Pre-school | Health

Upset Tummies Stomach aches and diaorrhea are a common occurrence in babies and young children. And though the complaints themselves are rarely serious, children who are being sick or have loose stools are particularly susceptible to dehydration. This is why parents need to be vigilant with any changes in their babies' stools and urine output.
Read How to deal with stomach upsets

Your baby has a fever, or he's breathing funny, or maybe he's just more fussy than usual. How do you know if it's something serious? Learn when you should call the doctor and what you can do in the meantime to help.
When should you call the doctor?

Chicken Pox Pointers You may find it odd when you hear mothers going out of their way to get their children to catch chicken pox - they even hold parties to spread the disease! But the fact is, getting this childhood illness out of the way early protects the person from a very unpleasant and much more serious illness as an adult. Chicken Pox poses a risk for very young babies, though, who can develop complications. But now that your little one is nearing his first birthday and socialising more in toddler groups. He is more likely to come in contact with chicken pox. If he does catch it try not to worry as most children cope well with the disease and it will provide him lifelong immunity, his body will cope well with the disease and provide him lifelong immunity. So don't worry if you come into contact with infected children.
Read Get the low-down on chicken pox

Ear Trouble Most babies and children will at some point suffer from ear infections. Very often these clear up on their own and may only cause a light fever and a little fractiousness. More persistent infections may require antibiotics, though doctors will avoid prescribing these to young babies wherever possible. If your little one is irritable, pulling at her ear and has a high fever, it may indicate an infection. Be aware that recurring middle ear infections can lead to a reduction in hearing, which in turn can affect language development - so get it checked out.
Read Signs of ear trouble

No More Needles? Well, not quite. But by his second birthday your child will have received most of his immunisations and won't be due another jab until his preschool year. If you're travelling abroad, however, you may have to have him vaccinated for other diseases not included in the usual boosters.
Read No more jabs! For now, anyway.

My daughter is 2 years old. Do I still need to use a special baby laundry detergent? I don't know at what age I can use normal washing powder without affecting her skin.
Read Do my 2-year-old's things need to be washed with baby laundry detergent?

Your child needs plenty of calcium for strong bones and teeth, especially during the first two years. For the top 10 calcium sources, plus tips on incorporating calcium into your toddler's diet, read on!
Is your child getting enough calcium?

My son has been diagnosed with sleep apnoea. Is this common at 28 months?
Read Is sleep apnea common for a 28-month-old?

Many common odours such as gum, mints, shampoo, toothpaste, medicines and certain soaps cause my 4-year-old son to begin coughing and sometimes to even vomit. Otherwise he is a normal, well-adjusted child. What could be causing this? Is it likely to be a psychological response or an allergic reaction? How should we treat it?
Read Many common odours make my 4-year-old cough -- could this be an allergic reaction?

My 3-year-old granddaughter makes herself throw up when she has finished eating and wants to get down from the table. This happens most of the time when eating out. Her parents have tried all types of punishments but none seem to work. Could this be a physical or emotional problem? Just before she throws up, she burps very loudly.
Read Why does my 3-year-old granddaughter throw up after eating?

My 2-year-old son has what is called a corneal dermoid. He goes to an eye specialist every six months for an eye examination and has his eyes dilated, etc. His doctor recommends having the dermoid removed before he gets old enough to be at school. The dermoid does bother his eye, and he rubs it from time to time. We had decided to go ahead and have it removed now while he is still young. The problem is my son will not sit still - he screams and kicks during the examination and the eye test. What can I do to help him get over this reaction? The eye test did not work out because he would not leave the electrodes in place.
Read How can I help my 2-year-old stay calm during an eye exam?

My son has a couple of sores on his tongue. I talked to his GP and he suggests Benadryl and Mylanta to coat the ulcers in his mouth. My son is 2 and he has had this before. My question is what are they, how are they caused and how can this be prevented?
Read My 2-year-old has a couple of sores on his tongue -- what are they?