Health: Modern parents suffer new concerns

Physical and sexual abuse, allergies and what to feed your child have replaced diphtheria and tuberculosis as areas of concern for many parents, it was revealed yesterday. While medical advances may have made fatal diseases a thing of the past, modern child-rearing can be as much of a minefield for today's parents as ever before, experts claim.

In a bid to address these concerns, consumer watchdog Which? yesterday published a comprehensive guide to children's health.

The book, called The Which? Guide to Children's Health, offers parents- to-be tips on how to improve their own health before conception and then through pregnancy and birth. It outlines some of the common problems during the first year of life such as nappy rash and teething difficulties.It also tackles potential battlegrounds during childhood such as sleeping patterns, how much television should a child watch and exercise and child development.