Health Library

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• Your Child’s Weight

  "What's the right weight for my child?" is one of the most common questions parents have. It seems like a simple one, but it's not always easy to answer.

• Vegetarian Diets

  Vegetarian diets have become more popular, and many parents may wonder if kids can safely follow a vegetarian diet and still get all the nutrients necessary for growing up healthy and strong.

• Toddlers at the Table: Avoiding Power Struggles

  By offering choices, you can teach your toddler healthy eating habits and avoid power struggles about food.

• Tips for Feeding a Preschooler

  During the preschool years, kids are more willing to cooperate. So it's a great time to teach them about healthy food choices in new and exciting ways.

• Sports Supplements

  Sports supplements are products used to enhance athletic performance. But there aren't enough long-term studies to know if they're safe for teens.

• Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks

  When it comes to keeping your kid hydrated, there's a dizzying array of drinks to choose from. Are sports and energy drinks right for your child?

• Snacks for Toddlers

  Some toddlers may seem too busy exploring to slow down and eat. Others may be fickle about food or refuse to eat at mealtime. That's where healthy, well-timed snacks come in.

• Snacks for School-Age Kids

  Healthy snacks can help parents manage school-age kids' hunger and boost nutrition.

• Snacks

  If the right foods are offered at the right times, snacks can play an important role in managing kids' hunger and boosting nutrition.

• Iron

  Iron is an important ingredient needed to make hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying part of every red blood cell.

• Food Safety: Fruits & Vegetables

  Kids need daily servings of fruits and vegetables. Here's how to make sure the produce you buy and prepare is safe.

• Handling Picky Eating in Toddlers (Video)

  Make mealtimes more pleasant and less stressful for everyone by learning how to handle a picky eater.

• Healthy Eating

  Good nutrition and a balanced diet help kids grow up healthy. Here's how to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits.

• Healthy Food Shopping

  What you put in the grocery cart can affect your child's health and attitude toward nutritious food.

• How to Make a Healthy Snack

  Healthy snacks give your child the right balance of fiber and protein.

• Hunger and Your Preschooler

  Your preschooler eats lunch, then 20 minutes later claims to be hungry. Is a snack OK? Maybe yes, maybe no. Here's why.

• Keeping Portions Under Control

  Waistlines have been expanding over the last few decades. Part of the problem is what we eat, but another is quantity. Are our plates simply piled too high?

• Kids and Food: 10 Tips for Parents

  Here are 10 simple tips to help you raise kids who develop healthy eating habits!

• MyPlate Food Guide

  The USDA's food guide icon is designed to make meal planning easy. Here's how to get MyPlate onto your table.

• Nutrition Guide for Toddlers

  While growth slows somewhat during the toddler years, it's a new era where kids will eat and drink more independently.

• Reading Food Labels

  Find out how to make healthy food choices for your family by reading food labels.

• Fiber

  Many appetizing foods are also good sources of fiber - from fruits to whole-grain cereals. Here are ways to help kids get more fiber in their everyday diets.

• Feeding Your Family on a Tight Budget

  Everyone needs enough healthy food, but many people can't get it all the time. Here are programs that can help.

• Fats

  Some fats are good for kids and an important part of a healthy diet. Here's what parents should know.

• Cooking With Preschoolers

  It may take a little flexibility and prep work, but time in the kitchen with your preschooler can be a culinary adventure you'll both enjoy.

• Cooking With Kids

  Inviting kids into the kitchen to help you cook can be a great way to create quality together time and help your child learn some basic skills.

• Carbohydrates and Sugar

  Carbs are the body's most important and readily available source of energy. The key is to eat healthy ones, like whole grains, and avoid foods with added sugar.

• Calcium

  Milk and other calcium-rich foods help build strong, healthy bones. But most kids and teens don't get enough calcium. Here's how to make sure that yours do.

• Caffeine

  Caffeine is in many foods and drinks, but it's wise to keep caffeine consumption to a minimum, especially in younger kids. Here's why.

• A to Z: Vitamin D Deficiency

  Vitamin D deficiency is a condition that happens when a person isn't getting enough vitamin D, which is needed for strong bones and overall health.

