Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Screen Time Affect my Kiddo?

The Lovable Dinosaur The 90’s was the age of dinosaurs.  Of course everyone remembers the exciting and terrifying creations in Jurassic Park.  But there was another dinosaur, a loving dinosaur, who captured the hearts of kids and their parents.  Barney the purple dinosaur was a beloved figure for many children, and a godsend for parents as well. Not only did he teach about love, the importance of school and friendship, but he kept children occupied for hours.  Cooking or other errands could be run efficiently with the kids parked in front of the television. Even today there are probably millions of kids that are still being entertained by that purple dinosaur. But were all those hours spent watching Barney really beneficial?  Could there be a chance that there was actually harm being done to those kids? Screen Trap It’s true; watching Barney was detrimental to many of those kids, but not because of Barney.  It’s … Keep Reading…

How Can I Stop My Child From Sucking His Thumb?

Thumbsucking, The Other Bad Habit Maybe your kiddo had an unhealthy attachment to the pacifier and the bottle.  It took awhile but eventually you were able to break the habit. And yet it seems nothing has changed. His speech continues to get worse, and there seems to be a space forming where his teeth are supposed to meet. Then you realize what it is…he’s still sucking his thumb. Can I Tackle Thumbsucking? Some of you may be thinking, “How can I make him stop?  I can’t take away his thumb. I can’t hover over him while he sleeps to remove his thumb from his mouth.” You may think,  “It’s too late, he’s been sucking his thumb since he was a baby.” Now your kiddo is three to five years old. He’s still sucking his thumb all day long.  Getting your kiddo to quit the pacifier was like climbing a long and steep hill. Preventing the … Keep Reading…

How Does A Bottle Or Pacifier Affect My Child’s Speech?

Pacifier Involvement Maybe your child is two years old.  One day you realize that she doesn’t seem to be speaking as clearly as other kiddos her age.  In fact there are some sounds that are very hard for her to make. That’s when you start to think about the last twenty-four months: what could be the cause of this?  Well, she’s always been prone to ear infections. She really loves the bottle, and she can’t go without her pacifier. Can the ear infections and speech difficulties be related to the pacifier and bottle?  It’s not possible, is it? Before moving on I want to reassure you.  You did nothing wrong by having your kiddo use a bottle or pacifier.  Bottles and pacifiers obviously have their uses, especially in the first six to twelve months of a baby’s life.  It’s when a child uses bottles and pacifiers on a constant basis that problems start to add … Keep Reading…