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Infant and Toddler Health

Learn about infant and toddler health

Photo of a smiling baby

Babies are a joy. They can also be a little overwhelming at times. When is a fever something to worry about? What’s the difference between colic and normal crying? What immunizations does your toddler need? Our topics can help you find the answers to these and other common parenting questions.

Get help making decisions or find how-to tips in our Growth and Development topics and topics such as:

More Information

Health Topics
Abdominal Gas and Colic Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger Acetaminophen Use in Young Children Alcohol Effects on a Fetus Amblyopia Appreciating Your Child's Personality Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel (AJGP) Asthma in Children Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema) Autism and Vaccines Avoiding Mercury in Fish Avoiding Temper Tantrums Babies' Sleep Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Barking Coughs in Children Birthmarks Biting Blocked Tear Ducts Blocked Tear Ducts: Probing Procedures Bonding With Your Baby Bonding With Your Newborn Bottle-Feeding Bottle-Feeding: Disadvantages for Babies Bottle-Feeding: Weaning a Toddler Bottle-Feeding: When Baby Doesn't Want to Stop Bowel Movements in Babies Breast-Feeding Breast-Feeding a Sick Baby Breast-Feeding After a C-Section Breast-Feeding After Breast Surgery Breast-Feeding More Than One Child Breast-Feeding Multiple Infants Breast-Feeding Positions Breast-Feeding When You Have Diabetes Breast-Feeding: Avoiding Toxic Substances Breast-Feeding: Baby's Poor Weight Gain Breast-Feeding: Hindmilk Breast-Feeding: Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs Breast-Feeding: Waking Your Baby Breast-Feeding: Weaning a Toddler Breast-Feeding: When Baby Doesn't Want to Stop Breath-Holding Spells Breath-Holding Spells: Helping Your Child Avoid Injury Breath-Holding Spells: Keeping a Record Bronchiolitis Brushing a Child's Teeth Brushing and Flossing a Child's Teeth Burping a Baby Caring for a Baby's Nails Caring for More Than One Baby Caring for Your Baby's Nasal Cannula Cataracts in Children Celiac Disease Cerebral Palsy Cerebral Palsy: Bathing and Grooming Tips Cerebral Palsy: Controversial Treatments Cerebral Palsy: Early Signs Cerebral Palsy: Help for Speech Problems Cerebral Palsy: Safety Tips Chickenpox (Varicella) Chickenpox: Preventing Skin Infections Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse: Signs of Neglect Child Car Seats Child Care Providers: Licensing Standards Child Care Providers: Safe Child-Staff Ratio and Group Size Child Care: Hidden Costs Child Care: Interviewing Care Providers Child Care: Qualifications for Providers Child Care: When to Keep Your Child at Home Child Safety: Air Pollution Child Safety: Bathing Child Safety: Bicycles and Tricycles Child Safety: Fires Child Safety: Guns and Firearms Child Safety: Pets Child Safety: Preventing Burns Child Safety: Preventing Drowning Child Safety: Preventing Falls Child Safety: Streets and Cars Child Safety: Strollers and Shopping Carts Child Safety: Swimming Pools and Hot Tubs Child Safety: Washing Toys to Prevent Germs Children and Malaria: Reducing the Risk Choking Prevention in Small Children Choking Rescue for Babies Choking Rescue Procedure (Heimlich Maneuver) Choosing Baby Bottles and Nipples Choosing Child Care Chronic Lung Disease in Infants Chronic Lung Disease in Infants: Caring for Your Baby Circumcision Circumcision: Gomco Clamp Circumcision: Mogen Clamp Circumcision: Plastibell Device Classification and Types of Hydrocephalus Classification of Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Classification of Juvenile Arthritis Cleaning Your Young Son's Natural (Uncircumcised) Penis Cleft Lip Cleft Lip or Palate: Common Concerns for Parents Cleft Palate Cleft Palate Treatment After Surgery Cleft Palate: Feeding Your Baby Clubfoot Cognitive Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Cognitive Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months Cognitive Growth in Newborns Colds Colic Colic Diary Colic: Harmful Treatments Combining Breast-Feeding and Bottle-Feeding Communicating Effectively With a Child Care Provider Complications of Ear Infections Complications of Whooping Cough Congenital Heart Defects Congenital Hydrocele Congenital Hydrocephalus Congenital Syphilis Congenital Torticollis Connection Between Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Constipation, Age 11 and Younger Coping Strategies to Avoid Harming a Baby Corporal Punishment Cough Symptoms in Children Coughs, Age 11 and Younger Cow's Milk Protein Intolerance Cow's Milk Sensitivity in Babies Cradle Cap Craniosynostosis Crib Safety Croup Crying Child That Is Not Acting Normally Crying, Age 3 and Younger Crying: Tired or Overstimulated Cup-Feeding Baby With Breast Milk or Formula Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis: Alternate Ways to Clear the Airways Cystic Fibrosis: Getting Enough Calories and Nutrients Dealing With Emergencies Dehydration Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids Dental Care From Birth to 6 Months Dental Care: 3 Years to 6 Years Dental Checkups for Children and Adults Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip Developmental Problems: Testing Diaper Rash Diarrhea, Age 11 and Younger Diseases That Affect Breast-Feeding Doctors Who Treat Cleft Lip and Palate Domestic Abuse Domestic Violence Domestic Violence: Checklist of Things to Take When You Leave Domestic Violence: Getting a Protective Order Down Syndrome Down Syndrome, Ages 1 Month to 1 Year Down Syndrome, Ages 1 to 5 Down Syndrome, Ages Birth to 1 Month 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 Ear Infections Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger Emotional and Social Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Emotional and Social Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months Emotional and Social Growth in Newborns Epinephrine for Croup Evaluating Pain in a Child Evaluating Your Child's Hearing Eye and Vision Tests for Children and Teens Failure to Thrive Feeding Schedule for Babies Feeding Your Child Using Division of Responsibility Feeding Your Infant Feeding Your Premature Infant Fetal Alcohol Effects: Behavior and Learning Problems Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Caring For Your Baby Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Signs That Your Child Needs to Be Evaluated Fever Seizures Fever Temperatures: Accuracy and Comparison Fever, Age 11 and Younger Fifth Disease First Aid for Head Wounds in Children Fontanelles and Sutures of the Infant Skull Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children Getting Children to Brush Their Teeth Getting Enough Calcium and Vitamin D Glucocorticoids for Croup Goniotomy for Congenital Glaucoma Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns Group Child Care Center Policies Group Child Care: Activities Group Child Care: Health and Safety Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years Growth and Development, Newborn Gynecomastia Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Hand-Washing Head Injuries in Children: Problems to Watch For Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger Headaches in Children Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early Healthy Eating for Children Healthy Habits for Kids Heat Rash Heat Waves Heat-Related Illnesses Heatstroke Prevention: Acclimating to the Heat Heatstroke Prevention: What to Wear Help