Nothing is as important as the health and safety of moms, dads, moms-to-be and children. And parents can never get enough information and tips.

Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, has released an even dozen of tips for mothers, mothers-to-be and dads as part of the "The Year of the Healthy Child" agenda.

I've declared this "The Year of the Healthy Child" for the Office of the Surgeon General," says Dr. Carmona. "We're looking at ways to keep children healthy and safe, from pre-birth through their teen years. Each phase of a child's life has its own series of potential hazards, and we're trying to shine a light on preventing those illnesses, injuries and deaths that are preventable. By appreciating what parents do every day and getting the best information out to parents and children, I hope that every child will grow up healthy, happy and able to reach their own potential."

1. Eat healthy. It's good for you and your baby. Follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Also, every woman of childbearing age should consume at least 400 micrograms of folic acid each day. Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects (including spina bifida) and congenital malformations, which are the leading cause of infant mortality.

2. Don't drink alcohol when you are pregnant or might become pregnant. There is no known safe level of alcohol consumption for pregnant women. Alcohol can affect an unborn baby even before a woman knows that she is pregnant, and the problems caused by prenatal alcohol exposure are lifelong. Alcohol-related birth defects are completely preventable, and eliminating alcohol will prevent all alcohol-related birth defects, including growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, central nervous system impairment, behavioral disorders and intellectual development.

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.