At this time each year, the United States Social Security Administration releases the list of most popular baby names from the prior year. And this year was no exception.

The complete list of most popular baby names for boys and girls in 2007 can be found on the Social Security website. However, if you want a quick glimpse at the top 10, they’re listed below.

Girls

1. Emily
2. Isabella
3. Emma
4. Ava
5. Madison
6. Sophia
7. Olivia
8. Abigail
9. Hannah
10. Elizabeth

Boys

1. Jacob
2. Michael
3. Ethan
4. Joshua
5. Daniel
6. Christopher
7. Anthony
8. William
9. Matthew
10. Andrew

Here are a few other quick tidbits about the most popular names. Emily has topped the girls’ list since 1996 while Jacob has been at the top for boys since 1999. And if you’re wondering what the most popular twins’ names are, wonder no more: Jacob and Joshua are the top choices for twins.

If you want to see all the lists or get other important information-including how to get extra help for prescription drug costs-visit the Social Security website.

Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away. Harsh words, but oh, so true. So, how early and how often and how best should you take care of your children’s teeth? According to the AAP, dental and oral diseases continue to plague kids even with all the advances that have taken place with oral health.

Follow these tips to help your kids develop good dental habits and take a real bite out of dental diseases:

• Schedule regular check-ups with a dental professional (every 6  months)
• Get enough flouride (it can be found in or added to water and toothpaste)
• Brush and floss regularly( twice a day is ideal)
• Eat a well-balanced diet and drink lots of water

Dental cleaning should begin as soon as your baby gets his first tooth. Simply using a damp cloth or piece of gauze to wipe the first few teeth will do wonders as far as prevention of dental disease goes. The AAP recommends that all infants receive an oral health risk assessment by 6 months of age. And all kids should have a comprehensive dental exam by a dentist in their early toddler years. Hopefully, these guidelines will bring a smile to your child’s face for years to come.  And note to moms and dads: these tips for kids apply to you too!

Did you know there were safety guidelines regarding your children’s sleepwear? Did you know that they recently changed? The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently released their new requirements for kid’s pajamas to help give parents safe and broader choices when it comes to sleepwear.

• Infant sizes up to 9 months may be made from flame resistant or non-flame resistant fabrics
• Infant sizes above 9 months must either be flame resistant or worn snug-fitting

Children should not sleep in oversized or loose-fitting clothing like t-shirts or sweatshirts or other garments made from non-flame resistant fabrics. It’s important to keep 2 “f” words in mind when you’re buying your children’s sleepwear:  fabric and fit!

Is there anything you can do to prevent your child from choking? The experts say there is. Of course, accidents do happen. But just being aware of some general choking hazards could help prevent a possible tragedy.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children under 4 years of age should not be fed round, firm food unless it is completely chopped. If infants and young kids don’t grind or chew their food well, they may try to swallow it whole. Avoid the following foods for little ones:

• hot dogs
• nuts and seeds
• chunks of meat and cheese
• whole grapes
• hard gooey or sticky candy
• popcorn
• chunks of peanut butter
• raw vegetables
• fruit chunks
• chewing gum

The following household items should be out of the reach of infants and toddlers at all times:

• balloons
• coins
• marbles
• toys with small parts
• toys that can fit entirely in a child’s mouth
• small balls
• pen or marker caps
• small button-type batteries
• medicine syringes

Source:  Choking Prevention and First Aid for Infants and Children (c)2006 AAP

Baby talk. Baby talk. It’s a wonder you can walk. Cindy Brady was teased for her baby talk by a bully in the neighborhood. Shows you what he knew…according to the experts, baby talk isn’t only good-it’s significant for the healthy language development of babies. A recent childhood development study claims that the best thing parents can do for their children is talk with them. Experts claim that the more words children hear, the greater their vocabulary.

So what’s the magic number of words that will make children’s IQ’s soar and school achievement sky rocket?

17,000

There’s actually a device, a type of verbal pedometer that can be tucked into toddler’s pockets, that measures anything and everything about communication the children have throughout the day. And this is one case where quantity-not quality-matters. Check out LENA to see how parents are making every word count.

When can your child face forward in the car? Good question. The answer might surprise you: your child must be at least one-year-old and weigh at least 20 pounds. However, the experts suggest that children ride rear-facing to the highest weight and/or height allowed by the car safety seat’s manufacturer.

If your little one is old enough and big enough to ride face-forward, there are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used. The AAP has provided the following descriptions of forward-facing seats that can be used…with care, of course!

