The physical abuse of children is a crime in all 50 states. Teachers, physicians, and other professionals who work with children are legally obligated to report suspected cases of abuse to the proper authority.

A child's nightmare is a scary dream, followed by complete or partial awakening. It usually occurs late in the night or very early in the morning. Sometimes it may be triggered by a scary story or by violence on television or in a movie, so be sure to screen T-V programs and don't allow a child to watch T-V or videos right before bed.

One out of two marriages in the U-S ends in divorce. Children sometimes will blame themselves for the divorce and feel they're not worthy of love, or they may fear that the parent who leaves won't be their parent any more.

Childhood and adolescence can be stressful times, especially when children experience upsetting situations such as divorce or cross-country moves. If your child seems very passive or withdrawn, perpetually sad, or highly demanding and unsatisfied most of the time, these could be signs of depression.

One of the most important skills you can teach your child is communication. The lessons begin when your infant is looking at you and listening to your voice.

Whether you're a stay-at-home parent or not, you need time to run errands, take a night off, or take a brief trip every once in a while. You'll need to find the best caregiver possible when you turn the child over to the care of another person.

If you've chosen an in-home caregiver who spends several days a week with your child, or even if you only need an occasional babysitter, it's a good idea to build a list of trustworthy backups.

No two pediatricians are exactly the same. Different pediatricians have different approaches, so you may want to interview several before selecting the one who best suits your family's particular preferences and needs.

After the birth of your child, your pediatrician or family physician will ask you to follow a specific routine of well-baby visits, which include immunizations, to protect against 10 major diseases.

There have been theories on how to parent as long as there have been parents and children. Good parents are made, not born, so you shouldn't feel that being a parent is something you should automatically know how to do well.

Some children these days are 'latchkey' (LATCH-kee) children. Their parents work outside the home, so they must spend all or part of the day unsupervised.

There are many nonprescription medications available for treating children's illnesses. These range from ear and eye preparations, analgesics (ann-uhl-JEE-ziks), medicines for the common cold, agents for common gastrointestinal (gas-tro-in-TESS-tuh-nul) problems, and skin preparations.

You may think the expression 'sleeps like a baby' is a compliment--until you've experienced firsthand a baby's sleep patterns. A newborn sleeps anywhere from 12 to 18 hours a day, but spread throughout the day and night.

Dietary habits are set in childhood and tend to persist throughout life. From birth, parents control what children consume, starting with the choice of bottle or breast.

Between the ages of 12 and 21, children undergo rapid and intense physical, psychological, and social changes. Consequences of adolescent sexuality, including pregnancies and disease, teen homicides, suicides, and substance abuse are at an all-time high.

Teething can be a varied experience, depending on the child. The first tooth usually arrives when the child is around seven months old, although it can appear as early as three months or as late as 12 months.

Children usually begin to toilet train around two years old, but earlier or later is also normal. You should let the child tell you when he's ready. Studies show that pushing children too early, especially before 18 months, may actually prolong the process.