AAP Answers Parents' Questions about Newborn Care

Parents' understanding of health issues, preventive health and nutrition, their prompt recognition of health concerns, and the examples they set through health habits are critically important in the health of their children. The AAP recognizes the value of educating and supporting parents' efforts to optimize the health of their children. The following is a list of parent education sheets produced in response to common questions. For more information for parents, visit the AAP Parenting Corner.

Newborn Care Topics

15 Top Questions » Allergies » Autism » Blood Problems » Bone & Skeletal Health » Child Abuse » Child Care » Child Development » Chronic Illness » Circumcision » Coping with Death and Dying » Diabetes » Emergencies » Families & Parenting » Health Care Needs » Healthy Home » Heart & Lung Health » High Blood Pressure » Hospital Care » Immunizations » Infectious Diseases » Intestinal Problems » Kidney & Urinary Issues » Learning Disabilities » Medications » Neurological Conditions » Nutrition » Pediatrician » Safety » School Issues » Skin Problems » Smoking » Surgery » Vision & Hearing » Well Child Care »

15 Top Questions

• I'm breastfeeding my baby. How can I tell if she's getting enough milk? Answer »
• Should I breastfeed my baby? Answer »
• My baby vomits a lot. Is this a sign of a problem? Answer »
• Should we have our son circumcised? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by one month of age? Answer »
• What's the best way to take a child's temperature? Answer »
• What is RSV and how can I protect my child from getting it? Answer »
• What is Whooping Cough? Answer »
• My baby was born premature. Will she have any health problems as a result? Answer »
• What can I expect when I bring my premature infant home? Answer »
• We just found out we're having twins! What do we do now? Answer »
• Should I go back to work after my baby is born? Answer »
• Why does my baby need to see the pediatrician so often? Answer »
• I know it's best to put my baby to sleep on his back, but what else can I do to prevent SIDS? Answer »
• What's the best way to get my child to go to sleep? Answer »
• Are blood transfusions safe for children? Answer »
• Why do newborns need hearing screening? Answer »

Allergies

• How do I know if my child has a food allergy? Answer »

Autism

• What are autism specturm disorders and what are the symptoms? Answer »
• How do I know if my baby has a language delay? Answer »

Blood Problems

• What is anemia and how can I tell if my child is anemic? Answer »

Bone & Skeletal Health

• Why does my pediatrician check my baby's hips at each check-up? Answer »

Child Abuse

• What do I do if I suspect a child is being abused? Answer »
• What do I need to know about child abuse? Answer »
• What can I do to prvent my child from being sexually abused? Answer »
• What are te signs of shaken baby syndrome? Answer »

Child Care

• What's the best way to choose the right child care center for my child? Answer »

Child Development

• How can I better understand my child's temperament? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by three months of age? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by seven months of age? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by twelve months of age? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by two years of age? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by three to four years of age? Answer »
• What are some of the developmental milestones my child should reach by four to five years of age? Answer »
• My baby is afraid of strangers and never wants to leave my side. Is this normal? Answer »
• What's the best way to get a child to stop sucking his thumb or using a pacifier? Answer »
• How can I help my child learn to read? Answer »
• What should I do when my child has a temper tantrum? Answer »
• My child is way past toilet training, but he sstill soils his underwear. what should I do? Answer »
• When is the right time to start toilet training? Answer »

Chronic Illness

• Our child has a chronic illness. How can we help her cope with this throughout her life? Answer »
• Taking care of our son's illness takes a lot of time and attention away from our other children.How do we make sure their needs are met as well? Answer »
• What is cystic fibrosis? Answer »
• What is Spina Bifida? Answer »

Circumcision

• Our son is not circumcised. When will hes foreskin retract? Answer »

Coping with Death and Dying

• We have had a death in the family. How do we help our children cope with this? Answer »

Diabetes

• What is diabetes mellitus? Answer »

