Pediatrics: Lillian Beard, M.D.   Diet & Nutrition: Linda Hsieh   Pediatric Nutrition: William Klish, M.D.   OB/GYN: Roy Pitkin, M.D.   very best baby

Lillian M. Beard, M.D, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, is an associate clinical professor at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C. She is a frequent guest expert and spokesperson on national television programs, discussing issues related to children's health. Dr. Beard practices pediatrics in Washington, D.C. Your Baby Today is proud to feature this expert Q&A with Dr. Lillian Beard. New questions and answers will be added to this page regularly. If you have any questions for Dr. Beard, please write to her at beard@yourbabytoday.com. While Dr. Beard cannot respond to each individual inquiry, we will post answers to the most commonly asked questions here. Q: The only way my 6-month-old will go to sleep each night is if I rock her in my arms. How can I get her to fall asleep on her own in her crib? A: There is no magic recipe for getting a baby to fall asleep on her own. You have established a pattern which, as you have discovered, is difficult to change without some emotional pain for you and your baby. There are no options that rival what your baby derives from the comfort of your arms, the warmth of your body, your unique scent, the vibrations of your breathing, and the soothing sound of your voice. In short, there is no substitute for you! However, this doesn't mean that she can't be gradually taught to fall asleep on her own. For starters, you might allow her to have a little wind-down period before putting her in her crib. Some babies enjoy a warm bath before bedtime. It's soothing, relaxing, and tiring. Afterwards, try gently massaging her arms and legs, gently rub her tummy, and do some bicycling motions with her legs, all while talking or singing softly to her. You might also try wrapping her tightly in a lightweight blanket to mimic the "hugged" feeling that she enjoys with you. (Although at 6 months, she may feel more constricted than comforted by the tight wrap.) The hard part for you will be when, after trying these and other suggestions, she still cries when you put her in her crib to sleep. Just as it took a while to establish the pattern of being held to fall asleep, don't expect it to change in a few days. When you put her down in her crib (on her back, of course), sit close enough so that you can periodically give her a reassuring touch, softly talk, or sing. But resist picking her up. It will be tough, but over time, she will begin to fall asleep in her crib. She may not make it through the entire night, but just as she's figured out how to go to sleep on her own, she'll also eventually learn how to go back to sleep without your help. Past Questions: The only way my 6-month-old will go to sleep each night is if I rock her in my arms. How can I get her to fall asleep on her own in her crib? What temperature is considered a fever in a baby under six months? How should I treat it and when do I call the doctor? My 7-month-old has two bottom teeth, and it looks like the top two should be in soon (he's drooling, biting on toys, etc.). Is he old enough for biter cookies? I'm thinking they may help soothe some of the discomfort he's feeling from teething. Can using a pacifier ruin my baby's future teeth? Can you offer some tips on how to keep my baby dressed comfortably during the summer months? Should I be concerned about the potential side effects of vaccines? Is acetaminophen better than ibuprofen for infants? I love to get my exercise with regular walks every day. Is it unsafe to take my infant out when the temperature is at or below 32 degrees? When do babies typically get their first ear infection? What are the signs? My six-week-old wakes up to eat every two to three hours during the night, but sleeps four to five hours during the day. What can I do to help him sleep for longer periods at night? When is it safe to let my baby sleep on her stomach at night? She sleeps better on her stomach. My son had RSV this past winter. What are the odds of him having lasting effects from the virus, like being prone to more colds and coughs and developing asthma? What's the best way to clean baby bottles? My 3-month-old has a reddish, scaly rash over her eyelids, cheeks and forehead that comes and goes. Are these symptoms of eczema? My one-year-old son has had three ear infections within a short time span and his pediatrician says we may need to consider ear tubes at some point in the near future. Is this his only option? Is the surgery risky? How long will he have to wear them? Is it safe for my infant to take swimming lessons? The hospital I am delivering at does not have vitamin K oral drops. How can I get some so the hospital can give them to my child? When should I have my infant fitted for walking shoes? Is it important to spend on a quality shoe? My baby sneezes a few times throughout the day and his eyes sometimes look glassy and red. Could he have allergies? What can I do to relieve the symptoms? A neighbor's infant daughter just came down with the Coxsackie