Q)
Dear Dr. Gwenn:

My daughter is 3 ½ years old. I just spent the last year raising her alone while my husband was in Korea. Since we are a military family, our lives change every so often when it has to. Lately our daughter takes up to 3 hours to go to sleep, we have left her by herself and we have to take her back into her room at least 6 times. We’ve tried reading stories in her bed and staying in her room until she falls asleep. On occasion, she has lain in our bed for hours before falling asleep.

During the evening struggles, she often throws fits and kicks and screams. I need help!!! This is affecting my marriage and now I have become one of those mothers that I didn’t want to become with a spoiled child. Please help!!!

Thank you,
Rebecca

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Q) Dear Dr. Gwenn,

Thanks,
YP

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Q)

Hi  Dr.Gwenn,

Our daughter is 3 years old and fell on her knee recently. She will stand on it but is refusing to walk. We personally think there is nothing wrong apart from the graze on the knee.

Could you please shine some light on this situation? This is the 2nd time we have had this problem after a fall on both knees.

Yours gratefully,

Mr.G

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Q) Dear Dr. Gwenn:

Our 23 month old daughter apparently fell down while playing.  My wife and I did not see her fall nor did our other three daughters but we knew something happened because we heard her cry and found her sitting on the floor near her play kitchen. We didn’t think anything of it until the next day when she absolutely refused to walk or even stand on it, but is otherwise fine if she is sitting.

We went to our doctor and she took X-rays of foot and ankle and said there was no break so it was a sprain, check back in a few days.  We checked back after doing our own research and asked if it could be a toddler fracture. The doctor did not seem to want our input, rechecked the same xrays and said there is no break, check back in a week if she is not walking.

I am concerned about waiting too long.  We are going on our third day and still there is no change in her refusal to walk or stand.  I guess what I am wondering is should we wait and is there something else we should do?

Much thanks.

J&A

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Q) Dear Dr. Gwenn:

My 3 yr old had an injury to her left foot. It is still has some swelling and she limps pretty bad in the morning, when it’s cold, or she has to run. We have taken her to her pediatrician 2 times. The first time and X-ray was done and no fracture could be detected. The second time was because 6 weeks had passed and no improvement. I would say it is getting worse now and we are on the 9th week.

What do you suggest? I’m a very tired mom from having her beg to be carried all the time. We have it wrapped and on Motrin (i.e. generic ibuprofen), but it’s just not improving.

Thank you for your help.
LK

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Q) Dear Dr. Gwenn:

My 3 year old boy has been limping for a little over 6 months. At first we saw an orthopedic doctor who thought it was growing pains and put him on naproxen twice a day. That did help as long as he took it but he still had a slight limp. If we missed a dose, the pain came back horribly.

Over the past month, his limp and pain worsened. We were sent to a rheumatologist and an ophthalmologist to be tested for arthritis. The tests came back negative. The rheumatologist put him on prednisolone with the naproxen. I was just wondering what the next step should be. I do not want to keep giving my 3 year old medicine unless it is necessary. What else could be causing this limp?

Thanks.

A

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