Hi Erin,
Pulled neck muscles can be very painful.  Unfortunately, we can not give any direct medical advice over the website.  However, typically for an injury of this type a pain reliever is recommended and using either a cold pack (in the first 24 hrs) and then heat can provide comfort as well.  So, it sounds like you are doing all the right things.

Hope it feels better soon
The MommyDocs

Hi Josslyn,
It is definitely young for nightmares or night terrors.  However, at 8 months of age, your daughter is entering into a stage where separation anxiety can play a large role in behavior.  At this point, your daughter is beginning to realize that when you leave the room, you are no longer there, and she is able to keep the thought of you in her mind which can lead to her missing you and wanting you.  This is known as object permanence.  Prior to this developmental stage, when someone or something disappeared it was "out of sight, out of mind".  Separation anxiety is a phase which comes and goes, and then tends to come back again at various ages. 

Now, that being said, it is always important to be sure there is not anything medically wrong with your daughter when she wakes up very upset.  So, be sure that she is healthy otherwise before chalking this up to a behavioral stage.  In addition, be sure to check for any new teeth coming in.  This can definitely cause nighttime waking and discomfort.

If this waking is due to a separation issue, one option with dealing with it may be to do a modified Ferberization plan.  First, you may want to wait a couple of minutes when you hear her start to stir to see if she is able to comfort herself back to sleep (sometimes as parents we rush into the room too fast and don't give our kids time to settle back down on their own).  If she doesn't go back to sleep this would allow you to go into your daughter's room to provide her comfort, but not pick her up.  You could start out by going next to the crib and placing your hand on her for reassurance and then slowly over the course of days move further and further from the crib, until you are just at the doorway, and then out of the room.  At 8 months old you don't want to get into the habit of needing to be rocked to sleep or a middle of the night bottle (unless your pediatrician has told you otherwise). 

Lastly, please discuss this issue with her pediatrician.  He may be aware of other things going on which we are not due to limited information.

Get some rest,
The MommyDocs

Hi Matt,
My answer to you is not what you are going to want to hear.  The absolute safest way to place your daughter to sleep is on her back (to reduce the chances of SIDS).  This recommendation is from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  In a completely supervised situation it is okay to give her tummy time (in fact it's a good thing), but not for sleeping.  And, eventually she will get used to sleeping on her back.  Lastly, there shouldn't be any blankets or anything extra in the crib, so if she is fighting out of a swaddle, it's time to stop doing this because you don't want a loose piece of blanket to go over her head.

Sleep well
The MommyDocs

Hi Elizabeth,
When looking at weight gain in children, one of the most important things is that they follow their curve (whether it's height, weight, or head circumference).  This is why you will always see the doctor (or nurse) plotting the child's stats on the growth charts and paying close attention to them.  So, it's not so much what percentile the child's curve follows (unless they are above the 95% or below the 5%), but that they maintain their growth on their curve.  The doctor tends to become worried when a child starts to either fall off a growth curve or take a big jump up.  This may be what your doctor is expressing concern over.  It does seem that your son is now at about the 7th percentile and at 6 mo. (according to your question) was at approximately the 25th percentile (keep in mind these are estimates since I don't know the exact age of your son at these visits).  My guess is that your doctor is concerned that the percentiles have fallen from about 25% to 7% over the three month period.  This is why he is probably suggesting you incorporate more solids, preferably ones which have increased calories/fat into your son's diet (please only introduce age appropriate foods). 

My suggestion to you would be to call your son's doctor and express your concerns and worries so that he can clarify exactly what his concerns are.  Also, he may want to have you speak to a nutritionist if you are having difficulty getting your son to take in solids.  Some children do have more trouble with this than others, but it is definitely important for him to be taking in lots of different age appropriate foods at this point, in addition to breast milk (which is wonderful that you are still nursing!!).

Good luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Sandy,
As far as the first aid kit is concerned, please check out our "Summer First Aid Kit" entry in the Health Q and A section of our website.  There is a very comprehensive list of what should be included in a complete first aid kit and you can go through it and pick and choose what you feel you need to bring.  Our suggestion would be to definitely bring a thermometer, fever reducing medication, a Benadryl type medication, a dosing syringe, band aids, Neosporin, emergency numbers, and  a card with the exact amount (dose) of medicine your children will need should the situation arise. 

Regarding ear pain on the plane, for the 6 month old you may want to have her nurse/take a bottle on the take off and landing to help with the pressure.  You can also have your 2 year old drink on the way up and the way down as well.  If they are able to swallow during these times it may help with the pressure in the ears.  Otherwise there is not a whole lot else to do.

