My husband insists that our 13 year-old daughter practice pitching for softball year round. Â I am concerned. Should I be?
Part of any healthy lifestyle is staying active throughout the week and the year. Children often take this to the far limits due to their passion for the sport, their desire to be the best, and a bit of obsessive behavior related to their development to want to master their bodies. What children and often their parents do not understand, is that even the best players in the world give their bodies rest to recover and practice other activities so
Young Children and Nutrition
by Tom Seman MD FAAP February 27th, 2013 | Pediatrician on Call
My two year-old son will only eat fruit and bread, but not vegetables. Should I worry about him getting the right nutrition?
It is very important for everyone to have well balanced daily nutrition to remain healthy. This should include mostly whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as lean proteins, good oils/fats, with limited amounts of solid fats such as butter and margarine, and only scant amounts of refined sugars and candies. Children are no exception. There are many important nutritional items in fruit, but not everything found in vegetables can be found in fruits,
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It is very important for everyone to have well balanced daily nutrition to remain healthy. This should include mostly whole grains and a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as lean proteins, good oils/fats, with limited amounts of solid fats such as butter and margarine, and only scant amounts of refined sugars and candies. Children are no exception. There are many important nutritional items in fruit, but not everything found in vegetables can be found in fruits,
Children and Heart Murmurs
by Tom Seman MD FAAP January 31st, 2013 | Pediatrician on Call
My child's doctor mentioned the word murmur at our last visit. Â What is that?
Over the millennia the heart has been revered and imagined as the center and master of the body and soul. In ancient Egypt, it was preserved with the mummy while the brain was removed and thrown away. Â All of the great writers, from the ancient Greeks through Shakespeare to those of the twenty first century, center on the heart. Â It is so strong, yet it breaks so easily. Â The sound of it beating reminds us we are alive.
When a physician evaluates a child, one of the
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Over the millennia the heart has been revered and imagined as the center and master of the body and soul. In ancient Egypt, it was preserved with the mummy while the brain was removed and thrown away. Â All of the great writers, from the ancient Greeks through Shakespeare to those of the twenty first century, center on the heart. Â It is so strong, yet it breaks so easily. Â The sound of it beating reminds us we are alive.
When a physician evaluates a child, one of the
Prenatal Testing
by Tom Seman MD FAAP January 3rd, 2013 | Pediatrician on Call
I am pregnant with my first child, and I am over 30 years old. My doctor
 keeps recommending that I get my blood tested and have an ultrasound to
 make sure that the baby is ok. No matter what, I do not want to terminate
 the pregnancy. Is it really important to do all of these tests?
Congratulations! People have often wondered if there is a reason to do all
 of the tests, especially when they know that they will have the baby no
 matter what. After all, just a generation ago, there were not as many tests 
to tell what
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Congratulations! People have often wondered if there is a reason to do all
 of the tests, especially when they know that they will have the baby no
 matter what. After all, just a generation ago, there were not as many tests 
to tell what
Children and the Holidays
by Tom Seman MD FAAP December 6th, 2012 | Pediatrician on Call
A parent asked me to explain why the holidays are always so stressful and bring out such bad behaviors in her child. Also, how could she show the child the true meaning of the holiday without lecturing?
Well, it is time for the holidays. No matter what religion one may practice, the main aspects of all of the holidays is faith, family, and the belief in miracles. The holidays present a variety of stressors and opportunities for a child. The many outings, parties, sweets, and altered bedtimes, even when there is fun involved, can throw off a child's routine. Children previously well-behaved
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Well, it is time for the holidays. No matter what religion one may practice, the main aspects of all of the holidays is faith, family, and the belief in miracles. The holidays present a variety of stressors and opportunities for a child. The many outings, parties, sweets, and altered bedtimes, even when there is fun involved, can throw off a child's routine. Children previously well-behaved