10 Ways to Keep Your Family Safe 10 Ways to Keep Your Family Safe Recent world events may have you feeling especially concerned about your family's safety. The biggest threats to safety, though, are very close to home. According to ...
11 Ways to Raise a Healthy Child 11 Ways to Raise a Healthy Child As a parent, you are an important teacher of health care and health information for your child. Here are 11 recommendations to help you succeed at this important job....
2-Year-Olds: Terrible or Terrific? The "Terrible Twos" You have to take your child to daycare and then get to work—and you're late. Your 2-year-old suddenly decides she doesn't want to go. The more you try to put her into her car seat...
5 Key Mistakes Parents Make With Car Seats 5 Key Mistakes Parents Make with Car Seats You wouldn't think of not having a car safety seat for your infant or toddler, but are you using it the right way? Safe Kids Worldwide estimates that three ...
A Checklist to Help You Spot Hearing Loss A Checklist to Help You Spot Hearing Loss Although most states now have mandatory requirements for hearing tests while a newborn is still in the hospital, some hearing-impaired children slip by the s...
A Child's First Dental Visit Fact Sheet A Child's First Dental Visit Fact Sheet When should your child first see a dentist? Experts at the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) say the ideal time is six months after the first tooth erupts. At...
A Chubby Baby Is Not a Sign of Obesity A Chubby Baby Is Not a Sign of Obesity With childhood obesity on the rise, should parents worry about the weight of their babies? Experts at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say parents shoul...
A Few Tricks for Halloween Treats A Few Tricks for Halloween Treats Think back to the Halloweens of your childhood. What do you remember most? Sure, there were costumes and parties, but the most exciting part was peering into your ba...
A Guide to Jogging Strollers A Guide to Jogging Strollers Since jogging strollers were developed in 1983, their popularity among parents has increased dramatically. Today, jogging strollers come in a variety of shapes and sizes ...
A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies Around the holidays, stepfamily life can become particularly stressful, especially for children who'll spend time at more than one household. Circumstances vary ...
A Kids' Asthma Journal A Kids' Asthma Journal Do you want to gain better control over your asthma? Put it in writing! By following the examples below, you can use a journal to track day-to-day changes in your asthma. This ...
A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Child Care A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Child Care As a parent of a young child, one of the most important decisions you'll make is choosing who will care for your child while you’re at work. Here’s how to get ...
A Primer for Preschooler Safety A Primer for Preschooler Safety Your little ones can learn a lot about safety if you take some time to teach them. Keep your lessons simple, say the experts, and even very young children can learn how...
A Safety Checklist for Parents A Safety Checklist for Parents You can help keep your children safe by following these precautions and using common sense. General steps Encourage your children to wash their hands frequently through...
After Delivery, Taking Care of Yourself After Delivery, Taking Care of Yourself Having a baby is a life-changing experience, and there's no way to know just how exhilarating and challenging the first few months can be. From the wealth of n...
Air Bags and Kids Air Bags: Not for Children A car with an air bag is considered safer than a car without one. But for children under 13 years old, air bags can be dangerous. In fact, no child younger than 13 or under...
Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic The leading substance-abuse threat to children may be as close as your refrigerator. Millions of adolescents drink alcohol. Many binge drink, having five or more d...
All About Child Passenger Safety All About Child Passenger Safety Installing your child's car seat properly and using it every time your son or daughter rides in the car is one of the best ways to help keep him/her safe in case of a...
All Family Time Is Quality Time All Family Time Is Quality Time Don't feel guilty about the amount of "quality time" you spend with your family. Some experts are beginning to shun the quality time movement for something much more b...
Answers to Questions About Your Child's Mental Health Answers to Questions About Your Child's Mental Health Children can have mental health disorders that interfere with the way they think, feel, and act. Although some behavior problems can be attributed...
Appendicitis: Children and Teens Appendicitis: Children and Teens Appendicitis is an inflammation that can lead to infection of the appendix. It affects 7 percent of Americans and is the most common reason for a child to need emerge...
Asthma: First Doctor Visit for Your Child Asthma: First Doctor Visit for Your Child Your child has been coughing or wheezing, and you’re wondering whether it might be asthma. The first step toward finding out is scheduling a visit to your ch...
Avoid Soccer Injuries in Your Kids Avoid Soccer Injuries in Your Kids The school team. The town team. The travel team. If your young soccer player is on the field for several games or practices a week, it may be too much. Most injurie...
Babies and Toddlers Need Iron to Thrive Babies and Toddlers Need Iron to Thrive Iron-rich foods may not top your list of what to feed your baby or toddler. Yet this mineral is key to your young child's growing body and mind, experts say. I...
Babies Need 'Tummy Time' Babies Need 'Tummy Time' Nearly 15 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first recommended that parents put their babies to sleep on their back. That simple piece of advice cut the deat...
Baby’s Emotional, Intellectual Development Aiding Baby’s Emotional, Intellectual Development You gaze lovingly into your newborn's eyes as you feed him. You speak gently to your daughter as you change her diaper. You sing to your child at bed...
Balancing Work and Home Balancing Work and Home Getting organized in your work, family, and personal lives can help you create balance in each of these important areas. To keep the scales of work and life balanced, you must...
Basics About Your Newborn’s Body Basics About Your Newborn’s Body For the past nine months, you’ve been getting ready for your baby’s arrival. But now that you’re bringing home your bundle of joy, you’re a little worried. How will y...
Basketball: Make Safety a Point Basketball: Make Safety a Point Basketball is an exciting sport, but it can also be tough on your body. College and professional basketball players must train to avoid injury--and so should your youn...
Beating an Eating Disorder Beating an Eating Disorder With eating disorders affecting girls at ever-younger ages, a surprisingly simple tactic might help: Dine as a family. Since society has so much influence on adolescents be...
Bed-Wetting: Help Your Child Stay Dry at Night Bed-Wetting: Help Your Child Stay Dry at Night Bed-wetting is a common event in young children. It is normal for a child up to age 6 to wet the bed once in a while. As children get older, they can co...
Being There: Advice for Expectant Dads Being There: Advice for Expectant Dads Remember scenes from old movies where the husband paces around the waiting room while his wife is in labor? As a father-to-be today, you know that you can parti...
Beware of Diarrhea Dehydration in Infants, Toddlers Beware of Diarrhea Dehydration in Infants, Toddlers We all dread diarrhea. But when the patient is your infant or toddler, diarrhea can range from a minor annoyance to a medical emergency. The stools...
Beware of Supplements for Kids Beware of Supplements for Kids Dietary supplements and herbal mixtures aimed at your children may be a waste of your money—and a threat to their health. Dietary supplement makers advertise herbs and ...
Binge Drinking Dangers for Young People Binge Drinking Dangers for Young People For millions of young adults in this country, the weekend will pass in an alcoholic blur. They'll toss down drink after drink as fast as they can, throw up, pa...
Blood Pressure Rising Among Children Blood Pressure Rising Among Children The next time you hear folks talking about their blood pressure, take a look. They may be kids. Yes, children can have high blood pressure, and experts say the nu...
Breastfeeding Helps Mothers and Children Breastfeeding Helps Mothers and Children There's nothing like breastfeeding to put kids on the path to good health. Breastfeeding has multiple benefits for babies, including lower risk for ear and re...
