Parental Guidance

If you are the parent of young children you know how expensive childcare is. But here’s a shocker: you could be spending enough to send your child to college.

A new report from Care.com shows nearly half of families participating in a survey spend $18,000 a year on child care, but 20% of parents spend more than $36,000 a year – more than the average cost of a year of college.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average cost of attending a public four-year state university – including room and board – is $24,030 during the current school year.

More than one-third of respondents to a survey said they have been forced to tap into their savings, on average exhausting a staggering 42% of their savings in 2023, leaving them with little financial flexibility.

'Forced into a financial hole'

“Within the first five years of their child’s life, parents are being forced into a financial hole that is nearly impossible to climb out of,” said Brad Wilson, CEO of Care.com. “A healthy economy depends upon the ability for people to save and spend, but given the crushing weight of childcare costs, those pillars are crumbling. The childcare crisis should be a major red flag for everyone, not just parents. It is a systemic failure that will impact our nation’s economic growth, and that affects us all.”

Derek Thompson, a writer for The Atlantic, recently tweeted that the costs are much higher in New York City, concluding that something’s not right in Gotham City. He cites U.S. Labor Department data showing that the average family with children would need an income of $300,000 to meet the federal guideline of spending no more than 7% of income on childcare. 

Could this become a political issue? It might. The Care.com report found that 88% of respondents said a political candidate’s position on childcare access and affordability would influence their vote.

Getting to and from school is supposed to be a safe activity – supposed to be. But, if your child rides the school bus, there may be more nonsense going on than them getting a noogie or getting their pigtails pulled.

Security company Tenable says it found security flaws in Edulog's Parent Portal, which thousands of K-12 districts use to enable parents to follow their students' bus routes. 

If you’re thinking it’s no big deal, think about this: If someone cunning enough wanted to pinpoint the names of students, what bus they’re riding on, how to contact their parents, the bus’s current location, pick-up and drop-off times, and notifications about delays or route changes, wouldn’t you be a little worried?

It's undetermined just how many kids and parents were at risk. Edulog doesn’t disclose an exact number of app users on its website and did not respond to a ConsumerAffairs request for such data, but those 7,500 school districts it works with are in 49 US states. 

Those include Henrico County Va., (Richmond) where school buses transport 28,000 students daily, Durham N.C., where 18,000 students ride the bus, and Jefferson Co. Public Schools (Louisville) where some 10,000 parents reportedly have downloaded the app after a massive bus issue that caused the school district to close school for a week. 

Edulog takes action – but was it enough?

Fortunately, this story’s ending is half good and half, hmm. When Tenable made Edulog aware of these gaffes, Edulog sat up, listened, and patched  the flaws, so they aren't exposed to cybercriminals anymore. 

The flip side of this is that ConsumerAffairs understands that Edulog has decided not to tell customers that there ever was a security issue, so it’s possible that parents will remain in the dark that their kids could have been tracked by bad actors unless school districts opt to go public with that information.

“Even without the vulnerabilities discovered in the Parent Portal services, there isn’t necessarily anything stopping a malicious actor from signing up for an account and obtaining a registration code for a given school through other means," Jimi Sebree, senior staff research engineer at Tenable said.

"The actor could ask another parent, call the school and pretend to be a parent or simply search for one on the internet."

ConsumerAffairs asked both Edulog and several school districts what was being done in light of the report. Only Peoria Unified (AZ) responded, saying it is working with Edulog on the issue and to its knowledge, there has not been any data breach of its students' data.

Parents, school districts need to take action

Getting to and from school is supposed to be a safe activity, and this is just one of the hundreds of apps and software schools use every day. However, app companies can play it loose with apps that school districts suggest their students use. One report found that 96% of educational apps share children’s personal information with third parties.

“This is a situation where all those involved – Edulog employees, agents for the school districts, and parents using the services – are responsible for making sure the data relating to these services is handled properly,” Tenable said.

Tenable says that any parent concerned about their child’s privacy should examine what data the app developer says it’s using.

The App Store and GooglePlay stores both require apps to list permissions used by the apps. They don't necessarily require any transparency regarding the types of data collected, but if you’re a parent and want something more definitive as to what kinds of information schools are able to share with private parties, FERPA is probably the best reference.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has released its 2022 Toy-Related Deaths and Injuries report for children aged 14 and younger in the United States. 

The data from the last calendar year highlight some of the toys that pose the biggest risk to children’s health and well-being. 

