In July 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announced a major change to its baby nutrition recommendations. Previously, the AAP recommended that because dietary fats are important for early brain development, weaned babies should be fed whole milk until they're two years old. Now, however, babies between 12 months and two years of age who are at risk of becoming overweight should be given reduced-fat 2% milk. Once they've reached the age of two, all children should be switched to low-fat 1% milk. Tanya R. Altmann, MD. is an AAP spokeswoman and advisor to the National Dairy Council. Altmann states, "This [change] is for children who are overweight or at risk of overweight, or with a family history of high cholesterol or early heart disease. Children do need a certain amount of fat for brain development. But children now are getting too much fat from other sources. Dairy is very important for child development. Children and adults who consume low-fat dairy products are healthier. So [the AAP] still recommends three servings a day of low-fat milk over age two." Recent studies show that children given reduced-fat milk at an early age developed normally. The new baby milk recommendations appear in the July issue of the Pediatrics journal. Read more about links between obesity and babies at Over-feeding in infancy might set the stage for childhood obesity.

The debate about tonsils - whether to remove them or let them be - goes way back. Depending on your generation, either all or none of your friends had tonsillectomies. So what exactly are tonsils, tonsillitis, and tonsillectomies,  and what should you do about them? Tonsils are masses of tissue on either side of the throat. They trap viruses and bacteria that enter the body through the throat. Tonsils also produce antibodies to help fight infections, so during a child's early youth, tonsils do serve a purpose. Tonsillitis is when tonsils becomes swollen and infected. Your child's tonsils may be big and red or have lumps or a whitish coating on them. Enlarged tonsils, however, are very common among young children. In most cases, the enlarged tonsils shrink on their own over time. However, if your child exhibits other symptoms - a sore throat, discomfort when swallowing, mouth breathing, or even a fever - consult with your doctor about whether or not the tonsils should be removed. A tonsillectomy is the surgical procedure of removing tonsils. A doctor may recommend the surgery if your child has recurring infections of the throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or snoring and sleep apnea. If your child does need a tonsillectomy, the surgery will take place in an operating room, and your child will receive general anesthesia. The surgeon removes the tonsils through your child's mouth. You will be reunited with your child in the recovery area. Many children will remain in the hospital overnight for observation to be sure that no breathing or bleeding problems are present. Your child will likely experience at least a week of pain and discomfort, resulting from exposure of the throat muscles. It may take awhile before your child is willing to eat, drink, and return to normal activities. For tips on helping your child through surgery, check out the tips in Preparing your child for surgery.

Active toddlers are like perpetual motion machines. Exhausted parents are baffled by how little sleep their toddler seems to need. While every child is unique, according to KidsHealth.org there are some general sleeping habits among one- to two-year-old children. Most toddlers require about 10-13 hours of sleep over a 24-hour period. Some little ones will get all of those hours overnight, while others may have a shorter night and take one or two naps during the day. Trial and error is the best way to determine what is right for your child. If he or she doesn't seem tired at bedtime, move the nap to an earlier time of day or eliminate it altogether. Establish a short, simple bedtime routine, such as a warm bath and a bedtime story. The repetition will relax your toddler as much as the quieting activities themselves. The safest place for a one- to two-year old to sleep is a crib. Keep extra-large soft toys out of the crib and be on the lookout for items with strings or ties - such as nearby window blinds - that could tangle around your toddler's neck. Remove the bumper pad and anything your child could climb to "escape" the crib. If your toddler is able to get out of the crib, it may be time for a bed. For one reason or another, your child may begin waking in the middle of the night. A healthy child may awaken for a number of reasons: teething pain, separation anxiety, even nightmares. It's possible that your child is awakening because he or she is too warm or too cold. Perhaps there's just too much noise from another part of the house. If your toddler awakens in the middle of the night, quickly reassure him or her that everything is fine. Keep it short and boring, and don't engage the child. If your child rises with the dawn, keep curtains or blinds closed to block out the bright morning sunlight. And put a couple of safe toys in the crib to entertain your little one for awhile before he or she summons you. Before you know it, your little ball of energy will be a sleepy teenager... Help your over-wound toddler sleep with Dr. Laura Markham's Bedtime for toddlers: 10 steps to sleep without tears

Most children can stay dry through the night by age 5. Bedwetting by definition is when a child age 5 or older wets the bed at least 1 or 2 times a week over at least 3 months. Wetting the bed is upsetting and embarrassing, especially for an older child. Parents can help by being loving and supportive. Try not to get upset or punish your child for the "accidents." You can help your child understand that this won't be a problem forever, and there are other ways to help, too:

• Give your child most of his daily fluids in the morning and afternoon.
• Limit caffeine - it's in chocolate and cola - especially at night.
• Have your child visit the bathroom to use the toilet right before going to bed.
• Involve your child in the problem solving. Ask her what she thinks may help.
• If your child is comfortable wearing them, offer disposable nighttime underpants.
• Praise your child for accident-free nights.

