Metro Pediatrics, PC

07/23/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"Stages of Puberty for Girls"

Kids with ovaries go through distinct physical changes during puberty. Discover the stages of puberty for girls and how parents can help them adjust.

Puberty can be a perplexing time for young people and their caregivers. There is a lot of change happening, and it can be challenging to adjust, but with love and support, you can get through this process together.

Understanding puberty, including what to expect, is key to helping support your child. Learn about the stages of puberty for girls and how to address any unique concerns that may come with it, like their first period, acne, and body image.

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/stages-of-puberty-for-girls-8642295

07/22/2025

07/22/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"The 5 Stages of Puberty in Boys"

Puberty can start anytime between ages 9 and 14, but changes follow a set pattern. Learn more about what to expect.

At the first sign of puberty in males, you'll notice that they're beginning to go through many important changes that will help them transition to adulthood. Their body gets bigger and stronger, their voice cracks as it changes, they become more muscular.

While the entire process takes several years, there are five stages of puberty for children assigned males at birth. Puberty tends to begin later for males than females, and typically starts between age 9 and 14—though the timing varies widely. Learn more about the stages of puberty for boys and what to do if you suspect if they're delayed.

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/stages-of-puberty-in-boys-8585028

07/21/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"The Best Foods for Baby Brain Development"

Certain foods have been proven to positively affect your baby's memory and capacity to learn, while others can hinder it. Here's how to improve baby brain development with your diet during pregnancy.

Your baby's brain is one of the first organs to take shape, with development beginning in the third week of pregnancy. It will grow at a staggering rate of about 250,000 nerve cells per minute in the months to come, consuming more than half of the available energy during gestation. Keeping that in mind, it's no surprise that what you eat and drink can have a significant impact on baby's brain development. Here's what to eat for the best brain-building capabilities.

Pop Your Prenatal Vitamin Daily
Taking a prenatal vitamin will help ensure you get the balance of nutrients your baby needs. These include folic acid and vitamin B12 to make red blood cells, vitamin C to produce collagen, vitamin D for bone building, and zinc for brain development. If your vitamin upsets your stomach, don't just ditch it; try taking it with a meal, or talk to your doctor about switching brands.

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/my-body/nutrition/feed-your-babys-brain-during-pregnancy/

07/20/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"A Parent's Guide to Baby's First Haircut"

Worried your baby will freak about her first haircut? These snippy strategies will keep her calm.

You might think your child's first trip to the salon is the cutest ever, but she won't see it that way. To her, being wrapped in a plastic cape, squirted with water, and attacked with sharp scissors by a stranger is just plain scary. "This is a peak time for stranger anxiety, and haircutting salons have lots of unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells that can upset your child," says Kori Levos Skidmore, Ph.D., a child psychologist in Oak Park, Illinois. But getting those little bangs trimmed doesn't have to be hair-raising—as long as you plan it properly.

Know When to Go
If your baby entered the world with luscious locks, she could be ready for a haircut as early as 8 months. But if she was a baldy, she may not need one until she's 2. There's no right or wrong time to go. It comes down to this: Do you want to preserve her baby look, or do you think she's ready for a big-kid 'do? "Keep in mind that once you cut off those curls, they may not grow back," says Christine Burger, founder of Noodle and Boo, a hair-care product line for babies and children. On the other hand, trimming superfine baby hair often makes it look thicker.

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/baby/care/bath/baby-first-haircut/

07/19/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"How Often Should You Bathe Your Newborn?"

Learn how frequently you should bathe your newborn according to experts, as well as tips for preventing eczema outbreaks between baths.

Bath time might be part of your nightly ritual, but doctors actually don't recommend daily baths for babies. Excess exposure to water can zap their skin of moisture and worsen conditions like eczema. Then again, not bathing your baby often enough can also aggravate eczema, plus lead to other infections.

"It's a delicate balance," says Scott Grant, M.D., MPH, FAAP, at Detroit Medical Center's Children's Hospital of Michigan. But bathing itself is probably not the entire problem: "The use of bath products, including lotions that contain dyes or fragrances, can react with babies' skin to make eczema worse even if there isn't a 'bath,'" says Dr. Grant.

So how often should you bathe a newborn?

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/baby/all-about-babies/heres-a-reason-to-skip-babys-bath-tonight/

07/18/2025

Metro Pediatrics Tip of The Day:

"8 Reasons Your Baby Might Be Coughing"

Your baby will likely cough quite a bit in their first year of life—and for good reason. Coughs are the body's way of protecting itself. Your baby's cough works to keep their airways clear and clear the throat of phlegm, postnasal drip (nasal mucus that drips down the back of the throat), or a lodged piece of food, explains Howard Balbi, MD, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Nassau County Medical Center.

But here's where things get tricky: A baby's cough can mean many different things, and it's not as if you can ask them what's wrong. Sometimes it's hard to know when to worry about your baby's cough and if you should call your health care provider for advice or head straight to the emergency room.

Here, experts break down how to tell the difference between a wait-and-see cough from one that demands immediate medical attention.

Click here to learn more: https://www.parents.com/baby/health/cough/decoding-babys-cough/