With the rise in childhood obesity and more and more kids spending too much time inside playing video games and watching TV, most parents love when the weather gets better and their kids can go outside to play. Unfortunately, in addition to the sun and bugs, poison ivy can be a big problem for kids playing outside.

Learn how to help your kids recognize and avoid poison ivy and treat this itchy rash if they get exposed.

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Poison Ivy Pictures
Poison Ivy Quiz
Poison Ivy Symptoms
Poison Ivy Myths and Facts

The American Academy of Pediatrics published an updated clinical report in 2008 to make sure kids were getting enough vitamin D and help prevent rickets, a bone disease. That statement recommended that all breastfeeding babies get a supplement with 400 IU/day of vitamin D. In addition, formula fed babies would also need a vitamin D supplement if they weren't drinking at least 1 liter (about 33 ounces) of formula a day.

A recent article published in the journal Pediatrics, "Adherence to Vitamin D Recommendations Among US Infants," now shows that most infants are still not getting enough vitamin D.

If your baby is breastfeeding, not drinking at least 1L a day of baby formula, or if you have an older child or teen that doesn't drink enough milk and other foods with vitamin D, then remember that he is supposed to get a vitamin D supplement each day.

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Baby Vitamins
Vitamin D Supplements
Milk
Calcium Rich Foods

The first day of spring is a great time to do some spring cleaning in and around your home.

In addition to your regular spring cleaning chores, consider adding some that will make your home a little safer for your kids, such as cleaning out your medicine cabinet, checking for product recalls, and looking for broken toys, etc.

Related:
Spring Cleaning and Child Safety
Medicine Cabinet Clean Out
Child Proof Your Home
Recent Recalls and Alerts

Even as we begin to move out of cold and flu season, many kids will continue to have a runny nose, as they now move into their spring allergy season.

With the first day of spring, we may get warmer weather, spring showers, flowers, and more fun times outside for kids, but it also signals the start of spring allergy season. In addition to a runny nose and sneezing, your child with spring allergies may have watery, itchy eyes, dark circles under his eyes (allergic shiners), and an itchy nose.

Learning more about allergies can help parents get their kids some much needed relief.

Related:
Allergy Screening Quiz
Dog Allergies - Hypoallergenic Dogs
Food Allergy Myths and Facts
Allergy Symptoms