Understanding Your Baby's Growth: Weight, Health, and Apgar Scores
Baby's height and weight? Hello, doctor. I would like to ask you... My baby was born weighing only 2100 grams, and at 5 months and 20 days, after catching a cold, the weight measured at the hospital was 7.4 kilograms. I would like to know if this is too thin. I accidentally ...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Dear Mother of Little Fish, Congratulations! Your baby has successfully reached a normal height and weight. The typical birth weight for a full-term baby is between 2500-3500 grams. Your baby was born with a noticeably lower weight but has now caught up to the 50th percentile fo...[Read More] Understanding Your Baby's Growth: Weight, Health, and Apgar Scores
Understanding Early Closure of Fontanelles in Infants: Key Concerns
Premature closure of the fontanelle? Hello Doctor: My baby turned 4 months old on August 4th. Isn't it true that newborns typically have open fontanelles at birth? However, it seems that my baby's anterior fontanelle was closed at birth, or perhaps I just didn't no...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Hello, Shan Shan's mother: The soft spot on the top of the baby's head that feels like there are no bones is called a fontanelle. There are two fontanelles that can be felt along the midline of the skull, which provide flexibility and space between the bones of the skul...[Read More] Understanding Early Closure of Fontanelles in Infants: Key Concerns
Concerns About Pressing a Newborn's Fontanel: What Parents Should Know
Pressing on the baby's fontanelle? Today, while holding my newborn brother, I noticed the soft spot on his head pulsing slightly. I couldn't help but touch it. Suddenly, my older son, who was jumping on the bed, lost his balance and bumped into my hand that was touching...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Hello Mr. Yang: It is indeed concerning whether the baby's skull may have been injured. Generally speaking, in the emergency department, we encounter cases of infant fontanelle injuries typically caused by sharp objects, such as being poked by a pen. A finger, being a blunt ...[Read More] Concerns About Pressing a Newborn's Fontanel: What Parents Should Know
Understanding Learning Disabilities and IQ in Children with Health Issues
Intellectual disability and learning disabilities? My daughter is five years old and will be entering kindergarten. She can do puzzles and play games, but her behavioral responses are somewhat slow, and she has poor counting skills and weak recognition of numbers. We have spent a...
Dr. Lin Huizhen Reply:
Dear Dr. Lin Huizhen, Chief of Pediatrics at Tainan Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan: Based on your description, it seems that your child may have slower learning abilities. There are many factors that can affect a child's learning, such as vision, hearing, or...[Read More] Understanding Learning Disabilities and IQ in Children with Health Issues
Addressing Infant Feeding Concerns: Breast Milk Intake and Health Tips
Issues with milk intake? Dear Doctor (I apologize for the interruption, and thank you for taking the time to read this letter): My baby was born on April 4th weighing 3440 grams, and she will be 3 months old on July 4th. She is currently exclusively breastfed, and I have a few qu...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Dear Mom of Shanshan, Congratulations on your baby reaching three months of age! With a weight of 5.4 kg, your baby is at the 25th percentile according to the Taiwanese growth chart in the child health handbook. This is within the normal range, although slightly below the averag...[Read More] Addressing Infant Feeding Concerns: Breast Milk Intake and Health Tips
Managing Head Bumps in Toddlers: Safety Tips and Concerns
Head injury? My 3-year-old son frequently bumps his head, and I would like to know how to manage the situation immediately to alleviate his pain. Each time he bumps his head, a bump appears! Additionally, since he has had so many incidents, could this potentially affect his brain...
