What color should I paint the nursery? We think a pastel grey and yellow is very noncommittal.

What is a fever? A fever is an elevated body temperature. Fever is not an illness but can be a sign of illness. Physical activity, strong emotions, eating, heavy clothing, medications and high outside temperature can raise a person’s body temperature. This is especially true in children. Infections are probably the most common cause of fever. Most bacteria and viruses that cause infections in people thrive best at a temperature around 98.6 degrees. Raising the temperature a few degrees can give your body the winning edge. In addition, a fever activates the body's immune system to make more white blood cells, antibodies and other infection-fighting agents.

What rectal temperature is considered a fever? A rectal temperature higher than 100.4º F is considered a fever.

What under-arm temperature is considered a fever? An under-arm temperature higher than 99º F is considered a fever.

How high does a fever have to go before it can hurt you? Many parents are afraid that fevers will cause brain damage. Usually, if the fever is below 107.6° F, no damage will occur. Untreated fevers seldom go over 105° F unless the child is over-bundled or trapped in a hot place (such as a car). The brain's thermostat will stop the fever from climbing above 106° F.

Is 98.6° a normal temperature? A group of adults were studied by taking their temperatures over a period of time when they were all healthy. Their normal body temperatures ranged from 96º F to 100.8º F. Only eight percent of the group had a “normal” temperature of 98.6º F. Their temperatures varied, depending on what time of day they were taken, with body temperature usually being highest in the evening. The temperatures varied by 1.8º F over the course of 24 hours.

When can my child go back to daycare after having a fever? After the child has been fever free for 24 hours.

What’s an allergen? An allergen is something that causes an allergic reaction. Allergens are substances that, in some people, are recognized as “foreign” by the immune system. Allergens can cause an allergic reaction in susceptible people.

Common allergens include:

• Chemicals
• Plants
• Drugs (such as antibiotics)
• Foods (milk, wheat, nuts, fish)
• Infectious agents (bacteria and viruses)
• Inhalants (dust, pollen, perfumes, smoke)
• Physical agents (heat, light, friction, radiation)

What’s anemia? Anemia is one of the most common blood disorders. It occurs when the number of healthy red blood cells in the body becomes too low. This can cause problems because red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen to the rest of the body. Many things can cause anemia but the majority of cases are caused by:

• Loss of blood
• Destruction of red blood cells
• Too few red blood cells being produced

What’s hemoglobin and what does it do? Hemoglobin is a protein that resides in red blood cells. It grabs oxygen from the lungs and carries it to the rest of body. It also collects carbon dioxide from body tissues and returns it to the lungs to be exhaled. Hemoglobin provides the red color to the blood.

When should my child be toilet trained? The simple answer is when you are ready and your child is ready. Your child is ready when he or she can tell you that his or her diaper is wet or soiled. This usually occurs after children turn two years old. Most children are trained by the time they are three years old.

When should my child be dry at night? The inability to hold urine is called enuresis. When this occurs only at nighttime, it is termed nocturnal enuresis. This is a problem of communication between the body and the brain. When the bladder is full and begins to contract to rid itself of urine, the nerves from the brain do not inhibit this action. It is usually a problem of maturation and improves with time. This problem tends to be seen more frequently in boys. About seven million children have some degree of bedwetting and one to two percent of teenagers still wet the bed.

What is a body mass index (BMI)? BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It takes your height and your weight and roughly calculates the percent of your total weight that comes from fat. It is used as a screening tool for weight problems.

What is bruxism? Bruxism is grinding or clenching of the teeth. In its extreme form, it can cause jaw pain, headaches and tooth damage.

Is it normal for my child to grind his teeth? Almost everyone will experience bruxism at some point in their lives. Statistically speaking, three out of every ten kids will have this diagnosis. The highest incidence seems to be in children under five. In most cases, bruxism is mild and may not even require treatment.

What is costochondritis? Costochodritis is an inflammation of the rib joints where the ribs attach to the breastbone (sternum). It is most common in young adults, with a peak age of 12 to 14 years. It accounts for 10 to 30 percent of all chest pain in children, and can last for months. Yearly, doctors evaluate about 650,000 cases of chest pain in this age group.

My daughter has dark circles under her eyes, is this bad? Dermatologists have many theories about why people have dark circles under their eyes. One is that the skin in that area tends to be thin, allowing the dark blood vessels beneath the skin to become more visible. Another theory is that with allergies or with illness or with lack of sleep the fat pads under the lids become a little puffier, creating shadows that look dark.

