Bike riding is fun, it's good exercise, and it can give your child a sense of independence. But a bike is a vehicle, not a toy. So you need to teach your child how to ride safely.
Having your toddler ride with you on a bicycle can introduce him or her to the joys of bike riding. But there are safety issues you should know about.
Wheeled sports include riding scooters, skateboarding, and inline skating. These can be fun and great exercise for your child. But these sports can also be dangerous. When done incorrectly, they can lead to injury and sometimes even death. This sheet gives tips for keeping your child safe.
Cars present many dangers to children. To help keep your child safe, learn what these dangers are and follow simple safety precautions.
Each year, thousands of children are injured or killed in car crashes. Car safety seats can help keep your infant or toddler safe and secure in your vehicle. But they need to be used correctly. Read on for information on how to keep your child safe.
You've kept your child safe in your vehicle using a car seat—that's great. Now your child has outgrown the seat and it's time to upgrade. This sheet tells you how to use booster seats and seat belts to continue to keep your child safe.
Having your child cut the grass can be helpful to you. It can also give your child a sense of responsibility. But mowing the lawn can be dangerous. This sheet tells you more about lawn mower safety and children.
Most adults know the rules of walking safely on the road. But children have to be taught how to stay safe. This sheet tells you how to teach your child to be a safe pedestrian.
A great way to help kids be healthy is to have them get outside and play. Playgrounds are a good place to start. But playgrounds can have safety hazards. Every year, thousands of children are injured on playgrounds, and some are even killed. This sheet tells you how to keep your kids safe on the playground.
From blocks and dolls to puzzles and games, toys can be fun and educational for children. But they can present safety hazards as well. As a parent, you need to be aware of toy safety issues for children of all ages. This sheet explains these issues and suggests ways to keep your children safe while playing with toys.
Each year, thousands of people, including children, are injured and killed in home fires. This makes home fire safety practices especially important. Read on for information about keeping your family and home safe from fire.
Time is critical when fire is involved. To protect your family in case of a fire in your home, create a fire safety action plan. This teaches your family what to do in a fire, and can help save lives. This sheet explains how to make a fire safety action plan.
You may think child poisoning couldn't happen to your family, but it could. In fact, poisoning is the third leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 to 19. Many household products and substances can be poisonous. Here is information about poisonings and how to prevent them.
You want your home to be a safe haven for your kids. Yet thousands of children are hurt or killed in home incidents. With a little care, many incidents can be prevented. This sheet gives you tips on keeping all areas of your home safe for children.
Always supervise your child in the water, even if he or she knows how to swim. And if possible, learn CPR.
In case of a home poisoning, your fast action could save your child's life. Here's information on what you should do.
At the 12-month checkup, the healthcare provider will examine the child and ask how things are going at home. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
At the 15-month checkup, the healthcare provider will examine the child and ask how it's going at home. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
At the 18-month checkup, your healthcare provider will examine your child and ask how it's going at home. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
The right helmet and other safety equipment can protect the head when biking, in-line skating, roller-skating, or skateboarding. But they only protect if worn correctly. Here's a helmet safety checklist for parents to keep their kids safe.
At times, friendly dogs and cats can bite and scratch. A pet bird, reptile, or hamster can also bite or scratch. Young children are at special risk. But you can help prevent problems around pets and other animals. Talk with your child about respecting animals.
If you own a gun for sport or protection, your child should never have access to it. Keep all guns and ammunition out of reach. And even if you don't have a gun at home, talk to your child about gun safety.
How careful are you when handling guns? Your child will look to you as a role model. You need to act safely. Here is a gun safety checklist.
To keep your child healthy, he or she should receive the recommended childhood vaccines or immunizations. Many vaccines are given in a series of doses over a certain period of time. To be protected, your child needs each dose at the right time. Vaccines may cause mild side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks and benefits of vaccines.
These guidelines are based on the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here is an immunization schedule for teens based on the latest CDC National Immunization Program recommendations.
A well-baby checkup looks at how well the baby is growing and developing.
A well-child checkup looks at how well the child is growing and developing.
Children may reach speech and language milestones at different ages. But in some cases, a child who isn't developing speech and language on track may have a hearing problem.
Read on to learn about the common developmental milestones for babies ages 10 to 12 months.
A helpful look at common developmental milestones in young babies.
This age is very social, and babies begin moving in much more purposeful ways.
