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In children, it's not always easy to address sleep problems, and sleep disorders often go undiagnosed. How can you know when sleep is a problem for your child? This sheet explains general guidelines for how much sleep children need. It also describes signs of a problem with sleep and tips for improving it.

A blood test can be stressful for both you and your child. You can take steps to make the process easier. Tell your child that you will do what you can to make it go smoothly. Read on for tips that may help.

At some point, you may need care in a hospital or other facility. People may ask how well you can move around. Answer this question honestly. If you have a high risk of falling, the staff will take extra steps to help keep you safe. Here are some tips to keep you safe in the hospital.

Learn about MRSA, a type of staph infection that's hard to treat.

Pulmonary function tests can help tell how well your child's lungs are working or how well the lungs are responding to medicine. Read on for details.

Your child's healthcare provider has told you that your child needs a tracheostomy. This creates a new pathway for air. Surgery is needed to do this. During the surgery, the surgeon makes a small opening in your child's neck. A tube (called a trach tube) is placed in this opening. Air then flows into and out of the trach tube, allowing your child to breathe. This sheet will help you learn more about tracheostomy.

Your child's tracheostomy needs regular care to keep the area clean and to prevent infection. Follow these guidelines.

You have been told your child has a problem with their vertebrae. These are the bones that stack together to make up the spine. Spondylolysis is a crack (defect) in the back part of a vertebra. Spondylolisthesis is the slipping forward of a vertebra. Here is information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis methods, and treatments.

In a trach tube, mucus can build up and thicken. Regular suctioning of mucus keeps the tube clear. You will be instructed on how to suction mucus. Read on to learn the basic steps.