Dreams have been described since the beginning of human history, but it was only in 1953 that Aserinsky and Kleitman discovered the brain wave pattern we call REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep. During sleep, we go through four progressively deeper...
The infection usually begins with a fever. Soon the little one begins to vomit and has a nasty tummy-ache. With rotaviruses, what you really need to keep an eye on is the potential for dehydration. Click here for more information on rotaviruses.
Did you know that you can use “baby signs” to communicate with your child before they begin to talk? Using baby signs can help lessen the frustration little ones often experience when learning to speak. Click here for Dr. Greene’s article on baby...
Ever wonder just what causes those episodes of sleep terrors or sleep-walking? Slow wave sleep, or deep non-REM sleep, will typically last from forty-five to seventy-five minutes. At this time, most children will transition to a lighter sleep stage...
Due to the vomiting and diarrhea associated with rotaviruses, many children become dangerously dehydrated. About 50,000 children are hospitalized in the United States each year for rotavirus infections. Click here to read Dr. Greene’s discussion of...
Did you know that quite a few common vaccines contain additional ingredients that may cause allergic reactions? Although the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine does not contain enough egg protein to cause allergic reactions, there are other...
Nightmares are generally thought to be most common at the ages of 3 to 5 years --the peak ages when children express fears -- they are said to begin around that time, or shortly before. Conventional wisdom tells us that nightmares begin not too long...
Mercury (thimerosal) is an ingredient in several vaccines -- included in order to kill any live contaminants. In rare instances this causes allergic reactions.
Concerned that your child’s egg allergy might make them react to certain vaccines? Dr. Greene explains which vaccines parents should look out for if their children are allergic to eggs, chicken, or chicken feathers.
Nursing delivers a banquet of powerful, beneficial substances to growing babies. Some medicines are safe to take when nursing; others are dangerous. Nicotine is dangerous! Second-hand smoke is bad enough for babies. Now we learn, according to the...
I fondly remember summer evenings spent jumping on the big trampoline in my neighbor's yard. I also remember the flashing lights as an ambulance carried away an injured friend. Trampolines send more than 83,000 people in the United States to the...
A public health advisory issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics now warns against giving children rotavirus vaccine because it might cause a rare condition called intussusception. Coupled with the recent scare about mercury in vaccines, this...
When your children are grown, much of their long-term health will depend on what they ate as kids, nutrition experts reported at the July 1999 National Conference on Advances in Pediatric Nutrition at Stanford University. This includes their risks...
A mother from Texas inquired “My 20-month-old daughter constantly walks on her tip-toes. Should I be concerned?”
A: If your daughter's regular physicals have been normal and she is able to stand briefly with her heels down, I would relax. Toe...
The July issue of Pediatrics reports convincing evidence (from an investigation of twins growing up in different environments) that up to 80% of the variation in body fat between children is genetic and not due to diet or exercise. Obese kids often...
Many people are unaware of the problems associated with allergic reactions to vaccine components. For more information, check out Dr. Greene’s guide to vaccine ingredients that may cause allergic reactions.
Most of the treatments for poison ivy, oak and sumac are aimed at reducing the itching, until the self-limited rash runs its course, which takes about two weeks. Click here for Dr. Greene’s tips on treating these allergic reactions.
