....that cleaning a newborn's umbilical stump too often can make it stay attached longer ? A common misconception is that using alcohol "dries up" the belly button stump. The umbilical remnant, in actuality, ROTS off. Cleaning it more frequently than 3-4 times a day does not allow for the bacteria to do it's job - to make the stump fall off.

....that iron fortified formula does not contribute to constipation in an infant? Studies have shown that there are no significant differences in the amount of stool or consistency of stool between children on iron fortified formula and those that were not.

....that it is safe for a child with an ear infection or middle ear fluid to fly on an airplane? There is no increase in ear discomfort or pain in the presence of an infection or fluid while flying on an airplane.

....that colic in an infant is not due solely to gas? It is felt that colic is due to multifactorial reasons including an infant's personality, overstimulation, as well as the possibility of some abdominal discomfort. Usually changing the type of feeding or giving gas medication does not help much. Changing formulas has not been shown to help with spitting up either.

....that how a fever responds to Tylenol or Motrin does not correlate with the severity of the illness? I see a lot of concern when a fever cannot be "broken". A child's illness is not necessarily more severe when the fever does not respond well to Tylenol or Motrin.

....that the height of a fever does not necessarily correspond to the severity of an illness? Serious illnesses in children can occur at fevers of 102 F just as easily as fevers of 105 F. By the same token, a fever of 105 or 106 F can be associated with "just" a viral illness.

....that a milk protein allergy may manifest itself as chronic CONSTIPATION ?

....that there is no cure for the common cold (I'm sure you know this already) and that over-the-counter cold remedies have never been shown to be of any benefit in children preschool age and younger? Over-the-counter cold medications often do not help symptoms at all and do not help colds to resolve any faster.

....that the "normal" body temperature of 98.6 was derived from a study of 1 million ADULTS by taking their AXILLARY (under the arm) temperature? Children have, in fact, been found to have higher "normal" body temperatures than adults!

....that infants do not need extra water in addition to breastmilk or formula?

....that green or yellow nasal discharge does NOT necessarily mean a bacterial infection?

....that a temperature of up to 100.4 degrees F in a child is considered normal? Temperatures between 100.5 and 101 degrees F is what I consider a "low grade" temperature and a fever would be a temperature over 101 degrees.

....that adults may only be correct 50% of the time when they think their child is running a fever? There was a study looking at how well mothers can tell if their child was running a fever without the aid of a thermometer. They found that mothers are right 100% of the time that their child was NOT running a fever. When a mother *thought* that her child "felt warm", the children were running a fever only 50% of the time. The only sure way to tell if your child is running a fever? Take it with a thermometer!

....that feeding a baby (less than 4 months old) rice cereal DOES NOT help them sleep through the night?

....that axillary (under the arm) temperatures can be off by up to 3 degrees? If possible, axillary temperatures should be avoided!!

....that milk DOES NOT increase or thicken mucus?

....that most babies will grunt and strain when passing a bowel movement? This has to do with incoordination of the abdominal muscles and poor relaxation of the anal sphincter.

....that babies, especially breastfed babies, at about one month of age will start skipping days between bowel movements? Some babies will skip up to a week between bm's and still be considered to have a normal stool pattern.

....that the MMR vaccine has NOT been shown to cause autism?

....that the DTaP vaccine is NOT associated with SIDS?

....that alternating tylenol (acetaminophen) and motrin (ibuprofen) does not work better for fever than using either one or the other?

Eve H. Switzer, MD, FAAP