for Anger Problems Helping Children During Immunizations Helping Your Newborn Learn Hip Injuries, Age 11 and Younger Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger Hirschsprung's Disease HIV Treatment in Children Hospital Policies and Breast-Feeding How Asthma Develops in Children How Cystic Fibrosis Affects Breathing and the Lungs How Cystic Fibrosis Affects Digestion and the Pancreas How Cystic Fibrosis Affects the Bones How Cystic Fibrosis Affects the Sweat Glands How Normal Vision Develops How Reading Helps Language Development Hypospadias Hypothyroidism in Infants, Children, and Teens Ibuprofen Use in Young Children Immunization Safety Immunization Schedules Immunizations Immunizations for Premature Infants Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask Impetigo Importance of Immunizations Infant Formulas Infant Massage Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome) Inguinal Hernia: Surgery in Children Interactive Tool: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby Intussusception Iron Toxicity Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia) Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Symptoms Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Adult Treatments That May Be Used in Children Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Balancing Rest and Activity Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Deciding About Total Joint Replacement Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Features of DMARD and SSARD Drugs Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Inflammatory Eye Disease Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Pain Management Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Range-of-Motion Exercises Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: School Partners Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Serial Casting Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Soft Tissue Release of Contracture Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Stretching and Strengthening Exercises Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Treatment With Heat, Cold, or Water Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: Vitamin D and Calcium Kangaroo Care for Premature Infants Kawasaki Disease Kawasaki Disease: Criteria to Diagnose Kernicterus Language Development in Newborns Language Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Lead Poisoning Lice: Cleaning Lice From Combs, Clothing, and Other Items Lice: Removing Nits From Hair Making Decisions About Very Premature Infants: Personal Stories Managing Your Toddler's Frustrating Behaviors Measles (Rubeola) Medical History and Physical Exam for Nearsightedness Medicine Use While Breast-Feeding Meningitis and Listeria Monocytogenes Meningitis: Long-Term Problems Milestones for 3-Year-Olds Milk Sugar Tolerance Molluscum Contagiosum Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy Nail Problems and Injuries Nasal Potential Difference Test for Cystic Fibrosis Nausea and Vomiting, Age 11 and Younger Necrotizing Enterocolitis Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions Newborn Reflexes NICU: Communicating With the Staff Nursery Equipment Safety Checklist Nurturing Your Child to Improve Learning and Attention Nutrition While Breast-Feeding Object Stuck in a Child's Airway Oral Rehydration Solutions Orchiopexy for Undescended Testicle Overfeeding and Colic Pavlik Harness Pediatric Preparation for Medical Tests Phenylketonuria (PKU) Phototherapy for Jaundice in Newborns Physical Abuse Physical Abuse: Common Injuries in Children Physical Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Physical Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months Physical Growth in Newborns Picky Eaters: Planning Nutritious Meals Playground Safety Positional Plagiocephaly (Flattened Head) Premature Infant Premature Infant: Safe Travel With Your Baby Premature Infant: Signs of Overstimulation Premature Infant: Treating Underdeveloped Lungs Preparing Your Child for the Hospital Preventing Breath-Holding Spells in Children Preventing Choking Preventing Poisoning in Young Children Preventing Tooth Decay in Young Children Protecting Your Child From Infections Pyloric Stenosis Questions About Inguinal Hernia Surgery Quick Tips: Baby-Proofing Your Home Quick Tips: Getting Baby to Sleep Quick Tips: Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children Quick Tips: Successful Breast-Feeding Radial Head Subluxation Radiation Exposure: Risks and Health Effects Rash, Age 11 and Younger Rectal Prolapse in Children Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP) Recurrent Ear Infections and Persistent Effusion Reducing Biting in Children Ages 8 to 14 Months Reducing Biting in Teething Babies Repair of Choanal Atresia Respiratory Problems, Age 11 and Younger Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection Reye Syndrome Roseola Rotavirus RSV: Risk of Complications Rubber Bulbs Rubella (German Measles) Safety Around Irrigation Canals Safety Plan: Preparing to Leave a Violent Relationship Scalp Problems Screening for Hearing Problems Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months Sensory and Motor Growth in Newborns Separation Protests: Helping Your Child Shaken Baby Syndrome Sibling Rivalry Sickle Cell Disease: Splenic Sequestration Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough Breast Milk Speech and Language Delays: Common Misconceptions Speech and Language Development Speech and Language Development: Helping Your 1- to 2-Year-Old Speech and Language Development: Red Flags Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 1 to 3 Years Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 3 to 5 Years Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year Spina Bifida Spitting Up Sponge Bath for a Child's Fever Staying Safe: After You Leave a Violent Relationship Staying Safe: If You Are in a Violent Relationship Stimulate Your Baby's Learning Storing Breast Milk Strabismus Stress in Children and Teens Stress Management Stuttering Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Swallowed Air Swallowed Button Disc Battery, Magnet, or Object with Lead Taking Care of Yourself When Your Baby Is Fussy Tay-Sachs Disease Teething Teething Products Teething: Common Concerns Temper Tantrums Temper Tantrums: Keeping a Record Thinking About Child Safety Thrush 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 Tongue-Tie Surgery for Age 1 Year and Older Tongue-Tie Surgery for Infants Tooth Development in Children Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy Trabeculotomy for Congenital Glaucoma Transparent Tape Test for Pinworms Treating Asthma in Babies and Younger Children Tuberculosis in Infants and Children Tubes for Ear Infections Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Caring for Your Child Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Emotional Issues Type 1 Diabetes in Children: Safe Exercise Type 1 Diabetes: Children Living With the Disease Types of Strabismus Umbilical Cord Care Umbilical Hernia in Children Undescended Testicle Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger Urinary Tract Infections in Children Using Vaporizers and Humidifiers Vaccine Information Statements Violent Behavior Vital Signs in Children Ways to Comfort a Baby in the Hospital Ways to Comfort a Crying Baby Weaning Weaning: Signs That Baby Is Ready Well-Child Visits What to Expect When You Have an Extremely Premature Infant Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Your Baby's Daily Needs Your Toddler: Safe Ways to Explore