Bridge the Gap With Teen Grandkids Bridge the Gap with Teen Grandkids True or false: Grandparents hold a special place in their grandchildren's lives -- until the kids become teenagers. If you said "true," then let the experts on gran...
Building Bonds with Your Grandchildren Building Bonds with Your Grandchildren Of the more than 56 million grandparents in the U.S., about half live more than 200 miles from their grandchildren. This distance creates a challenge for famili...
Bullies Go High-Tech Bullies Go High-Tech You can now add bullying to the list of things made easier by technology. Teens today live much of their lives on the Internet. Online bullying, also called cyberbullying, can in...
Bullies: Helping Your Child Cope Bullies: Helping Your Child Cope Bullying can happen in school, on the playground—and now even on the Internet through social networking sites. Bullying is intentional tormenting that can be physical...
Buying a Bike for Your Child Buying a Bike for Your Child Is your child ready for her first bicycle? Most youngsters learn the basics of pedaling, steering and braking on a tricycle or "big wheel" cycle, and around age 4 are rea...
Caring for a Child With Type 1 Diabetes When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes If your child suddenly grows weak, tired, and nauseated, the youngster probably has the flu or some other virus. But the symptoms could also be warning signs of ty...
Caring for Tiny Teeth Caring for Tiny Teeth Before your infant goes off to sleep at the end of the day, you should do more than kiss the little one good night. Make sure your baby's developing teeth are not at risk from n...
Caring for Your Sick Child Caring for Your Sick Child Parents know they have choices when their child is sick. They can treat the child at home, make a doctor's appointment, go to the emergency room, or call 911. But at times,...
Cesarean Doesn't Mean Forever Cesarean Doesn't Mean Forever Many American women deliver their babies by cesarean birth, which means the baby is born through a surgical incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. At one time...
Child Health Emergencies Child Health Emergencies Having a very sick or severely injured child is a parent’s worst nightmare. If it happened to your child, would you know the best way to go about getting treatment? Knowing w...
Child Safety for All Ages Child Safety for All Ages Reducing the risk for SIDS Here are recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and sleep-relat...
Childhood Immunizations: Get the Facts Childhood Immunizations: Get the Facts If you are the parent of a young child, you may be confused about the safety of immunizations. You may have heard that vaccines cause life-threatening side effe...
Children and Cholesterol Children and Cholesterol If you, your parents, or your parents' siblings had a heart attack before age 55 and you have a child, this advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) might surpris...
Concussions: Caution Is a No-Brainer Concussions: Caution Is a No-Brainer It's better to miss a game than a whole season. That's the key message of a campaign by the CDC aimed at an underrated health threat: sports-related concussions. ...
Cool Tools to Keep Your Kids From Smoking Cool Tools to Keep Your Kids From Smoking Many teenagers think smoking is cool. This belief is supported in recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tobacco statistics. The CDC states ...
Cough Medicine Abuse by Teens Cough Medicine Abuse by Teens A common ingredient in many cough and cold remedies has become a popular substance to abuse by teenagers searching for a cheap, easy high. Dextromethorphan (DXM), a coug...
Could Your Child Have a Drug Problem? Could Your Child Have a Drug Problem? Many parents blame themselves when faced with the possibility that their child may be using drugs. But most experts recommend that parents worry more about helpi...
Cross-Cultural Adoptions Raise Sensitive Issues Cross-Cultural Adoptions Raise Sensitive Issues Pimples. Braces. Dating. Finding your way through the teen years can be challenging, to say the least. When you're an adopted child of a different race...
Depressed Kids Need Help Despite Antidepressant Fear, Depressed Kids Need Help A new label on some antidepressants, a so-called black box warning, cautions that they may make kids feel more suicidal. But that warning shouldn...
Diet Drinks, Small Snacks Have Drawbacks Diet Drinks, Small Snacks Have Drawbacks Diet soft drinks and packaged minisnacks seem like painless ways to provide treats as you trim calories from your child’s diet. Sugar-free soft drinks may be ...
Do Parents Influence Their Kids’ Health Behaviors? Do Parents Influence Their Kids’ Health Behaviors? Research shows that how you react to illness has a lot to do with how your parents reacted to illness when you were a child. As with most other acti...
Does Your Child Have a Make-Believe Friend? Does Your Child Have a Make-Believe Friend? You're about to sit on the couch next to your 4-year-old. Suddenly, she yells, "Don't sit there! You'll crush Jennifer!" Oops. You should have known better...
Don't Sell a Short Kid Short Don't Sell a Short Kid Short Your child seems short next to other children of the same age. Should you worry? The short answer is, maybe. Some children grow more slowly than others. Height in the low...
Do's and Don'ts for Grandparents Do's and Don'ts for Grandparents Some tips for a successful relationship with your grandchildren: DO talk with your grandchild's parents before trying to start a relationship with the child. Talk abo...
Earlier Is Better to Catch Hearing Loss Earlier Is Better to Catch Hearing Loss When should your child's hearing be tested? Sooner than you think. Many experts urge hearing tests before newborns leave the hospital. Every year, about 1.5 to...
Easing a Child’s Fears and Anxieties About Medical Procedures Easing a Child’s Fears and Anxieties About Medical Procedures As a parent, you are central to the decisions made about your children's health care. You are an important member of the health care team...
Eat Well, for Your Children's Sake Eat Well, for Your Children's Sake You can tell your children how to eat well, but experts say it's better to show them. Children learn by watching their parents. If your favorite restaurant is the "...
Eczema in Kids: Annoying, but Treatable Eczema in Kids: Annoying, but Treatable A scaly, red, itchy, dry rash can show up in the first weeks of life. It signals a vexing but treatable skin problem called atopic dermatitis (AD), often known...
Exercise Your Duty to Keep Kids Fit Exercise Your Duty To Keep Kids Fit Do you know how much exercise your kids get? If you take their word for it, you may not have the full story. Children overestimate their activity levels, according...
Eye Protection Keeps Kids in the Game Eye Protection Keeps Kids in the Game Protective eyewear can help prevent many of the 40,000 sports-related eye injuries that occur to children each year. The sports that cause most of these injuries...
Family Meals: More Than Good Nutrition Family Meals: More Than Good Nutrition If you don't have a family meal each day, it's time to get out the plates. Table time yields benefits that go far beyond food. Research shows that the more ofte...
Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Teen girls who are athletes face unique obstacles when it comes to their bodies and how well they perform. Teen girls have their teen growth spurt at an earl...
Find Nutrients for Children in Food, Not Pills Find Nutrients for Children in Food, Not Pills You want to make sure your child gets the right vitamins and minerals. Although that may seem as simple as choosing a multivitamin off the shelf, it's n...
Find Safe, Fun Ways to Keep Young Kids Active Find Safe, Fun Ways to Keep Young Kids Active In a world that hypes baby yoga and baby swimming classes, can baby football be far behind? Physical activity for the very young is vital, but avoid such...
Finding the Best Day Care for Your Child Finding the Best Day Care for Your Child Day care for your children is a fact of life if both parents work. But not all day-care options are good for your child. If you're just starting to look, firs...
Finding the Right Rehab Program for Substance Abuse Finding the Right Rehab Program for Substance Abuse The biggest myth about drug and alcohol rehabilitation is that treatment doesn’t work. And believing that myth may be one reason that finding the r...
Five Mealtime Survival Tips for Harried Parents Five Mealtime Survival Tips for Harried Parents You know that you and your kids need to eat right. But with your busy schedule, sometimes it may seem tough to make sure everyone has nutritious meals ...