Have a wonderful trip
The MommyDocs

Hi Danielle and Mark,

In January 2008, the FDA released new recommendations for giving cough and cold medications to children under the age of 2.  These medications should NOT be given to children under the age of 2.  If your baby has some nasal congestion, one thing you can do is use some saline (salt water) with a bulb syringe to help clear his nose.  Give your baby lots of love--We know it's never easy for anyone when the baby isn't feeling well.  Also, when a newborn is experiencing these types of symptoms, you should always let the pediatrician know so that he can decide if he wants to examine to your son.

Feel Better Soon,

The MommyDocs

Hi Cristina,
Diaper rash can be from a variety of things, and the treatment for each is different.  There can be irritation from wetness, poop, or the diaper itself.  This is usually more of a contact irritation which requires a protective/healing barrier between the affected skin and the diaper.  In addition, this type of rash also may benefit from some exposure to the air without a diaper on (this can get a bit messy if the baby/child has an accident).  Sometimes diaper rash can become severe and bacterial skin infections can occur.  When this happens, an antibiotic is needed to aid in healing.  Lastly, there can be a yeast skin infection in the diaper area.  This requires an antifungal medicine.  Usually this involves raised red bumps that like to appear in the folds or creases of the skin, or in moist areas. It's important to keep the creases/folds dry and clean as well.  Sometimes the red bumps can all come together so it looks like raised red patches.  It's always good to consult the pediatrician to find out what type of diaper rash your child has so that the most appropriate treatment can be used.

Hi Umma,
When it's really hot outside and the kids are sweating a lot and wearing sunscreen, it can be difficult to tell if a reaction on the skin is due to the heat or the "chemicals" (sunscreen) which have been applied.  So far, it sounds like you have tried all different types of sunscreen, all with the same result...a bumpy rash.  Two things make this situation difficult to determine the cause of the rash.  First, if this was some sort of allergic reaction to the sunscreen, then one would think it would come out everywhere the lotion is applied (and that does not seem to be the case).  Second, your son is exposed to the heat every time he is outside, so this variable is always in the picture.

One thing to consider is that the rash is due to something entirely different, such as a new detergent (especially because the rash is distributed where a shirt would be).  Please think if you have introduced any new soaps, detergents, fabric softeners, etc.

Lastly, one thing you could try to take out the heat factor is to apply a few different sunscreens in small patches on his back or chest at night, and then check the areas in the morning to see if there is a rash similar to the one he is getting.  This will allow you to test some different sun lotions with the heat factor taken out.  It's important to find this out because it's so important to wear sunscreen every day!!

Good Luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Sandy,
Some babies really do not like taking the bottle, and this can be very frustrating for someone who needs them to, such as yourself, since you are back at work.  However, please keep in mind that the formula or breast milk that he is taking throughout the day is extremely important for his growth and development and that it contains calories and nutrition which can not be replaced by other things.  As your son takes in more solids, his formula/breast milk intake will go down, but he still needs it to maintain appropriate growth and adequate nutrition.  As he progresses through his first year, he will start to eat more and the variety will increase, so his formula/breast milk intake will go down, but it is still a necessary part of his diet.

It is wonderful that he has taken to solid foods so nicely.  At 6 months of age, he can be taking baby cereal, fruits, and vegetables.  Usually it is recommended to begin with one feeding of solids a day and then increase over time, so by the time the baby is about 9 months they will be getting 3 meals a day.  At this point, you may want to offer the bottle at times when he is the most hungry (like when first getting up) to increase the likelihood he will take it.  Right now, think of the solids as "extras" and the formula/breast milk as his main nutrition.  As the amount of solids he takes in goes up, and the variety expands, the formula/breast milk intake will go down some.

Keep in mind that certain foods should not be introduced until certain ages and that when introducing new foods separate it by about 5 days to look for any signs of food allergy.

Good luck with the bottle,
The MommyDocs

PS-Keep in mind that in a very short time you can start introducing him to a sippy cup; perhaps he will take to that better than he has to the bottle!

Hi Angelica,
Although it is commonly reported by parents, diarrhea is not a result of teething.  There is most likely another cause for the loose stools, such as an infection.  If you have any concerns about the diarrhea or there are any worries your child is not getting in enough fluids to keep him hydrated, please let your pediatrician know.