Dr. Zhang Guozhen Reply:
To: Ms. Lin A 3-year-old child is at an age where they run, jump, and sometimes fall. This requires a lot of care and supervision from parents. Generally, a bump on the head from a fall will resolve on its own within a few days without the need for further intervention. However,...[Read More] Managing Head Bumps in Toddlers: Safety Tips and Concerns
Understanding Head Injuries in Infants: What Parents Need to Know
Bruise Hello: On June 18th, I took my baby to the hospital for an outpatient visit. During an X-ray, the nursing staff accidentally allowed him to fall from a bed about one meter high. When discovered, he was face down but conscious. An X-ray was performed at that time, and there...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Dear Mother, I understand that such an incident can indeed be concerning. You may be wondering if there will be any long-term effects from the head injury. Generally speaking, infants have softer skulls, and their fontanelles have not fully closed yet. When a head injury occurs,...[Read More] Understanding Head Injuries in Infants: What Parents Need to Know
Understanding Subdural Fluid Collections in Infants: What Parents Should Know
What is a subarachnoid cyst? Dear Dr. Tsai: When our baby was born, the examining physician mentioned that there were subarachnoid cysts during the brain ultrasound. I would like to ask you, what are subarachnoid cysts? Will they resolve on their own? What impact do they have on ...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Dear Mrs. Lin, Subependymal cysts are generally benign congenital brain cysts that commonly occur in front of the third ventricle. Most children will not experience any symptoms throughout their lives, and these cysts are often discovered incidentally during brain imaging studie...[Read More] Understanding Subdural Fluid Collections in Infants: What Parents Should Know
Urgent Pediatric Concerns: Addressing Baby's Development and Health Issues
Urgent matter: Baby's issue? Dr. Tsai: Hello, I have many questions regarding my baby sister. 1. My baby was born full-term but weighed only 2200 grams, and it was found that she has an atrial septal defect. Does this mean she will definitely develop more slowly than a nor...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
An anxious mother: Sorry for the late reply due to medical obligations! 1. A full-term baby weighing 2200g is considered underweight. This is generally classified as symmetric underweight (where head circumference and length are also smaller) or asymmetric underweight (where he...[Read More] Urgent Pediatric Concerns: Addressing Baby's Development and Health Issues
Safe Sleep Practices for Infants: Addressing Concerns About Side Sleeping and Pillows
Thank you, Dr. Huizhen? Dr. Huizhen, thank you for your response; it has put my mind at ease. Perhaps it's just my personality, or maybe I'm overthinking things. I apologize for asking you another question. The Department of Health has advised against allowing infants t...
Dr. Lin Huizhen Reply:
Dear Xiao Fen, This is Dr. Lin Hui-Chen from the Pediatrics Department of Tainan Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare. Regarding your question about when it is safe for infants to sleep on their stomachs instead of their backs, there is no definitive conclusion, so I cannot ...[Read More] Safe Sleep Practices for Infants: Addressing Concerns About Side Sleeping and Pillows
Is My Toddler's Nutrition Adequate Without Formula Milk?
Do not drink formula milk? My baby (boy) is 2 years and 1 month old, with a height of 90 cm and a weight of 13 kg. His weight has not increased at all in the past few months, but he has grown taller. I give him formula milk in the morning and evening, and he eats meals with adult...
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
1. At 2 years and 1 month old, weighing 13 kilograms, the child's weight falls at the 50th percentile on the growth chart for Taiwanese children, which is considered a standard weight. The weight gain at this age is slower compared to when the child was 1 year old, which is ...[Read More] Is My Toddler's Nutrition Adequate Without Formula Milk?
Concerns About Pacifier Use and Baby's Sleep Safety
Pacifier Hello Dr. Huizhen, my baby is 2 and a half months old now. It's very difficult to soothe him to sleep. Sometimes, I have to use a pacifier, but I'm worried about the risk of hypoxia, so I take it out before he falls asleep, which makes him cry. I would like to ...
Dr. Lin Huizhen Reply:
Dear Xiaofen, Hello! The primary way children breathe is through their noses, and they rarely use their mouths for breathing. Mouth breathing usually occurs when there is nasal congestion or if the nose is obstructed by a foreign object. The pacifier that your child is using wil...[Read More] Concerns About Pacifier Use and Baby's Sleep Safety
Is Using a Pacifier Safe for My 2-Month-Old Baby's Sleep?
Has Dr. Liang received this letter? It's a bit urgent? Hello Dr. Liang, my baby is now 2 months old. When he doesn't sleep, I use a pacifier to help him fall asleep easily, and sometimes he even sleeps while sucking on it. Is this okay? Could this lead to reduced air in...
Dr. Liang Hongjian Reply:
Thank you for your letter, Ms. Hsiao-Fen. Generally, infants from 6 months to 2 years old are in the oral fixation stage, which has a significant impact on their personality development. This period may lead to issues such as extremism, anxiety, and lack of patience. Therefore, w...[Read More] Is Using a Pacifier Safe for My 2-Month-Old Baby's Sleep?
