Dr Margie

As a mum of four and a paediatrician, I understand the total exhaustion and worry that comes with trying to soothe a crying a baby. It is one of the most common reasons parents come to the Emergency Department or to see me in clinic. It is especially challenging for first-time parents, but is also … Read more

I know everyone is time poor so for this month’s blog I’ve recorded a short video about when you should consider taking your child to the Emergency Department, or to see a GP. If you find it helpful, share with your friends and family, and thanks for watching! Click here to watch the video »

As parents, one of the hardest and most distressing things we are faced with is bullying. It touches all of us at some point. We know from the Australian Child Health Poll that Australians think that bullying is one of the big problems facing children and young people today, so what is the best way … Read more

Winter is coming and many parents are starting to ask themselves whether they should give their child the annual flu vaccine. Each year parents ask me whether it is worth giving to their kids as many don’t think of flu as a serious illness or they simply struggle to find the time to take their … Read more

One of the few things that has shocked me most in recent years is the growing number of kids I see in my practice with tooth decay. Children as young as 18 months are having surgery to remove decayed and rotting teeth as a result of drinking sugary soft drinks or fruit juice from baby … Read more

The holidays are coming to an end and the first day of school is looming. For most parents, this is a day that holds a mixture of excitement and anxiety. If your kids are like mine, they’ve probably been sleeping in their uniforms and packing and re-packing their school bag for a few weeks now. … Read more

Sleep problems can have a huge impact on kids as well as the whole family. Many parents consider turning to medication such as melatonin to help with the issue, but how safe is it? Sleep is essential for all of us to be at our best. Now that the holidays are upon us and many … Read more

Children continue to die from vaccine preventable diseases in Australia, and with many new legislative changes commencing on 1 January, I thought it would be a good time to outline exactly what the changes are, and to ask for your thoughts on some of the measures that are about to be introduced to strengthen immunisation … Read more

How much cow’s milk should my baby be having? As discussed in recent blogs, feeding, growth and nutrition are central to our role as parents, but can be quite challenging in children, especially during the first two years of life. As babies get older, one very important thing to consider is the balance between milk … Read more

Attention and concentration difficulties are very common in school-aged children. Every week I see kids in my clinic whose parents or teachers are concerned about their concentration levels, both at home and at school, that may be having a significant impact on their life. They may be day-dreaming or staring out the window at home … Read more