I think I’m ready to become a parent! As I prepare for pregnancy, what kind of health precautions should I take?- JaneIf you're trying to become pregnant, you can take many steps to keep yourself healthy and increase the chances of having a safe and healthy pregnancy. It's important to not ... more >>

Help your child pick out a screen name or user name. Avoid names that include a name and/or an age, such as Johnny10. Surf the Web with your child, letting him or her lead your exploration together (if your ... more >>

Prep time: about 90 minutesIngredients:2 eggs1 3/4 c. sifted flour2 tsp. baking powder1/4 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt1/3 c. vegetable oil2/3 c. sugar1 c. mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)nonstick sprayDirections:Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees ... more >>

Praise your child's helpfulness. There are times when you're in the middle of a chore that would get finished much faster if you did it yourself, but you find your child tagging along, trying to help. Let him. When you acknowledge his assistance, it ... more >>

Many of us have had a wart somewhere on our bodies at some time. Other than being a nuisance, most warts are harmless and go away on their own.More common in kids than in adults, warts are skin infections caused by viruses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. They can affect any area of the ... more >>

Wait until your child is ready. Most children develop the dexterity needed to tie shoelaces between the ages of 4 and 6. Girls are often ready to learn slightly earlier than boys. Make sure your child knows ... more >>

I've had an ectopic pregnancy in the past. Am I at risk for having another one if I become pregnant again?– GinaIn general, once you have an ectopic pregnancy, your chance of having another one is 10–25% — but it depends on your particular situation, the cause of the original ... more >>

From the sidelines, in the moment, just cheer and make a lot of noise. “Way to Go!” or “Great Job!” are your staples and should be used liberally. Focus only on the positive—cheer, don’t critique. Leave it up to the coach to offer advice during the ... more >>

In warm weather, the threat of Lyme disease might make you think that your kids would be safer in the comfort of a climate-controlled living room rather than the great outdoors. Though a child's risk of getting Lyme disease after being bitten by a tick is only about 1–3%, it's important ... more >>

Purchase books that identify themselves as stage one, or beginner. The font is typically larger and the sentences are shorter. This will keep your preschooler' s attention (since their attention span is short) Make sure its something of interest to the ... more >>

How to Sneak in Healthy Foods Puree small amounts of spinach and add to ground beef in hamburgers, gradually increasing the amount each time. When topped with cheese and low sugar ketchup, there is very little taste difference. ... more >>

Make sure your child's friends know what foods trigger a reaction. The top triggers (but not all) include peanuts, soy, wheat, milk, egg and shellfish. Keep a trainer EpiPen (a doctor prescribed shot of ... more >>

Families of kids with allergies should use environmental control measures that reduce exposure to the child's allergy triggers. Some require few changes in the home, while others can be costly or fairly time-consuming.Talk with your doctor or health care provider about starting with ... more >>

Decide if you want your resources to be mainstream or faith-based. If you want to use the opportunity to instill a belief in an afterlife – or if you want to avoid terminology like God and heaven – make sure the books support your family’s ... more >>

Clear the room before setting up your indoor carnival, then create a variety of stations to test different coordination skills. Set out a laundry basket or box and see how many balls or beanbags your child ... more >>

Whooping cough — or pertussis — is an infection of the respiratory system caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis (or B. pertussis). It's characterized by severe coughing spells that end in a "whooping" sound when the person breathes in. Before a vaccine was available, pertussis ... more >>

Lose the television. I realize you'd probably prefer to off me instead of your television -- especially after you hear this (because it's always more satisfying when the messenger bites it), but it's been empirically proven that TV weakens children's ... more >>

Tuberculosis (popularly known as "TB") is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly infects the lungs, although it can affect other organs as well.When someone with untreated TB coughs or sneezes, the air is filled with droplets containing the bacteria. Inhaling these ... more >>

I am 15 weeks pregnant with my first child and the doctor asked if I wanted a triple screen test. What exactly is this and should I get it?– SaraMost expectant women will be offered a maternal blood-screening test around weeks 16–18 of their pregnancy. Also known as a "triple marker" ... more >>

Once you have researched and selected a Developmental and Rehabilitative Services provider for your Special Needs child, and you have had her initial evaluation for Physical Therapy, it will be time to schedule her with a particular Physical Therapist ... more >>

Understand that Go to the great Beyond. The Beyond Words association offers counseling, social skills and interviewing skills for children and young adults. Check out the main office, near the intersection ... more >>

My blood type is O negative and my husband's is A positive. We just found out we're having a baby, and my doctor mentioned that there was a risk of Rh incompatibility. What does that mean?- VeronicaYour Rh factor is either positive or negative, depending on the presence of a special protein on ... more >>

I’m not diabetic, but my doctor told me that I have gestational diabetes. What does that mean? And will it last beyond my pregnancy?– JulieGestational diabetes is a kind of diabetes that comes on during pregnancy and goes away after labor and delivery. It affects about 4% of all ... more >>

Teach kids to "Stop, Drop and Roll!" if their hair or clothing catches on fire-this can be a lot of fun for kids to practice. When you are done with the dropping and rolling, talk about fire prevention and other aspects of fire safety. Look for books, ... more >>

Ask questions with your child present. It helps if your child can answer the question, because then you can determine that your child retained something from the day. Find out what the goals for the class ... more >>

Be honest and open. It’s important to talk to your children openly about mental disabilities. Talk to them age specific, but discuss why mental disabilities occurs. You can tell your child that when babies are forming in their mom’s belly a lot of ... more >>

Watch fish. Go to an aquarium or set up a fish tank of your own. Be sure to observe different types and sizes of fish because they don't all swim the same. Identify fish anatomy. You will notice that fish ... more >>

For years, doctors have used height and weight measurements to assess a child's physical growth in relation to other kids the same age. Now they have another tool: body mass index (BMI). BMI is a calculation that uses height and weight to estimate how much body fat someone has. Doctors use it to ... more >>

Always supervise a toddler in the presence of a cat or dog. Lack of supervision can lead to trouble. Explain to the child that all creatures feel pain, then teach him or her how to gently pet animals. Even ... more >>

Strep throat is very common among kids and teens. Symptoms of strep throat include fever, stomach pain, and red, swollen tonsils.Strep throat usually requires treatment with antibiotics. With the proper medical care — along with plenty of rest and fluids — your child should be ... more >>