tanner stages) between the ages of 8 and 13 for girls and 9 and 14 for boys.
Encopresis
Learn what to do about a school aged child who is having soiling accidents and may have encopresis.
Learn what to do about a school aged child who is having soiling accidents and may have encopresis.
Tinnitus
Review what might cause a child to have a ringing sound in his ear.
Review what might cause a child to have a ringing sound in his ear.
When Can I Leave My Kids Home Alone?
Many kids are left home alone after school until a parent comes home from work. Learn about when you can safely start to leave your kids home alone.
Many kids are left home alone after school until a parent comes home from work. Learn about when you can safely start to leave your kids home alone.
Are Head Lice Contagious?
I received a letter that some kids at school are infected with head lice. Should I be worried about my child having lice?
I received a letter that some kids at school are infected with head lice. Should I be worried about my child having lice?
How many eggs can your kids eat?
I am worried about my kids also getting high cholesterol. Should I let them eat eggs? How many eggs can my kids eat each week?
I am worried about my kids also getting high cholesterol. Should I let them eat eggs? How many eggs can my kids eat each week?
Short Children
My son is 11 years old and is only 4 foot 5 inches tall. Is that normal? My wife is 5 foot and I (his dad) am 5 foot 8 inches tall.
My son is 11 years old and is only 4 foot 5 inches tall. Is that normal? My wife is 5 foot and I (his dad) am 5 foot 8 inches tall.
Can Kids Get Depressed?
My daughter's grades are dropping and she doesn't like going to school (3rd grade). She doesn't have any close friends and seems sad a lot. Is she too young to be depressed?
My daughter's grades are dropping and she doesn't like going to school (3rd grade). She doesn't have any close friends and seems sad a lot. Is she too young to be depressed?
How Many Fruits and Vegetables Should My Kids Eat?
How many fruits and vegetables should my 3 and 8 year old children be eating each day?
How many fruits and vegetables should my 3 and 8 year old children be eating each day?
ADHD Medicines During Summertime?
My 8 year old has ADHD, inattentive type and she is doing very well on Concerta. Does she need to continue taking her ADHD medicine all summer when she is out of school, or can I give her a break from it?
My 8 year old has ADHD, inattentive type and she is doing very well on Concerta. Does she need to continue taking her ADHD medicine all summer when she is out of school, or can I give her a break from it?
Is it a Cold or Allergies?
My 9 year old has had a runny nose, sneezing and a cough for several weeks now. He doesn't have a fever and otherwise seems well. Does he just have a cold or could it be allergies?
My 9 year old has had a runny nose, sneezing and a cough for several weeks now. He doesn't have a fever and otherwise seems well. Does he just have a cold or could it be allergies?
Prozac for Kids
I noticed that the FDA just approved treating kids with Prozac. I am a bit surprised, as my child is taking Prozac already. Why was he prescribed a medicine that wasn't FDA approved to be used in children?
I noticed that the FDA just approved treating kids with Prozac. I am a bit surprised, as my child is taking Prozac already. Why was he prescribed a medicine that wasn't FDA approved to be used in children?
State Car Seat Laws and What's Safe
My Pediatrician said that I should keep my five year old in a booster car seat, but the law here in Texas says that kids only have to ride in a car seat up until they are four years old. Who is right?
My Pediatrician said that I should keep my five year old in a booster car seat, but the law here in Texas says that kids only have to ride in a car seat up until they are four years old. Who is right?
Kids, Teens and Contact Lenses
My nine year old doesn't want to wear her glasses and is already asking to have contact lenses like her older sister. At what age can kids start wearing contact lenses?
My nine year old doesn't want to wear her glasses and is already asking to have contact lenses like her older sister. At what age can kids start wearing contact lenses?
Breakfast at School - Question of the Week
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how much time should kids be given to eat their breakfast?
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but how much time should kids be given to eat their breakfast?
ADHD Medications
A discussion of the medications that can be used to treat children with ADHD, including stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, Strattera, and second line medications, including antidepressants, clonidine, and guanfacine.
A discussion of the medications that can be used to treat children with ADHD, including stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall, Strattera, and second line medications, including antidepressants, clonidine, and guanfacine.
Frequent Nosebleeds and Children
Learn what to do if your child is having frequent nosebleeds.
Learn what to do if your child is having frequent nosebleeds.
Bipolar Disorder and Children
Get information about children with bipolar disorder, including what medications are used as treatment, including stimulants, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics.
Get information about children with bipolar disorder, including what medications are used as treatment, including stimulants, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics.