Dr. Melissa Arca

I will not text and drive. In fact, I will not check my email, Facebook, or Twitter while driving. Better yet, I will  keep my cell phone in my purse, the backseat, or the glove compartment to resist the urge. It may not be this simple when it comes to teens and texting while...

1.  Reapply at least every 2 hours. No matter what. Spending the day at outside? Make sure your little one has his/her sunscreen reapplied at least every 2 hours. Set a timer if you need to. Also be sure to reapply after swimming or excessive sweating no matter how much time has passed. Fact–>...

Oh great. I’m still in a booster at age 8. So apparently, my son had the misconception that once he turned 8, it was bye-bye booster. Poor kid. I guess I forgot to tell him that it’s really his height that matters. I think he might be a little embarrassed considering many of his...

Spring is here and with all the beautiful blooms and warm days comes the tree and grass pollen (the most common Spring allergy triggers). Combine that with the wind and kids spending more time outside and unfortunately, what you get are an uptick in your kids’ allergy symptoms. While some kids will only have...

You know the kid. The one in the outfield kicking dirt and picking daisies. His parents, religiously cheering from the bleachers. Because he likes baseball. Probably loves the snack bar tickets more, but nonetheless, loves being there. Game after game, pitch after pitch, one missed fly ball after the next. Pay attention, get your...

Teens, smartphones, Facebook, Instagram, and a myriad of other “social” apps. What do they have in common? Well they simply go together these days. Just look around and if you spot a teen, he/she is likely virtually connected, phone firmly in hand. The social landscape has certainly changed since our own teen years and...

So the other day we were sitting down for dinner, and my daughter suddenly blurted out…I’m going to be the best mom ever. I looked at her and smiled. So sweet. I indulge myself with reassuring thoughts that I  must be doing a pretty good job. She sees me and thinks, yeah…I want to...

When Not before 4 months of age. Studies have shown that babies introduced to solid foods before then are at increased risk of obesity, diabetes, celiac disease, and eczema. Not to mention that it can interfere with breastfeeding. For exclusively breastfed infants, 6 months is the ideal time to introduce baby’s first foods. In...

It’s a disturbing trend and one I’ve seen take off in the past year…parents taking to the Internet to embarrass and shame their children for certain missteps and transgressions. From kids standing on street corners holding large signs spilling the truth about ways they have wronged their parents to Facebook posts and/or pictures of...

If you have a toddler or preschooler, then you know they are a fast and curious bunch. They love exploring, and at this age they inspect with their mouths first and ask questions later. While a little dirt or sand never really hurt a toddler; unintentional ingestion of medications or chemicals can suddenly put...