My child’s stool is green-is that normal?

Stools that are brown, yellow and green are considered normal. White, black and bloody (red) stools should be a cause for a concern.

When can I start feeding my child solids?

The current AAP recommendation is to start feeding rice cereal anywhere between 4-6 months of age. Once your child learns how to swallow you can add some fruit, meat, and vegetables. You want to add a new type of food to your child’s diet only every 3-5 days, so that you can watch for possible allergic reactions. Eggs, wheat products, milk products like yogurts can be added after six months of age. Honey should always be avoided in the first year of life. If there is a family history of allergies, avoid shellfish and nuts as well until one year of age.

How much milk should my 1-year old drink?

The official recommendations for children after their first birthday is to drink 16-24 oz of milk a day. Many children do not drink this much and if they get calcium from other sources like yogurt and cheeses there is probably no cause for concern.

My child had her shots yesterday and now has a fever and a lump in her thigh, should I be concerned?

Most immunizations will cause fever and local reactions as minor side effects. For fever use Tylenol or Motrin in weight appropriate dosing. The lump at the site of the injection may be red and generally will disappear in days to weeks. If fever lasts for more then 48 hours , you should call our office.

When can I take my newborn out?

Your newborn baby is ready for a walk as soon as you are. As long as your newborn is appropriately dressed, she can stay outside for as long as you wish. You should try to avoid crowded enclosed spaces (e.g. subways, churches, movie theaters) for the first 2 months of life since your baby’s immunity is not fully developed. During extreme heat your child may need some water supplementation to prevent dehydration.

How can I know that my breastfed newborn is getting enough?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions and it is difficult to answer. There are 2 things that may be very helpful to you -your child should be stooling frequently (at least 4-5 times a day) and your child should be gaining weight appropriately. Frequent weight checks in our office can be arranged if any concern arise.

How much formula should I feed my bottle-fed baby?

Every well, bottle-fed baby should be offered as much as he wants. Always try to put a little more in the bottle than you would expect your baby to eat. If he finishes the whole bottle, next time put a little more in. Babies in the first 2 years of life will not overeat. The baby will signal when he has had enough or wants more.

My 2 month old breastfed baby did not have a bowel movement for 3 days-is that normal?

A baby’s bowel movement pattern can suddenly change after about 2 months of age for exclusively breastfed infants. If your child continues feeding well, is not unusually irritable, and her belly is not distended, the normal bowel movement pattern can be as infrequent as once a week. If there is any vomiting, unusual crying or food refusal you should contact our office.

My newborn baby has a rash on her face that looks like pimples, is there anything I should be worried about?

Because of a transfer of estrogens through the placenta, many babies have a mild case of infant acne. There is no treatment for this condition and the acne lesions usually disappear within weeks.

What do you think about circumcision?

This practice has always supported the decision of the parents to circumcise or not to circumcise their infant sons. The American Academy of Pediatrics has had various stripes of the same opinion – there is no real medical necessity or indication for routine circumcision. This position has not been altered by the inclusion of concerns of urinary tract infection in uncircumcised newborns, or WHO information relating to HIV infection and intact foreskins in some cultures.