Early postnatal discharge is itself not a new concept. Its first recorded use was in New Orleans, 1942, when postnatal mothers were discharged soon after birthing to relieve pressure on crowded hospital situations. Since then, the effects of early postnatal discharge on mothers and babies have been widely studied, but the research has primarily focused...

The most widely recognised approach to child abuse prevention is a model that draws together the concepts surrounding primary, secondary and tertiary intervention. Primary prevention refers to stopping abuse before it starts by targeting members of the community through broad-based programs directed at populations of people. Secondary prevention programs are aimed at early intervention in...

This first portion of this issue looks at normal sleep patterns in the first year of life, sleep problems, co-sleeping and ways of ameliorating sleep problems. The second portion looks specifically at sleep problems including what parents can do, suggestions for bedtime problems and suggestions for ongoing or severe problems.

'Aerosol therapy in asthma' is a review that focuses on the two main available methods of aerosol delivery: the nebuliser, and a combination of spacer and a pressurised metered dose inhaler. There are significant advantages and disadvantages in aerosol therapy, and the disadvantages are magnified in paediatric subjects. When considering aerosol therapy for children, the...

Negotiating differences in generational parenting considers the question of helpful suggestions from parents and grandparents conflicting with new parents' recently acquired knowledge, and where a role for the health professional may be. The article considers to what extent new parents have access to grandparents; whether differences of opinion between the generations are common; and what...