Five Tips for Handling a Bad Report Card Five Tips for Handling a Bad Report Card By third grade, your child's warm and fuzzy progress report will likely give way to the cold, hard letter-grade report card. A disappointing grade can become ...
Focusing on Safety at School Focusing on Safety at School School should be a safe place for children, where neither parents nor children should have to worry about violence. Unfortunately, that's not always the case in today's w...
For Kids, Games Can Build Strong Minds For Kids, Games Can Build Strong Minds Here's a new reason to zap video games: Those electronic playthings keep kids from games that stimulate their minds in important ways. Citing the latest researc...
For More Babies, Birth Comes Too Soon For More Babies, Birth Comes Too Soon Full-term babies are born between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy. Babies born prior to 37 weeks gestation are considered premature. More than half a mill...
For Obese Teens, Surgery Is the Last Resort For Obese Teens, Surgery Is the Last Resort Extreme obesity plagues more than 5 million teens and young adults, experts estimate. These youths tend to be at least 100 pounds or 100 percent above thei...
For Parents: Treat at Home or Call the Doctor? For Parents: Treat at Home or Call the Doctor? When a child complains of a sore throat, stomachache, or a headache, a parent naturally worries. You want to do whatever you can to help your child feel...
For Seniors: Pass On Your Love of Music For Seniors: Pass On Your Love of Music If you love listening to music, why not share your passion with your grandchildren? “Music is a wonderful way to connect with grandchildren because it provides...
Get Serious About Playtime Get Serious About Playtime For kids, free time used to mean playtime. They'd come home from school, grab a snack and bolt out the door to run around with friends. In the summer, they'd play all day. ...
Get Your Kids to Log Off Get Your Kids to Log Off TV and video games have robbed children of outside play for years. Most U.S. homes now have a personal computer, too. About a third of kids ages 8 to 18 have a computer in th...
Getting a Start on Solid Foods Getting a Start on Solid Foods It's every first-time mother's worry as her infant approaches 4 to 6 months of age: When to start solid foods? Experts recommend going slowly and steadily as you help y...
Give Eating Right a Green Light Give Eating Right a Green Light The government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans says everyone age 2 and older should eat a variety from five basic food groups each day: fruits, vegetables, grains, ...
Give Young Athletes Plenty of Fluids Give Young Athletes Plenty of Fluids Odds are you wouldn't let your daughter play catcher in a baseball game without a facemask. You wouldn't send your son onto a football field without a helmet, eit...
Giving Your Baby the Best Nutrition Giving Your Baby the Best Nutrition As a new parent, you want the best for your child. And that includes the best nutrition. But the proper nutrition for kids can seem baffling, given the latest heal...
Glasses Can Help Even Young Children Glasses Can Help Even Young Children When should a child get his or her first pair of glasses? When he or she needs them -- and that may be as young as a few months of age. Doctors who specialize in ...
Grandparents Can Provide a Critical Need: Attention Grandparents Can Provide a Critical Need: Attention WANTED: Cheerleader extraordinaire. Applicant need not be nimble or boisterous. Ability to boost morale and offer unconditional support a must. Gen...
Grandparents, Keep Kids Safe in Toyland Grandparents, Keep Kids Safe in Toyland Buying toys for your grandchildren is one of the joys of grandparenting. Before you hit the stores this holiday season, though, remember that the best toys are...
Growing Up Short or Heavy Can Be Difficult Growing Up Short or Heavy Can Be Difficult Each of us is unique; we come in different shapes and sizes. But that's an adult's view of the world. If a child thinks they're different from the other kid...
Guard Your Baby from Rotavirus Guard Your Baby from Rotavirus A vaccine can protect babies from rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants. Before the rotavirus vaccine, rotavirus accounted for up to 272,000 em...
Guidelines for Raising Smoke-Free Kids Guidelines for Raising Smoke-Free Kids Every day more than 4,000 U.S. teenagers try smoking, and 28 percent of them will become regular smokers. Parents can take practical steps to keep their childre...
Help for a Child with a Cold Help for a Child with a Cold It starts with a sneeze and a runny nose. From your child's symptoms, you suspect you're dealing with a cold. You want to help your child feel better, but choosing among ...
Help Girls Stay Active as Teens Help Girls Stay Active as Teens The teen years often bring a sharp drop in physical activity, especially for girls. But girls who trade tennis for television or volleyball for video games could face ...
Help Your Babysitter Prepare for Anything Help Your Babysitter Prepare for Anything Everyday activities keep many parents so busy that they can't take their children with them everywhere. That makes it crucial to find the right babysitter an...
Help Your Child Find the Meaning of Sports Help Your Child Find the Meaning of Sports Four seconds remain on the clock. Twelve-year-old Melissa steps up to the foul line and fires off a shot that could win the championship game. The ball arcs...
Help Your Children Breathe Easier Help Your Children Breathe Easier Here's something that can take your children's breath away: the air they breathe. Air pollution hurts infants and children more than adults, studies show. Kids' lung...
Help Your Children Chill Out Help Your Children Chill Out Overscheduling. Rushed families. High parental expectations. Goading from peers. Getting into the best college. Whew! Today's kids face enormous stress. Kids must cope wi...
Help Your Kids Quit Smoking Help Your Kids Quit Smoking Every day, about 4,000 U.S. teenagers start smoking, then around 1000 become regular smokers. If you're a parent of a young smoker, you can take steps to help the child qu...
Helping Children Conquer Fear Helping Children Conquer Fear Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? When you were 4 or 5 years old, you probably were. If you have children this age, you can count on their exhibiting fears of wild anim...
Helping Kids Cope with a Divorce Helping Kids Cope with a Divorce Many American children are affected by divorce each year. Those youngsters often feel trapped in the middle as the family splits up. If mommy and daddy don't love eac...
Helping Kids to Avoid Cigarettes Helping Kids to Avoid Cigarettes Every day, nearly 6,000 teens and pre-teens try cigarettes for the first time, according to the American Lung Association (ALA). A third of these first-timers will en...
Helping Picky Eaters Expand Their Palates Helping Picky Eaters Expand Their Palates So you think you have a picky eater? Consider the child who would eat just one food: a certain fast-food brand of fried chicken nuggets, only in the original...
Helping Teens Embrace Self-Care Helping Teens Embrace Self-Care Before teens leave home, parents need to teach them to make their own health care decisions. One way is to provide information and involve them in their own self-care ...
Helping Your Children Cope With Death Helping Your Children Cope With Death The death of a loved one is difficult for anyone. But for children, such a loss can be devastating. Many parents wait until a death occurs to work with their chi...
How Is Your Child's Backpack? How Is Your Child's Backpack? Of all the physical burdens schoolchildren must shoulder, their backpacks are probably the heaviest. Crammed with everything from lunches to laptops, bags can cause stif...
How Old Is 'Old Enough' for Contacts? How Old Is 'Old Enough' for Contacts? Is your child ready for contact lens wear? How old is "old enough"? These are among the most frequently asked questions when it comes to contact lenses, says the...
How Safe Is the School Bus? How Safe Is the School Bus? When you get in your car, you buckle up for safety, and if you're a parent, you make sure your children are buckled up, as well. But if you're a parent, do you wonder abou...
