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- Parenting Babies (0-12 Months)
- Baby Health
- Health and Safety, Birth To 2 Years
Content Map Terms
Pregnancy & Parenting Categories
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Planning Your Pregnancy
-
Fertility
- Ovulation and Fertility Pregnancy Planning
- Ovulation and Transport of Egg
- Find Your Ovulation Day
- Infertility: Problems With Ovulation
- Ovulation
- Superovulation
- Interactive Tool: When are you most fertile?
- Infertility
- Infertility: Emotional and Social Support
- Pregnancy after Age 35
- Infertility: Ethical and Legal Concerns
- Infertility: Factors That Affect Treatment Success
- Infertility: Setting Limits on Testing
- Infertility: Problems With the Man's Reproductive System
- Infertility: Problems With Fallopian Tubes
- Infertility: Problems With the Uterus and Cervix
- Cancer Treatment and Infertility
- Fertility Problems: Should I Be Tested?
- Infertility Tests
- Fertility Drugs
- Infertility
- Fertility Problems: Should I Have a Tubal Procedure or In Vitro Fertilization?
- Insemination for Infertility
- Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection for Infertility
- Infertility Treatment for Women With PCOS
- In Vitro Fertilization for Infertility
- Infertility: Setting Limits on Treatment
- Infertility: Questions to Ask About Medicine or Hormone Treatment
- Infertility: Questions to Ask About Assisted Reproductive Technology
- Infertility: Should I Have Treatment?
- Insemination Procedures for Infertility
- Gamete and Zygote Intrafallopian Transfer for Infertility
- Varicocele Repair for Infertility
- Fallopian Tube Procedures for Infertility
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
- Luteinizing Hormone
- Progesterone
- Sperm Penetration Tests
- Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting
- Your Health When Planning to Become Pregnant
- Ending a Pregnancy
- Adoption
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Fertility
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Pregnancy
- Healthcare Providers During Pregnancy
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Your Health During Pregnancy
- Foodborne Illness During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Seat Belt Use
- Pregnancy: Chemicals, Cosmetics, and Radiation
- Travel during Pregnancy
- Lupus and Pregnancy
- Multiple Sclerosis and Pregnancy
- Cancer During Pregnancy
- HIV and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Chronic High Blood Pressure
- Schizophrenia and Pregnancy
- Depression During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy and Epilepsy
- Obesity and Pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Dental Care During Pregnancy
- Immunizations and Pregnancy
- Quick Tips: Healthy Pregnancy Habits
- Massage Therapy during Pregnancy
- Sex During Pregnancy
- Leg Cramps During Pregnancy
- Medicines During Pregnancy
- Swelling During Pregnancy
- Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring
- Depression: Should I Take Antidepressants While I'm Pregnant?
- Pregnancy: Dealing With Morning Sickness
- Back Pain During Pregnancy
- Abnormal Pap Test While Pregnant
- Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy
- Acupressure for Morning Sickness
- Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
- Braxton Hicks Contractions
- Caffeine During Pregnancy
- Exercise During Pregnancy
- Fatigue During Pregnancy
- Fever During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Pregnancy: Changes in Bowel Habits
- Pregnancy: Healthy Weight Gain
- Pregnancy: Hemorrhoids and Constipation
- Pregnancy: Pelvic and Hip Pain
- Pregnancy: Ways to Find Your Due Date
- Estrogens
- Symptoms of Pregnancy
- Sexually Transmitted Infections During Pregnancy
- Ginger for Morning Sickness
- Heartburn During Pregnancy
- Nausea or Vomiting During Pregnancy
- Urinary Problems During Pregnancy
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Body Changes During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Varicose Veins
- Pregnancy: Hand Changes
- Sleep Problems During Pregnancy
- Managing Emotional Changes During Pregnancy
- Breast Changes During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Hair Changes
- Pregnancy: Belly, Pelvic and Back Pain
- Pregnancy: Stretch Marks, Itching, and Skin Changes
- Pregnancy: Changes in Feet and Ankles
- Pregnancy: Vaginal Discharge and Leaking Fluid
- Interactive Tool: From Embryo to Baby in 9 Months
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Your First Trimester
- Check-ups and Tests In the First Trimester
- Embryo and Fetal Development In the First Trimester
- Mothers' Physical Changes in the First Trimester
- Normal Pregnancy: First Trimester
- Week 8 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 8 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 12 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 12 weeks of pregnancy
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Your Second Trimester
- Mothers' Physical Changes During the Second Trimester
- Check-ups and Tests in the Second Trimester
- Normal Pregnancy: Second Trimester
- Week 16 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside /
- Fetal development at 16 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 20 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 20 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 24 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside /
- Fetal development at 24 weeks of pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Kick Counts
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Your Third Trimester
- Check-ups and Tests in the Third Trimester
- Fetal Development in the Third Trimester
- Mothers' Physical Changes in the Third Trimester
- Prenatal Classes in the Third Trimester
- Writing Your Birth Plan or Wishes
- Normal Pregnancy: Third Trimester
- Week 28 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 28 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 32 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 32 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 36 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 36 weeks of pregnancy
- Week 40 of Pregnancy: What's Going On Inside
- Fetal development at 40 weeks of pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Dropping (Lightening)
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Risks and Complications During Pregnancy
- Pregnancy-Related Problems
- Gestational Diabetes
- HELLP Syndrome
- Gestational Diabetes: Dealing With Low Blood Sugar
- Insulin Injection Areas for Gestational Diabetes
- Gestational Diabetes: Giving Yourself Insulin Shots
- Gestational Diabetes: Counting Carbs
- Gestational Diabetes: Checking Your Blood Sugar
- Pre-Eclampsia: Expectant Management
- Pregnancy: Hot Tub and Sauna Use
- Pregnancy After Weight-Loss (Bariatric) Surgery
- External Cephalic Version (Version) for Breech Position
- Bedrest for Preterm Labour
- Multiple Pregnancy: Preterm Birth
- Multiple Pregnancy: Should I Consider a Multifetal Pregnancy Reduction?