Addressing Tongue Rolling Issues in Children: What Parents Should Know
Cannot roll the tongue? Hello, doctor. My son is now 5 years old and is in preschool. Two years ago, he underwent a frenectomy at Taipei Medical University Hospital. However, he still cannot produce the rolled "r" sound. Because he cannot roll his tongue, his pronunciat...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Hello, Xiaoke's mother: A tight or thick frenulum can restrict tongue movement, potentially causing difficulties for infants in breastfeeding, licking their lips, and certain speech sounds. The speech issues primarily affect sounds that require tongue curling or flapping, su...[Read More] Addressing Tongue Rolling Issues in Children: What Parents Should Know
Guidelines for Infant Head Shape and Sleep Positions: Expert Advice
Has Dr. Pei-Hsin Chang received this letter? Hello Dr. Chang, I would like to ask you about my one-month-old baby. Is it okay to trim the fine hair at such a young age? His head shape is slightly uneven; how can I correct it? I'm unsure if the commercially available baby p...
Dr. Zhang Peixin Reply:
Hello: 1. There should be no specific time restrictions for hair grooming. 2. For an irregular head shape, adjustments may need to be made based on individual circumstances; please consult a nearby physician for a decision. 3. Under normal circumstances, there should not be exces...[Read More] Guidelines for Infant Head Shape and Sleep Positions: Expert Advice
Understanding Sleepwalking in Children: Causes and When to Seek Help
Somnambulism Doctor: Hello! I have some questions regarding my child's somnambulism. He is currently in the fourth grade and has been experiencing episodes since he was about three years old, with 6 to 8 occurrences each month. During these episodes, he gets up, cries, runs ...
Dr. Gu Qingxian Reply:
Hello, please visit the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at National Taiwan University. Thank you![Read More] Understanding Sleepwalking in Children: Causes and When to Seek Help
Should My Baby Undergo EEG After Meningitis Recovery?
Regarding the issue of EEG in children? My baby was recently hospitalized due to meningitis (currently ten months old). After discharge, the doctor requested a follow-up appointment for an EEG one week later. However, people around me say that an EEG is not good for children. I a...
Dr. Chen Rongtai Reply:
Electroencephalography (EEG) is a procedure that uses an electroencephalogram to record the electrical potential changes generated by neuronal activity in the brain. This is used to assess whether there are any issues with brain function and to detect abnormal discharges, serving...[Read More] Should My Baby Undergo EEG After Meningitis Recovery?
Choosing the Right Nutritional Supplement for Your Child: Coromega, Efalex, or proEFA?
Coromega, Efalex, proEFA My child is 1 year and 10 months old and seems to be a bit delayed in language development. I would like to supplement with nutritional products. Which one is suitable: Coromega, Efalex, or proEFA? Are there any contraindications? Thank you!
Dr. Zhang Yingwen Reply:
Dear Sir/Madam, 1. Coromega, Efalex, and ProEFA are commercially available omega-3 and omega-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements that contain DHA and EPA, which are precursors to essential fatty acids. 2. Coromega contains omega-3 fatty acids, DHA, EPA, Vitamin ...[Read More] Choosing the Right Nutritional Supplement for Your Child: Coromega, Efalex, or proEFA?
Understanding Sensory Integration Issues in Young Children
Sensory integration issues? Hello, Dr. Lin. My child is 1 year and 10 months old, and I have recently been doing some sensory integration exercises with him, such as spinning, throwing, vertical acceleration, forward rolls, and backward rolls, which are forms of passive balance t...
Dr. Lin Wenxian Reply:
Dear Sherry, The report you referred to likely pertains to "Shaken Baby Syndrome." This condition occurs when an infant's head is subjected to violent shaking, which can sometimes lead to internal bleeding in the brain. The consequences can be quite severe, often ...[Read More] Understanding Sensory Integration Issues in Young Children
Understanding Sleep Issues and Head Development in 9-Month-Old Babies
A nine-month-old baby is having trouble sleeping well at night and has issues with head development? Hello Doctor: My baby is now nine months and ten days old, weighing 9.9 kg and measuring 76 cm in height, with a head circumference of 43.8 cm. Usually, he only takes a half-hour ...
Dr. Cai Zhengxian Reply:
Dear Ms. Liu, From your description, I noticed that your child's height and weight are in the 75th to 90th percentile, but the head circumference is only in the 10th to 25th percentile. This is an unusual phenomenon. Additionally, since your baby seems to be crying and rest...[Read More] Understanding Sleep Issues and Head Development in 9-Month-Old Babies