Even as we begin to move out of cold and flu season, many kids will continue to have a runny nose, as they now move into their spring allergy season.

With the first day of spring, we may get warmer weather, spring showers, flowers, and more fun times outside for kids, but it also signals the start of spring allergy season. In addition to a runny nose and sneezing, your child with spring allergies may have watery, itchy eyes, dark circles under his eyes (allergic shiners), and an itchy nose.

Learning more about allergies can help parents get their kids some much needed relief.

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Reports of deaths and serious injuries in a small number of infants using baby slings is likely going to prompt the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue a new warning on the use of these popular baby products.

While some people will likely take this warning as an overreaction, when you consider that few people would ever think their baby could be harmed in a baby sling carrier, an extra warning seems like a good idea, especially since these aren't the easiest baby products to learn to use.

We bought and learned to use our first wrap style carrier from our lactation consultant, and I found that extra help made using it easier. Still, when our next baby came along, I had to go back and watch a video to relearn how to put it on and use it again before I felt comfortable with it.

Like any product we use with our kids, to be safe, parents should take the time to read the instructions and make sure they are using it properly. And then get extra help if you still don't feel comfortable with it.

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With many families now thinking about spring break, the flu and flu shots are likely the last things that are on their minds anymore. Unfortunately, even with the low levels of flu activity that we have been seeing for the last few months, it is important to remember that flu season often extends into April or May. That could mean continued flu cases for a few more months or even the possibility of another wave of increased flu activity.

So is it too late to get your kids vaccinated against the flu, which this year means getting both the 2009 H1N1 swine flu vaccine and a seasonal flu vaccine?

Although ideally your kids would have gotten their flu shots before the start of flu season or as soon as they became available, a flu shot even now can provide protection until the end of flu season, so can still be a good idea.

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Whether it is an infant who is drinking breast milk or an iron fortified baby formula that is based on cow's milk or soy milk, a preschooler drinking chocolate milk, or a teenager drinking low fat milk, milk is an important part of child nutrition. After all, milk even has its own food group.

In addition to providing children with a variety of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to keep kids healthy, milk is especially important to help build and maintain strong bones.

Do your kids drink enough milk?

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