- Multiple Pregnancy: Twins or More
- Twin Pregnancy Types
- High-risk Pregnancy
- Rh Sensitization during Pregnancy
- Post-Term Pregnancy
- Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
- Intrauterine Fetal Blood Transfusion for Rh Disease
- Miscarriage
- Abruptio Placenta
- Anemia During Pregnancy
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Pregnancy /
- Asthma During Pregnancy
- Bedrest in Pregnancy
- Pre-Eclampsia: Checkups and Monitoring
- Functional Ovarian Cysts /
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
- Laparoscopic Ovarian Drilling for PCOS
- Low Amniotic Fluid
- Low-Lying Placenta Versus Placenta Previa
- Miscarriage: Should I Have Treatment to Complete a Miscarriage?
- Molar Pregnancy
- Passing Tissue During Pregnancy
- Placenta Previa
- Polyhydramnios
- Pre-Eclampsia
- Eclampsia (Seizures) and Pre-Eclampsia
- Special Health Concerns During Pregnancy
- Ectopic Pregnancy
- Subchorionic Hemorrhage
- Endometriosis
- Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy
- Vaginal Bleeding During Pregnancy
- Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
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Emotional Health and Support During Pregnancy
- Getting Help for Perinatal Depression
- Coping with Losing a Baby
- Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy
- Domestic Abuse While You Are Pregnant
- How Support Teams Can Help During Pregnancy
- Partner Support during Pregnancy
- Pregnancy: Relationship Changes
- Stress While You Are Pregnant
- Tips for Pregnant Parents
- Alcohol and Other Drug Use During Pregnancy
- Interactive Tool: What Is Your Due Date?
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Labour and Birth
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Planning Your Delivery
- Childbirth Classes
- Childbirth: Labouring in Water and Water Delivery /
- Childbirth: Perineal Massage Before Labour
- Choosing Where to Give Birth Hospital or Home
- Doulas and Support During Childbirth
- Making a Birth Plan
- Packing for Birth at a Hospital
- Pregnancy: Deciding Where to Deliver
- Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)
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Stages of Labour
- Labour and Delivery
- Cervical Cerclage to Prevent Preterm Delivery
- First Stage of Labour - Early Phase
- First Stage of Labour Active Phase
- First Stage of Labour Transition Phase
- Information on Fourth Stage of Labour
- Information on Second Stage of Labour
- Information on Third Stage of Labour
- Preterm Labour and Short Cervix
- Preterm Labour
- Preterm Labour: Testing for Fetal Fibronectin
- Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (pPROM)
- Telling Pre-Labour and True Labour Part
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During Labour
- Breathing Techniques for Childbirth
- Caesarean Section
- Cervical Effacement and Dilatation
- Cervical Insufficiency
- Childbirth: Epidurals
- Childbirth: Opioid Pain Medicines
- Childbirth: Pudendal and Paracervical Blocks
- Childbirth: Strep Infections During Delivery
- Comfort Positions Labour and Birth
- Epidural Anesthesia
- Epidural and Spinal Anesthesia
- Episiotomy and Perineal Tears
- Epistiotomy Vacuum and Forceps During Labour and Birth
- Fetal Monitoring During Labour HY
- Labour Induction and Augmentation
- Local Anesthesia for Childbirth
- Pain Relief Options Labour and Birth
- Postpartum Bleeding
- Postpartum: First 6 Weeks After Childbirth
- Postural Management for Breech Position
- Practicing Breathing Techniques for Labour
- Spinal Block for Childbirth
- Stillbirth
- VBAC: Labour Induction
- VBAC: Participation During Birth
- VBAC: Uterine Scar Rupture
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After Labour and Care for New Moms
- Alcohol and Smoking After Pregnancy
- Baby Blues
- Depression: Managing Postpartum Depression
- Fitness: Staying Active When You Have Young Children
- Sex After Childbirth
- Support Teams for New Parents
- Taking Care of Yourself When Your Baby Is Fussy
- Your Body After Pregnancy
- After Childbirth: Coping and Adjusting
- After Childbirth: Pelvic Bone Problems
- After Childbirth: Urination and Bowel Problems
- Childbirth Afterpains
- Help with Urination After Giving Birth
- Managing Bowel Movements After Pregnancy
- Mom and Baby Staying Together
- New Moms and Abuse
- Postpartum Depression
- Problems After Delivery of Your Baby
- Vaginal Care After Giving Birth
-
Planning Your Delivery
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Parenting Babies (0-12 months)
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Baby Care
- Pregnancy: Should I Bank My Baby's Umbilical Cord Blood?
