A: Kimberly, it's good that you've noticed your baby's lymph nodes. Sometimes called glands, these are part of the body's immune system to fight off infections. You might feel lymph nodes—like firm balls the size of peas—behind your child's ears, at the back of her head, under her jaw and in her armpits and groin.

It's most common for young children to get swollen lymph nodes with minor illnesses such as colds, ear infections and sore throats. Lymph nodes can also swell when the body is trying to heal the nearby skin. The nodes in your baby's neck could be swollen from teething or from a rash on her head, scalp or ears, such as eczema, cradle cap (seborrhea) or impetigo.

Sometimes, it's difficult to know why a baby's lymph nodes are swollen, so it's a good idea to have your pediatrician check your daughter to make sure she doesn't have an illness or skin condition that needs to be treated.