Melissa Arca

I remember the infant-feeding days well, very well. I recall blueberry-smothered faces, tiny hands squishing puréed squash through clenched little fists, and generally, a feeling that my growing babies loved mealtime.

Whether you're a parent of a teen or simply an observer, you know this is to be true: 93 percent of teens are online. With social media platforms such as Facebook and handy smartphone apps, teens are digitally connected wherever they go.

Whooping cough (a.k.a. pertussis) is a respiratory infection caused by a very contagious bacterium, B. pertussis. It starts out looking like the common cold but after a week or two turns into a terrible cough that causes coughing fits and difficulty catching your breath, and can significantly interfere with your daily life (i.e. missed days from work and school).

Food allergies among children have been rising in the past few years.

Aside from the usual cough, runny noses and congestion, an ear infection (or worry that their child might have one) is one of the most common reasons parents take children in to see the doctor. Pain from a congested or infected ear can be quite intolerable for children and can keep them (and their parents) up at night.

It's quite ironic that I was an accident-prone child.

This fall, many children will be making huge transitions. Whether it's starting kindergarten or the closing of a school and the move to a new one, this transition can certainly stress any child out.

Knee pain is a fairly common complaint among young athletes. And aside from an acute or traumatic injury, most adolescents who play sports regularly may at one time or another suffer from an overuse injury.

Come 4 o'clock, every single day without fail, I realize that I must come up with a dinner plan. So much for the lofty goal of weekly meal-planning. I don't know why, but it always seems to sneak up on me. It's as if I'm surprised that I have to do this all over again.

Getting your child to drink enough water can rank right up there with trying to get her to eat broccoli. Depending on the child, of course. But hydrating kids adequately is something we pediatricians often counsel parents about.

Angry Birds, Snoopy's Street Fair, Fruit Ninja or Minecraft?

Ask children what their favorite subject is in school, and the answer you'll most often hear is "recess." At least it's the answer I most often hear from my children and from many of the children I see in clinic.

When you're a parent, worrying comes with the territory. We worry about our picky little eaters. We worry about the quality of the food we serve our children. We worry about their safety when they're away from home. We worry. We're parents. The worry never goes away.

The other day after picking up my son from school, we had some extra minutes before we needed to pick up my daughter. We were just a few days before Christmas, and the rush was definitely on. So, in my desire to slow down time a bit, I decided we should make a little pit stop. Just me, him, coffee and some treats.

Christmas is just a few short days away and many of us are getting ready to travel. And while preparing the whole family for travel is work enough, add a toddler or two and that changes the entire travel game.

Editor's note: Dr. Melissa Arca's column, "Confessions of a Dr. Mom," regularly appears in the Thursday Living Here/Health & Fitness pages. This is an extra column addressing the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Like everyone else in America right now, I am heartbroken. My heart aches for those innocent lives lost yesterday in Newton, Connecticut. The story is unbelievable. And yet, today, 20 parents are living their worst nightmare.

Runny noses, congestion and coughs abound in pediatric clinics right now.

There seems to be a disturbing trend in some parenting circles. Unfortunately it seems to be gaining momentum.

When it comes to car seat safety, I don't mess around. As my reluctant 7 1/2-year-old will attest to, since he is still in a five-point harness.

Thanksgiving is not the forgotten holiday. It may seem like it, being sandwiched between Halloween and Christmas. We barely have time to wipe the paint off our children's faces before the Christmas decorations start popping up.

My daughter recently had a nasty fall. One of those falls that takes your breath away, leaves you frozen in terror and brings forth an incomprehensible scream.

OK, so how many of you are enjoying a fun-size Snickers with your coffee? C'mon, I know you dip into your child's candy stash just like I do.

If you want fewer tears, less whining and a more cooperative and well-rested child, all you need are 27 extra minutes.

It's the most common contagious infectious disease in the United States.

Tantrums are fascinating. Not because I enjoy them or enjoy watching my children go through one, but mostly they're fascinating to me because so many of us misunderstand them.

Raise your hand if the first week of school has barely begun and you have a sick kiddo.

In all the hustle and bustle that is the end of summer and the start of a new school year, take some time for yourself.

Children are curious, inquisitive, and they love taking things apart and putting them back together.

Can someone please tell me where summer went?