Your Kid's Body

• Birthmarks

  Learn about birthmarks, common types, and treatments — and when to call a doctor if a birthmark changes.

• Body Basics: The Heart (Slideshow)

  Learn how this amazing muscle pumps blood throughout the body.

• Body Mass Index for Kids & Teens: BMI Calculator

  Check body mass index (BMI) for kids and teens with our BMI calculator, learn about BMI, and see what the numbers mean.

• Cholesterol

  High cholesterol in kids may lead to heart disease when they’re adults. Learn the causes, diagnosis, and treatments.

• Fever (High Temperature) In Kids

  Find information on fevers (high temperatures), how to care for kids at home, and when to call a doctor.

• Growth Charts

  Doctors use growth charts to figure out whether kids’ height and weight measurements are “normal” and whether they’re developing on track. Here are some facts about growth charts.

• Growth Plates

  Growth plates are the areas of new bone growth, usually near the ends of long bones. A growth plate is weaker than solid bone. This makes it more likely to get injured.

• Hemangiomas: Suzanne’s Story

  When Anna was born, she developed red spots that her parents learned were hemangiomas, benign birthmarks that she eventually outgrew. Her mother tells her story.

• How to Take a Rectal Temperature

  The best way to take a temperature in infants and young children is by taking a rectal temperature. Here’s how to do it.

• How to Take an Axillary (Armpit) Temperature

  The axillary (armpit) method is a convenient way to take a child’s temperature, especially for kids who can’t hold a thermometer in their mouths. Here’s how to do it.