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Many new parents are often shocked when the time comes to bring their newborn baby home. They can't believe that the hospital is going to entrust them with such a tiny little human, and oftentimes, they feel incapable of meeting the needs of their new boss. 

To a new parent, caring for an infant can be intimidating, what if I can't stop him from crying, how do I know if she's hungry or just wet, how can I tell if he's too warm or too cold? The questions are plenty, and parents generally do a good job of figuring it out as they go, but while all parents worry, it's completely normal that the

Halloween is here, and as you admire your mountain of sweets, you realize it's probably not the best idea to eat all that candy. After sorting through your treats and picking out your favorites, what should you do with the leftover candy? Here are a few ideas!

Donate

Donating your Halloween candy is a selfless way to share! Find a local charity that accepts candy donations. Here are some suggestions:

• Ronald McDonald House
• Nursing homes
• Food pantries
• Veterans' homes
• Women's shelters

Candy Exchange

Some dentists host a candy exchange where kids are invited to trade in their sweets for healthy treats. You

Perhaps nothing signals that your little girl is growing up like the start of her period. Since so many of my patients ask me how to discuss this topic with their daughters and what to expect, here are a few pointers:

Start the Discussion Early

Don't wait until your daughter actually starts her period (which, on average, occurs around age 12 or 13) to start talking about menstruation. I generally recommend that you begin broaching the subject as early as age 8. Yes, some girls start sexual development that young! 

Instead of leading off with menstruation (which is likely to elicit "Eww!" from

A birth defect, also called a congenital anomaly, is a problem that occurs when a baby is developing in the womb. An estimated one out of every 33 babies in the U.S. is born with a birth defect, of varying severity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

If you're a parent-to-be, or planning to be, it's important to understand what causes birth defects and the steps you can take to prevent them during pregnancy.

5 of the Most Common Causes of Birth Defects

Here's an overview of the most common causes of birth defects:

• Genetics: A genetic abnormality occurs when genetic