Early Motherhood

 From the moment parents bring a new baby home from the hospital, they watch the baby’s progress eagerly, anticipating every inch of growth and each new developmental milestone along the way. But how do parents know if their child is growing properly?

What Is Growth?
A child’s physical growth refers to the increases in height and weight and other body changes that occur as a child matures. Hair grows; teeth come in, come out, and come in again; and eventually puberty hits. It’s all part of the growth process.

More than 6 million children under the age of 18 have asthma. An estimated 80% of kids with asthma develop symptoms by age 5, and 50% develop symptoms by age 2. If your infant wheezes when he or she has a cold, you may be wondering if the problem is asthma. But it’s not always clear if an infant has asthma. More important than getting a firm diagnosis is making sure your child gets treated for any breathing problems he or she may be having.

Learning to use the toilet is a big step for toddlers and it can be difficult for some. Some children just seem to train themselves when they are ready, but many need some help from their parents.

Parents see toilet training as an important milestone for their children and often become very concerned if it doesn’t all go smoothly.

There are millions of toys out there, and hundreds of new ones hit the store shelves each year. Toys are supposed to be fun and are an important part of any child’s development. But it’s sobering to learn that in 2002, more than 212,000 children in the United States were treated in hospital emergency departments for toy-related injuries - and that 13 children died.

Consider these additional statistics from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign:

The American Egg Board calls it incredible, but for children with an egg allergy, the egg is simply inedible.

One of the most common food allergies in infants and young children, egg allergy can pose many challenges for parents. Because eggs are used in many of the foods kids eat - and in many cases they’re “hidden” ingredients - an egg allergy is hard to diagnose. Ultimately, it’s up to parents to monitor what their children eat and to consult with the doctor when they have concerns about a possible allergic reaction.