Ingrown Toenail
If my child has an ingrown toenail, how do I recognize it? You’ll usually notice a toenail that’s pressing or growing into the skin. Big toes are most likely to develop ingrown toenails, but the problem can show up on any toe. A typical early sign is …
Learn MorePreventing Asthma Attacks in Kids
If your child has asthma, a simple wheeze can be the worst sound in the world. Naturally, you’d do anything to prevent asthma attacks, but how do you go about it? You don’t have to watch him 24 hours a day or even slow down his activities. With the ri…
Learn MoreGrandparents Raising Grandkids
After raising seven children of their own, 45-year-old Carol Johnson,* and her husband, 46, were ready to make the leap from weary parents to doting grandparents. Instead, they ended up becoming parents all over again. Like most grandparents, Johnson …
Learn MoreFood Allergies and Asthma in Kids
What are food allergies? Some bodies — especially young ones — react to certain foods as they would to dangerous intruders. Their immune systems unleash a barrage of chemicals against proteins in these foods, causing the misery known as an allergic …
Learn MoreThe Way We Were
The first time I met up with eating disorders was in middle school. I had transferred from an artistic, diverse, public elementary school to a liberal arts school for the “gifted.” I was one of three or four people who was not white and one of four or…
Learn MoreColds and Kids
Why does my child get so many colds? The common cold (also known as an upper respiratory infection) is caused by a virus. Trouble is, there are at least 200 different known viruses, with new ones occasionally appearing. Children develop immunity to th…
Learn MoreChild’s Play
Think back to the happiest moments of your childhood. Chances are, you weren’t sitting at a desk or finishing up a chore. More likely, you were running around at the park, jumping in a creek, or building a new civilization in your backyard. For kids o…
Learn MoreAcne
Why do I have acne? No matter what you may have heard, eating lots of chocolate or greasy food won’t give you zits. The real culprit is biology. You may not be able to prevent acne entirely, but you can definitely take steps to clear up your skin and …
Learn MoreMedicines: Helping Children Swallow
At one time or another, almost every child will refuse to take a pill or swig of medicinal syrup. Here are some tips to help the medicine go down:Be honest. Do not tell your child that the medicine is candy (he might suddenly crave a handful). Instead…
Learn MoreDiaper Rash (Toddler)
What is diaper rash? By the time your child reaches the toddler years, you’ve probably already seen your share of diaper rashes: red, inflamed skin hiding under the diaper or training pants. The rash — usually found in the genital area, the inner thi…
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