My recommendation is to wean your baby off a pacifier ideally between 9 and 15 months of age. During this time, your child can’t “ask for it” and is also very capable of finding other ways to be soothed.  This makes for an easier transition for both parent and child.

Waiting until the child is 3-4 years old can be much more difficult since your child will likely beg and plead for it back.  Good luck!!

Most parents ask about how to calm their baby when teething. Teething may cause sleepless nights and tears, but don’t’ worry it will pass. Babies generally get their first tooth between 4-6 months of age, but it can be a year for some children.

You can sooth teething pain with the following:

• Soothing teething toy, preferably a cold one
• Wet a wash cloth and place in freezer and let baby chew on it
• ** Avoid topical medications
• Check with your pediatrician to see if its ok to give a mild pain reliever on occasion

Call your pediatrician when:

• Child is 3 months or younger and has a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher
• Child of any age is acting sick, is dehydrated, or has fever lasting more than a few days

When to administer medication:

• Once child is beyond 3 months old or with direct guidance from your pediatrician
• Give acetaminophen until your child is 6 months of age
• Contact pediatrician once the child reaches 6 months to discuss the use of ibuprofen

There have been recent changes in acetaminophen dosing.  Now there is one formulation for both infants and children.  Remember, we dose the medication based on the weight of the child, not the age.

Most children under the age of 2 will not have strep throat however, if they live in a home with older siblings or come in direct exposure with strep throat they can get it.

When to bring your child in for a throat culture:

• Not feeling well after direct contact with someone with strep throat
• A sore throat that lasts more than one day
• Pain with eating or drinking

In the beginning the answer is no.  To make sure your children are not at risk of being trapped under a blanket,  follow the tips below:

• Use swaddling blankets as long as your child is wrapped tight
• Sleep-sacks can be used to prevent your child from getting a chill at night
• Do not use a blanket in your child’s bed until he is able to pull himself up to standing and has the motor control to get out from under the covers

For more parenting videos visit Dr. Alanna Levine on The Bump.

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• Most commonly starts on the head
• Can cause yellowing of the whites of the eyes
• A simple blood test can determine the degree of jaundice
• Treated with special lights called phototherapy

For more parenting videos visit Dr. Alanna Levine on The Bump.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

There are far more effective ways to discipline your child than using hot sauce.