Children's Health

Learn about children's health

Children grow and change so quickly. Our Growth and Development topics can tell you what to expect at each stage of childhood. And our health topics can help you care for them when they're sick.

You can find information you need to keep your child healthy and thriving in topics such as:

Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years.
Healthy Eating for Children.
Healthy Habits for Kids.
Asthma in Children.
Immunizations.
Depression in Children and Teens.

Health Topics
Medical Tests
Make a Wise Decision
Take Action

Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger
Abuse: Signs of Abuse-Related Injuries
Abusive Head Trauma
Acetaminophen Use in Young Children
ADHD and Hyperactivity
ADHD Myths and Facts
ADHD: Impulsivity and Inattention
ADHD: Social Skills Training
ADHD: Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child Has ADHD
ADHD: Tests for Other Disorders
Adolescent Sensory and Motor Development
Aggression in Youth
Alcohol Effects on a Fetus
Amblyopia
Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel (AJGP)
Asthma Action Plan: Red Zone
Asthma Action Plan: Yellow Zone
Asthma in Children
Asthma in Children: Knowing How Bad an Attack Is
Asthma Zones
Asthma: Educating Yourself and Your Child
Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines
Asthma: Peak Expiratory Flow and Personal Best
Asthma's Impact on Your Child's Life
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autism and Vaccines
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism: Behavioral Training and Management
Babies and Older Adults Have an Increased Risk of Cold Injury
Back Pain in Children and Teenagers
Barking Coughs in Children
Basic Dental Care
Bed-Wetting in Children
Behavior Rating Scales for ADHD
Behavior Therapy for ADHD
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens
Bipolar Disorder in Children: Other Health Problems That May Occur
Bipolar Disorder in Children: School Issues
Biting
Brace (Orthotic) Treatment for Scoliosis
Breath-Holding Spells
Breath-Holding Spells: Keeping a Record
Bronchiolitis
Brushing and Flossing a Child's Teeth
Bullying
Bullying: Building a Child's Self-Esteem
Bullying: How to Help Your Child Who Bullies
Bullying: Signs a Child Is Bullied
Cancer Treatment and Infertility
Cerebral Palsy
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Chickenpox: Preventing Skin Infections
Child Abuse and Neglect
Child Abuse: Emotional Abuse by Parents
Child Car Seats
Child Safety: Air Pollution
Child Safety: Bicycles and Tricycles
Child Safety: Drowning Prevention in Pools and Hot Tubs
Child Safety: Guns and Firearms
Child Safety: Pets
Child Safety: Preventing Burns
Child Safety: Preventing Child Abduction
Child Safety: Preventing Drowning
Child Safety: Preventing Falls
Child Safety: Streets and Motor Vehicles
Child Safety: Strollers and Shopping Carts
Child Safety: Washing Toys to Prevent Germs
Child Who Is Overweight: Evaluating Nutrition and Activity Patterns
Child Who Is Overweight: Medical Evaluation
Childhood Fears and Exposure to Violence
Childhood Immunization Record
Childhood Immunization Schedule: Ages 0 to 6 Years
Childhood Immunization Schedule: Ages 7 to 18 Years
Children's Growth Chart
Choking Prevention in Small Children
Choking Rescue Procedure: Heimlich Maneuver
Cholesterol in Children and Teens
Choosing a Counselor or Therapist for Your Child
Choosing Child Care
Cleaning Your Young Child's Natural (Uncircumcised) Penis
Cleft Lip
Cleft Palate
Cognitive Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Colds
Comforting a Child Who Has a Respiratory Illness
Common Types of Birthmarks
Comparing Symptoms of Normal Moodiness With Depression in Children
Complications of Ear Infections
Conditions Related to Dyslexia
Conditions With Symptoms Similar to Depression in Children and Teens
Congenital Heart Defects in Children
Congenital Heart Defects: Caring for Your Child
Congenital Hydrocephalus
Congenital Syphilis
Constipation in Children
Constipation, Age 11 and Younger
Corporal Punishment
Cough Symptoms in Children
Coughs, Age 11 and Younger
Crib Safety
Croup
Crying Child and Possible Abuse
Crying Child That Is Not Acting Normally
Crying: Helping a Tired or Overstimulated Child
Cystic Fibrosis
Daytime Accidental Wetting (Diurnal Enuresis)
Dealing With Emergencies
Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids (Babies and Young Children)
Dengue Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Dental Care: 3 Years to 6 Years
Dental Care: 6 Years to 16 Years
Dental Checkups for Children and Adults
Dental Sealants
Depression in Children and Teens
Diabetes in Children: Care Plan for School or Day Care
Diabetes in Children: Food Issues at School
Diabetes: High or Low Blood Sugar in Young Children
Diarrhea, Age 11 and Younger
Differences Between ADHD and Bipolar Disorder in Children
Disc Battery in the Nose
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Down Syndrome
Down Syndrome, Ages 1 to 5
Down Syndrome, Ages 5 to 13
Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Avoid Social Problems
Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Dress Independently
Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Eat Independently
Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Learn to Communicate
Down Syndrome: Helping Your Child Learn to Walk and Use Other Motor Skills
Down Syndrome: Training and Therapy for Young People
DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Dyslexia
Ear Infections
Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
Ear Tube Surgery
Educational Rights for Children With Disabilities
Effective Parenting: Discipline
Egocentric and Magical Thinking
Emotional and Social Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Emotional and Social Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
Emotional Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years
Encouraging Language Development in Your Preschooler
Energy and Sports Drinks
Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68)
Epilepsy: Atonic Seizures
Epilepsy: Tonic Seizures
Establishing Limits With Your School-Age Child
Extracting Teeth for Malocclusion Treatment
Family Life Cycle
Family Therapy for Depression in Children
FDA Advisories for Antidepressants
Fever or Chills, Age 11 and Younger
Fever or Chills, Age 12 and Older
Fever Seizures
Fever Temperatures: Accuracy and Comparison
Fifth Disease
Fitness: Getting and Staying Active
Fluoride During Childhood
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children
Genital Warts (Human Papillomavirus)
Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D
Goniotomy for Childhood Glaucoma
Grief: Helping Children Understand
Groin Pain
Growing Pains
Growth and Development Milestones
Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years
Growth and Development, Ages 6 to 10 Years
Growth Modification for Malocclusion
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease
Head Injuries in Children: Problems to Watch For
Headaches in Children
Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years
Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early
Healthy Attitudes Toward Food and Exercise
Healthy Eating for Children
Healthy Eating in Children: Problems Caused by Poor Nutrition
Healthy Eating in Children: Things That Influence Food Choices
Healthy Habits for Kids
Hearing Loss in Children, Age 4 Years and Older
Heat Rash
Heatstroke Prevention: What to Wear
Help Your School-Age Child Develop Social Skills
Helping Adolescents Develop More Mature Ways of Thinking
Helping Children During Immunizations
Helping Children With Disabilities Stay Active
Helping Kids Handle Peer Pressure
Helping Your Child Avoid Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol
Helping Your Child Build a Healthy Body Image
