Infants

Be careful about exposure of infants to cold viruses, especially when they first arrive home.  Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus are two organisms that cause respiratory illness in adults.  They can also cause bronchiolitis, a severe wheezing illness in very young children, and croup, a barking cough illness in toddlers.  Remember to wash hands frequently and avoid people with respiratory illnesses.

Toddlers

Young children are wonderfully curious but they can be unaware of safety dangers.  "Child proof" means that it takes a toddler at least 60 seconds to open a container.  That's not very long!  Two adult medications that, if ingested, can kill a child quickly are blood pressure pills and diabetic pills.  If anyone in the house or visitors have these medications, they should be kept locked away, not in pocketbooks or bathrooms.

"Tweens" 9-12 Year Olds

Although it is important to give older children some independence, parents must remain interested and aware of the social and school pressures that children experience.  Wanting "cool" clothing and adopting styles are just ways of trying to express individuality.  Keep lines of communication open and do not back off if children demand privacy about their activities.  Always know where they are and what they are doing.  An aware parent is one of the best safeguards against risky behavior in this age group.