“For toy-related deaths and injuries, it is important to note that although a toy was associated with many of the incidents, the toy was not necessarily the cause of the death or injury,” the CPSC wrote. “Additionally, due to delays in death certificate reporting, fatality information is not yet complete, especially for 2021 and 2022.” 

Toy-related injuries 

Over the course of 2022, the CPSC received information of roughly 209,500 toy-related injuries that required emergency department attention. The report found that the head and face were the most commonly injured parts of the body and lacerations were the most frequent type of injury. 

As for what toys were the source of these injuries: non-motorized scooters. Among all age groups – four years and younger, 12 years and younger, and 14 years and younger – non-motorized scooters accounted for the largest percentage of injuries. 

The CPSC learned that older kids were more likely to experience serious toy-related injuries. Children aged 14 and younger experienced over 75% of such injuries. Comparatively, children aged 12 and younger experienced 69% of these injuries, while children aged four and younger experienced 38%. 

Toy-related deaths

Over the course of 2022, the CPSC learned of 11 toy-related fatalities, all of which were among children under the age of 12. In 2020, there were 12 toy-related fatalities, and in 2021, there were six. 

Balls and bouncy balls were found to be the riskiest toys when it came to children’s mortality in 2022, including both choking and blunt force trauma to the head. Choking was the culprit of the most toy-related fatalities, which was consistent over the last few years. 

There were also a few instances reported of children getting hit by cars while riding their bikes or tricycles, as well as asphyxia from mylar balloons and stuffed animals. 

For parents, it’s important to know what items in their homes might be the biggest risk to their kids’ lives. 

Toy-related injuries are declining

The CPSC report also found that toy-related injuries among all ages have been steadily declining since 2015. That year, the national estimate of toy-related injuries was at 244,400, compared to 209,500 in 2022. 

In the last several years, 2017 had the highest number of toy-related injuries (251,700), and 2020 had the lowest number of toy-related injuries (198,700). 

Summer should be a carefree time for families enjoying the warmer weather and outdoor activities.

But that's not always the case.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) annual drowning and submersion report, fatal child drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries for children under age 15 remain high.

Among the findings

• There was an average of 371 pool- or spa-related fatal drownings reported per year between 2018 and 2020. The good news is the number of fatal drownings in 2020 was 340 -- down approximately 7% from previous year, when 367 children died.
• The number of estimated non-fatal drowning injuries in 2022 was 6,400 -- statistically the same as in 2021.
• Among children under 15, there were -- on average -- an estimated 6,300 pool- or spa-related, hospital emergency department (ED)-treated, nonfatal drowning injuries each year from 2020 through 2022. Seventy-six percent of these nonfatal drowning injuries involved children younger than five years of age.
• Pool- or spa-related fatal child drownings involving children younger than five increased by 10% in 2020 with 279 fatalities reported, compared with 2019 when 254 fatalities were reported. Of the reported pool- or spa-related fatal child drownings, 75% involved children younger than five years of age.
• Where location was known, 80% of reported fatal child drownings occurred in residential settings such as the victim’s home, or that of a family member, friend, or neighbor, with 91% of those drownings occurring in those younger than five years of age.
• Child drownings continue to be the leading cause of death among children ages one to four years old. CPSC urges families with young children and those in historically excluded communities to make water safety a priority, particularly as they spend more time in and around pools during the summer.

Racial disparities in drowning fatalities

Out of the 63% of all drowning fatalities involving children whose race is identified, African American children made up 21% of all drownings.

For older children -- aged five to 14 with race identified -- 45% of drowning deaths involved African Americans. These data highlight the need to reach historically excluded communities with water safety information and support, said CPSC.

What you can do

“The fatalities from drowning and non-fatal drowning injuries are still high, so water safety vigilance remains crucially important this summer and all year,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “CPSC urges parents and caregivers to follow Pool Safely safety steps.

Specifically:

• Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and always designate an adult Water Watcher. This person should not be reading, texting, using a phone or being otherwise distracted. In addition to pools and spas, this warning includes bathtubs, buckets, decorative ponds, and fountains.
• If you own a pool or spa, install layers of protection, including barriers to prevent an unsupervised child from accessing the water. Homes can use door alarms, pool covers, and self-closing, self-latching devices on fence gates and doors that access pools.
• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. Many communities offer online CPR training.
• Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes, and other openings to avoid entrapments.
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards. If you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safer drain covers.

A list of CPSC pool safety tips may be found here.

Sleep is important for any child, but safe sleep is of the utmost importance for newborns and infants. 

