Discusses radon, a tasteless and odorless cancer-causing gas. Covers how to prevent exposure to radon gas. Covers health risks. Discusses radon test kits and what results mean. Offers telephone and website contact info for EPA radon help.

Cognition is the ability to think, learn, and remember. It develops as your baby grows. Your baby is born with around 100 billion brain cells (neurons). These cells form connections with each other called synapses. These connections carry messages between the cells in the brain and from the brain to the body. During a...

What are infant formulas? Infant formula is a nutritional product. It's made from processed cow's milk or soybean products. Special processing makes cow's-milk formula more digestible and less likely to cause an allergic reaction than regular cow's milk. Vitamins and minerals are added to infant formula. Formula can be...

By age 3, most children benefit from some form of regular social contact, such as nursery school or play groups. Playing with other children even 1 day a week provides opportunities to practice and develop important social, emotional, and language skills. Children learn to share, cooperate, and negotiate as they...

What rashes and skin conditions are common in newborns? It's very common for newborns to have rashes or other skin conditions. Some of them have long names that are hard to say and sound scary. But most are harmless and will go away on their own in a few days or weeks. Here are some of the things you may notice about...

During his career, Bob couldn't find time for exercise. He worked hard and traveled a lot for his job. Fast-food meals were a way of life on the road, and he was overweight. At age 59, he had a heart attack. Then, 5 years later, he had quadruple bypass surgery. A few years after the surgery, he found out he had...

The exact cause of colic is not known. It is possible that some foods may affect breast milk and contribute to intestinal gas or other digestive problems. These problems may make crying episodes worse. Foods that often affect breast milk in this way include: Garlic, onions, cabbage, turnips, broccoli, and beans...

More of your health care takes place in your home than anywhere else. Having the right tools, medicines, supplies, and information on hand will improve the quality of your self-care. Store all your self-care tools and supplies in a central location, such as a large drawer in the bedroom or family room. It's a good idea...

Discusses normal growth and development of children ages 2 to 5. Covers physical growth, language skills, toilet training, and eating and sleeping habits. Also discusses how kids think and manage their feelings. Includes info on routine medical visits.

When you cuddle, talk to, and play with your baby, you build an emotional bond. You also help your baby learn. Here are some ways to encourage learning and cognitive development. Show your baby new and interesting things. For example: Show your baby things around your house, like pictures. Tell your baby what you're...

To build healthy self-esteem, all children need to feel that they can do at least one thing very well. Many times, though, a child's special talent is overlooked because it's not an area that is recognized at school or elsewhere. Parents can discover their children's special talents by providing varied experiences and...

A neural tube defect (NTD) is a birth defect that occurs when the spine, the brain, or the bone and skin that protect them do not develop properly. Neural tube defects can be found with prenatal tests, such as ultrasound and amniocentesis. The neural tube is the part of a developing fetus that grows into the spinal cord...

Division of responsibility is a way of feeding children that takes the battle out of meal times and helps children stay in touch with their internal hunger gauge. From birth until your child is between 6 months and 1 year old: You are responsible for what your child eats. Your child is responsible for how much and how...

Babies develop a strong emotional attachment to parents who consistently provide loving, interactive attention and comfort. This emotional bond is critical for your baby so that he or she has a strong foundation on which to build positive relationships in the future. You can help create and strengthen the emotional bond...

Try the following comfort measures if your baby is hospitalized. Stay with your child, or visit often. Hold or touch your child. This will help your child get well, and it will make you feel better. It will also help you be more comfortable caring for your child when it's time to return home. Talk to your child. Take...