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The alarms are sounding – and not the ones heard on your child’s video game.

Childhood obesity has more than doubled in the past 30 years, according to the Center for Disease Control. More than one third of today’s children younger than 12 are considered overweight or obese.

Not only are these children at risk for heart disease and diabetes in their adult lives, chances are their health is at risk today, the CDC points out. The American Health Association says that childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents – topping drug abuse and smoking.

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Your infant’s health and safety are your top priorities as a new parent.

You do everything in your power to keep them warm and comfortable. In those early months, however, you must be careful when placing them down for their naps or overnight sleep.

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When a new baby arrives, events happen at warp speed. You function on adrenaline - from the birth to the onslaught of visitors to the final preparations for the trip home.

In all of the excitement, though, it is important that you take a moment and tend to some important business -- like adding your new child to your health insurance plan.

You shouldn't assume your insurer knows that your bundle of joy has arrived - and needs to be enrolled on your plan.

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When a child's fever spikes, so too does a parent's worrying.

New parents, especially, become alarmed and tend to panic a bit when their child's forehead feels hot and a quick check of the thermometer reads above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

"While a fever can be concerning, most fevers are good for sick children," says Dr. Craig Moorman, Pediatric Specialist at Johnson Memorial Health. "Fevers help the body fight infections."

Moorman says parents should monitor their children when they register a fever, and generally follow these guides for action:

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Summer time is fun time - and, unfortunately, injury time - for kids.

More than 200,000 children ages 14 and younger in the United States are injured in playground-related accidents during the summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Emergency rooms and pediatricians most commonly see concussions, broken bones, cuts and burns from tumbles and other accidents while playing outside with friends or in youth sports programs.

Young people also get hurt from lawnmowers, barbecue grills and fall hazards.

Does that mean you need to keep them safe by enfolding them in bubble wrap confining them to their rooms? Of course not. Children need to run and play to keep their bodies and minds healthy.

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When your child is sick, you want to do everything you can to make them feel better. If you have tried giving your child rest and other at home treatments, you may discover that you need more advice. If you decide the illness warrants a trip to the doctor, you want to use your time and the doctor's time wisely, but you also want to find out as much information as you can.

These tips can help save time and ensure that you get all the information you need to get your child on the road to recovery.

Johnson Memorial Health Pediatric Specialists are committed to comprehensive medical from infants to adolescents.

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