Children as young as 12 and 13 are showing signs of sun-damaged skin, say researchers who used specialized imaging technology to evaluate youngsters' UV exposure. This heavy dose of UV could raise their risk for melanoma skin cancer later in life.

The more smoking and drinking that young teens see in movies, the more likely they are to start smoking or binge drink, according to a pair of new studies.

A small but growing number of moms-to-be are choosing to deliver their babies at home. But a new study finds that babies born at home are at higher risk for complications, including low Apgar scores and seizures.

Updated versions of the vaccines against rotavirus don't seem to increase the risk for a potentially deadly side effect, a new study says.

Premature infants are at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than full-term babies. The reason may be that a preemie's nervous system is underdeveloped.

Researchers have found that health care providers at different autism centers are inconsistent in determining whether a child should be diagnosed with autistic disorder or a subtype, such as Asperger syndrome.

In a new policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that unstructured play best nurtures brain development in infants and toddlers. The AAP discourages TV and even educational videos for this age group.

Young children who are immunized against whooping cough (pertussis) are well protected against this illness, but a new study finds that the vaccine's effectiveness declines sharply after just three years.

More than 5,000 children each year fall from an open window and are seriously injured or killed. And it's not just urban kids who are at risk.

Researchers have pinpointed when U.S. children and teens began tipping the scales toward obesity. The epidemic began in the late 1990s, but experts still don't know the exact cause.

Bullying is not a normal part of childhood, and children who experience bullying may continue to feel its effects into adulthood.

Kids in their early teens typically rebel against their parents, choosing friends over family. Those who don't pull away and want to please their parents usually do better at school.