Dr. Jorge L. Alsina

If you are breastfeeding, most probably will not be a colic, the advice I give my parents is just to undress the baby and dress him/her again, pamper and everything because if the clothes are too tight or the adjustment is not okay, that can make them uncomfortable and for sure they cannot tell you. If he/she is feeding with formula, then you are in the period of the colic and they can cry at any time after feeding.

Most toddlers are picky eater, just be patient and serve him small amounts of food, do not substitute a meal time for milk if he is not hungry at that time let him go and wait until he is hungry, they don’t have to eat every 3 hours.

Yes, for physiologic reason looks that teething pain is worse at night, you may be able to soothe the pain a little be massaging his/her gums before sleeping, and consult with your pediatrician because he can prescribe medication for the pain if necessary.

Anxiety can cause many symptoms and stomach pain is one of the most common.

I always recommend Tylenol for my patients sore throat, and I also recommend to buy the brand no generic (I do not have any interest or business with a pharmaceutical company).

First, we need to establish if he has an infection. When this is the case at that age, the most common cause is a virus and the treatment will be fluids and Tylenol. If it's not fever, then the most common cause is allergies and treatment will be a combination of an anti allergic with Tylenol, which I prefer over Advil in those cases because it's more gentle on the stomach.

Flu season starts in September and lasts till June of next year. The vaccine should be applied late in September or early October so your child will be protected in the peak of flu season. Still, coverage for the vaccine varies from season to season, and it's possible for your child to get the flu even if vaccinated because he may be exposed to a flu virus early after vaccination, could be exposed to a virus not included in the vaccine, and even some people get sick from the virus included in the vaccine. Still, I will recommend the vaccine and I take the vaccine every year. Influenza is a serious illness and the vaccine has shown in multiple studies to reduce the severity of the influenza.

A 6 year old can have while awake a heart rate between 70 to 120 beats per minute and normally can have episodes of increased heart rate. If she refers chest pain or shortness of breath during those episodes, you should take her to the ER, discuss this with your pediatrician and keep a diary when you notice her heart rate increase and for how long.

Fever is always a concern for parents, but is a sign of an infection most time viral in children, meaning the immune system is working, when fever is high the child will be down an feeling but, keeping him hidrate is important, more than food and I recommend Tylenol (brand) for your son is the fever is high more than 103, 10 ml every 4 hours if not 7.5 ml also every 4 hours.

If your child has been healthy for the past five years having only common viral infections, then your child's immune system is fine, a balanced diet will be sufficient for him. On the other hand, if he had many problems in the past with an admission in the hospital for pneumonia or any other type of infection, you should discuss this with his/her pediatrician because there are tests that can be done to determine if there is any type of immunodeficiency.

If your son is having a balance diet every day, rich in vegetables and with a glass of milk, then he is having all the vitamins for his immune system, if that is not the case any multivitamins with trace minerals will be enough, be sure to buy your vitamin from a well know company.