What Every Parent Should Know

Q&A with Dr. Ozlem Equils, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles

Q: Is it okay to send my two-year-old son abroad to live with his grandparents?

A: It is understandable that you want your son to bond with his grandparents and learn your culture and language. However, children establish strong connections to their primary caregivers early on, within the first two years of life. At two years of age, your son has already established bonds with you and his father. Separation may feel like rejection or abandonment. Your son may go into depression, which can manifest as poor feeding, irritability and sleep problems. His development may regress.

Yes, children bounce back quickly. But we do not know how this early stressful experience may affect his developing personality and his body. Unless you do not have any other alternative, I would not recommend that.

Q: My teenage boy is on the phone for hours. Can he have insomnia?

A: Just as you would not be on the phone with your friends at midnight, your son should not be on the phone late at night. You may need to review his rights to use the phone at night and teach him to set limits for himself. Improve your communication with your adolescent. What is happening in his life? What are his worries? However, remember that insomnia is a common medical problem, affecting 25 to 35 percent of adolescents. You may want to discuss medication options with your pediatrician.

Q: My son was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD). What kinds of herbs are effective?

A: Herbal remedies commonly used to treat ADHD include caffeine-containing herbs such as guarana, plus coffee, tea, cola and chocolate; sedative herbs, such as passionflower to treat restlessness, chamomile, valerian and hops; and a variety of herbs that are suggested to enhance cognitive function and concentration, such as ginkgo, Siberian ginseng, and Panax ginseng.

Deficiencies in iron and zinc have been linked to ADHD behaviors. Children’s vitamins usually have iron and zinc. Inositol is widely used to help treat symptoms of anxiety, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

The data on the benefit of fish oil is controversial. Too much fish oil can lead to vitamin A intoxication. Children who have bleeding tendency and diabetes should be given fish oil under the supervision of a physician.

I am an avid believer in the concept that the body tells us what it needs. Teach your child to listen to his or her body, eat when hungry, stop when full and listen to what the body is craving. Of course, limit the amount of candy and soda.