Health Articles

Soothing Your Child’s Separation Anxiety

The “clingy” infant arrives around 10 months of age, and parents know when they see it. Suddenly, leaving the child’s line of sight causes the little one great distress—thanks in part to the child’s undeveloped sense of time and lack of experience with a parent’s absence.

How Do Antibiotics Work?

Antibacterials aren’t the answer for every infection your child gets. In fact, there are 2 major types of germs that cause most infections, viruses and bacteria, and antibacterials are useful only against bacteria.

Fat, Salt and Sugar: Not All Bad

Forcing children to eat food doesn’t work. Neither does forbidding foods. When children think that a food is forbidden by their parents, the food often becomes more desirable.

When Puberty Starts Early

Just as some children will reach physical maturity a little later than their peers, others will develop ahead of the norm. However, pubescence rarely arrives so prematurely that it can be classified as precocious puberty.

Tips for Preventing Food Hassles

Young children need nutrients from a variety of foods to stay healthy. But what if your child only eats macaroni and cheese or will not eat any vegetables? Read on for information from the American Academy of Pediatrics on how to encourage positive eating habits and how to prevent food hassles.

Should the Baby be Circumcised?

If you have a boy, you’ll need to decide whether to have him circumcised. Unless you are sure you’re having a girl, it’s a good idea to make a decision about circumcision ahead of time, so you don’t have to struggle with it amid the fatigue and excitement following delivery.

Overcoming Obstacles to Physical Activity

There are many benefits of regular physical activity; however, people often have many excuses for not being more physically active. The following is information from the American Academy of Pediatrics encouraging families to consider all the benefits of being physically active and how to overcome some obstacles.

Sleeping by the Book

“Sleeping like a baby” can mean different things to different people—usually depending on whether they’ve ever had or taken care of one before. For just about all newborns it fairly predictably means having the ability to sleep at any time and in any place, while at the same time being completely unwilling to entertain any “suggestions” as to how, when, or where to put such talent into practice.