Helping Your Child Build Inner Strength
Helping Your Child Manage Their Emotional Reactions
Helping Your Child Recover After a Traumatic Event
Helping Your Child Transition Into Middle School or Junior High
Helping Your Child Who Is Overweight
Helping Your School-Age Child Learn About the Body
High and Low Blood Sugar Level Record for a Child
High Blood Pressure in Children and Teens
Hip Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger
Hirschsprung Disease
HIV Treatment in Children
How ADHD Affects Your Child
How Asthma Develops in Children
How Reading Helps Language Development
HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Hypospadias
Ibuprofen Use in Young Children
Immunization Schedules
Immunizations That May Cause Fever
Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask
Impetigo
Importance of Immunizations
Interactive Tool: What Is Your Child's BMI?
Intussusception
Iron Toxicity
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Deciding About Total Joint Replacement
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Inflammatory Eye Disease
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Pain Management
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Range-of-Motion Exercises
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
Kawasaki Disease
Klinefelter Syndrome
Language Development Between 12 and 24 Months of Age
Language Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Lead Poisoning
Learning Disabilities
Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome
Little Leaguer's Elbow (Medial Apophysitis)
Malocclusion and Orthodontics
Measles (Rubeola)
Media and Your Child: Making Choices
Medical Checkups for Adolescents
Medicines That May Cause Rashes in Children
Menarche
Meningitis
Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Meningococcal B Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Milestones for 10-Year-Olds
Milestones for 4-Year-Olds
Milestones for 5-Year-Olds
Milestones for 6-Year-Olds
Milestones for 7-Year-Olds
Milestones for 8-Year-Olds
Milestones for 9-Year-Olds
Milestones for Ages 11 to 14
MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): What You Need to Know
MMRV Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella): What You Need to Know
Moisture Alarms for Bed-Wetting
Molluscum Contagiosum
Mood Disorders in Children
Motivational Therapy for Bed-Wetting
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)
Mumps
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Nausea and Vomiting, Age 11 and Younger
Nephrotic Syndrome
Nightmares and Other Sleep Problems in Children
Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Children
Nonverbal Learning Disorder
Nursemaid's Elbow
Object Stuck in a Child's Airway
Oral Rehydration Solutions for Children
Orchiopexy for Undescended Testicle
Orthopedic Surgery for Cerebral Palsy
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Peanut Allergy
Pediatric Preparation for Medical Tests
Physical Activity for Children and Teens
Physical Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Physical Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
Pinkeye (Conjunctivitis)
Pityriasis Alba
Pityriasis Rosea
Playground Safety
Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Polio Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Preparing Your Child for the Hospital
Preschoolers: Building a Sense of Security
Preschoolers: Building Self-Control
Preschoolers: Building Social Skills
Preschoolers: Encouraging Independence
Preschoolers: Helping Your Child Explore
Preventing Breath-Holding Spells in Children
Preventing Children's Injuries From Sports and Other Activities
Preventing Choking
Preventing Poisoning in Young Children
Preventing Tooth Decay in Young Children
Protecting Your Child From Infections
Protecting Your Child From Online Strangers
Protecting Your Skin From the Sun
Puberty Issues
Questions Your Doctor May Ask Before Prescribing Medicine for Depression in Children and Teens
Quick Tips: Helping Children Take Medicine
Quick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and Healthy
Quick Tips: Safely Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children
Rash, Age 11 and Younger
Recognizing and Developing Your Children's Special Talents
Rectal Problems Caused by Abuse
Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP)
Recurrent Ear Infections and Persistent Effusion
Regular Checkup for a Child
Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection
Reye Syndrome
Roseola
Rotavirus
Rotavirus Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Safety Plan: Preparing to Leave a Violent Relationship
Sample School Plan
Scoliosis in Children and Teens
Scrapes
Screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Screening for Hearing Problems
Self-Esteem, Ages 6 to 10
Sensory and Motor Development From Age 6 to 10 Years
Sensory Processing Disorder
Sexual Abuse: Signs and Symptoms
Sibling Rivalry
Sickle Cell Disease: Splenic Sequestration
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis
Snack Ideas for Preschoolers
Special Diets for Epilepsy
Speech and Language Delays: Common Misconceptions
Speech and Language Development
Speech and Language Development: Red Flags
Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 3 to 5 Years
Speech Problems: Normal Disfluency
Spina Bifida
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis
Sponge Bath for a Child's Fever
Starting Antidepressants: How to Care for Your Child
Starting Medicines for ADHD: How to Care for Your Child
Staying Aware of What Your Child Is Doing Online
Staying Healthy Around Animals
Staying Safe: After You Leave a Violent Relationship
Staying Safe: If You Are in a Violent Relationship
Steroid Medicine for Asthma: Myths and Facts
Strabismus
Stress in Children and Teens
Stuttering
Swallowed Button Disc Battery, Magnet, or Object With Lead
Symptoms of Depression in Children
Talking to Your Child About Appropriate Online Behavior
Talking With Your Child About Sex
Tay-Sachs Disease
Td (Tetanus, Diphtheria) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Teaching Older Children and Teens About Consent
Teaching Your Young Child About Consent
Temper Tantrums
Temper Tantrums: Keeping a Record
Thinking About Child Safety
Thumb-Sucking
Thumb-Sucking Versus Pacifier Use
Tips for Parents of Children With Epilepsy
Toilet Training
Toilet Training: Knowing When Your Child Is Ready
Tongue-Tie
Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring
Tonsillitis
Tooth Development in Children
Tourette Syndrome (TS)
Tourette's Disorder: Tic Triggers
Trabeculotomy for Childhood Glaucoma
Treating Asthma in Babies and Younger Children
Treatment for ACL Injuries in Children and Teens
Treatment Plan Record for a Child With ADHD
Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Caring for Your Child
Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Safe Exercise
Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease
Type 1 Diabetes: Your Child's Role in Care
Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Type 2 Diabetes: Screening for Children
Umbilical Hernia in Children
Understanding How Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Can Affect Children
Unproven Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Urinary Obstruction in Children
Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
Urinary Symptoms After an Injury in Children
Urinary Tract Infections in Children
Using Vaporizers and Humidifiers
Vaccine Information Statements
Vaccine Safety
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)
Violent Behavior in Children and Teens
Vision Screening and Eye Exams for Children and Teens
Vital Signs in Children
Warning Signs of Suicide in Children and Teens
Ways to Comfort a Baby in the Hospital
Well-Child Visits
Your Child and the Dentist
Your Child's First Vaccines: What You Need to Know

