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kidshealth library

health & safety topics

Your child's health and safety is our top priority. Please search our resource library for information on health, nutrition, fitness, injury prevention and other important topics.

Your Kid's Body

Birthmarks

Birthmarks that babies are born with, or develop soon after birth, are mostly harmless and many even go away on their own, but sometimes they're associated with certain health problems.

Body Basics: The Heart (Slideshow)

Learn how this amazing muscle pumps blood throughout the body.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

Doctors use body mass index (BMI) measurements to assess a child's physical growth in relation to other kids the same age. Here's how to calculate BMI and understand what the numbers mean.

Cholesterol

Most parents probably don't think about what cholesterol means for their kids. But high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease, which has its roots in childhood.

Common Questions About Vaccines

Vaccines protect kids from potentially deadly diseases. Learn about what they are, how they work, and what they do.

Fever (High Temperature) In Kids

Fevers happen when the body's internal "thermostat" raises the body temperature above normal. This is often the body's way of fighting infections.

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.

Growth Plates

Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth, usually near the ends of long bones. A growth plate is weaker than solid bone. This makes it more likely to get injured.

Hemangiomas: Suzanne's Story

When Anna was born, she developed red spots that her parents learned were hemangiomas, benign birthmarks that she eventually outgrew. Her mother tells her story.

How to Handle Nausea

Nausea or feeling sick to the stomach often happens before kids throw up (vomit). It's rarely serious. Learn how to treat nausea in children.