- Umbilical Cord Blood Donation and Private Banking
- Preparing Siblings for Meeting your New Baby
- Can Cloth Diapers Work for Your Familiy
- Bonding With Your Baby
- Infant Crying
- Crying: Tired or Overstimulated
- Baby's Daily Needs: What to Expect
- Ways to Comfort a Crying Baby
- Coping Strategies to Avoid Harming a Baby
- Coping When Your Baby Cries A Lot
- Tips for Soothing Babies
- Immunizations for Premature Infants
- Important Paperwork for Newborns
- NICU: Communicating With the Staff
- Premature Infant: Safe Travel With Your Baby
- Tips for Diapering a Newborn Baby
- Ways to Comfort a Baby in the Hospital
- Premature (Preterm) Infant
- Bonding With Your Newborn
- Bathing and Skin Care For Newborn Babies
- What to Expect When You Have an Extremely Premature Infant
- Birthmarks
- Biting
- Caring for More Than One Baby
- Caring for a Baby's Nails
- Circumcision
- Circumcision: Should I Keep My Son's Penis Natural?
- Cleaning Your Young Child's Natural (Uncircumcised) Penis
- Cleft Lip
- Cleft Palate
- Club Foot
- Common Types of Birthmarks
- Diaper Rash
- Infant Massage
- Oral Care For Your Baby
- Positional Plagiocephaly
- Quick Tips: Getting Baby to Sleep
- Screening for Hearing Problems
- Separation Protests: Helping Your Child
- Thumb-Sucking Versus Pacifier Use
- Using Soothers and Stopping When it is Time
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Breastfeeding
- A Video on Breastfeeding Positions
- A Video on Breastfeeding and Skin-to-Skin Contact
- A Video on Hand Expressing Breastmilk
- Breast Engorgement
- Breast Surgery and Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding After Breast Surgery
- Breastfeeding After a C-Section
- Breastfeeding During Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding Multiple Infants
- Breastfeeding Positions
- Breastfeeding With Inverted Nipples
- Breastfeeding Your Newborn and an Older Child
- Breastfeeding a Sick Baby
- Breastfeeding and Your Milk Supply
- Breastfeeding at Work
- Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding: Baby's Poor Weight Gain
- Breastfeeding: Planning Ahead
- Breastfeeding: Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs
- Breastfeeding: Waking Your Baby
- Breastfeeding: When Baby Doesn't Want to Stop
- Common Breastfeeding Concerns
- Common Breastfeeding Positions
- Coping With Thrush When You’re Breastfeeding
- Experiencing Let-Down Reflex
- FAQs About Breastfeeding
- Get Started on Expressing Breastmilk
- Getting Comfortable Breastfeeding in Public
- Hospital Policies and Breastfeeding
- Latching Your Baby - Video
- Learning Basics of Breastfeeding
- Learning to Latch
- Mastitis While Breastfeeding
- Medications and Herbal Products for Breastfeeding Moms
- Medicine Use While Breastfeeding
- Milk Oversupply
- Nipple Shields for Breastfeeding Problems
- Oxytocin
- Plugged Milk Ducts When You're Breastfeeding
- Poor Let-Down While Breastfeeding
- Preventing Mastitis
- Pumping Breast Milk
- Quick Tips: Successful Breastfeeding
- Signs That Your Baby Is Getting Enough Breast Milk
- Sleep, Rest, and Breastfeeding
- Storing Breast Milk
- Storing and Using Breastmilk
- Under or Over Production of Milk During Breastfeeding
- Vitamin D Supplements for Breastfeeding Babies
- What you need to Know About Supplementing Baby Formula
- Your Milk Supply
- Breastfeeding: Weaning a Baby
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Feeding Your Baby
- Alternative Feeding Methods for Newborns
- Baby Feeding Cues - Video
- Bottle-Feeding: When Baby Doesn't Want to Stop
- Burping a Baby
- Choosing Baby Bottles and Nipples
- Cleft Palate: Feeding Your Baby
- Combining Breastfeeding and Formula-Feeding
- Cup-Feeding Baby With Breast Milk or Formula
- Feeding Schedule for Babies
- Feeding Your Child Using Division of Responsibility
- Feeding Your Infant
- Feeding Your Premature Infant
- Getting Started and Feeding Cues
- How Often and How Long to Feed
- Introducing Solid Foods to Your Baby
- Learn More Before You Supplement Formula
- Safe Drinking Water - Your Baby's First Year
- Safe Water for Mixing Infant Formula
- Signs of a Good Feed
- Spitting Up
- Weaning
- Bottle-Feeding: Weaning a Baby
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Baby Health
- Newborn Rashes and Skin Conditions
- Early Disease Screening of Newborns
- Group B Streptococcal Infections in Newborns
- Drug Withdrawal in Newborns
- Umbilical Cord Care
- Jaundice in Newborns (Hyperbilirubinemia)
- Abdominal Gas and Colic
- Basic Dental Care From Birth to 16 Years
- Bowel Movements in Babies
- Cataracts in Children
- Chronic Lung Disease in Infants
- Colic Diary
- Colic
- Colic: Harmful Treatments
- Comforting a Child Who Has a Respiratory Illness
- Common Health Concerns for Babies First Year
- Cough Symptoms in Children
- Cradle Cap
- Croup
- Croup: Managing a Croup Attack
- Crying Child That Is Not Acting Normally
- Dehydration: Drinking Enough Fluids
- Dental Care From Birth to 6 Months
- Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip
- Developmental Problems: Testing
- Failure to Thrive
- Gastroesophageal Reflux in Babies and Children
- Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years
- Healthy Hearing and Vision For Babies
- Immunization, Your Baby's First Year
- Orchiopexy for Undescended Testicle
- Reducing Biting in Children Ages 8 to 14 Months
- Reducing Biting in Teething Babies
- Teething Products
- Teething: Common Concerns
- Treating Asthma in Babies and Younger Children
- Tongue-tie and tethered oral tissues
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Baby Growth and Development
- Helping Your Newborn Learn
- Physical Growth in Newborns
- Cognitive Growth in Newborns
- Language Development in Newborns
- Sensory and Motor Growth in Newborns
- Babies' social and emotional development
- Children's Growth Chart
- Cognitive Development 9-12 mos
- Cognitive Development First 6-9 Mos
- Emotional and Social Growth in Newborns
- Growth and Development Milestones
- Growth and Development, Newborn
- Importance of Tummy Time for Babies' Development
- Speech and Language Milestones, Birth to 1 Year
- Stimulate Your Baby's Learning
- Tooth Development in Children
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Baby Safety
- Child Car Seats
- Quick Tips: Babyproofing Your Home
- Baby's Sleep Position and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- Baby Proofing Your Home First Year
- Choking Rescue for Babies
- Safer Sleep for My Baby
- Crib Safety
- Safe Chairs for Baby's First Year
- Safety at Home for Baby's First Year
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
- Sun Safety Babies for their First Year
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Baby Care
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Parenting Toddlers (12-36 months)
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Caring for Your Toddler
- Acetaminophen Use in Young Children
- Breath-Holding Spells
- Breath-Holding Spells: Keeping a Record
- Brushing and Flossing a Child's Teeth
- Care for Toddlers' Colds and Coughs
- Crying, Age 3 and Younger
- Dental Care and Teething in Toddlers
- Egocentric and Magical Thinking
- Hearing Health for Toddlers
- Ibuprofen Use in Young Children
- Managing Your Toddler's Frustrating Behaviours
- Positive Parenting
- Preparing Your Toddler for Health Care Visits
- Preventing Breath-Holding Spells in Children
- Promoting Positive Behaviour in Your Toddler
- Breastfeeding Your Toddler
- Childproofing your Home
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Toddler Growth and Development
- Cognitive Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Growth and Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years
- Language Development 12-18 Months
- Language Development 18-24 Months
- Language Development 24-30 Months
- Milestones for 2-Year-Olds
- Milestones for 3-Year-Olds
- Physical Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Physical Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Sensory and Motor Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Speech and Language Development: Helping Your 1- to 2-Year-Old
- Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 1 to 3 Years
- Toddler Play Activities
- Toddlers Language Development 30-36 Months
- Toddlers Physical Development 18-24 Months
- Toddlers Physical Development 24-30 Months
- Toddlers Physical Development 30-36 Months
- Toddlers Social and Emotional Development 12-18 Months
- Toddlers Social and Emotional Development 18-24 months
- Toddlers Social and Emotional Development 30-36 Months
- Toddlers social and Emotional Development 24-30 months
- Toilet Training
- Toilet Training: Knowing When Your Child Is Ready
- Understanding your Toddlers Development
- Toddler Sleep
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Caring for Your Toddler
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Parenting Preschoolers (3-5 years)
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Caring for Your Preschooler
- Motivational Therapy for Bedwetting
- Daytime Accidental Wetting
- Dental Care: 3 Years to 6 Years
- Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years
- Preschoolers: Building Self-Control
- Preschoolers: Building Social Skills
- Preschoolers: Building a Sense of Security
- Preschoolers: Encouraging Independence
- Preschoolers: Helping Your Child Explore
- Preventing Tooth Decay in Young Children
- Temper Tantrums
- Temper Tantrums: Keeping a Record
- Thumb-Sucking: Helping Your Child Stop
- Your Child and the Dentist
- Moisture Alarms for Bedwetting
- Nightmares and Other Sleep Problems in Children
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Preschooler Growth and Development
- Emotional Development, Ages 2 to 5 Years
- Encouraging Language Development in Your Preschooler
- How Reading Helps Language Development
- How to Teach Your Child by Example
- Milestones for 4-Year-Olds
- Milestones for 5-Year-Olds
- Speech Problems: Normal Disfluency
- Speech and Language Delays: Common Misconceptions 49
- Speech and Language Development
- Speech and Language Development: Red Flags
- Speech and Language Milestones, Ages 3 to 5 Years
- Stuttering
- Thumb-Sucking
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Caring for Your Preschooler
