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Health
Similar to lice, pinworms are parasites that spread through the transfer of eggs. A typical pinworm infection is characterized by the presence of small, white roundworms approximately the size of a staple found near the child’s anus. The most...
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Health
Many parents are surprised to learn that children are at risk of infection from a parasitic disease. However, these parasites are not just found in developing countries, but are present right in your child’s playground, daycare or preschool, or...
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Health
You know it’s important to brush your toddler’s teeth, but try telling that to a willful toddler. Early brushing lays the groundwork for a lifetime of good hygiene, but it can be exasperating because many toddlers and even infants put...
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Health
COVID-19 is teaching the world about the importance of washing our hands. Adults everywhere are taking handwashing seriously to help prevent the spread of the infection; but how do we communicate the importance of hand hygiene to toddlers? With...
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Health
Known more commonly as a “stomach bug” or “stomach flu,” acute gastroenteritis (AGE) is a common cause of childhood misery. Children suffering from AGE typically have some combination of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low-grade fever, and stomach...
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Health
Norovirus is the most common cause of diarrhea and vomiting in children — and winter is the time of year physicians report seeing the most cases. The virus, which can cause stomach cramping accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (or all of...
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Health
Hand washing is the most important way we prevent the spread of germs. Washing our hands with a mild soap before preparing food, after using the bathroom, after diaper changing, after handling pets, and after returning home from running errands can...
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Baby
A newborn baby is so perfect, small, and seemingly fragile that it’s normal for new parents to fret over using the “right” detergent to clean their laundry. The good news is that you can do your baby’s laundry with the same detergent as the rest of...
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Health
The idea of giving your baby the first bath can be intimidating. It’s only natural at first to be worried about handling a slippery, squirming baby in water. But the process is not complicated, and many newborns enjoy a warm, calming bath. The...
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Health
Due to recent outbreaks covered in the news media, many parents have concerns about Adenovirus. With misunderstanding comes fear, so here is what you need to know to keep you informed and your children safe. Adenoviruses are a family of viruses...
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Health
You’ve probably heard that kids who go to daycare get sick more often—but is there a bright side to all the sniffles and colds? Does exposure to more kids at a young age actually help your child develop better immunity? At birth, a baby’s immune...
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Pregnancy
Male circumcision is the removal of some or all of the foreskin from a boy’s penis. The foreskin is the tissue that covers the tip of the penis. Circumcision is a religious or cultural ritual for many Jewish and Islamic families, as well as some...
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Pregnancy
During pregnancy, many women focus on their health and nutrition like never before, and rightly so: you want to feed your baby the very best nutrients possible! However, there are some foods you stay away from as they can carry an increased risk to...
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Baby
The benefits of breastfeeding are many, and most nursing moms can quickly list lots of reasons why they choose to breastfeed. But what about in the middle of a pandemic? Is it still safe? We have many reasons to believe that breastfeeding is not...
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Health
Helicobacter pylori is a common bacteria found in the stomachs of many children. In fact, some studies suggest that up to 50 percent of the world’s population carries this bacteria. In the industrialized world, however, the incidence is much lower....
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Health
Sepsis is a very dangerous medical condition that results from infection, usually by a bacteria, but a virus or fungus can also be a cause. Sepsis occurs when the infectious agent spreads from its initial area of infection into the bloodstream....
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Health
When your child is suffering from the red, itchy rash that comes with eczema, you want immediate relief. Aside from prescription creams and ointments, there are things you can do at home to help make your child more comfortable. As with any home...
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Health
MRSA is a serious infection that affects about 90,000 Americans annually, claiming 20,000 lives. In the past, MRSA affected mostly those with weakened immune systems, but there has been a rise in the number of healthy people infected with MRSA,...
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Health
MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , is a bacteria that causes many different types of infections in children. Children can be exposed to MRSA in situations where they come into close contact with many other people, such as...
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Baby
Parents on both sides of the “great diaper debate” often have strong feelings about their choice of diapering. A cloth diaper parent may discuss sustainability and environmental awareness. Meanwhile, a disposable diaper parent might mention the...
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Blog
It’s been all over the headlines: a brand new drug called Zulresso was recently approved by the FDA to treat postpartum depression (PPD) in moms. How could that be anything other than great news, right? With PPD being the most common...
