Second case gives hope for cure for HIV babies
A second child with HIV who was treated immediately after being born has no signs of the virus more than nine months later, bolstering evidence the approach may offer a potential cure for infected infants.
Ellie’s smile masks a rare and fatal disease
Peter Gardiner Ellie Topliff's radiant smile lights up the world of her parents - but they know that all too soon, one of the rarest of diseases in the world will take their daughter from them.
Baby's whooping cough death 'preventable'
Sarah-Jane O'Connor Extensive vaccinations could have saved a baby dying from whooping cough, a coroner has stated.
Premature baby dies after nurse removes ventilator without permission
LETITIA ROWLANDS Premature baby Rohan Rhodes died after a nurse turned off his ventilator without permission. His grieving parents are demanding answers.
Kind-hearted mums show the difference a nappy can make
LETITIA ROWLANDS Women in crisis often struggle to provide for their babies basic needs, so this group of mums is doing their bit to help out.
Toxic household chemicals linked to autism, ADHD
JULIA MEDEW Leading experts are calling for a radical overhaul of regulations for chemicals to protect children from every-day toxins that may be causing a global ''silent epidemic'' of brain development disorders such as autism, dyslexia and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Premature babies benefit from talk
Letitia Rowlands They might be little, but premature babies can benefit from a chat with mum and dad, researchers say.
New campaign: 'Vaccination is a vital part of an ethical lifestyle'
Colleen Fisher, Katie Attwell, Michael J. Wise A groundbreaking campaign aims to change the conversation about vaccination in areas that are known to house clusters of vaccine refusers, encouraging ethical decision-making processes in critically thinking parents.
Super Finn home at last
Kathy Sundstrom After more than two months in hospital, meningococcal survivor Finn Smith is coming home.
Hernias in babies and toddlers
Rashida Tayabali Although one often hears of hernias in adults, it’s also common in babies. Here are the symptoms, treatment, and risks of different types of hernia.
Staying cool and safe in a heatwave
Staff writers As Australia struggles with consecutive days of high temperatures, health authorities are urging people to stay indoors and to stay hydrated. Here are a few ways to keep your family cool.
New laws in NSW seek to strengthen disease prevention at childcare
CATHERINE ARMITAGE Get ready for illness. That is the advice to families starting their infants in childcare over the next few weeks.
Mums come together to help sick baby Isabelle
LETITIA ROWLANDS Kristy Holloway's world was shattered when her four-week-old baby was diagnosed with leukemia. As she keeps a vigil by her sick daughter's bedside, fellow mums from her online 'due in group' have organised an auction to help the devastated family.
'Don't forget HeartKids like Alice'
Emily Andrew My daughter was born with the left side of her heart severely underdeveloped. The first diagnosis of "fatal" and "there's nothing we can do" was devastating.
Finn's inspiring fight against meningococcal
Nicole Fuge Since being diagnosed with meningococcal, 14-month-old Finn Smith has undergone several amputations - and has come out smiling.
Female genital mutilation a problem in Australia
The female genital mutilation of children is much more common in Australia and by Australians overseas than authorities can detect, according to NSW Community Services minister Pru Goward.
Rabbi sued after severing newborn's penis during circumcision
Melanie Mahoney A rabbi is being sued for severing a newborn's penis during a botched circumcision ceremony.
Ava's life with Prader-Willi Syndrome
Born with the rare Prader-Willi Syndrome, little Ava, now 11 months, will soon develop a growing obsession with food so strong she could well gorge herself to death.
Rock-a-bye baby ... and sleep for 14 hours a day
Kate Hagan Babies aged four to six months sleep an average of 14 hours a day, which drops to 10 hours by the age of nine years, a snapshot of children's sleep patterns has revealed.
Taking sick kids to social events
Emma Salkild Unfortunately, it is a given that babies and toddlers are going to constantly get sick. And while it would be crazy to expect every child with a runny nose to be ‘quarantined’, where should parents draw the line when letting them play with other children or pregnant women?
Meningococcal baby Finn gives mum priceless Christmas gift
Kathy Sundstrom Sarah Smith has received the best Christmas present she could have hoped for when she got to cuddle her son Finn, who was diagnosed with bacterial meningococcal last month.
Saxon's story: from a skin tag to a rare syndrome
Sandra Sharpham When he was born, Saxon Evans had an extra toe and a skin tag. Little did his family know there was a much more troubling diagnosis in his future.
Doctors find dandelion growing in baby's ear
Melanie Mahoney Doctors made a shocking discovery when they found a dandelion growing inside 16-month-old’s ear canal.
Mum fined for refusing to circumcise son
An Israeli mum is being fined AU$156 a day (NIS 500) for refusing to circumcise her son.