• Snacks for Preschoolers

  Healthy and well-timed snacks can help fill in nutritional gaps for preschoolers. But how do you turn yours into a smart snacker?

• School Lunches

  Packing school lunches are a chance to steer kids toward good nutrition. Here are ideas for some fun and easy lunchbox options.

• Breakfast Basics

  Even if you eat a healthy morning meal every day, it can be tough to get kids fueled up. Here's how to make breakfast more appealing.

• After-School Snacks

  If your kids come in from school and head straight for the kitchen for something to eat, here's how to make sure they still have room for a healthy dinner.

• My Toddler Hates Vegetables. What Can I Do?

  Do your toddler's veggies end up on the floor or cold on the plate? Try these tips.

• Food Safety

  Food safety is important. Here's how to be sure your kitchen and the foods you prepare in it are safe.

• Halloween Candy Hints

  For health-conscious parents, Halloween can be tricky. Do you set limits? Do you let kids decide how much to eat? There isn't just one right answer.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Starting Solids and Milk

  Find answers to common inquiries about introducing solids and whole milk to formula-fed babies.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns

  Read about how to manage common formula-feeding concerns, from spitting up and fussiness to gas and milk allergies.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Preparation and Storage

  Check out these formula-feeding bottle basics, from how to mix bottles to how to store them safely.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: How Much and How Often

  Get answers to some common formula-feeding inquiries, from how much newborns eat to what their diapers might look like.

• Formula Feeding FAQs: Getting Started

  Shopping for formula-feeding supplies can be daunting. Here are answers to some common questions about formula feeding.

• Finger Foods for Babies

  When they're around 9 months old, babies can begin feeding themselves. Find out which foods are safe, healthy options and which should not be served to little ones.

• Eating During Pregnancy

  To eat well during pregnancy, your extra calories should come from nutritious foods that contribute to your baby's growth and development.

• Feeding Your 8- to 12-Month-Old

  At this age, babies start to explore table foods.

• Feeding Your Newborn

  These guidelines on breastfeeding and bottle feeding can help you know what's right for you and your baby.

• Feeding Your 4- to 7-Month-Old

  Is your baby is ready for solid foods? Learn how and when to get started.

• Feeding Your 1- to 3-Month-Old

  Whether you've chosen to breastfeed or bottle-feed your baby, your infant will let you know when it's time to eat.

• Feeding Your 1- to 2-Year-Old

  Toddlers have little tummies, so serve foods that are packed with the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong, and limit the sweets and empty calories.

• Breastfeeding vs. Formula Feeding

  Making a decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal one. There are some points to consider to help you decide which option is best for you and your baby.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Your Eating and Drinking Habits

  Here are answers to some common questions about what breastfeeding moms should and shouldn't eat and drink.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Supply and Demand

  Here are answers to some common questions about your milk supply - from having too much to having too little.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Some Common Concerns

  Here are answers to some questions about common breastfeeding concerns - from biting to spitting up.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and Supplementing

  Here are answers to some common supplemental feeding questions - from when to introduce solids to offering breastfed babies formula.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Safely Storing Breast Milk

  Here are answers to some common questions about how to keep breast milk and how to clean and sterilize supplies, from bottles to nipples to breast pump parts.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Pumping

  Here are answers to some common questions about pumping your breast milk - from buying a pump to making the process a little easier.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Pain and Discomfort

  Here are answers to some common questions about preventing and reducing breastfeeding discomfort, such as nipple and breast pain.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Out and About

  Here are answers to some common questions about going out in public as a breastfeeding mom - from how to do it discreetly to taming sneaky leaks.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: How Much and How Often

  Here's info about how often to breastfeed your baby, how long it takes to nurse, and much more.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Sleep – Yours and Your Baby’s

  Here are answers to some common questions about breastfed babies and sleep - from where they should snooze to when they'll finally start sleeping through the night.

• Breastfeeding FAQs: Getting Started

  Here are answers to common questions about getting started with breastfeeding.

• 3 Ways to Build Strong Bones

  We build almost all our bone density when we're kids and teens. Kids with strong bones have a better chance of avoiding bone weakness later in life. Here's how parents can help.