Healthy Kids Zone

Giving a small child the incorrect dose of medicine can be very dangerous – even making her sicker than before she took the medication. A new study shows that in some cases, parents are giving their child as much as double the prescribed dose of liquid medicine. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner talks about what might be causing parents to incorrectly measure the dose and how to prevent giving your c...

It can be scary when a young child gets a fever, especially if it doesn’t seem to be going down. How long should you wait until you get them to the hospital? What should you do before then? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner answers these questions and tells you when medical attention is needed for a fever in children.

Does your child's nose seem to be a trauma magnet, constantly getting bumped, bruised, and bloodied? It is pretty typical for kids to hurt their noses as they play and explore. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , discusses how you should treat your child's injured nose at home and when it is time to go to the doctor.

Parents, especially new ones, can become obsessed with what’s in their child’s diaper. How much is enough? How much is too little? What color is normal? Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner addresses three of the most common bowel movement myths about toddlers.

Is your child’s teething causing their ear infections? Will they catch a cold if you let them go outside with wet hair? What about if you leave a window open while they’re sleeping? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , set the record straight on three of the more common old wives’ tales about colds and ear infections.

Noses can be pretty gross snot factories, creating mucus of all colors and consistencies. When should you be concerned? What if it’s green? What if it’s red? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , takes a look at four old wives' tales about children’s snot.

The nasal spray flu vaccine is out. Regulators have dumped the needle-free alternative after new evidence shows the treatment will be ineffective during the 2016-2017 flu season. For parents, this means one more shot for your kids. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner has some tips on how to best prepare your children, both physically and mentally, for the scary prospect of a needle.

Every year, 13,000 children in the US are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, while more than 1 million kids and adults deal with it every day in our nation. There is no prevention for type 1 diabetes, so if your child is diagnosed with the disease, it’s important to understand it is not your fault. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes as well as treatment...

Ear infections are common in childhood—but when they keep coming back, they can affect sleep, hearing, and quality of life. While some factors are beyond your control, pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , shares practical tips to help reduce your child's risk of frequent ear infections. From bottle feeding technique to vaccine protection, learn what works, what to watch for, and when it is time to see...

Mood swings and confused emotions are common in growing teenagers. Anger is a normal emotion, but how your teen handles it is what matters. When a teen becomes really angry, there is often another emotion driving the anger. Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses five steps you, as a parent, can discuss with your teenager that will help them manage their temper.

You have probably heard the old wives’ tale, “Do not let your child eat sugar, or they will get diabetes.” Is this true? Is it true that there is a cure for diabetes? Access to the Internet has created an explosion in information available to people, but it can be hard to tell what is true, and what is not. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , debunks common myths and shares what parents should know r...

One of the most common reasons for a child to visit a physician is an ear infection. Many parents bring their children to the doctor because the child has been pulling on their ear. Is this because of an ear infection? What are the symptoms of an ear infection? Dr. Cindy Gellner stops by to discuss the possible symptoms of an ear infection and when it's time to go to the doctor.

Will eating carrots really improve your child's eyesight? Or will reading in a dim room ruin your eyesight? Dr. Cindy Gellner stops by to discuss the common eyesight myths everyone hears as a child.

Many people today are looking for ways to relieve stress, but don’t know how to do it. Unfortunately, many teenagers are turning to cutting as stress relief and as a way to feel again. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares why teenagers are cutting and where they can get help.

Will drinking coffee stunt your child's growth? Does chocolate really give you acne? Is fish brain food? Dr. Cindy Gellner stops by to tell us which tales are true, and which to forget about.

Playtime is a crucial time when preschoolers learn problem solving and how to share. Dr. Cindy Gellner discusses how and why a child's playtime is essential for good development.

Many parents have heard traditional beliefs or old wives' tales surrounding raising children, but are any of them true? Will wearing shoes accelerate a toddler's ability to walk? Does teething make your child sick? Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , talks about the veracity of these toddler tales, providing clarity on what holds true, and what remains a myth in the realm of child development.

Is your child a wax factory? Earwax can be gross for parents to deal with, but it has its purposes. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares with us how to clean out a child's ear the correct way and the dangers of using cotton swabs. She also discusses what to do and what not to do when it comes to your child's earwax.

Warts are raised, round, rough growths on the surface of the skin. They are very common and most people have dealt with one at some point. Warts usually go away without treatment in two to three years, but what if you, or your child, don’t want to wait that long? It’s time to pull out that wonderful silver tape that seems to fix just about anything. Dr. Cindy Gellner shares how duct tape can be us...

An ingrown toenail can cause a lot of pain, especially in children. There are different causes for an ingrown toenail, but the most common are tight shoes. Pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner tells you how to identify ingrown toenail from other feet infections, prevention and what to do if your child gets one.

While it is rare these days, some children still catch chicken pox. Will old-fashioned remedies like an oatmeal bath work? Or should you take her to the pediatrician? Dr. Cindy Gellner goes step-by-step through everything you need to know about your child’s chicken pox, how to treat every symptom and when it’s time to take her to the pediatrician.

When a child develops an itchy rash, many parents immediately worry about chicken pox. But thanks to vaccination, most rashes in school-age children are caused by something else entirely. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , debunks chicken pox myths. Learn how to tell when a rash might not be chicken pox, what conditions commonly mimic it, and when to call your child's pediatrician about a suspected...

Kids can be messy, sweaty, and occasionally smelly. But some odors may point to a medical issue instead of just needing a bath. Pediatrician Cindy Gellner, MD , explains common childhood smells. Learn what is usually harmless, what simple fixes may help at home, and when certain smells could signal infections, constipation, diabetes, or other concerns worth checking out.

Some kids are easier than others. As a parent you want to feel like a parenting genius, but what do you do when your child is moody, stubborn, challenging, spirited or just down right difficult? First, give yourself a break. Parenting is hard, and in most cases a difficult child is the way they are in spite of your efforts as a parent. Dr. Cindy Gellner has some methods of dealing with your child’...

A child who doesn’t make eye contact; doesn’t smile when others smile. A child who doesn’t say “mama” or “dada” at 15 months. These behaviors may make parents worry that their child has autism. Dr. Cindy Gellner tells us what signs to look for in your child’s development and how your pediatrician can properly diagnose autism with a standardized test.