member_Laura Markham

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, My husband and I have a 2 month old son together, a first child for either of us. The first 2 weeks home were great, and then my husband seemed to go back to his old life. For about a month now, hes been telling me that dads don't need to bond with the baby until 18 months of age and until then, raising the baby is my job. I have no issue being the sole caretaker for the baby, but I think its unfair to our son. I think a father-son bond is very important, especially since I grew up in a single-parent household.

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, My 3.5 year old son seems to have some trouble in a couple of areas. He has a lot of anxiety and fear as well as sleeping and eating problems. I am a SAHM, he doesn't go to preschool or daycare. I never leave him with other people to take care of. There is no one who is suffering that he's aware of at all or any tragedies. We're a pretty balanced, happy family, and this is why I can't figure out what's the issue.

I have a six-year-old daughter. She is using the toilet during the day but soaking a Pull-Up® at night. We limit fluids after dinner, but that doesn't help. We've even tried bribing her with girl scout camp. She says she just doesn't feel like she has to go when sleeping. I can sense she is frustrated.

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura,

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, My son is a high needs kid. We have, for the most part, been able to manage his outbursts. Today at school we were called because he told two separate children that he wanted them to be dead. After the first time I sat down and talked with him in the quiet area and did believe that he understood how important it was not to say things like that. After I left he said it again to a different child. The day care is very concerned and did stress that in public school he would most likely be sent home if it happened there.

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, I need professional advice because I have no idea how to approach this issue.

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, My 3½-year-old son has begun demonstrating some strange speech behavior. It started with "blowing". I should start by saying that he has lately become obsessive about not stepping on cracks (in sidewalks, on tile floors) and has consistently avoided doing this for about 3 months now.

QUESTION

Dear Dr. Laura, My son is 11 months old. When things don't happen the way he wants them to he throws a fit. He will hit you, throw things and flat out scream for hours if you don't do what he wants. It's hard to know what he wants because he can't talk. I know he can't talk to express. I just want to know what I can do to make things better, and make him happy. Please help me, I don't know what to do. Concerned Mother