Most babies survive their vaccinations with just a few tears and a day of irritability. In rare cases, infection at the vaccination site can occur. Anytime you have a break in the skin, bacteria could enter. What looks like an infection could...
Soon after birth and throughout the first year, an infant receives numerous vaccinations. Most of these have minimal side effects but the most common are similar to the flu. The benefit of the vaccines are said to outweigh the risk of such side...
The DTaP is a vaccination used for the prevention of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend six shots between the ages of birth and age 12, and one during adulthood. The first DTaP shot is...
Taking your baby to the pediatrician for a round of shots is not easy, but it is essential in protecting him from preventable--and potentially life-threatening--diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies receive their...
When your baby has a boo-boo on the knee, kissing it better is often the most effective treatment. Even when your baby's knees appear red and swollen, odds are that the underlying cause is nothing that basic first aid can't handle. However, if...
Many premature babies come into the world with lungs not yet ready for the challenges of breathing. Fetal lungs don't fully mature until around 36 weeks of pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association, so preemies often need...
Bringing home your new baby can be overwhelming as well as exciting. In time, caring for your child will be second nature. The first few months, however, are often full of questions. Don't hesitate to call your baby's pediatrician or more...
In the United States, children receive vaccinations for a host of diseases. These include polio, chicken pox, hepatitis B, tetanus, hepatitis, rubella, mumps, measles, pneumococcus, haemophilus influenza, diphtheria, pertussis and yearly flu...
New parents are often surprised by the number of vaccines their pediatricians recommend during their baby's first year of life. Most infants will receive multiple injections at each routine visit to the doctor, and it can be overwhelming to keep...
According to the Centers for Disease Control, your baby will most likely receive six shots between birth and 6 months of age, and a regular series of shots as they age. While the pain of shots is minor and temporary, it can be confusing and scary...
Vaccinations are a front-line defense against diseases that at one point in time were commonplace. Today, many of the illnesses that we currently vaccinate against are rarely seen. The schedule of vaccinations depends on your baby's age. Within...
Newborns have temporary protection against many diseases due to the antibodies that have passed to them from their mothers. Breastfed infants get even more of those benefits from their mother's milk, according to The March of Dimes. However, your...
There are many ways to protect your 1-year-old from injury and harm. One is to get your child vaccinated. Vaccination not only protects children from illness and disease, it also boosts their immune system. This protects the general public, as...
Infants -- babies younger than 1 year of age -- require special care to help maintain health. This includes paying attention to their nutrients and helping to ensure that they are as protected as possible from the common diseases of childhood or...
The flu, or influenza, can have devastating effects on children. Most of the deaths attributed to the H1N1 virus were in children and in adults with chronic health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), around 20,000...
Hepatitis B can be especially dangerous for infants and newborns. It is a disease transmitted by blood or body fluids that may be passed from mother to fetus through the umbilical cord or vaginal secretions during birth. Hepatitis causes injury...
The flu shot is a vaccine given to help prevent infection with the influenza virus. Influenza is spread easily through person-to-person contact. The influenza vaccine is recommended at the beginning of or during flu season, which runs from...
Your baby grows and changes every day, which is why it's important to track that growth so you can see the development that your baby has undergone. As your baby changes and becomes a toddler, a preschooler and finally a school-aged child, you can...
Getting the flu during pregnancy can pose threats to your unborn child, largely due to increased risk of miscarriage, premature labor and other pregnancy complications. Because a pregnant woman has reduced immunity, the flu presents greater direct...
For the 2009-2010 flu season, the Food and Drug Administration approved two vaccines, Fluria and Fluzone, for administration in infants six months and older. No vaccine is approved for administration in infants younger than six months. As with...
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a routine vaccination schedule for all infants born in the United States. These vaccinations help to protect your baby against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis, chicken pox and hepatitis,...
Babies tend to get ear infections more frequently than adults, but it can be difficult for parents to recognize and treat the problem. In general, ear infections affect the middle ear and are also known by their scientific name otitis media. In...
The flu shot delivers influenza vaccine in an injection, providing protection against seasonal influenza. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, babies age 6 months and older are recommended to receive the...
Your baby's doctor likely wants to give her a series of vaccinations during the first year of life and beyond, but you may have heard conflicting reports on whether it's necessary, or even safe. There are a variety of side effects that can occur...
A normal temperature in a child is approximately 98.6, but it may vary by a degree or more. Usually your child's temperature will be slightly lower in the morning and slightly higher in the afternoon. A temperature above 100.5 indicates a fever....
During the first six months of a baby's life, she may be poked with over 20 needles full of microorganisms that her body must fight off. While most pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend vaccinations for infants, the topic...
We all have a colony of good bacteria in our intestines and stomachs known as gut flora. They help boost our immune systems and maintain the balance between the good and bad bacteria, an imbalance that can cause diarrhea. Children are...
You may want to pierce your baby's ears because of a cultural practice or personal preference. Fortunately, you can pierce your baby's ears at any age for cosmetic reasons if you chose to. Be aware of the risks, safety precautions and piercing...
Babies and children under 3 years of age are more prone to ear infections, also known as the disorder otitis media, than older children or adults. In fact, three out of four babies will develop an ear infection before they reach 3 years old. The...
Rubella, or German measles, is an often benign outbreak of little red bumps that usually pass in one to five days. Learn more in this health video.