For more on bedwetting in older children, read How to help your school age child cope with bedwetting.

Summer is all about kids and the outdoors. While it's important for children to get fresh air, it's equally important that they stay protected from the damaging rays of the sun. One blistering sunburn in childhood doubles the risk of developing any type of skin cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends seeking shade between the hours of 10 A.M and 4 P.M. And children should wear sunscreen every time they go outside. There is a wide array of sunscreen products on the market, and finding the right one can be overwhelming. Some things to keep in mind:

• Always look for SPF 15 or greater.
• Consider creams and lotions, which are less drying to young skin than gel- and alcohol-based formulations.
• Look for waterproof or water-resistant varieties, especially when swimming and water play are involved.
• Unscented products may be less irritating for some children and less likely to attract insects.
• To test for allergies or irritation, place a small amount of sunscreen on the inside of your child's wrist the day before you plan to use it.
• Apply two tablespoons of sunscreen to your child's entire body 30 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours.
• Dress children in loose-fitting clothing made of tightly-woven fabrics.
• Encourage your child to wear broad-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.
• Keep newborns out of the sun completely, and do not use sunscreen on babies under six months.

For more sunscreen advice, go to Sunscreen for kids

In the latest issue of People magazine, Michelle Tauber wrote a brief column to spotlight kids' music, especially the CDs that are music to her kids' ears. The following is a list of her top 7 CDs to get kids moving and grooving:

1. Bare-Naked Ladies  Snacktime!
2. They Might be Giants  Here Come the 123s
3. African Dreamland
4. Dan Zanes  Nueva York
5. Baby Loves Hip Hop
6. Ralph's World  The Rhyming Circus
7. Lisa Loeb  Camp Lisa

Check out this week's issue of People for a quick peek at what each CD has to offer, including some sample song titles and lyrics. You might just find a toe-tapper in the group for yourself!

For many of us, we've waited a long time for warm weather to come our way. Luckily for us, the wait is over.

With sunny skies outside, what's a kid to do? According to Fitness magazine, kids can stay fit and active while having a whole lot of fun on not a whole lot of money. Fitness suggests that parents create a Fit-Kid Kit for their children. The following list of playthings can be placed in the kit and will have your kids ready for summer fun:

• Rubbermaid's utility tub
• First Fitness Obstacle Course
• Gertie rubber balls
• Little Tikes Big Swing & Ball Set
• Gertie hoop and basketball set
• Alex Toys' Catch 'n Stick Monster Mitts
• Wham-O's Original Hula Hoop

For less than $80, all of the above items can be bought. Of course, parents can leave out or add in specific items since they know their children and their children's interests best. The idea is to include playthings that get kids moving and having fun without paying a fortune.

Irritation? Check. Redness? Check. Small bumps? Check. If all three of the above symptoms appear on your baby's bottom, then diaper rash might just be in full effect. The good news is that there are things parents can do to prevent diaper rash from surfacing in the first place. Here's what moms and dads can do BEFORE babies get burned by that icky diaper rash:

• change diapers frequently
• clean baby bottoms with plain water and a soft cloth-stay away from wipes with alchohol or perfumes
• apply petroleum jelly to freshly-cleaned baby skin
• don't use cornstarch
• let baby bottoms "air it out" as often as possible
• avoid tight-fitting diapers or plastic pants

Yep. When your baby yawns, it probably means she's tired. But yawning isn't the only indication that your little one is a sleepy one. And parents never ever want to miss their window of opportunity to put their babies down to sleep when the time is right.

More often than not, your babies will let you know when it's time to hit the hay. Keep all of these signs in mind when beddy-bye time is right around the corner:

• Rubbing their eyes
• Pulling on their ears
• Twirling their hair around their fingers
• Staring off into space

Some signs are obvious- some not so much. Of course, all babies are different so tuning into when your baby wants to tune out for some serious sleep time will help everyone in the long run. And discovering what your baby does when she's ready for night-night means sweet dreams all around.

Surgery for anyone is scary. Surgery for a child can be terrifying. Luckily, HealthDay News recently published tips provided by the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital for parents who are preparing their children for an upcoming surgery. According to the hospital, the following suggestions can ease the process and calm some fears-for both the child and parent-as they prepare for a procedure.

• Find out as much as you can about the surgery, so you can answer the child's questions and reply with the right information.
• Be honest when answering questions, but make sure your responses are appropriate for the child's age.
• Read books with your child about preparing for a trip to the hospital.
• Take a tour of the hospital, including areas where the child will be.
• If your child is old enough and mature enough to make a choice, let the child make it.