How to Bathe Your Baby How to Bathe Your Baby You've learned how to hold your beautiful baby, you've learned how to feed her, but now you're facing a new challenge: Baby needs a bath. Some new parents find tub time a bit s...
How to Control Your Temper How to Control Your Temper We’ve all been angry at times. Whether it’s a fight with a friend, an annoyance at work, or something else altogether, it’s never a pleasant experience. But it’s comforting...
How to Find Good Child Care How to Find Good Child Care A lot of firsts in your child's life will make you smile: first laugh, first step, first word. One first that isn't as appealing is the first day you have to leave your ch...
How to Help an Overweight or Obese Child How to Help an Overweight or Obese Child Ask a parent to name the greatest health threat to children and you'll hear about drinking or drugs. Rarely will anyone cite obesity, even though it can lead ...
How to Help Teenagers With Addicted Parents How to Help Teenagers with Addicted Parents Growing up can be a tough challenge for most adolescents, but when their parents are abusing alcohol or drugs, the obstacles can seem overwhelming. Nearly ...
How to Keep Your Baby or Toddler Safe How to Keep Your Baby or Toddler Safe Keeping your baby safe isn't difficult, but you do have to pay careful attention at all times. The following tips from the Consumer Product Safety Commission rev...
How to Let Go of Growing Kids How to Let Go of Growing Kids Making a healthy transition from adolescence to adulthood is essential for your kids--and for you. As you let go of maturing children, you must forge a new, adult relati...
How to Make the Move from Crib to Bed How to Make the Move from Crib to Bed Moving your child from the crib to a first bed is a milestone event. But more than the bittersweet emotional concerns, your priorities will be safety and a healt...
How to Prevent Childhood Obesity How to Prevent Childhood Obesity Baby fat is something children are supposed to outgrow, not grow in to. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2009-2010, the percentage of young peop...
How to Raise Healthy Eaters How to Raise Healthy Eaters Parents of overweight and obese children often put their youngsters on diets. But according to health and nutrition experts, doing so rarely works and may even be harmful....
How to Reduce the Risk for SIDS How to Reduce the Risk for SIDS For more than a decade, pediatricians have urged parents to put babies to sleep on their back. The goal: Reducing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). That strategy se...
How to Say No to Preteens How to Say No to Preteens When kids are young, it's easy to set limits on conduct that may put their health or safety at risk. If the seat belt is unbuckled, the car doesn't start. If the helmet isn'...
How to Spot Drug Use in Kids How to Spot Drug Use in Kids Most adolescents who use drugs do not become drug abusers or drug addicts in adulthood. But drug use in adolescence can put their mental, emotional, and physical health a...
How to Stop a Crying Baby How to Stop a Crying Baby You've fed, burped, changed, and rocked your baby, but he or she is still crying. And crying. Your nerves are frayed, your sleep is wrecked, and you're losing confidence as ...
How to Talk About Drugs With Your Kids How to Talk About Drugs With Your Kids It's frightening how susceptible young children are to the world of substance abuse. From the time they enter school, children risk exposure to the temptations ...
How to Tell if Your Child Needs Braces How to Tell if Your Child Needs Braces Q: So many children have braces. How can I tell if my child is heading toward needing braces? A: Children should have a checkup with an orthodontist no later th...
How to Use a Pacifier How to Use a Pacifier Pacifiers help parents and infants get through periods of crying when the infant is either not hungry or too full to eat but still needs the comfort that sucking provides. Pros ...
How Your Child Can Live Well with Asthma How Your Child Can Live Well with Asthma If you have a child with asthma, you know how frightening wheezing, coughing, and other asthma symptoms can be. Some children eventually outgrow asthma, but i...
Hypertension: Children Can Have It, Too Hypertension: Children Can Have It, Too Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects almost one in three adults in the United States. But this serious health condition isn't limited to those ages 18...
If Your Child Needs Treatment for Weight Issues If Your Child Needs Treatment for Weight Issues For overweight children, the most successful treatment combines healthy lifestyle changes—improved diet and exercise—with a focus on changing such beha...
In Child Discipline, Spanking Is No Hit In Child Discipline, Spanking Is No Hit How long has it been since Mom or Dad swatted your bottom for getting into trouble? Probably decades, back when setting kids straight often involved spanking. ...
In Children: Corticosteroids for Asthma In Children: Corticosteroids for Asthma Daily inhaled corticosteroids are a key part of the treatment for children with mild, moderate, or severe persistent asthma, the National Asthma Education and ...
In Language, Two Is Better Than One In Language, Two Is Better Than One Your baby's first words are exciting -- but did you know your child could learn and use those words in more than one language? Studies show children from birth to ...
Independence Day: Granting Freedom to Kids Independence Day: Granting Freedom to Kids Letting go is something all parents try to prepare for—letting go when your child goes off to college, gets married, or joins the Army. About the only way y...
Influenza Shots Urged for Young Children Influenza Shots Urged for Young Children Each fall, you hear that influenza threatens older adults and folks with chronic ailments. Most years, it's true that the death rate from the flu peaks in tho...
International Adoptions and Medical Needs International Adoptions and Medical Needs In recent years, more and more people are extending their families through international adoption. Understanding the medical, social and developmental issues...
Is It Time for Toilet Training? Is It Time for Toilet Training? When is the best time to teach your child to use the toilet? There is no right time to start toilet training. Guidelines recommend that parents assess readiness by loo...
Is Your Child a Night Owl? Is Your Child a Night Owl? It's 11 p.m. on a school night. You're standing in the doorway of your 8-year-old's bedroom delivering a warning. "If you don't get to sleep right now, I'm going to..." Wha...
Is Your Child at Risk for Hepatitis B? Is Your Child at Risk for Hepatitis B? The preteen years are a time when young people experiment with new things and begin to exert their independence. For these reasons, it is very important for you...
Is Your Child Too Sick for Day Care or School? Is Your Child Too Sick for Day Care or School? Your 3-year-old is playing listlessly with her oatmeal. "My tummy hurts, Mommy," she says. There's no fever, no vomiting and no diarrhea, but she's not ...
Is Your Teen Abusing Drugs or Alcohol? Is Your Teen Abusing Drugs or Alcohol? Suddenly, your teenager is having trouble in school. Relationships with teachers, friends, siblings—and you—are falling apart. Your child has a new set of frien...
Keep an Eye on Your Child's Vision Keep an Eye on Your Child's Vision When it comes to vision, you are your child's first line of defense. You notice something, watch it for a while, and call the pediatrician or eye doctor (optometris...
Keep Kids Safe During Yard Work Keep Kids Safe During Yard Work Power tools make yard work easier, from mowing the lawn to trimming the bushes. These tools, however, also pose a threat to children if precautions aren't taken. Accid...
Keep Kids Safe from Bugs Keep Kids Safe from Bugs Lyme disease. Rocky Mountain spotted fever. West Nile virus. Flying fiends and crawling critters can spread such diseases with a bite. Few cases put kids' lives at risk, say ...
Keep Kids Safe in the Car Keep Kids Safe in the Car All 50 states have a combination of laws that require drivers to restrain children in car seats, booster seats, and seats belts. Specifics vary by state, based on the child'...
Keeping Kids Safe at Home Keeping Kids Safe at Home Children have fun exploring, and you can keep them safe by controlling the household terrain. Fire Practice two escape routes from your home. Install smoke detectors, and te...
