TV Dinner

Q: My 15-month-old will allow me to feed her in front of the television, and when I do, she eats really well. But if there is no TV, and I give her finger foods to eat herself, she will eat one or two bites and then say, "All done." Which way do I go? Is the TV watching just a phase that she will grow out of or a bad habit?

A: There is absolutely no reason why a 15-month-old should be watching television at all. The first thing I'd do is shut it off. He has a whole new world to explore. I'm concerned by your description of a child this age "allowing you" to do something. Remember, only one of you is the parent. You get to make the important decisions, not he. He'll quickly learn to eat without the TV. One thing that might help give you perspective and some extra skills is attending a parenting class. Talk to your family doctor or community center to see what's available where you live. —Lawrence Kutner, PhD

Automotive Transitions

Q: Can you tell me the appropriate age for transitioning my 2-year-old from a car seat to a booster seat? I've read that the weight limit could begin at 30 pounds, but is there an appropriate age limit?

A: Don't be in a hurry to move to a booster seat! A properly installed car seat positioned in the middle of the back seat is the safest place for your child. It provides head and upper body protection that a booster seat lacks and has better shoulder restraints for a smaller body. Don't even consider the change until your child is at least 30 pounds (some manufacturers recommend 40 for their models) and about age 4 to allow for growth in the trunk to accommodate shoulder straps. At 40 pounds, she can make the transition to the adult restraints, but you may prefer to keep her in the booster even longer, as it allows her to see outside. With every transition in car seating, you'll run the risk of getting into new arguments with her, and a proper car restraint should never be negotiable. Do yourself a favor and use the car seat as long as possible. —Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.

Night Fright

Q: Our son will be 3 years old next month. Lately he has been insisting that his bedroom lamp remain on all night. I have switched to a 40-watt bulb to keep the room as dark as possible. Is there any reason for us not to allow this practice? I worry about his eyes, etc. He does have a nightlight in his room, but that does not seem adequate for him. Should we just wait for this phase to pass, or be firm and unplug the light?

A: Many children between 3 and 6 go through periods of "night fright." Monsters in the closet or bears under the bed can only come out in the darkness, so keeping a light on insures safety. Pooh-poohing your child's fears by saying that there are no monsters misses the point: The fears are real, even if the actual creatures are not. The nightlight may cast shadows that are just as scary as the darkness, so the more diffused and general light from his lamp may provide him more comfort.

I think the source of your concern about his eyes may be reports of a study that claimed to show a relationship between nightlights and later near-sightedness in children. That was only one study, however. I believe there is a more important issue here: A child's feelings of safety and security, and some measure of control over his environment are more critical in the long-term than the remote possibility that this may contribute to a need for glasses. Reassure your child that you will never let anything harm him, but let him keep his light on if he needs to. —Loraine Stern, M.D.