What is Down syndrome? Down Syndrome is a condition where there is an imbalance in the genetic material contained in a child’s chromosomes. This imbalance can cause a delay in the way a child develops. It can cause other changes and problems, including:

• Distinctive appearance (flatness of the face, slanted eyes, small ears, a single crease on the palms)
• Low muscle tone
• Short size
• Congenital heart disease
• Vision and hearing problems
• Thyroid problems
• Gastrointestinal obstruction

What is dehydration?Dehydration happens when a person loses more fluid than they are taking in. You probably learned in school that your body is about two-thirds water. When a person becomes dehydrated, the proportion of water in their body drops below the two-thirds mark.

The younger you are, the more serious dehydration can be. The most common cause of dehydration is the “stomach flu” (gastroenteritis). You can also get dehydrated by playing sports, dieting or from certain medications. Signs of dehydration include:

• Lightheadedness.
• Dry mouth
• Decrease urination
• Doughy skin

The best way to avoid dehydration is to drink more fluids. Sometimes, especially in young children, fluids will need to be replaced intravenously at the hospital.

What are electrolytes? Electrolytes are salts. In our bodies we have electrolytes like sodium, potassium, chloride and calcium. Our cells use electrolytes to carry electric impulses across their cell walls. They are essential for a finely tuned body.

What is Fetal Alcohol Syndrome? Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is a condition characterized by abnormal facial features, growth delay and central nervous system problems. It occurs when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. Children with FAS may have physical disabilities and problems with learning, memory, problem solving, socialization, behavior and attention span. Common features are:

• Growth deficiency
• Facial abnormalities (small eye openings, flat nasal bridge and an absent groove between the upper lip and nose)
• Skeletal deformities (deformed ribs and hip dislocations)
• Organ deformities (heart defects)
• Central nervous system problems (small brain, mental retardation, learning disabilities and hyperactivity)

When a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, so does her unborn baby. There is no known safe amount of alcohol to drink while pregnant and there also does not appear to be a safe time to drink during pregnancy either. Therefore, it is recommended that women abstain from drinking alcohol at any time during pregnancy.

Is fluoride good for you? Yes it is. It helps build strong, decay resistant enamel on the teeth. Getting fluoride through water or supplements is the best way to prevent tooth decay. However, drinking fluoride in amounts greater than those found in tap water is not advised; that can make you very ill.

Why do you check hemoglobin? We check hemoglobin levels to check for anemia. Anemia occurs when the number of red blood cells in your body is too low. Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying part of blood. If your hemoglobin is low, your ability to deliver oxygen to your body is impaired. This can cause fatigue and can physically stress your body.

What is anemia? Anemia is a condition in which a person possesses too few red blood cells.

What is iron-deficiency anemia? Iron-deficiency anemia is a type of anemia caused by not taking in enough iron in the diet (the most common cause of anemia). Iron is needed for our bodies to produce red blood cells.

What are hiccups? Hiccups are an involuntary spasm caused by an irritated diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle attached to the bottom part of the lungs that stretches the lungs downward and aids them in opening when you take a breath. The medical term for hiccups is singultus. If hiccups last longer than 48 hours, they are considered persistent. Hiccups lasting longer than one month are termed intractable. The longest recorded attack is six decades.

My baby has something idiopathic? Is that bad? Idiopathic means either something originating within the body (such as an autoimmune cause) or of an unknown origin. It does not necessarily mean it is bad.

What is a lumbar puncture? A lumbar puncture is a sterile procedure during which a needle is inserted into the spine and spinal fluid is removed. It helps to diagnose illnesses.

What is macrosomia? Macrosomia is excessive birth weight. In a full term baby this is generally greater than ten pounds.

What is microsomia? Microsomia refers to a newborn with a small birth weight. In a full term baby this is generally less than 5 pounds.

What is Marfan Syndrome? Marfan syndrome is an inheritable condition that affects the tissue of the body that holds the body together and provides a framework for growth and development (connective tissue). In Marfan syndrome, the connective tissue is defective and does not act as it should. Because connective tissue is everywhere in the body, Marfan syndrome can affect many body systems, including the bones, eyes, heart, blood vessels, nervous system, skin and lungs. Marfan syndrome affects men, women and children, and has been found among people of all races and ethnic backgrounds. It is estimated that at least 1 in 5,000 people in the United States have this disorder.

What are nightmares? Nightmares are fearful dreams. Most children have them. One out of every four children has nightmares more than once a week. They happen very late in the sleep period (usually between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.). Nightmares occur most often during Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep. REM sleep time increases in length as the night goes on. Since there is more REM sleep during the later hours of sleep, there is more dreaming also. Your child may be able to tell you what happened in the dream and why it was scary. Your child may have trouble going back to sleep.

What are night terrors? Children having night terrors will often wake up screaming and be inconsolable. They may be sweating and breathing fast. Their pupils may look larger than normal. Children having night terrors may still be asleep, with open eyes. They will be confused and might not seem attentive when you ask what's wrong. They may be difficult to wake. When they do wake, they usually won't remember what happened.

What are normal sleep requirements for children?