virus. It sounds scary. Is it highly contagious? My 2-month-old has a bad case of baby acne. What causes this and can I do anything to help clear it up? Do I need to take steps to protect my infant from sun damage year-round? Our 9-month-old daughter won't go to bed without a bottle. Can she get cavities this young? My 11-month-old baby has been crawling for about four months now and seems to prefer crawling to standing. Should I be worried that this will slow the development of her coordination and balance and prolong the time it takes to learn to walk? My doctor diagnosed my infant as pre-asthmatic. How serious is Can a newborn see his parents' faces clearly? And does a baby respond to black-and-white more than color? I'm expecting my second child during the winter months. What's the best way to protect my newborn from catching everything his 2-year-old brother comes down with? Is it important for my newborn to be swaddled? Can a 6-week-old baby be spoiled? My baby cries when she is laid down and stops when picked up. My baby has a flat head on one side. Is it from sleeping on his side? What should I do? Our 1-week-old has the hiccups at least three times a day. Is this normal? I know that I'm not supposed to put a Q-tip in a baby's ear, but how should I clean my baby's ears. And at what age should I start. My mother used a suction bulb on me. Is that acceptable? At what month is it safe to travel with an infant on domestic flights? Our 12 week-old son cries for approximately 90% of the time that he is awake. He only calms down if he is held upright on a shoulder or given a massage. Do you have any suggestions to soothe him? My baby is 8 weeks old and is breast fed. He has a tendency to spit up quite frequently. What causes this, and what can I do to remedy it? My baby is three weeks old, and he has little red pimples on his face. It looks like a heat rash, and it seems to be getting worse. Is there anything that I can put on his face to help it go away? I have an 8-week-old kitten and an 8-month-old daughter. I have been told that the kitten is not good for my baby's chest and can cause hay fever and sinus problems. Should I keep a kitten at this stage in my baby's life? Bowel Movement Questions My 5 month-old moves her bowels approximately every three days, is this normal? Is it normal for my 3 month-old to have bowel movements after every feeding? My 3 month-old baby has had severe constipation for 2 days. She is in absolute agony when she tries to have a bowel movement. What can I give her to make things come back to normal? Our 6-week-old baby suffers from chest congestion mainly at night. With him unable to spit or blow his nose, how do we clear his phlegm? My 10-month-old son has started waking up a once or twice a night. What could be causing this? My 3-month-old is going to start day care this month, and I'm worried about exposing him to the runny noses of other children. Is there anything I can do to help make him more resistant? I've heard that you're better off allowing your child to get the chicken pox, rather than administering the vaccine, since the actual disease offers better immunity. Is this true? We have a 5 month-old healthy, happy baby boy who sleeps in our bed with us and loves it there. The only problem is that he wakes up at least six times a night with a short cry. Could he be having bad dreams? I have a one-month-old baby boy and I am concerned about the acne-like rash on his little face. His cheeks and his chin seem to be most affected. It seems to be getting worse. What can I do to help clear it up? My daughter is 6 months old. When should she get the new vaccine that helps to ward off ear infections? How early does a child show signs of asthma? How do they treat the condition in babies? My 4-month-old woke up with his first cold--runny nose, cough, watery eyes. What's the best way to treat a cold? My 3-month-old has flaky skin on her scalp. How should I treat it? Can you offer any advice on which kind of sunscreen product I should use on my baby? How long does a baby experience teething pain before a tooth comes in? What can I do to comfort my infant? My 5-month-old has her first cold. She's so stuffed up it's hard for to eat, and she wakes up a few times a night because she's so uncomfortable. What can I do to alleviate her symptoms?

The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.

Copyright © 2007 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.

Baby Bedding Lambs & Ivy KidsLine CoCaLo Osh Kosh Glenna Jean Cotton Tale Designs Wendy Bee Picci Bedding Crown Crafts Nojo Kimberly Grant Bedtime Originals Car Seats Britax Car Seat Britax Eddie Bauer Cosco Graco Century Baby Furniture Dutailier Gliders Da Vinci Feeding Supplies Avent Bottles & Pumps Ameda Breast Pumps Strollers Kolcraft Jeep Stroller Maclaren Combi International Inglesina Silver Cross Dreamer Designs Strollers Bob Gear Strollers Twin Bedding Baby Clothing Baby Toys Tiny Love Baby Gund Kid Kraft Neurosmith Learning Toys Anatex Rollercoasters Baby Care & Safety Mustela KidCo Safety Gates Baby Bjorn Kalencom Diaper Bags Kel-Gar Bath & Safety