It is Saturday night and you have a date with your spouse. You give hugs, kiss the kids goodnight and give a pat to your pup as you head out. In your car you mentally go over the details to be sure you told the sitter everything. But have you? What about your dog?

In addition to considering colors for the nursery and what type of stroller to use, working mothers also have the enormous task of deciding what kind of care provider they will select for their children.

You've done your homework, researching and interviewing to find the best care for your child, but is your caregiver-nanny, babysitter, daycare worker or family member-protected against the flu?

"Take some time for yourselves. Create a date night. Hire a babysitter and spend quality quiet time together. But finding a babysitter who has a similar parenting style to your own is no easy task. More and more parents are struggling to find a compatible, reputable babysitter, even if it's for a few hours a month.

Choosing childcare is one of the most difficult jobs of new parents. In-home care or out of home care, daycare or private home -- discover the pros and cons of the various options.

Where a child receives care is less important than the quality of care she receives. Lots of research has examined the necessary conditions in children's care arrangements, whether by parents or child-care providers, that help children grow up healthy and happy.

Since media announced an epidemic of respiratory illness in Mexico and the death of a 2-year-old in Texas, many have been wondering how dangerous this virus will be, what families can do to minimize chances of exposure, and how to respond if the flu does strike. Read on to find out.

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection, which manifests as small red pimples that become non-healing open sores. They may scab over with yellow or brown crusts. It's caused by a staphylococcal skin infection but if lesions are found around the nose or mouth, it may be streptococcal. Bacteria cause the initial infection, which enters small cuts or breaks in the skin. This is a very contagious disease and it can spread easily to classmates and family members if proper precautions are not taken.