The MommyDocs

Hi Jennifer,

It is possible that your son may have an allergy.  In particular, he could have a dust mite allergy, as dust mites are often found in carpeting.  Multivitamins, while they may help his overall health in general, do not have much of a role in preventing or treating allergies.  There are some over the counter medications you could try, such as Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Cetirizine (Zyrtec), or Loratadine (Claritin), but you should check with your physician before starting these meds, and find out the proper dosage for your son.

Good Luck,

The MommyDocs

Hi Krista,

We've been talking a lot about this very issue recently!  The bottom line here is that you need to use separate DEET and sunscreen products.  The reason for this is that DEET should be applied just once per day, whereas sunscreen should be reapplied throughout the day.  You can use both sunscreen and DEET on the same day.  When looking for DEET products for children, make sure the concentration is less than 30%.  And when you apply it, you can put it on your son's exposed skin, and his clothes, but not on skin underneath clothes (this can increase the toxicity of the product).  So enjoy the great outdoors, and make sure you use these products separately!

The MommyDocs

Hi Kareema,
At the age of 9 months, most babies are ready to start with some table foods.  In fact, a lot of little ones at this age will start to grab at the spoon if others try to feed them and show a lot of interest in what the rest of the family is eating and doing at the table.  There are a few things to be aware of when starting table foods:

-be sure everything you offer your baby is mushy and/or soft to prevent choking
-be sure that everything you offer is in very small pieces (keep in mind that babies need to gum their food, so there is no real chewing) to prevent choking
-avoid highly allergic foods (such as shellfish, eggs, peanut butter, etc.) until your pediatrician says it's okay to introduce them
-be sure any grains/cereals you offer melt easily in the mouth (try it out yourself before giving to your baby)
-if there is any family history of allergies talk to your doctor about the introduction of solid foods
-when introducing new foods, be sure to wait about 5 days in between foods so that any unusual reactions can be more easily pinpointed to the potential cause


Some things to start with when first introducing table foods include: small pieces of well cooked pasta, very soft, cooked vegetables. small peices of mushy fruit (such as cut up banana),  and small pieces of soft cheese.  Yogurt is also something to introduce between 9 and 12 months.  This can provide an opportunity to practice using a spoon.  At around 10 months the meats can start to be introduced.  Just be sure that everything is extremely soft and in very small pieces.  Placing foods in front of the child will give them good practice using their pincer grasp, which should be rapidly developing.

It is very difficult to predict when a child should be done with baby food jars and only eating table food.  Every child is different so there is no strict age cut off.  Once a child is eating three meals a day of table food (and the parent feels they are interested and getting enough in both nutritionally and amount wise), it should usually be okay to give up the jars.

Also, keep in mind that all children need to continue formula and/or breast milk up to the age of 12 months.

Good luck with feeding
The MommyDocs

Hi Samantha,
The 50th percentile for the height and weight of a twelve month old girl is:  29 1/4 inches and 21 lbs., respectively.

The 50th percentile for the height and weight of a twelve month old boy is: 29 3/4 inches and 22 1/2 lbs., respectively.


The MommyDocs

Hi Danielle,
It's ironic that you ask this question because both my (Dr. Jamie) boys experienced a very similar situation when we were on vacation last month.  They were swimming in both the pool and the ocean and after some time they were complaining that their inner thighs were in severe pain and they had a bright red, bumpy rash in that area.  Although I can not say with certainty what the rashes are your children are experiencing (I would need to examine their skin) my best guess is that it is a dermatitis (inflammation of the skin) caused by a combination of the friction of the skin on skin with the bathing suit and the wetness.  This can be very painful (my boys were walking like they just got off a horse).  You can try to put a barrier on the skin to avoid the direct rubbing, perhaps something like petroleum jelly (this is a bit messy).  Also, in the meantime, keep the area as dry as possible and exposed to air to aid with healing.  Hopefully, over time the skin in this area will "toughen up" and the rash will not keep occuring.  If the redness does not go away, or there are any signs of worsening or infection have their doc take a look.

Good luck and enjoy the summer,
The MommyDocs

Hi Francine,
Rolling from back to tummy in the crib happens with most babies at some point.  For your daughter, it has started happening rather early (at 4 1/2 months).  You can try to turn her back over to her back (the recommended sleep position for babies) as much as humanly possible, but beyond that there is not a whole lot else to do. Continue to place her on her back when she goes to sleep.  We do not recommend putting anything in the crib to keep her on her back such as wedges or blankets (this would pose an increased SIDS risk).  While awake and supervised you can give her tummy time to improve her strength in this position (for example lifting/turning the head, and pushing up on the arms/hands).  It will also give her the opportunity to practice rolling from front to back.