Read on to learn about common physical, speech, and other developmental milestones to expect when your baby is this age.
If you know anything about your baby's sleeping pattern, it's probably that it doesn't coincide with yours. But learning more about your baby's nighttime and daytime sleep needs can help you recognize what's normal, and what's not.
Read on for helpful suggestions for activities and toys for your baby, according to their age.
A helpful look at what to expect with your newborn—from your baby's growth and reflexes to crying and emotional development.
Your child is a toddler now and very active! They can climb stairs while holding on and play with push and pull toys.
Separation anxiety usually begins around 6 months of age. Babies may suddenly be afraid of familiar people, such as babysitters or grandparents.
Vaccines are an important part of a healthy life for your child.
We all know doctor visits are important when your child is sick. But kids should see the doctor regularly when they're well, too. We call these "well-child" visits. Kids are always growing and changing. Well-child visits let the doctor track their development, and find or stop health problems before they become serious issues.
At the 2-year checkup, the healthcare provider will examine your child and ask how things are going at home. At this age, checkups become less frequent. So this may be your child's last checkup for a while. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Even if your child is healthy, keep bringing him or her in for yearly checkups. This helps to make sure that your child's health is protected with scheduled vaccines. Your child's healthcare provider can make sure your child's growth and development is progressing well. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Keep taking your child to yearly checkups. Your healthcare provider can make sure your child's growth and development is progressing well. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Keep taking your child for yearly checkups. The healthcare provider can make sure your child's growth and development are progressing well. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Yearly checkups make sure that your child's health is protected with scheduled vaccines and health screenings. The healthcare provider will also check your child's growth and development. This sheet describes some of what you can expect.
Between ages 11 and 13, your child will grow and change a lot. It's important to keep having yearly checkups so the healthcare provider can track this progress.
During the teen years, it's important to keep having yearly checkups. Your teen may be embarrassed about having a checkup. Reassure your teen that the exam is normal and necessary.
How often should your child see a healthcare provider? Not just when they are sick! Your child also needs wellness checkups. Read on to learn more.
Detailed information on what teen boys can expect during a physical examination.
The teen years are a time of growth spurts, puberty changes, and emotional and social development. Here's what you need to know.
Young children may bite others out of frustration or stress, or because they feel powerless. Infants and toddlers often bite as a way of exploring their world.
Each child is different, but most children need to be given clear rules about behavior. Read on for some discipline tips by age group.
A night terror is a partial waking from sleep with behaviors such as screaming, kicking, panic, sleep walking, thrashing, or mumbling.
Children go through distinct stages of play as they grow. Each stage is critically important to the development of the next.
Children at this age start to understand concepts and can compare abstract ideas. Read on to learn what to expect.
A preschooler needs space in which to run and explore. Take him or her on trips to the playground, park, or beach. Encourage him or her to play with other children.
Although friendships become more important at this age, children are still fond of their parents and like being part of a family. Read on to learn more.
The normal amount of sleep varies depending on the age of your child. Read on for helpful tips to create healthy sleep habits, plus a chart of normal day and night sleep times by age.
Many children watch too much digital media, which includes TV, the internet, and smart devices. Learn why too much screen time is not good for kids--and how to set limits and establish good viewing habits.
Temper tantrums are a normal part of childhood development. They often happen only with a parent. They are a way for the child to communicate his or her feelings. Read on to learn more.
Most 3-year-olds have lost the rounded tummy of a toddler. Your child can use a spoon well and can wash and dry his or her hands.
Time-out is a type of discipline that is used to stop bad behavior in a child. It takes the child out of the situation and gives them time to calm down.
Read on to learn more about toilet training, from signs your child is ready to helpful tips for potty training success.
Read on for helpful tips to encourage play for your child.
Read on to learn details about common physical, speech, and other developmental milestones your child may reach at this age.
In a few years you will need to change from seeing a healthcare provider who treats children (a pediatrician) to one who treats adults (an adult healthcare provider). So it's helpful to start taking an active role in your care now.
If you are ready to change from seeing a healthcare provider who treats children (a pediatrician) to one who treats adults (an adult healthcare provider). As a teen with a long-term (chronic) health condition, you may also need to find a new specialist who treats adults with your condition.
Wound dehiscence is when a surgical incision that has been stitched or stapled closed comes open again. This most often occurs with surgery done on the belly (abdomen).