Keeping Little Shoppers Safe Keeping Little Shoppers Safe A supermarket is a tempting arena for children. And a frustrating one. All those bright packages--cookies, candy, toys--out of their reach because they're stuck riding in...
Keeping Your Cool When Parenting Teens Keeping Your Cool When Parenting Teens Adolescence is a difficult time for young people. During those years, they face physical changes; peer pressure; exposure to drugs, alcohol and sexual relations...
Kids and ID Theft: Helping Your Child Stay Safe on the Computer Kids and ID Theft: Helping Your Child Stay Safe on the Computer With its range of educational sites and informative encyclopedias, the Internet can be a useful learning tool for kids of all ages. But...
Kids' Headaches: The Diagnosis Is Difficult Kids' Headaches: The Diagnosis Is Difficult Headaches aren't only for adults. Kids get them, too. By the time children reach high school age, most have experienced at least one headache, according to...
Kids' Health Concerns Ease with Age Kids' Health Concerns Ease with Age Your child is coughing and has a fever—again. You begin to worry: Didn't they just get over a cold? When children are young, it's normal for them to have a variety...
Kids' Healthy Eating Not Just About Food Kids' Healthy Eating Not Just About Food Healthy eating habits are especially important during childhood. Children learning and growing at a rapid rate use up lots of energy, and their bodies need he...
Kids in the Kitchen: Let Them in on the Fun Kids in the Kitchen: Let Them in on the Fun Kids in the kitchen: If you're trying to watch them at the same time as you cook, they can be a real pain in the neck. But if you let them in on the fun, t...
Kids Need Safety Gear for In-line Skating Kids Need Safety Gear for In-line Skating In-line skating is a zippy way to get exercise, but sometimes it's also a quick way to end up at the hospital. Each year, about 100,000 people are treated in...
Kids Need Their Nutrients Kids Need Their Nutrients Most parents know that children need vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. But knowing exactly what nutrients and how much they need of each is not always easy. Learning a ...
Knock Down the Hurdles to Breastfeeding Knock Down the Hurdles to Breastfeeding Breastfeeding is one of the greatest health advantages you can give your infant. A breastfed baby may be less prone to ear infections and diarrhea. The child m...
Know How Your Preemie Will Grow Know How Your Preemie Will Grow An infant is considered premature if born before 37 weeks. What should you expect during your child's development? Premature babies may grow at a slower rate than full...
Leave No Children on Their Behinds Leave No Children on Their Behinds It's ironic. As concern grows over children's harmful weight, physical education gets less and less emphasis in many schools. In response, there's more and more int...
Let Your Children Raise Their Kids Let Your Children Raise Their Kids When Sophie, a loving grandmother of two, complained to her adult son in front of the children that he was being too lenient with the boys, she was told to stop int...
Letting Kids Grow Up…At Their Own Pace Letting Kids Grow Up…At Their Own Pace As much as parents might want to hurry their little ones to the next stage of development, most children follow the same general growth and development pattern ...
Make a Scrapbook for Your Grandkids Make a Scrapbook for Your Grandkids Gifts from the heart matter the most, especially when they come from Grandma or Grandpa. If a grandchild is special to you, put your heart into showing it by creat...
Make Exercise a Family Affair Make Exercise a Family Affair An estimated one in five American children is overweight, according to the National Institutes of Health. Serving them healthier meals and exercising as a family can imp...
Make Healthy Eating a Habit Make Healthy Eating a Habit The earlier you teach children sound eating habits, the more likely they are to maintain a healthy weight. But helping a child learn the right skills takes patience and re...
Make Sure Bunk Beds Meet Safety Rules Make Sure Bunk Beds Meet Safety Rules Do you breathe a sigh of relief after you tuck your child into bed at night? If your child sleeps in a bunk bed, your sense of security could be a false one. Eac...
Make Variety a Goal in Kids' Sports Make Variety a Goal in Sports Venus Williams was practicing her backhand before she started kindergarten. Tiger Woods showed off his putting skills on the evening news at age 2. But for every prodigy...
Making Rules for Children Reinforces Love Making Rules for Children Reinforces Love Making and enforcing rules is a fundamental—and difficult—part of every parent's role. Experts, though, point to the following several specific areas where a...
Making the Grade on School Tests Making the Grade on School Tests As schools pass out more standardized tests and push pupils to do well on them, children and parents can wind up with a case of exam-day jitters. But parents can do a...
Making the Most of Family Moments Making the Most of Family Moments The time you spend with your children each day doesn't have to be scripted or scheduled. In fact, if you set aside only specific times as "family time," it may put p...
Making This School Year Your Child's Best Ever Making This School Year Your Child's Best Ever When the school year starts, your child will probably return fearing math class, the lunchroom "mystery meat", and being labeled a geek for wearing clot...
Many Youngsters Suck Their Thumbs Many Youngsters Suck Their Thumbs Young children often suck on their thumbs. It's perfectly normal, even though some parents fret about it. "This is usually very reassuring news to parents: Thumb- an...
Medications to Treat ADHD in Children Medications to Treat ADHD in Children Children who have ADHD are often given medication as part of their treatment plan. The type of medication most often chosen is a psychostimulant, such as methylp...
Movie Watching: Something to Share Movie Watching: Something to Share with the Grandkids You're on the couch, a bowl of popcorn in hand. The lights are dimmed, and you're settling in to watch a favorite movie. What's missing? Your gra...
New Parents...Sore Backs Baby and Your Back: Safe Lifting Babies can be hazardous to your health—your back health. When it comes to parenting, back injury is an occupational hazard. New mothers, whose backs have just endured...
Night Terrors Usually No Cause for Concern Night Terrors Usually No Cause for Concern Night terrors, also known as sleep terrors, are not the same as nightmares. Nightmares are quite vivid and memorable, and may cause a significant disruption...
Nuts: Snack Causes Problems for Some Kids Nuts: Snack Causes Problems for Some Kids If your child is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, such as walnuts or pecans, it's important that you teach him or her to ask about any treats offered at sch...
Obese Parents Influence Children's Weight Obese Parents Influence Children's Weight Obesity is the most common health problem facing children, child health experts say. Twenty-two percent of children and teens are overweight, and over 15 per...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder Oppositional Defiant Disorder As most parents know, children can be emotional or strong-willed. But a child who has frequent temper tantrums and consistently refuses to follow requests may have a dee...
Over-The-Counter Medicines for Infants and Children Over-The-Counter Medicines for Infants and Children Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medications you can buy for your children without a doctor's prescription. They usually come as pills, capsules or...
Paging Dr. Mom Paging Dr. Mom One of the many hats that parents wear is that of a first responder . When their child is sick, they are the first to assess the symptoms and treat the illness. It’s a role that parent...
Parents: Check Toys for Lead Parents: Check Toys for Lead You’ve heard lots of reports about lead paint causing recalls of children’s toys. While federal officials and health experts work to fix the problem, what can you do to k...
Parents-to-Be Must Communicate Parents-to-Be Must Communicate It's the rare expectant couple that doesn't go through classes to prepare for labor and delivery—events that, while momentous, are over in a matter of hours. But few mo...
Peanut Allergies Require Planning, Communication Peanut Allergies Require Planning, Communication The little nut is a big culprit when kids have bad reactions If your child is allergic to peanuts, this common food can fill you with dread. Peanuts a...