Medical Tests
Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) in Blood Bilirubin Body Temperature Cranial Ultrasound Galactosemia Test Lead Phenylketonuria (PKU) Test Stool Analysis Sweat Test Tay-Sachs Test Urine Test

Medications
Antenatal Corticosteroids for Fetal Lung Development Antibiotics for Middle Ear Infection Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in Children Antimalarials for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Biologics for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Corticosteroids for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Hormone Therapy for Undescended Testicle Methotrexate for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Sulfasalazine for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Make a Wise Decision
ADHD: Should My Child Take Medicine for ADHD? Blocked Tear Ducts: Should My Baby Have a Probing Procedure? Circumcision: Should I Keep My Son's Penis Natural? Ear Infection: Should I Give My Child Antibiotics? Ear Problems: Should My Child Be Treated for Fluid Buildup in the Middle Ear? Umbilical Hernia: Should My Child Have Surgery?

Take Action
Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer Croup: Managing a Croup Attack Diabetes in Children: Checking Blood Sugar in a Child Diabetes in Children: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar Diabetes in Children: Giving Insulin Shots to a Child Diabetes in Children: Preventing High Blood Sugar Diabetes in Children: Preventing Low Blood Sugar Hip Dysplasia: Caring for Your Child in a Body (Spica) Cast Sleep: Helping Your Children—and Yourself—Sleep Well Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress Stress Management: Managing Your Time

Credits

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: April 20, 2012

Medical Review:

Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.