For parents

Question:

What is disruptive mood dysregulation disorder? My paediatrician mentioned it but also said it’s mostly a myth and my son should grow out of it with time.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

Disruptive mood dysregulation behaviour (DMDD) is a childhood condition. For your child to be diagnosed with it, the following symptoms must be present: 

Question:

Is it safe to let my son play Minecraft? He’s 5 but I know you can hit things in Minecraft and I don’t want him to get violent at home.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

Considering the guidelines of different organizations, your 5 year old is too young to play Minecraft. The ESRB indicates that Minecraft is suitable for children 10 years old and up. Common Sense Media recommends it for kids aged 8 and up. The European Games age rating system (PEGI) indicates that it is suited for children 7 and up.  

Question:

Thoughts on taking kids to a nude beach or a teenager on a nude beach? We live in California if that makes a difference.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

This decision depends entirely on your values. Some families are very open about nudity and the parents walk naked in front of their kids, while for other families, nudity is a no-no.  

Question:

I think we’re going through a 4 month sleep regression. What do we do? Really battling with parenthood at the moment.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

I am so sorry to hear you are struggling. If it is any consolation, you are not the only one struggling with sleep. Sleep is probably the topic that I get most questions about when I deliver corporate talks and in my 1-2-1 sessions with parents.  

Question:

What do you think about smoking while pregnant? I am finding it hard to stop.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

Congratulations! I hope the pregnancy is going well. 

Question:

Will it mess my daughter up if I got her a baby ear piercing? Like is that a problem with consent?

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

No, you won’t mess up your baby if you pierce her ears and it is totally up to you (and your co-parent) whether to pierce her ears. The only important thing is that the piercing is performed with sterile equipment by a qualified professional and that you follow the instructions they will give you to prevent infections.

I hope this information helps! I wish you and your baby all the very best.  

The other day, a well-known Spanish momfluencer announced that she had become a grandmother. Her comments quickly filled up. Many of her followers were very happy and congratulated her. But a lot of her followers were surprised and even angry at her. Angry because she had kept this pregnancy a secret and only announced it when the baby had already been born. They felt cheated.  

Question:

How to co-parent with a narcissist? I'm at my wit's end with him.

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

I am not sure if your co-parent has been diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder or if you are using the term ‘narcissist’ to describe someone who is very self-centred.  

In any case, here are some useful tips for you to take: 

Question:

What should a 2-year-old know? I'm worried that my daughter is behind the curve based on what other mothers in my moms' Facebook group are posting about their kids.

Question:

Is spanking child abuse?

Dr. Ana’s Answer:

It depends on where you live. In some countries, any kind of physical discipline (including spanking), is illegal. In other countries, spanking is legal.