News Articles

• Health Tip: Becoming a Step Parent

  If step-parenthood is in your future, there may be pending bumps in the road between you and your new spouse, your younger children and the children's other parent. More...

• Health Tip: Talk to Your Kids Early About Alcohol Use

  You should speak with your children while they're younger about the dangers of alcohol use and abuse, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests. More...

• The Reality of Watching Reality TV

  

  When it comes to analyzing the effects of watching reality TV, well, it's complicated. While some see these shows as a brief escape from daily life, they can have negative effects on some viewers, including impressionable teens. More...

• Almost All U.S. Teens Falling Short on Sleep, Exercise

  

  Too little sleep. Not enough exercise. Far too much "screen time." More...

• Movie Violence Doesn't Make Kids Violent, Study Finds

  

  Parents often worry that violent movies can trigger violence in their kids, but a new study suggests PG-13-rated movies won't turn your kids into criminals. More...

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• Gay Dads and Their Kids Still Face Social Shaming

  

  Two-thirds of gay fathers have felt the pain of social stigma, and they have encountered that stigma most often in religious settings, a new survey shows. More...

• Parents, Think Before You Drink This Holiday

  

  One in 4 American parents who drink over the holidays don't think about whether they'll be able to take care of their children the day after, a new survey shows. More...

• When You Go From a Family of 3 to a Family of 4

  

  Wondering if having a second child will affect your marriage even more than baby number one did? More...

• Navigating New Parent Nerves

  

  A newborn can bring a sense of fulfillment to your life … and an equal amount of stress over everything from baby's health to your own parenting skills. More...

• Pediatricians Renew Call to Abandon Spanking

  

  The American Academy of Pediatrics is strengthening its recommendation to ban spanking and other forms of corporal punishment, citing new research that says that type of discipline can affect normal brain development. More...

• Try Small 'Bites' to Get Kids to Exercise

  

  Kids take their cues from mom and dad, so it only makes sense to participate with them when teaching them the merits of exercise. More...

• Health Tip: Connect With Your Child

  By being sensitive and responsive to your child's needs, you can forge a positive, healthy relationship, the National Institutes of Health says. More...

• Health Tip: Manage the Terrible 3's

  Three-year-old children may be among the most difficult to manage as they become more independent and talkative. More...

• How to Prevent Your Child From Getting Bullied -- or Being a Bully

  

  With the start of a new school year, bullying will become an issue for many children and their parents. More...

• Young Adults Favor Family Over Friends If Forced to Choose

  

  If pressed, young adults will put their parents ahead of their close friends, a new study shows. More...

• To Combat Childhood Obesity, Start at Birth … or Even Before

  

  Efforts to prevent childhood obesity probably should begin at birth to have any hope of success, according to new results from a pair of clinical trials. More...

• Longest Study Yet Finds Adult Kids of Lesbian Moms Are Doing Fine

  

  Young adults raised by lesbian moms show the same mental well-being as those who grew up with heterosexual parents, a new study suggests. More...

• Parent's Tough Childhood Can Cast Shadow Across Generations

  

  When a parent has suffered abuse or other adversities as a child, their children may be more prone to mood and behavior problems, a new study suggests. More...

• To Fight Childhood Obesity, Moms to the Rescue

  

  The key: kids are less likely to be obese if their mothers follow five healthy habits, according to the report from Harvard. More...

• Many Parents Say Sports Can Be Too Dangerous for Kids

  

  More than half of American parents say they've considered keeping their children out of sports over concerns about injuries, a new survey finds. More...

• Parents Must Ask: 'Is There an Unlocked Gun in Your House?'

  

  Before your child goes to a friend's home to play, find out if there are guns in that home, a leading U.S. medical group advises. More...

• Smartphone-Obsessed Parents May Mean Cranky Kids

  

  Parents who take refuge in their smartphones when their kids throw a tantrum may, in the long run, make matters worse, a new study suggests. More...

• How 'Helicopter' Parenting Impedes a Child's Development

  

  Overcontrolling moms and dads -- so-called "helicopter" parents -- can stunt their children's emotional development, new research warns. More...

• When Kids Expect a Needle to Hurt, It Does

  

  When it comes to kids and medical procedures like needles, expectation is everything. More...

• Health Tip: How Working Parents Can Avoid Burnout

  When a parent works full time, it can be difficult to balance responsibilities at work and at home. More...

• Health Tip: Plan Your Child's Chores

  Daily chores give a child a sense of responsibility and help the child understand that life is a mix of work and play, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. More...

• Health Tip: If Your Child Becomes Too Aggressive

  All children become aggressive now and then. But is your youngster prone to long or frequent outbursts? If so, it may be time to see a pediatrician, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. More...

• Health Tip: Keep Communicating With Your Child

  Maintaining open communication between you and your child increases the likelihood that the child will come to you in times of need. More...

• What Your Kids Want to Tell You About Social Media

  

  Memo to Mom and Dad: Rein in your screen time. More...

• Poor, Minority Moms Face Tough Judgments Over Kids' Weight

  

  Poor mothers who get food assistance face close scrutiny over their kids' weight, researchers say. More...

• Health Tip: How Schools Keep Your Child Safer

  Parents should learn a host of terms that schools use to indicate various states of emergency, the American Academy of Pediatrics says. More...

• Health Tip: 'Connected' Students Do Better

  Students who feel a like they belong at school have a greater chance of doing well and staying there, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. More...

• Parental Dieting Pressure Linked to Long-Term Harm

  

  Exposure to parent encouragement to diet as an adolescent is tied to long-term harmful weight-related and emotional health outcomes and appears to be transmitted to the next generation, according to a study published online March 6 in Pediatrics. More...

• If Your Mom Was Big on Dieting, Your Kids May Pay the Price

  

  If your parents pushed you to diet as a teen, chances are you will do the same to your own children. More...

• U.S. Child Obesity Levels Not Falling After All

  

  Despite some promising reports in recent years, it seems the U.S. childhood obesity problem is not turning a corner. More...

• Health Tip: Rules for the Pool

  Don't let anyone swim alone. More...

• Parents Ill-Informed About Kids' Concussion Risks

  

  But most support strict head injury guidelines for school sports, survey shows. More...

• Health Tip: When Kids Have Separation Anxiety

  Here's a list of classic symptoms More...

• Health Tip: Why People Get Ear Infections

  Some possible causes More...

• Health Tip: Buy a Bike That Suits Your Child

  Make sure it's a good fit More...

• Clear Rules, Physical Activity Cut Children's Screen Time

  In households where parents set clear and consistent limits on screen time and where children have plenty of physical activity, children have lower odds of exceeding the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommended two-hour daily screen-time limit, according to research published online June 14 in Pediatrics. More...

• Vaccination Ends Disparities in Pneumococcal Disease

  The vaccination of young children with seven-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in recent years has eliminated disparities in risk for vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease associated with race and group child care attendance, according to a case-control study published online June 14 in Pediatrics. More...

• Preventive Intervention for Premature Infants Effective

  A home preventive care program for very premature infants and their caregivers results in improved behavioral and emotional regulation at age 2, as well as less depression and anxiety among caregivers, according to research published online June 14 in Pediatrics. More...

• Stricter Rules Can Steer Kids Away From TV

  

  And physically active kids watch less television, researchers report. More...

• Harmless Brain Abnormalities in Kids Pose Disclosure Dilemmas

  

  Doctors need guidelines for discussing anomalies found in 'routine' MRIs, researchers say. More...