For years, our phone nurses have used Dr. Barton Schmitt's book of pediatric protocols to help advise families about a host of ailments.  Now, Dr. Schmitt has published a similar book geared towards parents entitled, "My Child is Sick!"  The book was selected by Library Journal as one of the 10 Best Parenting titles of 2011.  Dr. Schmitt's advice is very clear and practical.  This book makes for a great addition to your bookshelf, and it would also make a nice gift for a family expecting their first child.  To buy it, click here.  If an actual book made of paper is too old-school for you, check out HealthyChildren.org's KidsDoc Symptom Checker.

"Well, she has a runny nose,  and she has been fussy for 3-4 days, and we thought it was teething.  Now she has fever to 102.8, and she is more unconsolable and she can't sleep.  What do you think, doc?"

Teething can be an uncomfortable part of growing up that may affect babies off and on throughout the first two years of life.  Teething is unlikely, however, to be the explanation for more severe or serious symptoms.  A new study published in Pediatrics demonstrates this nicely -- the researchers followed a group of children and monitored them for symptoms in the days before, during, and after tooth eruption.  It turns out that fussiness, drooling, decreased appetite, loose stools, and sleep disturbance are common with teething, just like Grandma says.  Fever or more severe symptoms should not be attributed to teething, though -- such symptoms should prompt a search for some other cause.  The bottom line:  for fever of 100.0F or higher, some other illness should be suspected.