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Parenting School-Age Children (6-11 years)
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Caring for Your School-Age Child
- Bedwetting
- Building Kids Resilience
- Childhood Fears and Exposure to Violence
- Conversations that Teach Children Resilience
- Establishing Limits With Your School-Age Child
- Help Your School-Age Child Develop Social Skills
- Helping Your School-Age Child Learn About the Body
- Quick Tips: Using Backpacks Safely
- Sample School Plan
- Self-Esteem, Ages 6 to 10
- Back to School
- School-Age Children Growth and Development 6-11
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Caring for Your School-Age Child
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Parenting Teens (12-18 years)
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Teen Growth and Development
- Adolescent Sensory and Motor Development
- Cognitive Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
- Emotional and Social Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
- Growth and Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years
- Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
- Menarche
- Menstruation: Not Having a Period by Age 15
- Milestones for Ages 11 to 14
- Milestones for Ages 15 to 18
- Physical Development, Ages 11 to 14 Years /
- Physical Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years
- Puberty Issues
- Teenage Sleep Patterns
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Caring for Your Teen
- Conversations that Teach Resilience
- Help Your Working Teen Balance Responsibilities and Set Priorities
- Helping Adolescents Develop More Mature Ways of Thinking
- Helping Your Child Transition Into Middle School or Junior High
- Helping Your Teen Become a Safe Driver
- How to Get Back on Track After Conflict with Teenagers
- How to Start a Conversation with Teens About Alcohol
- Medical Checkups for Adolescents
- Talking to Your Adolescent or Teen About Problems
- Teen Relationship Abuse
- Teen Substance Use: Making a Contract With Your Teen
- Teenage Substance Use: Choosing a Treatment Program
- Teenage Tobacco Use
- Teens With Diabetes: Issues for Parents
- Tips for Parents of Teens
- Your Teen's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
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Teen Growth and Development
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Keeping Your Child Safe
- Quick Tips: Helping Your Child Stay Safe and Healthy
- Poison Prevention for Toddlers
- Playground Safety for Toddlers
- Safety Outdoors in the Cold for Toddlers
- Bathroom Safety For Toddlers
- Your Toddler: Safe Ways to Explore
- Child Safety: Preventing Burns
- Child Safety: Preventing Drowning
- Water Safety for Toddlers
- Child Safety: Preventing Child Abduction
- Child Safety: Fires
- Protecting Your Child From Infections
- Child Safety: Pets
- Child Safety: Preventing Falls
- Child Safety: Streets and Motor Vehicles
- Child Safety: Washing Toys to Prevent Germs
- Preventing Choking in Small Children
- Preventing Children's Injuries From Sports and Other Activities
- 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: Strollers and Shopping Carts
- Head Injuries in Children: Problems to Watch For
- Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
- Object Stuck in a Child's Airway
- Preventing Choking
- Playground Safety
- Bullying
- Quick Tips: Safely Giving Over-the-Counter Medicines to Children
- Preventing Poisoning in Young Children
- Bullying: How to Help Your Child Who Bullies
- Staying Healthy Around Animals
- Bullying: Building a Child's Self-Esteem
- Thinking About Child Safety
- Bullying: Signs a Child Is Bullied
- Rule of Nines for Babies and Young Children
- Abuse: Signs of Abuse-Related Injuries
- Media and Your Child: Making Choices
- Child Abuse: Emotional Abuse by Parents
- Protecting Your Toddler From Potential Abuse
- Sexual Abuse: Signs and Symptoms
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Relationships and Emotional Health
- Helping Your Child Build Inner Strength
- Helping Your Child Build a Healthy Body Image
- Symptoms of Depression in Children
- Active Listening
- Aggression in Youth
- Appreciating Your Child's Personality
- Family Life Cycle
- Family Meetings
- Recognizing and Developing Your Children's Special Talents
- Sibling Rivalry: Reducing Conflict and Jealousy
- Violent Behaviour in Children and Teens
- Growth and Development: Helping Your Child Build Self-Esteem
- Effective Parenting: Discipline
- Corporal Punishment
- Talking With Your Child About Sex
- Helping Kids Handle Peer Pressure
- Substance Use Problems: How to Help Your Teen
- Helping Your Child Avoid Tobacco, Drugs, and Alcohol
- Stress in Children and Teenagers
- Stress Management: Helping Your Child With Stress
- Family Therapy for Depression in Children
- Comparing Symptoms of Normal Moodiness With Depression in Children
- Conditions With Symptoms Similar to Depression in Children and Teens
- Warning Signs of Suicide in Children and Teens
- Taking Care of Yourself When You Have a Child With Physical, Emotional, or Behavioural Problems
- Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child Is Sick
- Grief: Helping Children With Grief
- Grief: Helping Children Understand
- Grief: Helping Teens With Grief
- ADHD: Taking Care of Yourself When Your Child Has ADHD
- Baby's Best Chance
- Toddler's First Steps
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Birth Control
- Birth Control Hormones: The Pill
- Birth Control Hormones: The Shot
- Birth Control Hormones: The Mini-Pill
- Birth Control Hormones: The Patch
- Birth Control Hormones: The Ring
- Breastfeeding as Birth Control
- Birth Control: How to Use a Diaphragm
- Birth Control
- Birth Control: Myths About Sex and Pregnancy
- What to Do About Missed or Skipped Birth Control Pills
- Birth Control Pills: Missed or Skipped Periods
- How Birth Control Methods Prevent Pregnancy
- How to Take Birth Control Pills
- Birth Control: How to Use the Patch
- Birth Control: How to Use the Ring
- Hormonal Birth Control: Risk of Blood Clots
- Effectiveness Rate of Birth Control Methods
- Birth Control
- Diaphragm for Birth Control
- Spermicide for Birth Control
- Contraceptive Sponge for Birth Control
- Cervical Cap for Birth Control
- Birth Control: Pros and Cons of Hormonal Methods
- Intrauterine Device (IUD) for Birth Control
- Hormonal Methods of Birth Control
- Barrier Methods of Birth Control
- Tubal Implants for Permanent Birth Control
- Birth Control Patch
- How Pregnancy (Conception) Occurs
- Getting Pregnant After Stopping Birth Control
- Male Condoms
- Emergency Contraception
British Columbia Specific Information
Safe Sleeping
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) occurs when a baby dies suddenly while sleeping. SIDS is most common between 2 and 4 months of age. Learn more:
- Caring for Kids – Safe sleep for babies
- HealthLinkBC File #46 Sleep Related Infant Death
- HealthLinkBC File #107 Safe Sleeping for Babies
- Safe Sleeping
- Safer Sleep For My Baby
- Public Health Agency of Canada: Safe Sleep for Your Baby brochure
Shaken Baby Syndrome
Shaken baby syndrome is a term used to describe the signs and symptoms resulting from shaking a baby. These injuries often happen because a parent or caregiver gets frustrated with the baby's crying, temporarily loses control and violently shakes the baby. Learn more:
- HealthLinkBC File #86 Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS)
- The Period of Purple Crying
- Prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome BC
To help prevent or report child abuse, call the Helpline for Children toll-free at 310-1234 (no area code needed). If there is immediate danger call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number.
Overview
What can you do to help keep your child safe?
No one can watch a child's every move or make a home 100% safe all the time. But try to find a balance among supervising your child, taking safety precautions, and allowing your child to explore. Your child can't understand and recognize danger. You need to take steps to keep your child safe from everyday hazards, both inside and outside the home. And your child's immune system isn't fully developed. This makes it more likely that your child will get bacterial and viral infections.
Here are some basic tips:
- Supervise your child both inside and outside the house.
For example, always use a car seat, and watch your child closely when he or she interacts with pets.
- Practice healthy habits.
Protect your child against illness and infection. For example, wash your hands often, keep toys clean, make sure your child is immunized, and go to all routine checkups. Be sure that all visitors are up-to-date with their vaccinations.
- Take safety measures around the home.
For example, use sliding gates in front of stairs, and keep rubber bands and other small objects out of reach. And always place your baby to sleep on his or her back.
How can your stress level affect your child's safety?
Taking care of yourself is a vital part of keeping your child safe. Most injuries to children occur when parents or caregivers are tired, hungry, or emotionally drained or are having relationship problems. Other common causes of family stress include changes in daily routines, moving to a new house, and expecting another child.
If you feel stressed, get help. Talk to your doctor or your child's doctor, or see a counsellor. Get together regularly with friends. Or you can join a parenting group.
Call 9-1-1 right away if you feel that you are about to hurt yourself or your child.
Health Tools
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Healthy Habits for Preventing Infection and Illness
Colds and influenza (flu) can occur at any time of year. These upper respiratory infections (URIs) spread easily. Babies and young children have a higher risk for secondary infections from these illnesses. Take extra care to help protect your child against infections.
- Have your child immunized.
Be sure your child gets all needed vaccines (immunizations). These vaccines provide important protection for your child against harmful disease. Be sure all visitors are up-to-date with their vaccines.
- Avoid germs and people who are sick.
Keep your child away from other people who are obviously ill. And avoid exposing your child to a large crowd, especially when an easily spread illness is going around.
- Wash your hands often.
If soap and water aren't available, use a hand sanitizer or an alcohol-based hand wipe.
- Wash and disinfect toys often.
- Prepare food safely.
Wash your hands and working surfaces while you prepare food. Cook foods to safe temperatures, and refrigerate foods promptly.
Learn more
Safety Measures Around the Home
As your child grows and develops, you'll need to keep checking the safety of your home. Accidental injuries are one of the leading causes of death in children younger than age 5. Keep asking yourself the following questions to help you learn how your child's skills can affect his or her safety in the home:footnote 1
- How quickly and how far can my child move?
- How far and how high can my child reach?
- What household objects attract my child's attention?
- What is my child learning to do today that he or she couldn't do before?
- What can I expect my child to do tomorrow that he or she doesn't do yet?
Keeping your child safe around the home
You can't protect your child from every danger that your child can possibly encounter. But you can take reasonable precautions and teach your child basic safety rules. This general training can help prepare your child for many situations they may face. You can help protect your child from injuries by taking safety measures around your home. Think ahead about what possibly dangerous things will attract your child. Supervise your child. But keep in mind that constant hovering over children can limit their experiences and confidence. Balancing supervision with safety precautions will help prevent injuries, as well as allow children to explore.
Prevent injuries by using safe equipment, teaching safety awareness, and closely supervising your child.
- Check that all the products your baby uses meet current standards.
Visit https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en to learn about recalls from the Government of Canada.
- Until your baby's first birthday, place your baby to sleep on their back to help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
- Prevent falls.
You can prevent many falling injuries by using common sense and appropriate equipment that meets all safety standards.
- Watch for choking.
You can help prevent your child from choking by offering the right kinds of foods and watching for choking hazards.
- Keep your child's sleep and play area safe by removing items that can cause strangulation and suffocation.
- Identify any products that could harm your child when eaten or inhaled.
- Warn your child about the dangers of fire.
Young children are often curious about fire. Explain why only grown-ups are allowed to use it.
- Keep guns away from children.
All guns and firearms should be kept in a locked area, unloaded, and out of reach of children. Also store knives (even kitchen knives), swords, and other weapons safely out of reach.
- Teach children how to interact with pets.
- Supervise bath time, and never leave your child alone near water of any kind.
Check your baby products for safety
Check that all the products your baby uses meet current standards. Visit the Government of Canada's web page on baby product safety at www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/nursery-products.html to learn more information.
- Use a crib that meets all current safety standards.
A safe crib has less than 6 cm (2.4 in.) of space between slats. Don't use sleep positioners or bumper pads.
- Don't use baby walkers.
Children can fall down stairs and get hurt. An activity centre is a better choice.
- Use safe playpens.
Playpens should have spaces in the mesh material that do not exceed 0.6 cm (0.25 in.) across. Wooden slats should measure less than 6 cm (2.4 in.) apart. Be careful about the toys you put in the playpen. As your child grows, they can get tangled in mobiles or may use larger toys as steps to boost them out of the playpen.
- Use high chairs that have a wide, stable base.
Always take time to make sure that the high chair is locked in the upright position before use. If you need to use a seat that hooks onto a table, make sure it locks onto the table. And make sure that your baby can't push against the table support. Use the safety straps, and supervise your child at all times while your child is in the high chair.
- Use a changing table with rails.
Changing tables should have a railing on all sides that is 5.1 cm (2 in.). A slightly indented changing surface is also recommended. Always use the safety strap, and keep one hand on your child. Have diapers and other items handy, but keep them out of your child's reach.
Learn more
- Child Safety: Bathing
- Child Safety: Fires
- Child Safety: Guns and Firearms
- Child Safety: Pets
- Child Safety: Preventing Burns
- Child Safety: Preventing Drowning
- Child Safety: Preventing Falls
- Crib Safety
- Preventing Choking in Small Children
- Preventing Poisoning in Young Children
- Quick Tips: Babyproofing Your Home
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Safety Measures Outside the Home
You can't protect your child from every danger he or she can possibly encounter outside the home. But you can take reasonable precautions and teach your child basic safety rules. This general training can help prepare your child for many situations he or she may face.
Prevent injuries by using safe equipment, teaching safety awareness, and closely supervising your child.
- Help your child become street-smart.
Teach your child basic rules about the dangers of cars and streets.
- Always use a car seat.
Follow the guidelines from Transport Canada. Visit the Child Car Seat Safety web page at https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/child-car-seat-safety for more information.
- Never leave your child alone in a car.
Heat inside the car and other factors could cause long-lasting injury—or death—in a matter of minutes. Keeping the car windows down won't protect your child in hot or warm weather. Other injuries could also occur from a child getting stuck in the trunk or setting the car in motion.
- Help prevent child abduction.
Teach children to be cautious of strangers. And teach them how to react when they feel they are threatened. Remember that most children who are abducted aren't taken by strangers. They're taken by a parent, a relative, a family friend, or an acquaintance.
- Keep your child safe near water.
Never leave your child unattended near water. Watch children closely around pools and hot tubs. Don't let them play near irrigation canals.
- Keep your child safe on the playground.
Make sure that all play equipment is safe, in good repair, and right for your child's age. Closely supervise all young children while they play on any equipment.
- Use extra caution when riding bicycles or tricycles.
Make sure that you and your child always wear helmets and practice safe riding habits, such as avoiding busy streets. Bike only during daylight hours.
- Keep your child safe in strollers and shopping carts.
Use the safety straps, and follow the printed instructions. It's safest not to put children in shopping carts at all.
- Protect your child from too much sun.
Keep babies younger than 12 months out of the sun. Older babies and children need to stay in the shade or cover up with a hat and clothing when outdoors from 11 in the morning to 3 in the afternoon Have your child wear UV-blocking sunglasses. And put broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) on any exposed skin, even when it's cloudy.
- Protect your child from too much heat when outdoors.
Be careful that your child doesn't get heat exhaustion from being out in warm temperatures. Small bodies can develop these problems much more quickly than adults. Don't keep your child out in warm weather for long periods. And keep water or other drinks on hand.
- Use insect repellents to prevent bites and stings.
Take action to lower your child's chances of being stung by an insect. Have your child wear socks, closed shoes, and clothes that fully cover his or her body when outdoors.
- Monitor air pollution when planning to take your child outdoors.
Children's lungs are especially sensitive to pollution. You can check your newspaper or local weather station for details about air pollution levels.
- Voice your concerns about safety.
Before your child visits an unfamiliar home, ask if you need to be aware of any dangerous areas, weapons in the home, pets, or other safety issues. It's always a good idea to see the household for yourself. Don't be afraid to speak up about your safety concerns. You are in charge of protecting your child.
- Know when to increase your child's activities.
Watch for physical signs that show that it's safe to gradually include your child in your activities. When children can run or climb, it's usually a good sign that they are getting stronger and can keep their balance. Before and after these signs appear, use good judgment for your child's comfort and safety.
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Parent Self-Care
Many parents wonder if they can handle the responsibility of keeping their child safe. You will likely feel more confident if you are alert, take all the precautions you can, and know how to respond to emergencies.
- Learn first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Classes usually are offered through your local hospital or fire department.
- Read and learn about child growth and development.
Knowing what to expect can help ease the fear of the unknown.
- Join a support group.
Parenting groups can help you learn new skills and help ease emotional issues of having a new child. Groups differ in their focus. Some target specific concerns, such as breastfeeding. Others offer parents a chance to get together with their children for playtime and visiting. Contact a local hospital or religious group, or ask your doctor for resources in your area. Online parenting groups are also available.
Connection between parent well-being and child safety
Taking care of yourself is a vital part of keeping your child safe. Injuries can occur at any time. But many happen during times of too much stress, such as when:
- Parents and children are hungry and tired.
- Another baby is expected.
- Relationship problems develop.
- Major changes in the routine or environment occur. For example, a child's caregiver changes, the family moves, or a parent leaves because of military duty.
Recognize the signs of stress and what situations cause it. Be extra careful during these times. Take care of yourself and your personal relationships.
Seeking help
All parents have times when they feel exhausted, frustrated, angry, sad, or overwhelmed. This is a normal part of being human and a parent. But if these feelings become too much for you to handle alone, keep your child safe by getting help. For example, when your emotions are too much for you to handle alone, you may not have the energy or desire to watch your child as closely as you should. And some parents injure their children when their emotions cause them to shake, hit, or push them.
Places to go for help include:
- Your family health professional (such as a family doctor or pediatrician).
- A licensed mental health counsellor.
- Your local hospital.
- Parenting organizations.
Call 9-1-1 right away if you feel that you are about to injure yourself or your child.
Learn more
Related Information
- Abusive Head Trauma
- Child Abuse and Neglect
- Cuts
- Dehydration
- Environmental Illness
- Growth and Development, Ages 1 to 12 Months
- Growth and Development, Ages 12 to 24 Months
- Growth and Development, Newborn
- Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger
- Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years
- Healthy Habits for Kids
- Objects in the Nose
- Playground Safety
- Prevent Medical Errors
- Preventing Poisoning in Young Children
References
Citations
- Canadian Paediatric Society Injury Prevention Committee (2020). Keep your young child safe around the house. Caring for Kids. https://caringforkids.cps.ca/handouts/safety-and-injury-prevention/keep_your_young_child_safe. Accessed May, 2020
Credits
Current as of: March 1, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Susan C. Kim MD - Pediatrics
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
John Pope MD - Pediatrics
Current as of: March 1, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Susan C. Kim MD - Pediatrics & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & John Pope MD - Pediatrics
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