Common Toddler Questions and Answers

Ask our Expert Pediatrician, Dr. Vincent Iannelli, a question about your child through this online submission form.

Learn more about pink eye and the complications of this common infection.

Review why a toddler should not drink low fat milk before they are two years old.

Learn about good sources or iron for your toddler, including an iron fortified toddler formula, other foods that have a lot of iron, and vitamins with iron.

Review what you can do to help your toddler stop biting other children in daycare.

Review the 'problem' of a toddler who sleeps with his mom and drinks a bottle before bed.

Review when you should call your Pediatrician when your infant, toddler, or older child has a fever.

Learn more about toddler sleep issues, including how long they should sleep at night and during daytime naps.

Review what the normal breathing rate is for a toddler and what might cause a child to have fast breathing.

Learn about breath holding spells, in which children cry and then pass out, usually in response to pain, anger, or frustration.

Review why a child may have congestion that is triggered by changes in the weather and if it might be caused by allergies, asthma, or just a cold virus.

Learn about whether it is safe and healthy for day care workers to use a common washcloth when cleaning up after their kids.

Review the risks of a toddler drinking too much milk, including becoming constipated, overweight, underweight, or developing iron deficiency anemia.

Review the common causes of diaper rashes in infants, what might cause a persistent rash, and tips to prevent and treat your child's diaper rash.

Review what might cause a child to have a grunting pattern of breathing, including asthma, other lung problem, or inhaling a foreign object, like a peanut.

Review what might cause a toddler to vomit a few times a week for several months.

How to stop and discourage gross and disturbing toddler behaviors.

Review the risk factors for obesity in a toddler and whether or not a tall toddler is really overweight.

Review possible causes of a chronic cough in a toddler, including infections, allergies, asthma, and reflux.

I have a 1 year old son and he started off with just clear runny nose and sneezing, and by the night time I noticed the mucus was green coming out of his nose. He has no other symptoms. Should I be concerned about taking him in the doctor or is there something I could give him over-the-counter?

Review the problem of a toddler who is only having one wet diaper each day and possible causes, including a voiding dysfunction, potty training problems, dehydration, and constipation.

When should you start potty training? Most children are ready to begin potty training once they are 18 months to 3 years old.

My 14 month old has a milk intolerance. He has been on a soy formula, because he has diarrhea every time that we tried to give him a cow's milk based formula. He also had diarrhea when we recently tried to introduce regular cow's milk. Does he really need to drink milk?

I am pregnant and have heard warnings about eating fish. Is it safe to eat fish while I am expecting? Is it safe for my toddler to eat tuna fish?

My daughter only has a bowel movement once or twice a week. Is she constipated?

We are taking a trip soon to visit family and don't want to take a lot of supplies, like a crib or high chair. Can we use a playpen and hook-on chair as an alternative for our 15 month old?

In lead poisoning questionnaires, they always list as risk factors for a child having lead poisoning as living or spending a lot of time in a home built before 1950 or if it was built before 1978 and is being remodeled. Why the differences? If I live in a home built before 1978 and it isn't being remodeled, are my kids at risk for lead poisoning?

Is it okay for my child to go to sleep with a night light? I have heard reports that using a night light can cause cancer or make it more likely that he will grow up and need glasses. Is that true?

Learn more about pica, an eating disorder in which children eat non-food substances, like rocks, paper, and cardboard.

Review when you should change kids from whole milk to low fat milk.

Learn about how to change your child from an infant formula to whole cow's milk so that she continues to get enough calcium in her diet.

Parent-to-parent tips: real parents share their tips and advice for dealing with toddlers and bathtime battles.