As far as teething, this usually occurs anytime between the ages of 4 and 10 months.

The MommyDocs

Hi Cheri,
Although it is a commonly held belief, teething does not cause fever.  A lot of people report fevers with teething, however there is probably something else going on in addition to teething.  It is possible that the rash on the legs is associated with the fever, not teething.  Unfortunately we are unable to see the rash so we can not tell you what it looks like it may be from.  If you are concerned about the rash, please have your son's doctor take a look.

Hope he feels better soon
The MommyDocs

Hi Michelle,

At this point, the answer to your questions is unclear--there is not a lot of data out there regarding both of these issues.  Regardless, your daughter needs those prescribed antibiotics to keep her healthy.  As far as probiotics go, please discuss the probiotic formula she is on with your pediatrician and nephrologist, to make sure it is safe for her kidneys.

Good Luck,

The MommyDocs

Hi Anne,
Here are a few suggestions to help your son with his sleep pattern.  I'm assuming that your goal is to have him sleep later, so that you are not having to get up with him between 4:30 and 6:30 a.m. (that's rather early!).

One idea is to very gradually move back his bedtime.  You'll want to do this slowly so he doesn't realize it's changing.  It sounds like he does go to bed fine and that you have a consistent bedtime routine which is wonderful.  Keep the routine, just push it back a bit every 3-5 days; maybe by about 10-15 minutes.  This should extend his sleep on the other end (on occasion it does not).

Another suggestion focuses more on his nap time.  If you are able to push back the nap to later in the day, then it will be easier to keep him up later, and then hopefully he will sleep later in the morning. 

Lastly, try to keep his room as dark as possible in the morning.  I know that ever since late spring/early summer my kids are up earlier because it is so light outside at such an early hour.  You may want to invest in some room darkening window treatments if this is an issue.

If your son does continue to wake up early, try not to rush in as soon as you hear him get up.  Perhaps he will learn to go back to sleep on his own, if he learns that Mom or Dad will not be in right away to get him.

Good Luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Freda,
It is impossible to know exactly how long it will take for a tooth to erupt through the gum.  I remember thinking my son's first tooth was going to pop through any day, and in reality it didn't happen for 4 months after I imagined it would.  Sometimes there are signs, such as increased drooling, chewing on the hands, and bringing everything to the mouth, but even these actions can go on for a long time without any sign of a tooth.  Usually, a baby's first tooth erupts between 4 and 10 months of age, so if this is her first tooth, chances are it should be coming through sometime in the near future.

Also, please keep in mind that teething does not cause fever in babies/children.  So, her crankiness may be due to something else (perhaps in addition to the teething).

Hope she feels better soon
The MommyDocs

Hi Melissa,
This question is actually a bit difficult to answer; as most insect repellants these days contain DEET.  Picaridin is another insect repellant which has been used for many years in other countries.  In April 2005, the Centers for Disease Control included picaridin in its recommendations for mosquito control  when used as directed.  It comes in 5-10% solutions. 

However, there are no long term follow up studies for picaridin, so we are unable to recommend it at this time (especially for children).  The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does however recommend DEET (never use in a child under 2 months old) when used as directed for mosquito/tick control.  From the information we were able to find, currently there does not appear to be an official recommendation regarding picaridin from the AAP.

The MommyDocs

Hi Lisa,
In general, babies start to roll over around 4 months of age.  Some will do this before and some will do this after.  If a child is 4 months old and has not rolled over there is no need to be concerned as long as he has been developing normally.  It is important that up till 4 months all other gross motor milestones have been met, such as; good head control (holding head up well on his own),  pushes self up with forearms/wrists while on stomach (supervised, of course, because a baby should never be left on their belly due to increased SIDS risk), etc.. 

Rolling usually starts off front to back and then back to front.  If you have further concerns about your sons development, let his doctor know!

The MommyDocs

Hi Carrie,
It sounds like your son is very close to taking some steps on his own.  Everything that you describe sounds very reassuring that he is on the right track.  He is bearing weight, walking while holding onto objects or your hand, and letting go to clap.  Most likely, he will be distracted by something and just start taking some steps without even realizing it.  If for any reason he starts to regress in his gross motor skills (for example, he stops cruising or pulling to a stand) , it would be very important to have him looked at right away.  At this point, it sounds like you are doing all the right things.  Continue to encourage him and provide lots of praise with every small achievement.  And with just the right distraction, you may be able to get him to take those first steps.  However, he will probably start walking on his own in the near future.  If in about a month he is still not walking, he should be evaluated by your pediatrician.

