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Infant and Toddler Health
Learn about infant and toddler health

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:
- Abdominal Gas and Colic
- Abdominal Pain, Age 11 and Younger
- Abuse: Signs of Abuse-Related Injuries
- Acetaminophen Use in Young Children
- Alcohol Effects on a Fetus
- Amblyopia
- Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Panel (AJGP)
- Asthma in Children
- Asthma: Overuse of Quick-Relief Medicines
- Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
- Autism and Vaccines
- Avoiding Temper Tantrums
- Babies' Sleep Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Baby's Daily Needs: What to Expect
- Barking Coughs in Children
- Basic Dental Care
- Birthmarks
- Biting
- Biting as a Behavior Problem
- Blocked Tear Ducts
- Blocked Tear Ducts: Balloon Dacryocystoplasty
- Blocked Tear Ducts: Dye Disappearance Test
- Blocked Tear Ducts: Intubation
- 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
- Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding a Sick Baby
- Breastfeeding After a C-Section
- Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery
- Breastfeeding and Your Milk Supply
- Breastfeeding at Work
- Breastfeeding During Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding Multiple Infants
- Breastfeeding Positions
- Breastfeeding When You Have Diabetes
- Breastfeeding Your Newborn and an Older Child
- Breastfeeding: Avoiding Toxic Substances
- Breastfeeding: Baby's Poor Weight Gain
- Breastfeeding: Hindmilk
- Breastfeeding: Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs
- Breastfeeding: Using Medicines Safely
- Breastfeeding: Waking Your Baby
- Breastfeeding: Weaning a Toddler
- Breastfeeding: 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 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
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cerebral Palsy: Bathing and Grooming Tips
- Cerebral Palsy: Early Signs
- Cerebral Palsy: Help for Speech Problems
- Cerebral Palsy: Safety Tips
- Chickenpox (Varicella)
- Chickenpox Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- 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: Drowning Prevention in Pools and Hot Tubs
- Child Safety: Guns and Firearms
- Child Safety: Pets
- Child Safety: Preventing Burns
- 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
- Children and Malaria: Reducing the Risk
- Children's Growth Chart
- 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
- Cleaning Your Young Son's Natural (Uncircumcised) Penis
- Cleanliness and Hygiene Standards for Group Child Care Facilities
- 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 Breastfeeding and Bottle-Feeding
- Comforting a Child Who Has a Respiratory Illness
- Common Types of Birthmarks
- 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 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: Getting Enough Calories and Nutrients
- Cystic Fibrosis: Ways to Clear the Airways
- Dealing With Emergencies
- Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids (Babies and Young Children)
- Dental Care From 6 Months to 3 Years
- 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
- Diet, Breastfeeding, and Colic
- Diseases That Affect Breastfeeding
- Doctors Who Treat Cleft Lip and Palate
- 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
- Drug Withdrawal in Newborns (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome)
- DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- Ear Infections
- Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Emergency Procedures for Group Child Care Facilities
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Emotional and Social Growth in Newborns
- Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68)
- Epinephrine for Croup
- Evaluating Pain in a Child
- Evaluating Your Child's Hearing
- 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 or Chills, Age 11 and Younger
- Fever Seizures
- Fever Temperatures: Accuracy and Comparison
- Fifth Disease
- Fontanelles and Sutures of the Infant Skull
- Food Handling and Preparation in a Child Care Setting
- Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children
- Genetics
- 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
- Growing Pains
- Growth and Development Milestones
- 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
- Head Injuries in Children: Problems to Watch For
- Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
- 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
- Heatstroke Prevention: What to Wear
- Helping Children During Immunizations
- Helping Your Newborn Learn
- Hib (Haemophilus Influenzae Type B) Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- High Blood Pressure in Children
- Hip Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Hip Problems, Age 11 and Younger
- Hirschsprung's Disease
- HIV Symptoms in Children
- HIV Treatment in Children
- Hormone Tests to Check for Undescended Testicles
- Hospital Policies and Breastfeeding
