Barbara Howard, M.D., is a pediatrician and leading authority on children's development and behavior. She trained under T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., and is now an assistant professor of pediatrics at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. Dr. Howard is a past president of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and a popular speaker on children's behavior problems. In addition, she has served in regional and national roles with the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Dr. Howard has a 14-year-old daughter, a 12-year-old son, and two grown stepsons. She and her husband, the developmental-behavioral pediatrician Raymond Sturner, M.D., are co-directors of the Center for Promotion of Child Development through Primary Care, a nonprofit that aims to incorporate the latest thinking in child development into primary care. They live in Baltimore.

Still, the biggest benefit--better sensitivity to your baby's cues--is also a barrier. To potty-train an infant, a caregiver must constantly watch for tiny signs that the baby is about to void, like turning red in the face, then make a signal (like a psssss noise) to help reinforce the connection. This requires an availability that many parents would like to have but don't.

For parents with the wherewithal, the close attention is sure to give them a better knowledge of their child. I wouldn't expect problems for the child unless a parent gets frustrated at "accidents" or continues this intense scrutiny later, limiting the freedom to play and try things out independently. In all honesty, though, it's probably a rather rare soul who has the time and desire to attend to a baby in this way.

If you have a question about your child's health that you'd like Dr. Howard to consider for a future issue of Child, send us an e-mail at mailcenter@meredith.com. We have the right to publish your letter or an edited version in all media.