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Learning to sleep well: teaching your kids healthy sleep habits

In our practice at the Pediatric Pulmonology and Sleep Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, we often see children who are having difficulty sleeping. We know very well the tired eyes of parents who are worried, anxious and frustrated because their children aren’t sleeping well.  We work with each family to identify whether a child has any medical problems that may be affecting their sleep. We also work with their parents to teach healthy sleep habits. Whether we know it or not, we are teaching our children how to sleep, and we encourage parents to learn healthy habits that set their children on a path to healthy sleep for a lifetime.

Why is sleep important?

If news headlines have made you feel like a bad parent, you aren’t alone

You are a bad parent.

What do you do when your child hurts your feelings?

One of my favorite times with my daughter is the car ride home from school. It’s one of the rare moments that she and I have that’s just the two of us, now that she has a little brother at home, too. One day last week, I was particularly excited to pick her up from preschool. I couldn’t wait to hear what letter she’d learned, what art projects she had made and who she played with on the playground. Usually she tells funny anecdotes from her day, and it makes me smile.

Breastfeeding? Be sure you know how to handle and store your milk safely

If you’re breastfeeding your baby, you may decide to express some milk to be used at a later time. Using a breast pump allows you to collect milk to be used when you’re not with your baby and also gives your partner or another caregiver the opportunity to help you with baby’s often demanding feeding schedule. Many nursing mothers enjoy the flexibility of pumping and storing breast milk, and it becomes a necessity for those who desire to continue breastfeeding as they head back into the workplace.

Newer tests may help you better understand your child’s food allergy

A severe food allergy is often a complex and confusing diagnosis. It’s also one of the most common medical issues, especially in children. Many parents of food-allergic kids remain somewhat perplexed about their child’s condition long after diagnosis. Will my child outgrow this allergy? What exactly is okay to feed to my child and what isn’t? Is this really a serious issue or can we relax a little? These questions often linger unanswered, and that’s not a good thing.

The one piece of advice I’d give myself as a new mother

I’ve been a mother for nearly six years now, and it has been a wild and wonderful ride so far. As my little people grow into bigger people, I sometimes stop and think back on those first months and years as a parent. I thought parenting was all about taking care of and teaching my children. It is about that, of course. What I didn’t know, though, is that it’s also a journey for me as I learn and grow and change through this process of caring for others.

12 Tips to Help Your Family Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

It can be tough to get your child or teen to make half of their plate fruits and vegetables every day. Especially since many choose fried vegetables such as french fries and potato chips instead of a healthy baked potato or a side salad. As a parent, you might be confused about how to go about introducing your child or teen to more healthful choices. Below are 12 tips to help you introduce more fruits and vegetables to your family’s diet.

From separation anxiety to a separation celebration

My daughter started kindergarten this week. When I shared the obligatory first-day-of-school photos, many friends and family members commented that they couldn’t believe how big she’d gotten.

When bullying contributes to feelings of grief and loss in kids

Parents often struggle with the realization that their children feel grief and loss, and we struggle to know exactly how to support them through it. Just as it is important for adults to process their grief to promote healing, children need the same opportunities, along with guidance from the trusted adults in their lives to navigate grief in a positive and healthy way.

Watch your words: labeling your kids can have long-lasting effects

This post was originally posted in May 2014.