Emergencies

• How do I know if my child needs emergency medical treatment? Answer »
• What do I do if my child is exposed to extreme temperatures? Answer »
• What should I do if my child has a head injury but does not lose consciousness? Answer »
• What do I do if my child has been poisoned? Answer »

Families & Parenting

• At what point should a family in crisis seek outside help? Answer »
• We seem to have a lot of arguments in our family. Is this normal? Answer »
• Is there any way to tell if my family is functioning normally? Answer »
• Is there such a thing as a "perfect" family? Answer »
• My wife and I are having a baby. As a new father, how can I feel more a part of this amazing experience? Answer »
• Is there such a thing as a "perfect" parent? Answer »
• How should we prepare our older children for their new baby brother or sister? Answer »
• What are some ways to avoid the stress of being a single parent? Answer »
• Is it OK for a child to grow up in a small family? Answer »
• My spouse and I both work. How will this affect our family? Answer »

Health Care Needs

• My child has special health care needs. What is the safest way for him to ride in a vehicle? Answer »

Healthy Home

• How can I protect my child from environmental hazards in our home? Answer »

Heart & Lung Health

• My child's heart seems to beat very fast. Does she have an irregular heartbeat? Answer »
• What is a heart murmur? Answer »
• My child has Bronchiolitis. How is that treated? Answer »
• What is sleep apnea and how do I know if my child has it? Answer »

High Blood Pressure

• Can children get high blood pressure? Answer »

Hospital Care

• What types of imaging tests are used for children? Answer »

Immunizations

• Why does my child need to be immunized? Answer »

Infectious Diseases

• How can I keep my child from getting the flu? Answer »
• What is Hepatitis B and how can I pretect my child from it? Answer »
• What is Hepatitis C and why should I be concerned about it? Answer »
• What do I need to know about HIV and AIDS? Answer »
• How do I know if my child has lice? Answer »

Intestinal Problems

• How do I know if my child is constipated? Answer »
• I think my child might be lactose intolerant. How can I tell? Answer »

Kidney & Urinary Issues

• Sometimes my child's urine looks reddish in color. Is that normal? Answer »

Learning Disabilities

• How do I know if my child has a learning disability? Answer »

Medications

• Common questions about antibiotics. Answer »
• What are corticosteroids? Answer »

Neurological Conditions

• What is the difference between a seizure and a convulsion and how are they treated? Answer »
• What is the outlook for children with mental retardation? Answer »

Nutrition

• I know calcium is good for me, but how much do I need? Answer »

Pediatrician

• Is it OK to call my child's pediatrician even if I'm not sure my child is sick? Answer »

Safety

• I was thinking about registering for a baby walker but a friend of mine told me that baby walkers aren't safe. Why? Answer »
• What can I do to keep my child from choking? Answer »
• What is the best way to keep my family safe from a home fire? Answer »
• How can I make sure my baby's bedroom is safe? Answer »
• How can I be sure I am buying toys that are safe for my child? Answer »
• What is the best way to keep m child safe around swimming pools? Answer »
• How can I keep my child safe from electric shock? Answer »

School Issues

• My child has a chronic health condition, what do I need to tell the school? Answer »

Skin Problems

• What can I do if my baby gets diaper rash? Answer »
• What is the best way to avoid infection after ear piercing? Answer »
• My child has red, dry, itchy patches on her skin. Could she have eczema? Answer »

Smoking

• How can secondhand smoke harm my child? Answer »
• A lot of my friends use chew because they think it's safer than cigarettes. Is it? Answer »
• What's the big deal about smoking? Lots of my friends do it. Answer »
• How does living with a smoker harm my children? Answer »

Surgery

• My child needs a procedure in which they will use anesthesia. What's the best way for all of us to prepare for this? Answer »

Vision & Hearing

• How do I know if my child has a vision problem? Answer »

Well Child Care

• There are so many insect repellents out there. What kind is best for my children? Answer »
• What's the best way to protect my child in the sun? Answer »
• Should my child be screened for lead? Answer »