Body Temperature
Cardiac Catheterization in Children
Ear Examination
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test
Galactosemia Test
Home Ear Examination
Lead (Pb) Test
Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Test
Stool Analysis
Sweat Test
Tympanocentesis for Ear Infections
Tympanometry for Ear Infections (Otitis Media)

ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD?
Depression: Should My Child Take Medicine to Treat Depression?
Ear Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics?
Ear Problems: Should My Child Be Treated for Fluid Buildup in the Middle Ear?
HPV: Should My Child Get the Vaccine?
Scoliosis: Should My Child Have Surgery?
Tonsillitis: Should My Child Have a Tonsillectomy?
Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?

ADHD: Helping Your Child Get the Most From School
ADHD: Helping Your Child Get Things Done
Allergies in Children: Giving an Epinephrine Shot to a Child
Amblyopia: Wearing an Eye Patch
Asthma: Taking Charge of Your Asthma
Breathing Problems: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
Chickenpox: Controlling the Itch
Croup: Managing a Croup Attack
Cystic Fibrosis: Helping Your Child Cough Up Mucus
Diabetes in Children: Checking Blood Sugar in a Child
Diabetes in Children: Counting Carbs
Diabetes in Children: Giving Insulin Shots to a Child
Diabetes in Children: Preparing a Care Plan for School
Diabetes in Children: Preventing High Blood Sugar
Diabetes in Children: Treating Low Blood Sugar
Fitness: Teaching Your Child to Stay Active
Grief: Helping Children With Grief
Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem
Healthy Eating: Helping Your Child Learn Healthy Eating Habits
Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well
Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress
Thumb-Sucking: Helping Your Child Stop

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Children's Health

Learn about children's health

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