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Blog
On January 5, 2016, emergency crews were called to Our Kids Daycare and Learning Center in Middleton, Idaho. The reason: concern for carbon monoxide poisoning. The daycare center’s director, Robin Hagaman, noted that some of the 12 toddlers in the...
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Blog
We’ve discussed how some recommendations say to keep your brand new baby indoors until they are about 2 months old. The idea is that you want to wait until they’ve had their first round of vaccines and until their immune systems are a bit...
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Blog
Your baby’s first cold can be unsettling, but there are steps you can take to hold this first brush with infection off as long as possible. First, if at all possible, keep your young infant away from sick people (especially their mucus!)....
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Blog
With the holidays in full swing, it can be hard to remember to step back and take care of yourself—pregnant or not! However, when you are busy growing a baby, it’s even more important to put yourself first sometimes. Here are some easy ways to do...
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Blog
As your child nears age four, it’s natural to begin thinking about sending your child for his or her first day of kindergarten. After all, within a year or so they will be venturing out to school and you want them to be ready. Kindergarten...
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Health
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a condition that generally occurs in children as a result of infection from a toxic strain of bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7. This infection commonly begins as diarrhea (which is often bloody)....
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Toddler
Just as your baby’s body grows, their teeth will also continue to grow. While tooth growth and the replacement of baby teeth with permanent, adult teeth is usually seamless, sometimes problems do arise. One of the most common issues is impacted...
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Baby
It can be hard for a new parent to tell how much sleep their baby needs, and some parents may be worried their child isn’t getting enough shuteye. While infant sleep disturbance is very common, actual instances of sleep deprivation are rare....
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Health
Coronavirus is a respiratory disease (COVID-19) that has been detected in dozens of countries, including in the United States. As it’s spread around the world, you will likely find yourself wondering how to best talk to your children about...
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Baby
Sippy cups are easy to love. They don’t spill, they are super easy for baby to use, and they are a perfect bridge from the bottle or breast to a “big kid” cup. In recent years, however, there’s been a bit of a sippy cup backlash as experts from...
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Health
Norovirus, sometimes called the “stomach flu,” is the most common cause for viral gastroenteritis and affects people of all ages. Symptoms include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Millions contract Norovirus each year and thousands...
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Pregnancy
We hope you’re enjoying Week 15! For many experienced moms, these are the best weeks of pregnancy. Even moms who have waited to let the world know they were pregnant are typically telling everybody by now (because it is still probably hard to tell...
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Baby
Having a premature baby in the NICU is a difficult situation for any parent — and it’s unfortunately common. Approximately one out of every 10 babies are born prematurely each year, keeping the NICUs around the country very busy. While it’s natural...
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Health
Outbreaks of diarrhea are extremely common among kids who spend time in childcare settings, but many parents don’t realize that these outbreaks are often caused by a parasite. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Giardia...
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Health
Children often suffer from dry, chapped lips, especially in the cold winter season. But cracking at the corners of the mouth may indicate a different problem, known as angular cheilitis. “Cheilitis” simply means an inflammation of the lips. Angular...
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Health
Just hearing the words “head lice” is enough to prompt a collective groan from parents, usually followed by a quick inspection of their kid’s scalps looking for the annoying pests! What are lice? Lice are wingless, parasitic insects that live on...
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Pregnancy
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that can be spread by sexual contact, as well as through contaminated blood, saliva, or urine. While this infection doesn’t usually lead to major problems in adults, it is the most common infection mothers pass to...
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Pregnancy
When it comes to pregnancy, many women know that it is important to eat healthy (most of the time…), exercise, and take your prenatal vitamins. But far fewer realize how important it is to take care of one more important thing: your teeth. In fact,...
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Baby
Good oral care starts at the beginning of your infant’s life, long before your baby’s first teeth break through his or her gums. Babies have unique oral health needs that must be met to ensure the healthy development of primary teeth. So what...
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Pregnancy
Streptococcus agalactiae, otherwise known as Group B Strep (GBS), is a bacteria that approximately 20-25 percent of pregnant women have in their vagina and rectum. Carrying this bacteria does not mean that you acquired a sexually transmitted...
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Baby
Your baby’s umbilical cord is cut after birth. The stump that remains may look daunting at first—it will likely look gooey and yellowish—but caring for it is simpler than it looks. First, it’s important to keep the stump and the surrounding skin...
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Pregnancy