Dr. Jen's Page

Is my 5-month old ready for a walker?
 - Shaswanda

I chose this question to answer because you used the word “WALKER” -  your question concerned me from a safety perspective.

Although some parents were raised using walkers and may believe that walkers will help children with development & walking, walkers actually may DELAY walking and are quite dangerous. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not support baby walkers and has asked for a…

My daughter turns two at the beginning of November and we would like to start potty training her pretty soon. However, she is very, very afraid of the potty. I think it is the flushing that scares her to death since she says, "Flush it?! Flush it?!" and then runs in the opposite direction whenever we flush it. What should I do to encourage her to use the potty (starting with the little potty) without traumatizing her? -Jamie 

First of all, your almost…

My sitter has been telling me that my 15-month old has been hitting, pushing, and throwing toys for the last few weeks, and last night I had the opportunity to see it for myself. I was blown away. He is apparently walking up to 4-year-olds and pushing them down. He takes toys right out of the other kids' hands, and when the sitter corrects him, he has an absolute fit! I watched him pick up a toy twice as big as him and throw it. He knocked over a big playhouse, pulled a box of…

This is my first child so I am new to all this. My daughter is 7 months old and a couple weeks ago her first 2 teeth in the bottom front started coming through. What I am wondering is when do you start brushing? Should I start now while they are coming in or wait til they're all the way there? Right now you can only see the tops a little poking through. -Ashlee P

What a terrific question, and what a proactive mom you are for thinking ahead. Starting healthy…