Fever What’s the best way to take a child’s temperature? While you often can tell if your child is warmer than usual by feeling her forehead, only a thermometer can tell how high the temperature is. A digital thermometer can be used to take a rectal (in the bottom), oral (in the mouth), or axillary (under the […]
Flu How can I keep my child from getting the flu? People with the flu are most infectious during the 24-hour period before symptoms appear and also on the days when the symptoms are at their worst. Good hygiene and regular housecleaning are the best ways to prevent the flu from spreading. The followingare more […]
Head Injuries What should I do if my child has a head injury but does not lose consciousness? For anything more than a light bump on the head, you should call your child’s doctor. Your child’s doctor will want to know when and how the injury happened and how your child is feeling. If your child […]
Headaches I get headaches a lot. Is there something wrong with me? You are not alone, a lot of teens get headaches. In fact, 50% to 75% of all teens report having at least one headache per month! The pain can range from dull to throbbing. If you’re getting headaches more often or if the […]
Lacerations What’s the best way to treat a cut? A cut, or laceration, is a wound that breaks through the skin and into the tissues beneath. Because the injury is deeper than a scrape, there are more likely to be problems, such as bleeding, and there is the possibility of damage to nerves and tendons. The following […]
Nose Bleeds My child gets a lot of nosebleeds. What should we do? Your child is almost certain to have at least one nosebleed—and probably many—during these early years. Some preschoolers have several a week. This is neither abnormal nor dangerous, but it can be very frightening. If blood flows down from the back of […]
RSV What is RSV and how can I protect my child from getting it? Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infects almost all children at least once before they are 2 years old. Most of the time this virus only causes minor cold-like symptoms. However, for some babies infection can be more dangerous. For certain infants who […]
Seizures What do I do if my child has a febrile seizure? In some children, fevers can trigger seizures. A febrile seizure usually happens during the first few hours of a fever. The child may look strange for a few moments, then stiffen, twitch, and roll his eyes. He will be unresponsive for a short […]
Solid or Strained Foods Age for Starting Solid Foods The best time to begin using a spoon to feed your child is when your baby can sit with some support and move his head to participate in the feeding process. This time is usually between 4 and 6 months of age. Breast milk and commercial […]
Sprains I think my child has sprained her ankle. How can I tell for sure? Sprains are injuries to the ligaments that connect bones to one another. A sprain occurs when a ligament is stretched excessively or torn. Sprains are less common in young children, because their ligaments are usually stronger than the growing bones and cartilage […]