Dad makes "How to Fight a Baby" video
LETITIA ROWLANDS A video of a dad performing wrestling moves on his baby boy has gone viral just hours after being posted online, with most people agreeing the video is harmless fun but some labelling it as child abuse.
Queensland baby in induced coma to fight meningococcal
Kathy Sundstrom Finn Smith is fighting for his life after being diagnosed with bacterial meningococcal, the disease moving so quickly through his body that one hour made the difference between life and death.
Anti-vaccination group forced to change name
AMY CORDEROY A controversial group that claims vaccines cause autism and cancer will be forced to change its name after a tribunal found it was likely to mislead parents into thinking it provides fair and balanced information.
Video: A mother's love for her premmie baby
MELANIE MAHONEY "This video sums up my son's first year. He was born way too early, and the obstacles he had to overcome were really big."
Hip babies: coping with developmental dysplasia of the hip
Krissy Bradfield Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) affects one in every 600 girls, and one in every 3000 boys. Here, parents share their stories of diagnosis and coping with having 'hip babies'.
'Miracle' baby born in Phillipines after typhoon
Jason Gutierrez Emily Sagalis cried tears of joy after giving birth to a "miracle" girl in a typhoon-ravaged Philippine city, then named the baby after her mother who went missing in the storm.
'Hero baby' Sonny dies of rare cancer
KIM STEPHENS Sonny Davis, the tiny boy whose inspiring battle for life earned him the label "hero baby", has passed away at just 18 days old.
Full-body swaddles bad news for babies
Experts are worried that full-body swaddling may lead to hip damage.
The paediatrician's great toil on behalf of tiny lives
DAVID ELLERY A Canberra paediatrician describes her life working with babies and children, and remembers some of her more dramatic cases.
Sonny the 'hero baby' defies cancer odds
KIM STEPHENS Dubbed a "hero baby" by doctors for repeatedly fighting for life in the most trying circumstances, 10-day-old cancer sufferer Sonny Davis is still defying the odds.
Chief doctor writes to parents to encourage vaccinations
MARISSA CALLIGEROS The state's chief doctor has taken an extraordinary step as Queensland authorities battle a measles outbreak.
Doctors fight anti-vaccine push in battle for Australia's babies
Lucy Marks Health experts say there's no room for debate on the value of immunisation, despite protestations from the AVN.
Baby found dead in car outside daycare
ALEISHA ORR Staff who tried to revive a baby found dead in a car outside a Perth daycare centre have been offered counselling as police continue to investigate how the child died.
The Perth tragedy is every parent's worst nightmare
AMBER ROBINSON We tumble through our busy lives without pause, from breakfast-dropoff-work to pickup-dinner-bath-bed, using schedules and routines to keep ourselves on track. But what happens when those routines become unstuck?
Call for age limit after chiropractor breaks baby's neck
Julia Medew, Amy Corderoy A baby's neck has been broken by a chiropractor, leading doctors to recommend the profession should stop treating children.
Portraits of meningococcal disease
Maria Tedeschi Anne Geddes is working with Meningococcal Australia to produce a photo book of survivors of the disease. Maria Tedeschi speaks to one of its stars.
Meningococcal disease: the facts
Maria Tedeschi and staff writers It’s not common, but children and adolescents are most at risk from meningococcal disease. Learn the symptoms and how it's diagnosed and treated.
Music eases babies' pain
Jill U Adams A growing body of research shows what many parents know instinctively: music is an effective way to distract young children from painful medical procedures.
Little Zahlia's battle against rare syndrome
Megan Mackander Baby Zahlia was once a perfectly healthy little girl, until a shock diagnosis of a rare syndrome started to suck the spirit from this little battler.
Baby dies on Spanish airport luggage belt
A five-month-old baby has died at a Spanish airport after being placed on a luggage belt that started moving without its parents noticing.
Should baby formula come with a health warning?
COSIMA MARRINER Baby formula tins would carry warnings of formula feeding risks, under proposed changes.
Babies over the worst of mystery infection
Victorian Health Minister David Davis says the worst is over after more than a dozen babies in a hospital nursery came down with a mysterious infection.
Monkey bites off and eats baby's testicle at wildlife park
MELANIE MAHONEY A baby has had a testicle ripped off and eaten by a wild monkey at a Chinese wildlife park.
How to protect your baby against the flu
New Australian research has discovered the most effective way to protect infants against influenza.
Mum calls for support for tube-fed kids
Michelle Duff A mum has called for greater support for parents of tube-fed children, while experts agree there needs to be a better program to help tube-wean.
Facebook user stalking mums
NATALIE BOCHENSKI Police are investigating whether a Facebook user requesting Brisbane mothers send them photos of their babies is an online predator.
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