Parenting success relies on understanding developmental benchmarks, managing maternal health during and after pregnancy, and implementing effective behavioral strategies for toddlers and teenagers.
Alkaline phosphatase is an enzyme necessary for normal phosphate metabolism found in several different tissues in your body. Circulating blood levels of the enzyme change with age as well as a variety of medical conditions.
Read more →
One in every eight babies is born prematurely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Premature birth is the leading cause of death among newborns. Premature babies may have developmental problems or reach milestones later than full-term babies do.
Read more →
Everything you eat and drink during pregnancy will be delivered to your baby through the umbilical cord. Some liquids are harmful for your unborn baby. It is important to know which liquids are safe to consume during pregnancy.
Read more →
Everyone needs a certain amount of sleep to maintain health, but growing children need more sleep than adults. The amount of time children should sleep is loosely based on age but also on a child’s individual needs.
Read more →
When your child is battling a fever-causing illness, you want him to get as much sleep as he needs. It can be difficult for a parent to go the whole night without knowing whether the child's fever has broken, but in general, ensuring a sound sleep is more important than monitoring his temperature.
Read more →
Most nursing mothers don’t need to routinely avoid any specific food, according to “The Nursing Mother’s Companion,” but some mothers find that eating certain foods prior to breast feeding makes their babies unusually fussy or gassier than normal.
Read more →
The appearance of brown teeth in your toddler can be unsettling, especially if the discoloration is accompanied by additional symptoms such as pain, fussiness or crying. Brown teeth can be a sign of mild to severe tooth problems. Some tooth discoloration requires the care of a dentist.
Read more →
During pregnancy some foods must be avoided because they pose a health risk to you or your baby. Gyros may be safe to eat in most cases, but some gyros contain ingredients you shouldn't eat while pregnant.
Read more →
Congestion is a common symptom that arises in many illnesses. It usually does not pose a serious health risk but it can be uncomfortable for both children and adults. Some babies might become more irritable because of the congestion, depending on the severity.
Read more →
Whether your toddler is unadventurous with food or has a medical condition that prevents him from eating well, getting children to eat a balanced diet isn’t always simple. Giving your 1-year-old vitamins can help ensure that your toddler gets all of the nutrients he needs to grow properly.
Read more →
Constipation -- the passage of hard, dry stools less than three times a week - often plagues women during pregnancy and after giving birth. If you're breastfeeding, you might hesitate to take any type of laxatives which might pass through breast milk to your baby.
Read more →
Water safety education at a young age aims to prevent accidental drownings, a leading cause of death for kids between ages 1 and 19, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Swimming lessons for children of preschool age and above aid in the prevention of drowning.
Read more →
The moment when your baby's eyes first meet your own is one of the most heartwarming milestones of infancy. New parents who are eagerly awaiting the day when their baby makes eye contact often wonder when their baby will reach this level of development.
Read more →
Small red bumps that start on the neck and upper back and extend down to the torso and into the arms and legs may be a sign that your baby has eczema. These spots usually are accompanied by dry skin. The bumps may even fill with fluid and burst open when irritated.
Read more →
Many parents know the proper method for heating up a baby bottle, but some are unsure of when and how to transition from a warm bottle to cold milk. What may be surprising to many parents is that there are no rules for when to stop warming up a baby bottle.
Read more →
As your pregnancy progresses, you might find sleeping more difficult. Your larger size makes it harder to get comfortable or you might wake up with unexplained twinges or spasms. Your sleeping position affects both you and your baby's health.
Read more →
There’s never a more important time in life to eat healthy than during pregnancy. In the past, pregnant women were advised to be cautious of salt intake to minimize bloating and water retention.
Read more →
A newborn crying throughout the night is alarming, exhausting and frustrating for parents. Most babies will stop crying if you comfort them, but if your baby does not respond to your attempts to soothe him, there may be an underlying problem.
Read more →
Babies are born with immature digestive systems that make night waking with gas pain a common occurrence. While bottle feeding is more commonly associated with digestive troubles and irritability in a baby, breastfeeding may also contribute to discomfort under certain circumstances.
Read more →
Full term pregnancy is measured as 40 weeks, but the first day of pregnancy is counted as the first day of the last menstrual period. This means that at four weeks of pregnancy, a woman is just due for her menstrual period.
Read more →