Peanut Butter Is Still a Healthy Choice for Kids Peanut Butter Is Still a Healthy Choice for Kids It's easy to keep, easy to eat, and most kids love it. But is peanut butter good for them? Yes, nutrition experts say. Your children are much better o...
Persuading Kids to Eat Nutritious Meals Persuading Kids to Eat Nutritious Meals It's a familiar family scene: Mom and Dad cajoling their youngsters at the dinner table: "Eat your vegetables." The National Cancer Institute says that only on...
Phys Ed: What's Up at Your Child's School? Phys Ed: What's Up at Your Child's School? At the New Hope-Solebury Lower and Upper Elementary School north of Philadelphia, students get their "Feelin' Good Mileage Club" card punched for each lap o...
Picking Snacks for Picky Eaters Picking Snacks for Picky Eaters Snacking isn't bad for kids. Nutrition experts agree that a wide assortment of healthy snacks, served in moderation, can be an essential part of a child's diet. Childr...
Plastic Surgery Is Up Among Youths Plastic Surgery Is Up Among Youths In 2010, doctors performed nearly 219,000 cosmetic surgeries on those between the ages of 13-19, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Those...
Preparing Your Child for Sleep-Away Camp Preparing Your Child for Sleep-Away Camp When summer rolls around, many parents prepare to send their children to sleep-away camp. Before making a decision on a camp, though, you should consider what...
Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome Shaken Baby Syndrome is a form of child abuse and is the most common cause for inflicted brain injury in the first two years of life. But many of these injuries can be av...
Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood You may think of heart disease as a problem for adults, not your young children. But diet and exercise habits started in childhood can begin a lifetime...
Primer: A Parent's Guide to Inhalant Abuse Primer: A Parent's Guide to Inhalant Abuse Inhalants are breathable chemical vapors that produce mind-altering effects. These extremely toxic chemicals can cause death by suffocation, or they can irr...
Primer: GHB, the Club Drug Primer: GHB, the Club Drug GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a fast-acting, central nervous system depressant once sold as a food supplement. It is now generally called a club drug because of its popula...
Protect Kids From Lead Poisoning Protect Kids From Lead Poisoning Think your children are protected from lead poisoning because you live in a newer home? Think again. Although lead poisoning is often associated with the paint of old...
Protect Your Child from Medical Errors Protect Your Child from Medical Errors Medical errors are one of the leading causes of death and injury for American adults, according to a study by the Institute of Medicine. A medical error can occ...
Protect Your Kids From Internet Crime Protect Your Kids From Internet Crime Computers and the Internet have become an important part of our lives and our children's lives. An estimated 77 million American children and teens are now onlin...
Put Off-Road Vehicles Off-Limits for Kids Put Off-Road Vehicles Off-Limits for Kids If your young child begs for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), doctors say you should resist. In the past two decades, more than 1,400 children under age 16 have...
Put Peer Pressure in Its Place Put Peer Pressure in Its Place In the whirl of adolescence, peer pressure can get the best of children and push them to do things that they don't really want to do. Whether this pressure comes from f...
Reading to Kids Helps Their Development Reading to Kids Helps Their Development Research shows that reading regularly to young children is central to their overall growth and development. Reading provides time for special attention between...
Road Rules: Teaching Your Teen to Be a Good Driver Teaching Your Teen to Be a Good Driver Teen drivers have the highest accident and fatality rates of any age group. If you're the parent of a young driver, you can help protect your child by learning ...
Safe Summer Play Safe Summer Play May through August can be a dangerous time of year for children, according to Safe Kids Worldwide. The following recommendations can help keep your kids safe and sound. Water rules E...
Safety Checklist: How Does Your Family Rate? Safety Checklist: How Does Your Family Rate? Keeping your family safe and sound can be as easy as following simple safety rules consistently. The following checklist from the National Safety Council ...
Safety Precautions for Kids in Cars Safety Precautions for Kids in Cars Motor-vehicle crashes are the leading cause of childhood death in the United States. In 2008, 968 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor veh...
Save Your Child From Injuries Save Your Child From Injuries Every day, injuries send 25,000 children to emergency rooms. Simple precautions could head off most of those trips. "The biggest thing is prevention," says Rick Blum, M....
School Lunches: Going Beyond Peanut Butter School Lunches: Going Beyond Peanut Butter Still sticking to peanut butter sandwiches for school lunches? They're a brown bagger's favorite, but today's markets offer lots of new options. Some childr...
Set Limits to Keep Your Teen Driver Safe Set Limits to Keep Your Teen Driver Safe Handing the car keys to your newly licensed son or daughter is a milestone. But while your teen celebrates new independence, you face new worries. Motor vehic...
Sleep and Your Child Sleep and Your Child A good night's sleep is as important to your child as a hearty breakfast. Without enough shut-eye, children are more likely to struggle with their school studies, do poorly on th...
Solving Battles at Mealtime Solving Battles at Mealtime Mealtimes with young, finicky eaters can be difficult. Pediatricians and children’s diet experts say there are easy and effective ways to get your kids to eat well other t...
Sound Advice for MP3 Users Sound Advice for MP3 Users As teens and preteens plug in their earphones and crank up the volume, "Can you hear me now?" threatens to become more than an ad catch phrase. Experts say today's small mu...
Spare Your Baby From Diaper Rash Spare Your Baby From Diaper Rash Diaper rash may be more common than you think. More than half of babies 4 to 15 months old get diaper rash at least once in a two-month span, say experts at the Ameri...
Sports and Music: Both Good for Kids Sports and Music: Both Good for Kids Organized sports for children offer obvious benefits such as physical fitness and sportsmanship, but did you know that a musical education program has many of the...
Sports Eye Safety Is No Game Eye Protection Critical in Sports Your budding baseball star steps to the plate hoping to whack the ball—but sometimes the ball whacks back. Each year, thousands of children suffer sports-related eye...
Stop Dating Abuse Before It Starts Stop Dating Abuse Before It Starts Seeing your teen off on a date can give you the jitters. Unfortunately, parents also must consider a particularly unnerving topic--teen dating violence. It's worris...
Street Hockey: Good Surface, Gear Are Critical Street Hockey: Good Surface, Gear Are Critical In an era when many children play little but video games, experts are glad to see street hockey is on a roll. Boys and girls across the country ages 6 a...
Survive Your Little One's First Flight Survive Your Little One's First Flight The plane is done climbing into the sky and you're just starting to relax when, with no warning, it begins. "Waaaa," wails your infant. "Mama, off, mama, off!" ...
Take a 'Back in the Day' Tour Take a 'Back in the Day' Tour Have your grandchildren ever seen your old neighborhood, or the spot where you were married, or the building where you worked your first job? If you want a special outin...
Take a Hard Line Against Soft Drinks Take a Hard Line Against Soft Drinks Children often switch from drinking milk to drinking soda when they become preteens or teens. These kids tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables, and get less cal...
Taking Baby's Temperature Taking Baby's Temperature Thermometers have changed a lot in the last few decades. Mercury thermometers are no longer used, because mercury is a toxic metal, and digital thermometers have replaced th...
Talk With Your Kids About These Issues Talk With Your Kids About These Issues Talking with your child about drugs, alcohol, and tobacco is tough. But you can't afford to ignore these topics. Children learn about these substances and feel ...
Talking Sex with Your Teen Talking Sex with Your Teen With studies showing that almost half of America's teenagers have experienced sexual intercourse by the age of 18, educating kids about sex is something all parents need to...
