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Laura Sweet had no idea that she had contracted a virus that would leave her daughter, Jane, deaf by her first birthday. During her second pregnancy, doctors had warned her against alcohol and changing kitty litter. They had said to avoid sushi and cold cuts. But nobody — not her obstetrician, nor her midwife — mentioned cytomegalovirus. (Saint Louis, 10/24)

Is your child up-to-date at the pediatrician’s office? Regular well-child visits during the first three years of childhood are critical to identify health, behavioral and developmental problems that could have long-lasting effects into adulthood. But parents don’t always follow the recommended schedule, which includes about a dozen appointments by the time children turn 3. And children who miss out on visits are more likely to be admitted to the hospital with preventable problems, studies show. (Landro, 10/24)