And of course once he starts walking, it's a whole new world!

Good Luck
The MommyDocs

Hi AbF,
Here are a couple of suggestions.  The most effective bug spray is one that contains DEET.  It should be used only on exposed skin and/or on clothing.  You may want to try it on a small patch of your son's exposed skin to see if he reacts to it, before using it over more of his skin.  Another option is to put the DEET only on his clothes; that way it will provide some protection without actually being directly on his skin.  With the DEET, never go above 30% (as the percentage of DEET goes up, it lasts a longer time) and don't use it on the backs of hands, around the mouth, nose or eyes.  Another option is to avoid buggy areas during prime times when the mosquitoes are out or to put your son in lightweight pants (if it's not too hot) to prevent bugs from getting to his legs.

Lastly, apply bug spray outside and wash it off after coming inside.

Good luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Jennifer,
Your son should be evaluated by his physician.  A limp which comes on suddenly could be from a variety of things, such as a bone injury (there is a type of fracture in the lower leg called a toddler's fracture which can present without obvious injury),  joint injury or an infection.  Oftentimes in young children it can be hard, as parents, to isolate where in the leg, foot, or hip the limp is coming from.  So, a doctor needs to take a look to see if a further work up is needed.  I'm not clear as to how recent ear infections could be related to the limp.

Good luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Shara,
At 7 weeks of age, as long as your son is healthy (no medical problems), gaining weight appropriately, and drinking well during the rest of the day, it is most likely fine to allow him to sleep 8 hours.  This is probably the maximum he should go at this age.  At his 2 month check up, confirm this suggestion with his pediatrician, as he knows your son's full history.

Congratulations
The MommyDocs

Hi Jaime,
It is not unusual for children to go through phases where they are more aggressive.  Certainly, it is important to address the issue and deal with it so that the unwanted behavior can be extinguished as soon as possible.

It's always a good idea to think if there is any reason why your son may be feeling the need to be this way suddenly.  Are there any changes in the home?  Did he start a new daycare situation?  Did you recently move?  Is there a new sibling?  Sometimes, children show how they feel through their actions since they don't have the language skills to express their concerns.  If there are any major changes in his life this may be contributing to what is going on and "explain" why it is happening.  Oftentimes, there is no obvious reason for behavior changes and no matter what the reason may be, it still needs to be dealt with.

My favorite approach to this type of issue is to attempt to use positive reinforcement.  So, instead of waiting for him to hit another child and then tell him "no", praise him as often as you can when he does the behavior you want.  For example, if you are in the store and stroll past another child and your son does nothing (meaning doesn't do anything aggressive), make a huge deal that you just love the way he was so good walking past that other child.  Or, if you're at the park and he is on the swing next to someone and minding his own business, not trying to bother the other child, really lay on the praise for that.  Sometimes this is hard to do, because as parents we really need to recognize all the little things that we normally would not comment on.

Along with positive reinforcement, it's always nice to have a visual reminder for your child of how well (or not) they did.  For example, for every time you praise your child, put a little happy face sticker on his shirt.  Then, periodically, during the day you can say to him, " Wow, you have 4 stickers on your shirt, I'm so proud of you.  Let's try to get 4 more!".  He will most likely start asking for stickers and you need to tell him that he has to do the expected behavior to get more.  This should start breeding the wanted behavior and get rid of the unwanted behavior.  Also, it doesn't have to be stickers.  It can be anything you feel your child will want to work towards.

Also, you could practice doing some role playing inside your home.  Your son may be a bit young for this but you could try.  Bring out a doll, and set up a scene where you are all playing at the park and have your son interact with the doll.  Try to teach him how to deal with certain situations, pretending that the doll is another child.  Then, in real life, when you do go to the park remind your son about how he related to the doll in your home.

