What is child abuse and neglect? Child abuse means doing something that hurts a child. Neglect means not giving or doing something that a child needs. There are different types of abuse and neglect. Physical abuse. This includes hitting, kicking, shaking, pinching, and burning. It may leave bruises, cuts, or other marks...
If you want to save this information but don't think it is safe to take it home, see if a trusted friend can keep it for you. Plan ahead. Know who you can call for help, and memorize the phone number. Be careful online too. Your online activity may be seen by others. Do not use your personal computer or device to read...
Infant and child car safety seats save lives. A child who is not in a car seat can be badly injured or killed during a crash or an abrupt stop. This can happen even at low speeds. A parent's arms are not strong enough to hold and protect a baby during a crash. Many children who are not restrained die because they are...
Learn how to do child CPR—just in case.
Environmental Illness Health and Safety, Ages 2 to 5 Years Health and Safety, Birth to 2 Years Healthy Habits for Kids
Many drowning and nonfatal drowning accidents occur in the bathtub and can be prevented by following these recommendations. Never leave a baby alone in the bathtub, even for a moment. Always keep the baby within arm's reach. Never leave children in charge of watching their younger siblings while bathing, even if they...
If you are biking with a baby or young child, the following suggestions can help you minimize the risk of injury: Don't put your child in a bike seat before they are ready. Children younger than 1 year should not ride in any type of seat mounted on your bicycle. Before sitting in a rear-mounted seat, your child must sit...
Most childhood drownings occur in swimming pools. When you go to public or private pools, make sure that your children are supervised closely. And make sure that they are familiar with pool safety rules. Hot tubs and spas often are an overlooked drowning danger for children. A child can fall into the water and drown...
Preventing household fires is one way to prevent injury or death from burns. Keep your family safe by following these safety tips. Teach children that only grown-ups use fire. Keep lighters and matches out of children's reach. Use at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home. Be sure to put an alarm outside...
The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages parents to avoid keeping guns and firearms in the home or car. If this isn't possible, guns and firearms should be kept away from children. Small children, even some 1-year-olds, are able to pull the trigger on a gun. And older children or adults can mishandle guns or...
Keep pets in good health All pets, whether they are kept indoors or outside, should be in good health, show no signs of disease, and be friendly toward children. These tips can help protect both your pet and your child from getting sick or hurt. Immunize cats and dogs. Use flea-, tick-, and worm-control programs. Keep...
Burns can happen in any home. Heat, electricity, contact with hard or rough surfaces (friction), and some common household chemicals can all cause burns. You can help protect your child by being aware of these hazards and keeping your child away from them. Heat burns Heat burns, also called thermal burns, are caused by...
Many parents worry about their child being abducted. You can teach your child how to reduce the risk of being abducted. Even young children can learn how to react in certain situations. Here are some tips you can teach your child. Stay away from strangers. Explain what makes a person a stranger. Note that even someone...
Briefly discusses drowning hazards and teaching swimming safety. Offers tips on keeping children safe around indoor water sources, including water in bathtubs, toilets, and containers, and outdoor water hazards like pools, ditches, and wells.
Protecting your baby Each new learning stage for your baby requires you to pay more attention to prevent an injury. It may surprise you how fast your baby can move from one stage to the next. Being aware of what your baby can do and what skills your baby is likely to learn next will help you prevent injuries. Be aware...
It takes a lot of repetition to teach young children about the dangers of streets, cars, and other vehicles. Motor vehicles can cause severe injury and death. That's why it's so important that you be firm about enforcing these rules. You can help prevent an accident or injury by following these safety tips. Don't allow...
Strollers Taking your child out of the house allows your child to have new experiences and interactions. You may start using a stroller as soon as your baby is born and can keep using one well into early childhood. Take some general precautions to avoid injuring your child. Never leave your child unattended in a...
Washing and disinfecting toys and surfaces helps reduce the spread of germs, especially in child care settings or other areas where many children are together. Store dirty toys in a bin that is out of your child's reach. When a toy gets dirty, such as after a child has played with it and put it in their mouth, put it in...
When a doctor asks questions about your child's eating and activity habits, the information helps identify patterns that may lead to extra weight. Nutrition history You may be asked: To describe your family's meals and snacks during a typical day. What your child eats at school. Who is responsible for meals. Is it the...
Doctors sometimes use the terms "overweight" or "at risk of overweight" to refer to children who weigh more than what is healthy for their height. Doctors use the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts or the body mass index (BMI) to measure a child's weight compared to their height. If you are...
The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food, absorbing nutrients from the food, and ridding the body of waste products from the food. The digestive system consists of the: Upper digestive tract, which includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. Lower digestive tract...
The esophagus is the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. The muscles in the esophagus contract to move food and liquid from the mouth through the throat and down to the stomach.
Afterpains are sharp pains in the belly that occur in the first few days after childbirth. They may cause some discomfort. But afterpains help reduce uterine bleeding. They also help shrink the uterus back to the size it was before you were pregnant. You are most likely to notice these pains when you breastfeed...
Afterpains are sharp pains in the belly that occur in the first few days after childbirth. Although they may hurt, afterpains help reduce uterine bleeding. They also help shrink the uterus back to the size it was before you were pregnant. You are most likely to notice these pains when you breastfeed. Breastfeeding...
A childbirth education class can teach you and your partner a lot. This is especially true if it's your first pregnancy. If a friend is going to be your labor coach, they can come too. A good time to start the class is in your sixth or seventh month of pregnancy. Most childbirth education classes will: Give you good...
Learn about pain relief options for childbirth, including medical and nonmedical options.
Learn about pain relief options for childbirth, including medical and nonmedical options.
Intravenous (I.V.) medicines may be used in childbirth to help with pain during labor. They also may help you relax. They include opioids and other medicines. You may get one or more medicines through an I.V. How are these medicines given? A nurse will insert a small tube into a vein in your arm (intravenously, or...
A cesarean section is the delivery of a baby through a cut (incision) in the mother's belly and uterus. It's often called a C-section. Sometimes a C-section is needed for the safety of the mother or baby. In most cases, doctors do a C-section because of problems during labor. For example: Labor is slow and hard or stops...
Laboring in water Some hospitals and birthing centers offer tubs or whirlpools for labor. If yours does, talk to your doctor or midwife about laboring in water. The warm water supports your body and can help you to relax. Laboring in water also may reduce the chance that you'll use an epidural for pain management...
