Child & Teen Health

Should your children take medication for a cold? Are some popular children’s sports more dangerous than you think? Are children reaching puberty earlier than ever before, and if so, why? Why is breastfeeding important? If my children have no health insurance, might I be able to get low-cost insurance for them? The National Center for Health Research makes this information available and understandable.

Keeping your child safe and healthy partly depends on keeping them away from harmful habits and behaviors, including smoking, alcohol, violence, and sexual activities that can harm them.

We scrutinize the latest research and cut through the hype. We keep information from studies and reports up on our website as long as they are accurate and useful. Sometimes the best studies are a few years old.

To find the information you need, please use our search box to search for exactly what you are looking for or browse through our various topics on the right. →

For information about how to help your children so that they won’t get cancer as adults, visit our Cancer Prevention & Treatment site.

If you don’t see what you are looking for on any health topic, please contact us and we will try to get the information you need within a few days.

Bullying: How to Prevent it and Help Children Who are Victims

What exactly is bullying, how is it linked to violence, and what can you do to prevent bullying and its harmful impact on children you care about?

Are Codeine Medications Too Risky for You or Your Children?

Codeine is one of the most widely prescribed medications for pain and for coughs in children and adults. In recent years, serious concerns have been raised about its safety in children. Since the safety and effectiveness of codeine is unpredictable in children, even when prescribed correctly, experts believe codeine should never be given to children.

Breastfeeding: The Finest Food for Your Infant Isn’t Sold in Any Store

Evidence has been mounting about the health advantages of breastfeeding for both mother and child. From a reduced risk of obesity to an increased resistance to disease, study after study shows that when possible breast milk is the ideal food for your newborn child. Is this the right option for you?

Children and Cell Phones: Is Phone Radiation Risky for Kids?

Children use cell phones to watch TV, play games, make phone calls, and send text messages. But are there risks to such frequent use by children, and if so is that different than the risks for adults?

Go Nuts for a Healthy Heart

Make a heart-friendly choice by choosing to eat more nuts. There is clear scientific evidence that eating a diet rich in nuts and legumes — which includes beans, peanuts, lentils, almonds, walnuts and cashews — has wide ranging health benefits.