I worry about my daughter not drinking enough all the time. Not too long ago, she got a nasty stomach bug, and we almost had to give her an IV for dehydration. She does not drink a lot at meals either. She will take a tiny sip, and then put it back down on the table. I worry all the time about it. I am the opposite. I always have a drink in my hand. I drink my full 8 glasses of water a day, and then some. I am a chronically thirsty person. While I accept that she may … Continue reading →

Summer is here, which means you and your preschooler will likely be spending quite a bit of time at the pool or beach in order to cool off. But, what happens when your pool plans are put on hold because your preschooler develops swimmer’s ear? When a child complains of an earache most parents automatically assume that their son or daughter is suffering from an inner ear infection. However, during the summer months when recreational swimming increases, doctors say most of the earaches they treat are related to a condition called swimmer’s ear. Swimmer’s ear is caused when excess water … Continue reading →

Despite my deep reluctance to engage in food power struggles with my preschooler, sometimes I find myself wondering if she is truly eating enough of some foods. I develop a nearly-irresistible desire to run after her with heaps of vegetables, forcing them into her at every turn. Now, I don’t actually do this. But maybe if there was a way to do it while she was sleeping, hmm, now there’s an idea! How much does your preschooler actually need to eat? You might be surprised. Preschooler portion sizes are a lot different from adult portion sizes. A preschooler’s portion sizes … Continue reading →

Preschoolers love to run around in circles…and rectangles, triangles, and anywhere else. They expend so much energy over the course of a day that they can wear their parents out. All of this energy expenditure needs food as fuel, but preschoolers also need water to function. Water is actually more important to your body than food – the majority of the body is made up of water. If your child is running around a lot, she might not sweat like an adult, but you can bet that she will need water. Water is needed so that your body can expel … Continue reading →