 <p>Use <code>mouseenter</code> and <code>mouseleave</code>. The problem is that <code>mouseoever</code>/<code>mouseout</code> get triggered when you move between child elements, which you don't want.</p> <p><a href="http://jsfiddle.net/ExplosionPIlls/qNBEJ/3/" rel="nofollow">http://jsfiddle.net/ExplosionPIlls/qNBEJ/3/</a></p>