Family Health

Saving a newborn’s cord blood is often seen as part of the stem cell research debate, but the benefits to the family can be numerous. The stem cells found in the umbilical cord would simply be...

Parents often enjoy taking their babies to the swimming pool. However, newborns may be vulnerable to bacteria present within swimming pools. Older babies may have difficulty staying warm in...

If you're breastfeeding, determining whether your baby's bowel movements are normal or a sign of illness might seem difficult. Breastfed babies generally pass loose stools that are mostly liquid...

Cats can be harmful to a baby's health. But they do not always have to be if proper precautions are taken, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Check...

Babies usually shed their extra baby weight as they grow older and become active toddlers. But if a baby is too fat, he may have a harder time shedding those extra pounds. Dr. Matthew Gillman, a...

According to Dr. Alan Greene, infants typically double their birth weight between the ages of 4 and 6 months. However, some infants may be diagnosed with failure to thrive if they are not gaining...

Of course, every parent is concerned when her baby swallows a nonfood substance, and many babies manage to find and put things in their mouths that shouldn't be there--including diaper cream. The...

Babies depend on their caretakers for safety. Taking care of active babies can be exhausting. However, even when tired, it is important that caretakers implement safety measures that will keep...

Your baby is on the way and you’re ready to tackle the nursery! This is an exciting time for you, and creating a healthy baby nursery is one of the first big decisions you will make concerning...

Due to the blood-thinning nature of heparin, its use is often contraindicated in infants in favor of similar drugs that are classified as "low-molecular-weight heparins." Thus, heparin must be...

It seems from the moment you learn of your pregnancy, the question, "Is it a boy or a girl?" consumes your thoughts. You are eager to pick out that perfect pink or blue sleeper outfit. You long to...

Ringworm is a fungal infection that occurs on the scalp or body that forms the shape of a ring on the skin. During the initial stage the infection is small and creates a scaly patch on the skin,...

Of the three trimesters in a pregnancy, the third one can be the most exciting yet worrisome trimester of all. During the third trimester the baby's weight gain is of utmost importance. Along with...

Wondering how to find out your baby's due date? New moms- and dads-to-be are almost always curious about when to expect their new arrival from the moment they find out they're expecting. There's...

Infant nutrition is extremely important. Making sure your baby gets the foods, vitamins and nutrients he needs helps him grow up healthy and happy. Infants grow quickly, and their dietary needs...

Thanks to ultrasound testing, expectant parents are able to find out long before birth if they are having a boy or a girl. Similar to sonar used by the Navy, sound waves are passed through the...

A cesarean section birth is when the baby is delivered through an incision in the mother's abdomen. Women have c-section births for many reasons and some doctors will allow women to schedule the...

Erythema multiforme is a skin condition that can occur in babies at any time throughout their infancy. This condition may cause discomfort for the baby, but it is not long lasting in most cases.

If an infant has a temperature of more than 99.4 degrees Fahrenheit under the arm or a rectal temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, he has a fever. When a baby has a fever, it is a sign that...

Live or vaginal childbirth is a beautiful and miraculous thing to behold. A baby travels down past bones and muscle to finally leave its watery home and enter the arms of its mother. Live birth...

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in infants. According to The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than half of all babies experience GERD...

Most babies suffer through several colds during the first months of life. When your baby has a cold, he may have a fever, a runny or stuffy nose and a cough. A baby with a cold may have trouble...

Birth can be an overwhelming experience. If you have difficulty pushing your baby's head out, your doctor may choose to assist your birth by using a vacuum. However, the assisted birth does come...

So you're finally pregnant. Congrats! Now you need to stay pregnant!

Baby's skin is delicate but also needs very little to keep it clean and healthy. Many skin conditions are completely normal and need no treatment. Some, such as diaper rash, need to be treated....

Are you a breastfeeding mother, or are you about to be a breastfeeding mother? Are you having problems with sore nipples, or are afraid that you will not be able to get the baby to latch right to...

Switching over from formula to solid foods is an important stage of a child's growth and diet cycle. It is the first step to starting a new dietary lifestyle altogether, because this is when your...

Infant acid reflux is a common problem plaguing newborns and their parents. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse estimates that more than half of all babies experience it in...

When your newborn baby cries more than three hours a day around the same time every day, he could have colic. Colic is fairly common in healthy, well-fed newborns, affecting one in four babies,...

Jaundice is a build-up of yellow pigment, called bilirubin, in the blood. Normally, the liver processes red blood cells to remove bilirubin. When it builds up, it causes skin and the whites of the...

A married couple was trying to have a baby. I gave them this advice and, lo and behold! She got pregnant! It is wonderful to join in love and know that your DNA is combining in a new life and...

A diaper rash is very common among babies, here are six tips for soothing a diaper rash.

Any type of injury to an infant can cause even the most level-headed adult to panic. Burns can be especially scary because a baby's skin is so sensitive and it can be difficult to judge the...

Feeding your baby and ensuring they drink an adequate amount of formula or breast milk can be a stressful undertaking for many new parents. Since the nutritional needs of babies vary depending...

As a new parent, it may be alarming to see your baby suddenly lose hair on the back of his head. However, this event is normal, according to Babycenter.com. Although hair loss is a natural...

Getting your baby to sleep through the night is often a hard task. It is important to establish a schedule that allows the baby-and the parents-to get the proper rest. Also, getting your baby into...

You just found out that you are pregnant---congratulations! Now is the time to be thinking about how the things you do can affect the baby growing inside of you. There are many ways to keep...

Breastfeeding is healthier for a baby than formula because it provides enzymes, growth factors, antibodies and anti-virus factors that prevent babies from getting sick. Many women plan on...

Thrush, also known as oral candidiasis, is a fungal infection. Babies younger than two months old are particularly vulnerable to thrush, which manifests as white splotches on the tongue and roof...

Are you a parent to be or new parent and do not know how to swaddle your baby yet? Are you starting to babysit and need to know how to swaddle a baby? Its not a hard process, just follow these...

Pregnancy is an exceptionally exciting and sometimes difficult time. It is important that you do everything you can to prevent too much stress from entering the body. It is said that stress causes...

Your brand new infant is a source of joy and, when germs fly, a source of worry. Babies are especially susceptible to disease due to their immature immune systems. Maintaining a clean home and...

Colic is the term used to describe a situation in which an otherwise healthy infant cries and fusses for extended periods of time for no apparent reason. The onset of colic can be upsetting and...

You will learn how to give you and your baby the maximum health benefits of breast milk without actually breastfeeding.

Sonography or ultrasound is the technique of using computer-generated sound frequencies to view internal objects, in this case, a baby. Through ultrasound technology, a doctor can view a baby's...

Many parents wish to determine their baby's sex before birth. The most common way to tell the baby's sex is by ultrasound examination. This test is non-invasive with very few risks or complications.

Seizures in a baby less than 28 days old can have many different causes, but several similarities exist. Seizures can often be short in duration and subtle in their appearance, making it difficult...

Tracking your baby's growth is easy and fun. If you are unable to use the traditional marker-on-the-wall method, there are plenty of alternative ways to keep a record of your child's growth and...

Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters for a total of about 40 weeks. The first trimester lasts from week one to week 12. During the first trimester, your baby begins to develop a heart, brain...

Taking care of any infant is a difficult task due to the amount of time and energy it takes to ensure that he develops properly. When you have an infant with Down syndrome, it can be even more...