Mother and Child

Breech labors and births are usually more difficult, so if your baby is still in a breech position in late pregnancy, you may be offered a procedure to turn your baby. Turning your baby The procedure to turn your baby, external cephalic version (ECV...

Breech labors and births are usually more difficul...

The release of an egg Each woman is born with her full quota of follicles that contain immature eggs, some of which will mature and be released in her lifetime. Every month, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), released from the pituitary gland, enco...

The release of an egg Each woman is born with her...

Quitting Birth Control When you decide that it's time to add another member to your family, it's obviously time to ditch the birth control. The type of contraception you have been using might determine how soon you will conceive: After stopping the...

Quitting Birth Control When you decide that it's ...

Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. While whole fruit is the best choice, certain types of fruit juice can be a healthy part of your child's diet. Recent studies have confirmed that drinking moderate amounts of 100 percent fruit juice doesn't ...

Answer from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. While w...

Answer from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Multivitamins aren't necessary for most healthy children who are growing normally. Foods are the best source of nutrients. Regular meals and snacks can provide all the nutrients most preschoolers need. While many youn...

Answer from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D. Multivitamins are...

Healthy snacks for kids don't have to be dull. Consider 10 tips for quick-and-healthy snacks. Snacking is a major pastime for many kids — and that's not necessarily bad. Nutritious snacking can help your child curb hunger throughout the day, as well ...

Healthy snacks for kids don't have to be dull. Con...

I work with a lot of men, many of them fathers, who tell me, "Oh, my wife takes care of the shopping and the cooking." Wait a moment, gentlemen. Fathers, not just mothers, are role models for their children when it comes to healthy eating. Fathers wh...

I work with a lot of men, many of them fathers, wh...

To boost student performance, some schools have declared themselves "sugar-free" — meaning they don't allow sugar-laden foods, such as cookies, candies, birthday treats or sweet drinks. Some of these schools report not only improved school performanc...

To boost student performance, some schools have de...

Children's nutrition doesn't have to be frustrating. Consider these strategies to avoid power struggles and help the picky eater in your family eat a balanced diet. Has your preschooler refused to eat anything other than chicken nuggets for the past ...

Children's nutrition doesn't have to be frustratin...

Change is coming to the National School Lunch Program. These changes were inspired in part by the Let's Move! Campaign, which is aimed at curbing childhood obesity and improving the health of the nation's children. Here are some of the changes in sto...

Change is coming to the National School Lunch Prog...

Let's start with the good news. Kids are consuming less added sugar than they were in 2000. The bad news is that kids are still getting more sugar — 16 percent of total calories — than the 5 to 15 percent recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Ame...

Let's start with the good news. Kids are consuming...

School nutrition and food services tend cater to kids' likes. Some even try to put a healthy twist on kids' favorite foods. That's commendable, but realistically we need to get beyond chicken nuggets, pizza, and macaroni and cheese if we want to make...

School nutrition and food services tend cater to k...

The nutritional research linking fish, especially those rich with omega 3 fatty acids, to many potential health benefits continues to grow. The omega 3 fatty acid, DHA, is found in high concentrations in the brain, eyes, and central nervous system. O...

The nutritional research linking fish, especially ...

I remember learning that food companies spend billions of dollars in food marketing to children under that age of 4. So, it was an amusing moment when I got to experience it for the first time as a mother. It was a juice drink so cleverly marketed th...

I remember learning that food companies spend bill...

At a recent picnic with my extended family, my 8-year-old child and a 12-year-old nephew were discussing the calorie content of a certain food. My mother commented to me that she didn't even know what a calorie was when she was their age let alone be...

At a recent picnic with my extended family, my 8-y...

When my son was 2 years old, he took a large swallow of clear soda thinking it was water. Eyes watering and throat burning, he swore off drinking anything with bubbles. About a year later, however, he started to realize that his older cousins and the...

When my son was 2 years old, he took a large swall...

Jo Ann Rohyans pediatrician You'll find expectorants and cough suppressants in many over-the-counter and prescription cough medicines for older children and adults — but they're no longer recommended for children under the age of 2 and have been sho...

Jo Ann Rohyans pediatrician You'll find expectora...

Dan Levy pediatricianMost children are developmentally able to learn to blow their noses by around age 2 — some even earlier. Of course, whether or not your child is interested at that point is another matter.Until then, it's important to keep your b...

Dan Levy pediatricianMost children are development...

The BabyCenter Editorial TeamMost adult skincare products contain additives — such as fragrances, dyes, and alcohol — that baby formulas don't, so avoid using them on your baby's skin for at least the first year. "Babies tend to rub their eyes and so...

The BabyCenter Editorial TeamMost adult skincare p...

Suzanne Dixon pediatricianWithout seeing your daughter's knees, it's hard to be sure. The most common situation would be that she is up on her hands and rubbing her knees on the sheet or playpen pad, creating areas of irritation. To avoid these kinds...

Suzanne Dixon pediatricianWithout seeing your daug...

The BabyCenter Editorial Team More than 160 foods have been found to cause allergies. Approximately 6 percent of young children and 3 to 4 percent of adults in the United States have a food allergy. Here are the top eight food allergens identified by...

The BabyCenter Editorial Team More than 160 foods ...