Children's Health

Asthma – exposure to triggers - Allergies and asthma - Children's Health

Pets shed allergen with their fur and dander and, before long, it is spread all around the house. Asthma is a condition that affects the airways and can cause the following symptoms: coughing wheezing chest tightne...

Asthma – help your child to manage - Allergies and asthma - Children's Health

This factsheet is about children and how they can learn to manage their asthma. It is intended for: parents with a child who has recently been diagnosed with asthma. parents caring for children aged five years or more who need...

Asthma and children - Allergies and asthma - Children's Health

What is an asthma attack? The mucous membranes in the small branches of the airways (bronchi) swell and the circular muscles contract ('spasm' or bronchospasm). More mucus is produced in the already restricted airways, which makes brea...

Asthma - Allergies and asthma - Children's Health

What is asthma? Make sure you use the right technique when you take your asthma medication. Poor technique is the most common reason for ineffective treatment. Asthma is a chronic disease in which sufferers have repe...

Is the MMR vaccination safe? - Ask the doctor - Children's Health

Other Q&As Can my daughter catch mumps if she hasn't had the MMR jab? Can my daughter still have the MMR jab if she has already caught measles? How could my son get mumps even though he received the immunisation? I don't want my chi...

I can't control my daughter's behaviour - Ask the doctor - Children's Health

Other Q&As Bad tantrums Bereaved child Can't get rid of the dummy Does my daughter have pyromania? Head banging child - is it stress? How can I control my seven-year-old? Losing contact with problem teena...

My daughter has milk intolerance - Ask the doctor - Children's Health

Other Qs & As Allergic system Allergy to cow's milk Is my son's lack of energy due to coeliac disease? My daughter suffers from hay fever My son's allergic to eggs: is this a problem for vaccinations? Question ...

My child has a high temperature - Ask the doctor - Children's Health

Other Qs & As Can our Laburnum tree poison our son? How can I tell if my daughter's taking drugs? How can my daughter get rid of her ganglion? Is croup contagious? Is helium dangerous? Is my son at risk from playing...

Fever (Children's Health )

A high temperature can be alarming and serious in some cases, but a fever often means that a body is working the way it should and fighting off infection. Call 911 if the child: Is limp or unresponsive Is having...

Meningitis (Children's Health )

Meningitis in Children Overview Meningitis is a term used to describe an inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain or the spinal cord. Meningitis is a potentially life-threatening condition that can rapidly progress to permanent brai...

Newborn Hearing (Children's Health )

Newborn babies can hear fairly well, but not perfectly. The middle ear of a newborn is full of fluid and this impairs hearing to a small extent. Additionally, the entire hearing apparatus is somewhat immature. That's why newborn babies respond best t...

Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months (Children's Health )

How do babies grow and develop in the first year? Babies change more in the first year of life than at any other time. From 1 to 12 months of age, most babies grow and develop in these main areas: Physical deve...

Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years (Children's Health )

This topic suggests ways to help prevent illness and accidental injuries in babies and young children. It does not cover every risk that a child faces, but it does cover many of the most common hazards and situations that can be dangerous...

Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years (Children's Health )

How does a child grow and develop between the ages of 2 and 5? The ages between 2 and 5 are often called the preschool years. During these years, children change from clumsy toddlers into lively explorers of their world. A child develo...

Speech and Language Development, Ages 1 to 3 Years (Children's Health )

Speech and Language Development, Ages 1 to 3 Years Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech and ...

Speech and Language Development, Birth to Age 1 (Children's Health )

Speech and Language Development, Birth to 1 Year of Age Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech...

Newborn Vision (Children's Health )

Babies are born with a full visual capacity to see objects and colors. However, newborns are extremely nearsighted (far away objects are blurry): Newborns can see objects about 8-15 inches away quite sharply. Newborns prefer to lo...

Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years (Children's Health )

This topic suggests ways to help prevent illness and accidental injuries in young children. It does not cover every risk that a child faces, but it does cover many of the most common hazards and situations that can be dangerous to childre...

Speech and Language Development, Age 3 to 5 Years (Children's Health )

Speech and Language Development, Age 3 to 5 Years Speech and language development milestones relate to receptive language (the ability to understand words and sounds) and expressive language (the ability to use speech and g...

Growth and Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years (Children's Health )

What kinds of development occur between ages 6 and 10? Children ages 6 to 10 are more independent and physically active than they were in the preschool years. They also are more involved with friends and are learning to think in more c...

Routine Checkups and Care (Children's Health )

Routine checkups, sometimes called well-child visits, usually occur each year from age 6 through age 10. And they continue into the teen years. Routine dental care is important during this time too. During the well-child visit, the do...

What every new mom needs to know about baby's first feeding, latching on, and letting down. By Colette Bouchez Feature Reviewed by Charlotte E. Grayson Mathis, MD Baby to Breast: Latching On In the sam...

What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler (Children's Health )

New to parenting? Here are the nutrition basics you need to know. By Elizabeth M. Ward, MS, RD Feature Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD Feeding young children can be a perplexing process, parti...

Thumb Sucking (Children's Health )

Is thumb-sucking normal? Thumb-sucking is normal in babies and young children. A natural sucking instinct leads some babies to suck their thumbs during their first few months of life, or even before birth. Babies may also suck on t...

Biting (Children's Health )

Is it normal for a child to bite? Most children younger than age 3 bite someone else at least once. Most children stop biting on their own. Biting that happens past age 3 or occurs frequently at any age may need treatment. Biting i...

Choosing Child Care (Children's Health )

What is child care? Child care is short-term care by someone other than a parent. There are two basic types of child care: individual and group. Individual providers care for only your child or children...

Backyard Safety (Children's Health )

Playing outside in the backyard is a natural pastime for most kids. Keeping that outside environment safe is key to keeping children healthy and injury-free. Home Playground Safety Each year, more than 200,000 children go to emergency rooms...

Related Guide: Help Your Child Grow Up Healthy and Strong (Children's Health )

Healthy eating means eating a variety of foods from all food groups. It means choosing fewer foods that have lots of fats and sugar. But it does not mean that your child cannot eat desserts or other treats now and then. With a little...

Temper Tantrums (Children's Health )

What are temper tantrums? A temper tantrum is a sudden, unplanned display of anger. It is not just an act to get attention. During a temper tantrum, children often cry, yell, and swing their arms and legs. Temper tantrums usually ...

Nightmares in Children (Children's Health )

Nightmare Introduction Nightmares occur from time to time in many children, but they are most common in preschoolers (children aged 3-6 years) because this is the age at which normal fears develop and a child’s imagination is very ac...