Hope these suggestions help
The MommyDocs

Hi Matt,
Congratulations on your new baby!  Typically in newborns we allow them to feed "on demand".  This means that when they are hungry, we feed them.  They set their feeding schedule, not Mom or Dad (unless too much time goes by, and then the parent intervenes with formula/breast milk).  Breastfed babies usually feed every 1-3 hours.  This seems like a lot, but this is the normal range.  At this point, at the age of 18 days, stretching feedings would not  be recommended.  In the first 1-2 months of life babies eat on average 3-4 oz. per feeding (some take more) when they are taking formula (which can be measured).  As they get bigger, this amount increases.  It is harder to know exactly how much a breastfed baby is taking because it is not measured out.  The best way to know how a baby is doing with intake is to follow her weight, which the pediatrician can do if there are specific concerns.  If you have any concerns with a swollen belly, it is very important to have your pediatrician take a look at your daughter.  Increased gas, fussiness, and poop can be due to a variety of things (for example, changes in the breast milk secondary to what mom is eating, to things more serious) and should definitely be brought up to her doc.

Good Luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Jennifer,
Usually the rule of thumb is to switch to milk from formula or breast milk at 12 months of age.  This is because babies need the nutrition in formula/breast milk up until this time.  Typically, if a child has tolerated a regular milk based formula they transition to cow's milk (whole milk is usually recommended to start).  A slow transition is often a good idea (just like you were doing) to get the child used to the new taste. If a child has been on a different type of formula, the parent needs to discuss with the doctor what type of milk is recommended. 

It may be difficult to separate, in your daughter's case, what her loose stools are due to (the goat's milk, a random illness, etc.).  At this point, it would probably be a good idea to stop introducing the goat's milk and go back to just the formula (she is not 12 months yet).  Then, see how she is doing.  When she turns a year, discuss with her pediatrician what happened previously and then make a plan as to how to best transition her to milk (goat vs. cow).

Good luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Brittany,
Young children pull on their ears for all different reasons.  Most people worry about this because they are concerned their child has an ear infection.  This may, in fact, be the case.  Usually, in this situation there are other symptoms as well which may include fever, pain (which may present  with increased crying/fussiness in a baby), and/or upper respiratory symptoms (runny nose, congestion, etc.).  In order to diagnose an ear infection the doctor will need to look in the ear with an opthalmoscope.  If the ears look okay, then there is not an infection at that time.  Other reasons for pulling on the ear could include a foreign body (something that shouldn't be there, like a bead) in the ear canal.  This also can be diagnosed with a look into the ear by the doc.  Another reason young children pull on the ear is simply because they have found an object on their body to "play" with.  If this is the case, then there is nothing to worry about.  Overall, it's important to take the ear pulling in context and if it persists and your daughter appears to be uncomfortable, then it would be a good idea to have the doctor take another look.

The MommyDocs

Hi Kell,
Sometimes, it can be difficult to decide whether or not to bring your child in to be checked out for an illness.  In this particular case, the decision should be based on a few things:

- How long has the diarrhea been going on?
-Is there any fever?
-How much and how often is the diarrhea occurring?
- Is there any blood or mucous in the poop?
-Has your child had any foreign travel or ingested food/drink which may have had potential contamination?
-Is your child dehydrated?
-Is the diarrhea getting worse or not improving?

It would  be a good idea to call her pediatrician, give him the answers to these questions and see if he wants you to bring in your daughter.  Unfortunately, without having the opportunity to examine your daughter and get a full history, we can't say with certainty what is going on.

Hope she feels better soon
The MommyDocs

Hi Suzanne,
We asked Dr. Jessica Exelbert, a pediatric dentist, about your concern.  She said that the "black gum" area you are talking about may be an eruption hematoma, which appears as a purplish/dark bluish raised lesion of the gum where the tooth is erupting.  If this is in fact what your child has, the hematoma will resolve on its own.  However, a visit to the local pediatric dentist is needed to examine your child and make a diagnosis based on the exam.

Good Luck
The MommyDocs

Hi Ashleigh,
Children go through periods where they are more or less hungry.  Usually, these are phases and they go back to normal eating patterns.  However, in this case, especially in light of the fact that she may be "thirsty" all the time, it is very important to have her evaluated by the pediatrician.  There are a few medical conditions which can cause an increase in thirst/appetite, which definitely need to be ruled out before just saying this is a natural bump in her appetite/thirst.  The medical condition which is most often associated with an increase in thirst, is diabetes.  This can easily be looked for by checking a urine sample and/or blood work.  In addition, it would be a good idea to look at her overall growth (for example, is she losing weight despite her increase in appetite/thirst?).

If she is cleared medically, it may be a nice idea to set up an appointment with a nutritionist.  This will allow you to go over your daughter's eating habits and patterns and come up with a healthy, nutritious, tasty, meal plan.  In addition, a nutritionist can go over proper portion sizes for a child your daughter's age.

The MommyDocs