Teach the Joy of Gift Giving Teach the Joy of Gift Giving It doesn't take much teaching for children to understand the "getting" part of giving and receiving. But it's never too early to begin setting a good example for your chi...
Teach Your Children Safety, Awareness Teach Your Children Safety, Awareness You always have an eye on your children. And when they're not with you, your thoughts are with them. When your kids visit the mall, walk home from school or hang...
Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship Teaching Children Good Sportsmanship Parents and kids alike love sports, and it's easy to get caught up in a game and become focused on winning. Yet there is much more to be gained from the sports ex...
Teaching Kids to Wash Their Hands Teaching Kids to Wash Their Hands It's hard enough to get grownups to wash up. Only two-thirds of adults wash their hands after they use the restroom, studies show. How do we get our kids into the ha...
Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bike Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bike You may have learned to ride a bike with your mom or dad running alongside to keep you from falling. That method still works, but there's an alternative offered by ...
Techniques for Taming Tantrums Techniques for Taming Tantrums Your little one is having a kicking, screaming mega-meltdown in the frozen-food aisle. And you're sure everyone in the market is thinking, "Why is that child carrying o...
Teen Suicide: Learning to Recognize the Warning Signs Teen Suicide: Learning to Recognize the Warning Signs Many teen suicides can be prevented if warning signs are detected and appropriate intervention is conducted. The reasons No two teenagers are ali...
Teenagers and After-School Jobs Teenagers and After-School Jobs The teen years are a constant quest for freedom and independence from the watchful eyes of parents. It’s also a time to learn responsibility and how to manage money. A...
Teenagers and Summer Jobs Teenagers and Summer Jobs Your teen is itching to get a summer job and the spending money that goes along with it, but you’re not sure whether that's a good idea. Here’s good news for both of you: Wh...
Teens and Prescription Drugs Teens and Prescription Drugs When taken as directed, prescription drugs can prevent and cure diseases. When used without a prescription, or beyond what a doctor recommends, they can cause serious phy...
Teens and Talk: What's a Parent to Do? Teens and Talk: What's a Parent to Do? Even if you think you have a wonderful relationship with your child, when he or she becomes a teenager, communication may become a problem. A simple parent-chil...
Teens and the Self-Esteem Shield Teens and the Self-Esteem Shield It's a powerful weapon in the war against teenage drug and alcohol abuse and it doesn't cost parents a penny. It's called the "self-esteem shield." It's simple. Resea...
The Dangers of Binge Drinking The Dangers of Binge Drinking Too many young people are participating in a dangerous practice called binge drinking. It means drinking alcohol to the point of intoxication. It's defined as having fiv...
The Do's and Don’ts for Children's Meds The Do's and Don’ts for Children's Meds Johnnie or Janie wakes complaining of a headache. You don't want to call your pediatrician at 3 a.m. What do you do? There are some simple rules for using over...
The Facts About Marijuana The Facts About Marijuana Knowing about marijuana can help you recognize its use in children and others and help a user seek treatment. Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the Unite...
The Metabolic Syndrome Puts Teens at Risk The Metabolic Syndrome Puts Teens at Risk Your doctor may have told you to lose weight and watch your cholesterol. Now, your teen's doctor may be warning him or her to do the same. The reason? "Syndr...
The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers After a long day at work, getting dinner on the table for your family can be a challenge. Because of this, more often than not you may end up serving fast-food, take...
The Road to Table Food The Road to Table Food Feeding your child during his or her first year of life can be challenging and stressful, especially if you're a first-time parent. But keeping an open mind and an eye on your ...
The 'Soft Teeth' Myth The ‘Soft Teeth’ Myth You Can’t Blame Genes for Tooth Decay in Kids If you think that "soft teeth" are the reason that cavities tend to run in families, you'll be surprised to know the real reason: a...
The Supermarket as Classroom The Supermarket as Classroom You can turn a trip to the grocery store into a fun outing that teaches children valuable lessons. Walking the aisles, you can talk about making wholesome food choices, s...
The Trouble with Bullies The Trouble with Bullies Physical or emotional differences make children targets for bullies. Being a bully or a victim of a bully puts children at risk for engaging in violent behaviors, such as fre...
Toss Your Baby Walker, Pediatricians Say Toss Your Baby Walker, Pediatricians Say Safety is your top concern for your child. Just as you put your infant in a car seat, you may think that putting your child in a baby walker is safe, too. The...
Trampoline Troubles Trampoline Troubles Backyard trampolines are popular, but beware, medical experts say. Not surprisingly, along with the increasing popularity of these backyard "toys," trampoline injuries have also b...
Treasure Playtime with the Grandkids Treasure Playtime with the Grandkids The grandkids are coming—and you're feeling unprepared. How will you entertain them while staying within your budget? Making your home a fun place for grandkids i...
Treat Kids' Headaches Seriously Treat Kids' Headaches Seriously "My head hurts." Hearing those words from your child can be alarming, especially if your child has many headaches. But don't assume the worst. You still should take he...
Treating Minor Childhood Injuries Treating Minor Childhood Injuries Sports and other physical activities can help kids stay healthy and physically fit, but they can also occasionally result in injuries. Scrapes and sprains are a fact...
Treating Teen Acne Treating Teen Acne It's a fact of teenage life: When puberty hits, acne often does, too. Just about every teen will find at least one blackhead or whitehead on his or her skin by age 17, and some tee...
TV vs. Activity: Key Choice for Kids TV vs. Activity: Key Choice for Kids Red Rover, Red Rover, send Lucy right over. Ready or not, here I come! Simon says, pat your head. Not so long ago, when school was out and the weather was nice, k...
Twins and Premature Birth Twins and Premature Birth Most births of single babies occur at 39 weeks. But, the average length of a twin pregnancy is 35 weeks. Babies that are low birth weight tend to weigh less than 5 pounds or...
Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of complex developmental disabilities that affect behavior, communication, and social interactions. The most commo...
Understanding Teenage Depression Understanding Teenage Depression The medical community once thought depression affected only adults. The risk for the condition can begin in childhood or the early teens, however, and increases stead...
Understanding the Teen Brain Understanding the Teen Brain It doesn’t matter how smart your teen is or how well he or she scored on the SAT or ACT. Good judgment isn’t something he or she can excel in, at least not yet. The ratio...
Unwrap the Gift of Toy Safety Unwrap the Gift of Toy Safety The biggest threat to the health of children older than 1 is not a dread disease. It's accidental injury. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, each y...
Vaccine Offers Hope for Children’s Earaches Vaccine Offers Hope for Children's Earaches Earaches are common during childhood, but a vaccine can ease the pain for thousands of kids. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, marketed under the brand na...
Vegetarian Kids Vegetarian Kids Some vegetarian children are that way because that's how their family eats. Other youngsters, almost all usually in their teens and predominantly female, have made their own decision ...
Video Games: More Losers than Winners Video Games: More Losers than Winners Video games are fun. Just ask the millions of kids who play them. They also have some positive benefits. Educational games help kids learn, and newer gaming syst...
Want to Get Pregnant? Follow the 90-Day Guide Want to Get Pregnant? Follow the 90-Day Guide As with so many things in life, it pays to be prepared—and conception is no exception. At least 90 days before starting to try to conceive, both men and ...