- How Asthma Develops in Children
- How Cystic Fibrosis Affects Breathing and the Lungs
- 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 for Premature Infants
- Immunizations: Questions Parents Ask
- Impetigo
- Importance of Immunizations
- Infant Crying
- Infant Formulas
- Infant Massage
- Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome)
- Inguinal Hernia: Surgery in Children
- Introducing Foods to Your Baby
- Intussusception
- Iron Toxicity
- Ivermectin for Head Lice
- Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia)
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
- Kangaroo Care for Premature Infants
- Kawasaki Disease
- Kernicterus
- Language Development in Newborns
- Lead Poisoning
- Lice Treatment: Examples of Over-the-Counter Products
- Lice: Cleaning Lice From Combs, Clothing, and Other Items
- Making Decisions About Very Premature Infants: Personal Stories
- Managing Your Toddler's Frustrating Behaviors
- Measles (Rubeola)
- Medical History and Physical Exam for Nearsightedness
- Meningitis
- Meningitis and Listeria Monocytogenes
- Meningococcal ACWY Vaccines - MenACWY and MPSV4: What You Need to Know
- Milestones for 2-Year-Olds
- Milestones for 3-Year-Olds
- Milestones for a 1-Year-Old
- Milestones for an 18-Month-Old Child
- Milk Sugar Tolerance
- MMR Vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella): What You Need to Know
- MMRV Vaccine (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella): What You Need to Know
- Molluscum Contagiosum
- Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
- Nasal Potential Difference Test for Cystic Fibrosis
- Nausea and Vomiting, Age 11 and Younger
- Necrotizing Enterocolitis
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions
- Newborn Reflexes
- NICU: Communicating With the Staff
- Nightmares and Other Sleep Problems in Children
- Nipple Shields for Breastfeeding Problems
- Nurturing Your Child to Improve Learning and Attention
- Nutrition While Breastfeeding
- Object Stuck in a Child's Airway
- Oral Rehydration Solutions for Children
- Orchiopexy for Undescended Testicle
- Overfeeding a Baby
- Pavlik Harness
- Pediatric Preparation for Medical Tests
- Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- Phototherapy for Jaundice in Newborns
- Physical Abuse: Common Injuries in Children
- Physical Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Physical Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Physical Growth in Newborns
- Playground Safety
- Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13): What You Need to Know
- Polio Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- Positional Plagiocephaly (Flattened Head)
- Premature Infant
- Premature Infant: Safe Travel With Your Baby
- Premature Infant: Signs of Overstimulation
- Premature Infant: Treating Underdeveloped Lungs
- 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
- Quick Tips: Baby-Proofing Your Home
- Quick Tips: Getting Baby to Sleep
- Quick Tips: Helping Children Take Medicine
- Quick Tips: Safely Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children
- Quick Tips: Successful Breastfeeding
- Radial Head Subluxation
- Rash, Age 11 and Younger
- Rectal Prolapse in Children
- Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP)
- Recurrent Ear Infections and Persistent Effusion
- Reducing Biting in Children Ages 15 to 36 Months
- 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
- Rotavirus Vaccine: What You Need to Know
- RSV: Risk of Complications
- Rubber Bulbs
- Rules of Conduct for Children in a Group Child Care Center
- Safety Around Irrigation Canals
- Safety Plan: Preparing to Leave a Violent Relationship
- 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
- Stimulate Your Baby's Learning
- Storing Breast Milk
- Strabismus
- Sucking and Malocclusion
- 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
- 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
- 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: Children Living With the Disease
- Types of Strabismus
- Umbilical Cord Care
- Umbilical Hernia in Children
- Undescended Testicle
- Undescended Testicle: Fertility Problems
- Undescended Testicle: Risk for Testicular Cancer
- Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- Using an Agency to Find Individual Child Care
- Using Vaporizers and Humidifiers
- Vaccine Information Statements
- 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)
- Yeast Infection While Breastfeeding
- Your Child's First Vaccines: What You Need to Know
- Your Toddler: Nutritious Meals for Picky Eaters
- Your Toddler: Safe Ways to Explore
- Amblyopia: Wearing an Eye Patch
- Asthma in Children: Helping a Child Use a Metered-Dose Inhaler and Mask Spacer
- Breastfeeding: Planning Ahead
- Croup: Managing a Croup Attack
- Cystic Fibrosis: Helping Your Child Cough Up Mucus
- 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
Current as of: October 9, 2017
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine