Health Library

Articles In This Section

• Sepsis

  Sepsis is a serious infection usually caused when bacteria make toxins that cause the immune system to attack the body's own organs and tissues.

• How Can I Tell if My Baby Is Constipated?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• The First Day of Life

  Your baby's here! Find out what to expect on that special day first day of life.

• A to Z: Colic

  Colic is defined as crying for more than 3 hours a day, for more than 3 days a week, for at least 3 weeks.

• Fetal Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fetal MRI)

  Fetal magnetic resonance imaging (also called a fetal MRI) uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of an unborn baby.

• Preparing to Adopt a Child

  Considering adoption? Here are some things to know about the health and medical care of an adopted child, before, during, and after the adoption.

• Parenting Multiples

  Parents of twins (or more!) can feel as if they've left the hospital and arrived home on a different planet. Here's how to cope.

• When Your Teen Is Having a Baby

  If your daughter is pregnant and planning to have the baby, many changes await your family. How can you support her through the challenges to come?

• When Can I Take My Newborn Out in Public?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Tropical Smoothie

  This recipe is especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but can be a nutritious part of almost anyone's diet.

• Yogurt Parfait

  This recipe is especially for pregnant and breastfeeding women, but it can be a nutritious part of almost anyone's diet.

• Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis) in Infants

  This harmless condition - the infant form of dandruff - causes rough, scaly patches on a baby's skin.

• Diaper Rash

  Diaper rash is a very common infection that can cause a baby's skin to become sore, red, scaly, and tender. In most cases, it clears up with simple changes in diapering.

• Oral Thrush

  Oral thrush, a very common infection in infants that causes irritation in and around the baby's mouth, often goes away on its own without medical treatment.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Cribs

  When you choose a crib, check it carefully to make sure that your baby's sleep space is safe. Here's how.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Gates

  Gates placed at the top of stairs or in doorways are used to keep toddlers away from hazardous areas of the home. Here's what to look for.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Playpens

  Playpens are popular because parents can put their baby in one knowing that their little one can't wander off. But they're no substitute for adult supervision.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products

  Choosing baby products can be confusing, but one consideration must never be compromised: your little one's safety.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Bathtubs

  Baby bathtubs give parents a safe way to wash a wet, slippery baby. Here's how to choose and use one.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Changing Tables

  Babies can get hurt if they fall off changing tables, so they should always be watched closely. Here's what else to know.

• Are Infant Walkers Safe?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Childproofing and Preventing Household Accidents

  You might think of babies and toddlers when you hear the words "babyproofing" or "childproofing," but unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in kids 14 and under.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Carriers

  Babies love and need close contact, and infant carriers are ideal for nestling them against their parents. Here's how to use one safely.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Infant Seats & Child Safety Seats

  Regular infant seats simply allow young babies to sit up. Never substitute any type of infant seat for a child safety seat (car seat).

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Strollers

  Strollers come in a variety of sizes and styles. When you're searching for that perfect stroller that's light and portable, keep safety in mind.

• Teething Tots

  Teething can be a tough time for babies and parents. Here are the facts on teething, including tips for baby teeth hygiene and relieving pain.

• Choosing Safe Baby Products: Toys

  All toys you select for your baby or toddler should meet safety standards. These tips can help you find safe toys for your little one.

• Growth Charts

  Doctors use growth charts to figure out whether kids' height and weight measurements are "normal" and whether they're developing on track. Here are some facts about growth charts.

• What to Do When Babies Cry

  During the first 3 months of life, babies cry more than at any other time. Here's how to soothe them.

• Is My Baby Ready for Shoes?

  Find out what the experts have to say.

• Omphalocele

  A baby born with an omphalocele has an opening where the umbilical cord goes into the belly. Some openings close on their own, but many need treatment, including surgery.

• Medical Care and Your 1- to 3-Month-Old

  You probably have lots of questions about your baby's health. When should you call the doctor, and what medical care should you expect for your baby at this age?

• Medical Care and Your 4- to 7-Month-Old

  Because your baby begins to show their personality during these months, your questions might focus on physical and social development.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Starting Solids and Milk

  Find answers to common inquiries about introducing solids and whole milk to formula-fed babies.

• Prenatal Test: First Trimester Screening

  The first trimester screening (or first trimester screen) includes a blood test and an ultrasound exam. It's done to see if a fetus is at risk for a chromosomal abnormality or birth defect.

• Are You in Labor?

  Here's how to tell the difference between true labor and false labor -- and when to get medical care.

• Your Newborn’s Hearing, Vision, and Other Senses

  Your newborn is taking in first sights, sounds, and smells while learning to explore the world through the senses. What are your baby's responses to light, noise, and touch?

• Nursing Positions

  If you're a new mom, breastfeeding your baby can feel like a challenge. Check out this article for information on common nursing positions, proper latching-on techniques, and how to know if your baby is getting enough to eat.

• Sleep and Your Newborn

  Newborn babies don’t yet have a sense of day and night. They wake often to eat – no matter what time it is.

• Fetal Lung Mass

  A fetal lung mass is an unusual lump that grows inside or next to an unborn baby’s lung. Some are treated before birth, while others are removed after the baby is born.

• Spina Bifida Occulta

  In spina bifida occulta, a baby is born with a gap in the spine's bones, but the spinal cord and its covering do not push through it.

• Myelomeningocele

  Myelomeningocele is a type of spina bifida in which a baby is born with a gap in the bones of the spine.

• Meningocele

  Some babies are born with a meningocele, which is a sac that pushes through the gap in the spine. With surgery to fix the problem, most babies with a meningocele live a healthy, normal life.

• Goldenhar Syndrome

  Goldenhar syndrome can cause incomplete development of bones in the face, affecting the ear, nose, soft palate, lip, and jaw. A cleft and craniofacial care team can help kids born with the condition.

• Craniosynostosis

  Craniosynostosis is when seams between bones in the skull close too soon. When this happens, the skull can’t expand grow as it should, and it develops an unusual shape.

• Orofacial Clefts

  A cleft is when tissues of the mouth or lip don't form properly when a baby is developing in the womb. The good news is that orofacial clefts are treatable.

• Cleft Palate With Cleft Lip

  A cleft palate with a cleft lip is when a baby's lip and palate (roof of mouth) don't form properly during pregnancy. Most kids with cleft lip and palate are treated successfully with no lasting problems.

• Cleft Lip

  A cleft lip is when a baby's lip doesn't form properly during pregnancy. Most kids can have surgery to repair one early in life.

• Cleft Palate

  A cleft palate is when a baby is born with a cleft (gap) in the roof of the mouth. Most kids can have surgery to repair them early in life.

• Ebstein Anomaly

  Ebstein anomaly is a rare heart defect that affects the tricuspid valve. It can cause problems that range from very mild to very serious.

• Fetal Echocardiogram

  A fetal echocardiogram (also called a fetal echo) uses sound waves to create pictures of an unborn baby's heart.

• Abusive Head Trauma (Shaken Baby Syndrome)

  Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of death in child abuse cases in the United States. It happens when someone shakes an infant.

• Treating Gastroschisis – Gastroschisis Silo (Video)

  Gastroschisis is when a baby is born with the intestines, and sometimes other organs, sticking out through a hole in the belly wall near the umbilical cord. A gastroschisis silo allow the intestines to slowly move into the belly.

• Umbilical Hernias

  An umbilical hernia shows up as a bump under the belly button. If a hernia doesn't go away by age 4 or 5 or causes problems, doctors may recommend surgery.

• Laryngomalacia

  Laryngomalacia is a common cause of noisy breathing in infants.

• Constipation

  Constipation is a very common problem among kids, and it usually occurs because a child's diet doesn't include enough fluids and fiber. In most cases, simple changes can help kids go.

• Fetal Abdominal Cyst

  A fetal abdominal cyst is a bubble of fluid in a balloon-like bag in the belly of an unborn baby.

• Intestinal Malrotation

  Malrotation is a type of obstruction caused by abnormal development of the intestines while a fetus is in the womb. Find out more about this condition and the complications it can cause.

• Maple Syrup Urine Disease

  Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is a rare metabolic disorder that some babies are born with.

• Phenylketonuria (PKU)

  Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a metabolic disorder caused by a defect in the enzyme that breaks down an amino acid. PKU is treatable when it is found early.

• Galactosemia

  Some babies are born with the metabolic disorder glactosemia. They must drink soy-based formula instead of breast milk or a cow's milk-based formula.

• Congenital Hypothyroidism

  Some babies are born with a thyroid gland that didn't develop correctly or doesn't work as it should. This is called congenital hypothyroidism.