Watch that Backpack Load Watch that Backpack Load When your child acts as if she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, maybe you should check her backpack. Overloaded or poor-fitting backpacks can hurt girls a...
Ways for Working Parents to Tame Stress Ways for Working Parents to Tame Stress As a working parent, do you need some relief from the stress of managing a career and a family? Here are a few tips to help you enjoy the time you spend at hom...
We Can Head Off Teen Tragedies We Can Head Off Teen Tragedies When our schools erupt in violence, we're shocked. Preventing teen turmoil starts at birth. Parents set examples in the way they interact, express anger, and treat subs...
Weight Room No Longer Off-Limits to Kids Weight Room No Longer Off-Limits to Kids Strength training is an important part of physical conditioning for adults, along with aerobic exercise and stretching for flexibility. But what can—or should...
What About Energy Drinks for Kids? What About Energy Drinks for Kids? As some schools ban colas from vending machines, ads are hyping a source of even more caffeine: energy drinks. The pitch: These drinks can aid both mental and physi...
What Do You Know About Birth Defects? What Do You Know About Birth Defects? According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, birth defects are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth that cause p...
What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccinations What Every Parent Should Know About Immunizations Watching your child get a shot isn't easy. It's even harder if the fearful one is you. Millions of parents immunize their kids each year without conc...
What Is Rotavirus? What Is Rotavirus? Rotavirus is a viral infection that causes severe diarrhea in children, particularly in youngsters under age 2. It causes up to 10 percent of all cases of diarrhea in children unde...
What Is Scalp Ringworm? What Is Scalp Ringworm? Contrary to what the name might suggest, scalp ringworm isn’t caused by a worm. The infection is the result of a fungus, the same class of organisms (germs) that causes athlet...
What Kids Drink Is Important, Too What Kids Drink Is Important, Too If your children fill up on high-calorie fruit drinks and soft drinks, they may skip food containing essential nutrients—and pack on extra pounds. That's what one re...
What Tests Does Your Newborn Baby Need? What Tests Does Your Newborn Baby Need? You may think your child's first test will come in school, but it will actually happen before leaving the hospital's newborn unit. Early screening tests for ba...
What to Do if Your Child Needs Surgery What to Do if Your Child Needs Surgery If having surgery makes you nervous, imagine how it can seem for a child. Long hospital corridors, intimidating equipment, and people wearing surgical masks and...
What to Do When the Family Feels Claustrophobic What to Do When the Family Feels Claustrophobic There comes a time when even the closest families find themselves too close together. Suddenly, the house seems smaller; the kids are whiny, fighting w...
What You Can Do For Baby's Teething What You Can Do For Baby's Teething Everyone loves babies—except when they're wailing. Teething is one of the reasons they wail. Teething occurs when baby teeth start coming through the child's gums,...
What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse What You Can Do to Prevent Child Abuse The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) estimates that more than 1,700 child fatalities occur each year. NCANDS defines child fatality as the ...
What You Need to Know About Vomiting What You Need to Know About Vomiting Although nausea and vomiting can make you feel miserable, it's important to remember that these are not diseases, but rather symptoms of many illnesses. Nausea is...
When a Child’s Tonsils Need to Come Out When a Child’s Tonsils Need to Come Out It doesn't take long—about 20 to 30 minutes—for an ear, nose and throat specialist like me to remove your child's tonsils. Still, I recommend a tonsillectomy o...
When a Family Grieves When a Family Grieves After a loss, family members often deal with their grief in different ways. Grief can draw families closer together. Sometimes, it can pull them apart. No one can adequately pre...
When a Reward for Kids Becomes a Bribe When a Reward for Kids Becomes a Bribe A 5-year-old never puts away her toys without a shouting match with her parents. Mom promises a trip to Disney World if the girl will routinely clean up after h...
When Children Say 'No' to New Foods When Children Say 'No' to New Foods When it's time to eat vegetables, does your child do the Brussels sprout pout? Well, don't give up. It can take eight to 10 tries before children accept a new food...
When Grandparents Raise Grandkids When Grandparents Raise Grandkids Many seniors are taking a second turn at parenting. The U.S. Census Bureaus say that grandparents provide childcare for almost a quarter (23 percent) of children und...
When Kids Want to Buy, Buy, Buy When Kids Want to Buy, Buy, Buy If you're the parent of a preteen, you've likely heard this line many times: "I have to have it because everyone else does." The "it" can be anything from designer jea...
When to Call the Doctor for Childhood Illnesses When to Call the Doctor for Childhood Illnesses Many childhood illnesses, including colds and stomachaches, are mild enough to be treated at home. But what about when the symptoms are more severe? Wh...
When to Keep Your Child Home From School When to Keep Your Child Home From School You have plenty of other things to do at 6:30 in the morning than play amateur doctor. Yet that's the situation many parents face when a child awakens with a ...
When You Think Your Child Is Faking an Illness When Your Child Refuses to Go to School It's Monday morning, time to get moving, but instead of getting ready for school your child is complaining about a stomachache, a headache, dizziness, or somet...
When Your Child Has a Chronic Health Condition When Your Child Has a Chronic Health Condition A chronic, or long-lasting, illness can be difficult for anyone to deal with. But for a young child diagnosed with a chronic health condition, there are...
When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes Learning that your child has type 1 diabetes can be a shock. Suddenly, your world may seem to revolve around managing the condition. You may feel overwhelmed and u...
When Your Child Says, 'I'm Sick' When Your Child Says, 'I'm Sick' What happens when your child says, "I'm sick"? Do you keep them home or send him or her to school? Following these steps can help you find out, decide, and care for y...
Whole Grains in the Teen Diet Whole Grains in the Teen Diet Better health for your teen could be as close as your breadbox. The more whole grains teenagers eat, the leaner they are and the less likely they are to develop diabetes...
Why Children Get Carsick -- and What to Do Why Children Get Carsick—and What to Do Motion sickness is common, especially in children, but what causes it is only partially understood, and why some children have it and others do not is unknown....
Why Measles Remains a Threat Why Measles Remains a Threat Once an almost inevitable childhood illness for an American child, measles (rubeola) has reached an all-time low in this country. Since the late 1990s, the Centers for Di...
Why the Family Meal Is Important Why the Family Meal Is Important For many parents, it would be much easier and simpler to forget about family dinners. Jobs, children, after-school activities all contribute to families being constan...
Women with Asthma Can Have Healthy Babies Women with Asthma Can Have Healthy Babies Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma, as long as their disease is kept under control. That me...
Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress When Marie gets home from her full-time job as a Seattle nurse administrator, her workday is only half over. Next up is driving her two boys to band practice, soccer,...
Your Child’s Separation Anxiety Your Child’s Separation Anxiety As the school year approaches, your child may have a certain amount of anxiety about going to school, whether or not it is the first time. The prospect of new experien...
Your Child's Diabetes Care Team Your Child's Diabetes Care Team Having a child with diabetes can be overwhelming. Fortunately, a team of experts can guide you now and in the years to come. Diabetes care team Your child may see the ...
Your Child's Imaginary Friend…What It Means Your Child's Imaginary Friend ... What It Means You're about to sit down on the couch next to your 4-year-old and she yells, "Don't sit there! You'll crush Gertrude!" Oops. You should have known bett...
Your Child's Social and Emotional Development Your Child's Social and Emotional Development Your child starts to develop socially and emotionally from birth and should reach social and emotional developmental milestones at certain ages. These mi...