Kiran Chetry Has a Boy

Kiran Chetry, 33, co-anchor of CNN's American Morning, and her husband, CW weather forecaster Chris Knowles, have welcomed a baby boy. Christopher was born on April 17 and weighed 7 pounds. This is the second child for the couple, who also have a daughter, Maya Rose, 2.

March of Dimes Fundraising Walk Still All About Babies

t doesn't matter what you call it, March of Dimes' premier fundraising walk is all about babies. March for Babies will be held the last weekend in April in hundreds of communities nationwide.

This year, several celebrities have given their support to the March of Dimes' work to help moms and babies – those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive. Tom Bergeron, host of Dancing with the Stars, returns as the 2008 March for Babies national spokesman. Sherri Shepherd, co-host of The View, is the celebrity chairwoman of the Los Angeles March for Babies, while New York Giants Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Eli Manning will serve as the New York City celebrity chairman.

Formerly called WalkAmerica, the 39th annual fundraising walk was renamed to draw a clear connection to what the March of Dimes is all about – stronger, healthier babies. March for Babies participants, nearly a half million in 2007, walk for many reasons; some in memory of a child lost to premature birth, some to spare others the problems they faced, others simply because they believe that the March of Dimes' work in communities nationwide helps give every baby a healthy start in life.

The money raised – which neared $117 million in 2007 – funds lifesaving research and educational programs aimed at helping women in communities across the country have healthy babies.

This year, Bergeron is joined by Shepherd in a playful public service advertisement in which both agree that the name change doesn't change the March of Dimes objective – stronger, healthier babies.

To join March for Babies as an individual, as a corporate, family or friends team, or to donate to help babies be born healthy, visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free 1-800-525-9255. For the first time, March for Babies participants will be able to distribute personalized sponsor requests with photos through an e-card, which can be downloaded at http://ecards.marchforbabies.org.

Babies and Toddlers Need More Sleep, Less TV

Babies and toddlers who get less than 12 hours of sleep a day have a greater risk of being overweight in preschool, according to a Harvard study in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.

Researchers evaluated reports from mothers on their babies' sleep habits, as well as measurements of the child's weight, height and skin-fold thickness. They combined information collected starting when the child was 6 months of age, and then at 1 and 2 years old. When the child reached 2, mothers were asked about their television viewing habits. They found that of the children who slept 12 hours or more a day, 7 percent were obese by the age of 3. Of the short-sleepers, or those who slept less than 12 hours a day, 12 percent were obese by that age. And 17 percent of the short-sleepers who watched two hours or more of TV a day were obese by age 3.

Children's Feet Grow Fast, So Check Them Often

It's no secret that children's feet grow rapidly. Parents should check their youngster's shoes every few weeks to ensure there is adequate space to expand.

"The wrong shoe size can cause foot problems," says Dr. Philip Wilson, an orthopedic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Parents should check the fit of a child's shoe when the child is standing and pay particular attention to the front of shoes. There should be one-half the length of an adult's thumbnail between the tips of the toes and the front of the shoes."

Dr. Wilson also recommends that shoes be wide enough so they don't cramp the child's toes from side to side. Shoes are unnecessary for infants except in cold weather or if the child has started walking and is on a hazardous surface. "When shoes become necessary, parents should purchase inexpensive, well-ventilated soft shoes with flexible, soft soles," Dr. Wilson says.

Giada De Laurentiis Meets Her Gem

Giada De Laurentiis, 37, host of The Food Network's Everyday Italian and Today show contributor, and her husband, Todd Thompson, 44, have welcomed a baby girl, according to People magazine. Jade Marie, born on March 29, weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces. She is the couple's first child.

Tracey Gold Has a Boy, No Fooling

Tracey Gold, 38, former star of TV's Growing Pains, and her husband, Roby Marshall, 42, welcomed a baby boy on April 1. Dylan Christopher weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces and was 21 inches long. This is the couple's fourth child. Dylan joins brothers Sage, 11, Bailey, 8, and Alden Michael, 3.

Exercise May Reduce Risk of Developing Breast Cancer

Exercise not only keeps you fit – it also could reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center speculate that a regular routine of brisk walking, swimming or bicycling may protect against breast cancer by lowering estrogen levels. They believe that estrogen may deactivate genes in breast tissue that suppress breast-cancer development. When estrogen silences these so-called tumor-suppressor genes by a process called methylation, which is reversible, the risk for breast cancer increases.

"So many of the risk factors for breast cancer cannot be modified, such as being a woman, getting older or having a family history," says Dr. Yvonne Coyle, a physician who researches the epidemiology of cancer. "However, physical activity may be a modifiable risk factor allowing for breast cancer risk reduction."