As school starts and fall begins, Halloween is a tradition that many children look forward to. As you and your family go about picking out a costume or getting ready for trick-or-treating there is some important safety information that you should keep in mind.

Using a properly installed car or booster seat or buckling your child in properly can reduce the risk of serious injury or death by as much as 75%.

Parents are often the first to observe changes, behavior, and other signs that their child’s development may be atypical. If your child is displaying any of the symptoms below and/or her behaviors are affecting her relationships with family members, friends, or school performance, you may want to consider seeking additional support, starting with your pediatrician.

In addition to meeting the physical needs of your child such as food, clothing, and shelter, fostering your child’s mental health is essential to raising a child who will thrive and succeed. How your child interacts with the world, the relationships he establishes with family and friends, and how he copes with challenges are important areas of your child’s mental health.

The first year with a new baby is a joyful, magical, and exhausting one. Newborns are a lot of work but they are also at a very special stage of life that passes all too quickly. It can be easy to get caught up in the daily care-taking of your child, so it is valuable to remind yourself of the ways to take care of yourself and your family.