• Convertible seats- “convert” form rear-facing to forward-facing seats
• Forward-facing toddler seats-can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh up to 40 to 80 pounds (depending on the model)
• Combination forward-facing/booster seats-can be used forward-facing with a harness for kids who weigh up to 40 to 65 pounds (depending on the model) or without a harness as a booster (up to 80 to 100 pounds)
• Built-in seats-some vehicles have forward-facing seats built-in; weight and height limits vary; check with the car manufacturer
• Travel vests-can be worn by kids between 20 and 168 pounds and can be an alternative to traditional forward-facing seats; useful for when a car has lap-only seat belts in the rear.

Immunizations have been controversial for some people for quite a long time. Recently, it seems the topic of immunizations has been raising even more questions. Nonetheless, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does have recommended schedules for people ages 0-18 years; the schedule has been approved by various agencies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Below, you can find the recommended immunizations for persons aged 0-6 years. As always, consult with your child’s doctor if you have questions or concerns or need clarification on any of vaccines.

The (*) indicates the range of recommended ages when the vaccine should be administered.

Birth

• Hepatitis B (HepB)

1 month

• HepB*

2 months

• HepB*
• Rotavirus (Rota)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Pneumococcal (PCV)
• Inactivated Poliovirus (IPV)

4 months

• Rota
• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV
• IPV

6 months

• HepB
• Rota
• DTaP
• Hib
• PCV*
• Influenza

12 months

• HepB*
• Hib*
• PCV*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)*
• Varicella*
• Hepatitis A (HepA)*

15 months

• HepB*
• DTaP*
• Hib*
• PCV*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• MMR*
• Varicella*
• HepA*

18 months

• HepB*
• DTaP*
• IPV*
• Influenza
• HepA*

19-23 months

• Influenza
• HepA*

2-3 years

• Influenza

4-6 years

• DTaP
• IPV
• Influenza
• MMR
• Varicella

Certain high-risk groups should get additional vaccines including PPV and MCV4. Visit the AAP website for additional information and guidelines regarding the immunizations.

Has the Binkie Fairy made it to your house? Apparently, she stopped by the home of Elisabeth, one of the cohosts on ABC’s The View. Elisabeth shared that she decided it was time for her 3-year-old daughter to give up the binkie for good. They gathered up the binkies, wrapped them in a box, sang a little song, and said good-bye to the binkies.

You didn’t think it was really that easy, did you?

Elisabeth also shared that she’s spent the last 3 nights in her daughter’s bed because her daughter wants her binkies back and is less than happy about not having them. The Binkie Fairy brought on a lot of questions for the ladies on the show. Should your child quit the binkie-the bottle-sucking her thumb-cold turkey? When’s the right age to give up any or all of the above? Is it harmful to just let your child outgrow their “baby behavior”?

Doesn’t seem like there’s any easy answer and possibly no right answer either. The experts definitely have their opinions. What’s yours?

Generally, you can expect your baby’s first molars to come in around the ages of 10-16 months. You can also expect some-maybe even a lot-of discomfort for your baby as they push through the gums-ouch!!

Big and blunt molars can be brutal for your baby and of course-for you too-when you see your little one in pain. Gerber has some good advice. Read on to check out the ABC’s of baby molars to help ease the pain for everyone involved:

• Apply pressure to the affected gum with your finger; rubbing the gum firmly might bring some relief.
• Biting on something cold-a gel-filled teething ring or frozen banana-can help.
• Cups or bottles of icy cold water might make her feel better.
• Dab teething gel along the gum line to numb the pain.
• Eating soft stuff-applesauce or pureed fruits-should alleviate some of the woes.

What sunscreen should you apply to your 4-month-old baby?

None! That’s according to the American Academy of Pediatrics — not because they’ve found sunscreen to be particularly harmful to babies under 6 months but rather they suggest that there is no reason why a baby under 6 months should be exposed to the sun long enough to require sunscreen.

Other specific rules for babies under 1 year old include:

• Babies younger than 6 months should be kept out of the direct sunlight.
• Keep your baby in the shade or under a tree umbrella or stroller canopy.
• Dress your baby in clothing that covers the body, such as comfortable lightweight long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats with brims that shade the face and cover the ears.
• If you cannot keep your child (over 6 months) covered and in the shade, sunscreen can be applied but be sure to apply a small amount to a limited area and watch for any reaction before slathering the whole body.

Remember, a severe sunburn is an emergency for a baby under 1 year old; contact your doctor immediately if this happens by accident.