On the Road Rx for Healthy and Safe Travel with Your Kids

When it comes to family vacations, you can plan for the good stuff — cool campsites, great restaurants, awesome attractions — in advance. A bad turn of events, however, can strike without warning, especially when you’re traveling with kids. When you’re away from your daily routine and focused on having fun, you’re not thinking that your child may fall and break a leg, come down with... 

6 Healthy Makeovers for Summer Snacks

The school year ends, and the parties, barbecues, vacations, carnivals and festivals begin — not to mention a kitchen that’s open 24/7. “It’s harder to get kids to eat healthy snacks in summer because of all the high-calorie temptations,” says Portland-based pediatrician Stephen Ames, M.D. It gets a lot easier when you’ve got healthy substitutions for their favorite treats. Your child... 

Is Your Stress Harming Your Kids?

Money worries, job demands, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have us stressed to the max… and it’s taking a toll on our kids. A 2010 survey by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that children who said their parents were stressed said they were stressed too. They reported feeling sad, worried or frustrated – and their parents had no idea, according to the survey. As of... 

Why Kids Really Lie – and How to Stop It

Kids tell little lies every day – about who spilled the juice and whether they brushed their teeth – but they don’t always mean to deceive. “Lying is a self-protective device that children learn to use at different ages and stages,” says education professor Sally Goldberg, developer of the blog Parenting Tips with Dr. Sally. “It’s perfectly normal, but how you handle it is... 

Thumb-Sucking and Other Baby Soothing Techniques

Thumb-sucking isn’t just a quirky behavior of babies and young children. It’s actually vital to healthy early childhood development. Here’s why it’s acceptable for your baby to do it. Why your baby sucks her thumb Sucking is an instinctive behavior for newborns. You may be tempted to discourage thumb-sucking to prevent your baby’s teeth from coming in crooked, but it’s better to let... 

Tips to Soothe Your Crying Baby

One of the toughest sounds to hear as a new mom is your baby crying. But consider this: Crying is the only way your baby can communicate at this stage. After all, he can’t yell out, “Mom, my diaper’s dirty!” or “I need a nap!” To soothe your crying baby, first look to see if there’s a problem: Is he hungry? Tired? Does he need his diaper changed? Does he seem too hot or cold? Over time,...