While it’s not uncommon for parents to put infants in a sleeper or lounger, safety in these chairs continues to be the top priority. Now, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning consumers about the safety risks of a specific infant lounger: the Momaid lounger. 

“The loungers fail to meet the safety requirements of the CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule because they do not have a stand,” the agency wrote. “In addition, the lounger fails to meet the side height, markings and labeling, and instructional literature requirements. These failures create an unsafe sleeping environment for infants.” 

As part of the CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule, manufacturers are also required to print the manufacturing date, as this helps identify products that were sold before and after these safety rules were put into place. The Momaid loungers don’t have this information, or any kind of tracking label, making it difficult to know if the products were manufactured under previously unsafe regulations. 

According to the agency, failure to meet these standards increases infants’ risk of falling or suffocation. 

What to avoid

For consumers who may have one of these loungers at home or want to know what to avoid, Momaid is selling the loungers as follows: Baby Lounger Portable Infant Co Sleeping Bassinet Newborn Cocoon Snuggle Reversible Bed Nest Travel Crib. 

They typically list for $55 on Amazon and other popular websites, and they come in four different colors – Blue Palm Leaf, Pink Lychee Leaf, Blue Lychee Leaf, and Banana Gray Leaf – and they also come with a pillow. 

According to the CPSC, the product comes from Zhejiang Juster Trading LLC. At the time this warning was issued, the company had opposed formally recalling the product, disagreeing with the agency's conclusions. 

Should any parents have these loungers at home, the CPSC encourages you to stop using them immediately and dispose of them. The CPSC is working now to stop the sale of these infant sleepers. 

Promoting safe infant sleep habits

The CSPC released its Infant Sleep Products Rule in June of 2022 at the same time that the American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidelines to promote safe sleep among this vulnerable population. 

Below are some of the tips for parents to consider when preparing for naps or bedtime with infants: 

• Keep infants flat on their backs and on level surfaces when sleeping 

• Never have infants sleeping with stuffed animals, toys, blankets, or pillows 

• Infants – especially those under four months old – shouldn’t be sleeping in their car seats or on any inclined surfaces 

• Infants don’t need to be swaddled beyond three or four months old (this can be dangerous once babies become more mobile)

• Be vigilant about any products marketed toward reducing the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), as no official evidence has come out regarding specific products protecting infants’ health. 

With summer vacation right around the corner, it’s time for parents to start thinking about summer plans for their kids. While trips to amusement parks or days at the beach might be on your calendar, what happens when it rains? 

To help parents fill the summer days in ways that don’t involve TVs, tablets, or other avenues for screen time, the Toy Association has released its top 30 Summer Learning STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Toys. 

To make it on the list, toys were required to pass the Toy Association’s STEAM Assessment Framework, which has three key factors: 

• ‘Good Toy’ characteristics: fun and engaging, easy to use, supports skill development, and inclusive

• Prime STEAM Attributes: real-world relevance, active involvement, arts, logical thinking, free exploration, and supports step-by-step learning

• Specific STEM Categories: science, technology, engineering, and math 

“The new framework provides detailed, age-by-age criteria (2-3 years, 4-6 years, 7-9 years, 10-12 years, and 12+ years) for each STEM-specific category,” the Assessment Framework states. “It draws on child development milestones, a collection of U.S. learning standards, and an independent review of existing STEAM toys. 

“Working within the framework to be considered a STEAM toy, the toy must have: 

• All four characteristics of a ‘Good Toy’ 

• All six prime STEAM attributes

• Potential to support at least two of the specific STEM categories

Which toys made the list?

The Toy Associations’ official Summer Learning STEAM Toy List is as follows: 

• 92 Piece Ball Run Pack (Connetix)

• Ant Mountain (Insect Lore)

• Build-A-Bubble (South Beach Bubbles)

• Builder Motor Set (Brio)

• Carnival Plus Set (Magformers)

• Cookie Festival (Weplay)

• Cubendi (Fun in Motion Toys)

• Curious Kingdom (Playper)

• Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks (Melissa & Doug)

• Discovery #MINDBLOWN Action Circuitry Electronic Experiment Set (Discovery)

• Discovery #MINDBLOWN Dinosaur Construction Set (Discovery)

• DUPLO My First Puppy & Kitten with Sounds (LEGO)

• Freefall (ThinkFun)

• Geomag 75pcs (Geomagworld)

• Get Well Doctor’s Kit Play Set (Melissa & Doug)

• Giant Tumbling Timber (Giantville Games)

• Gravitrax Starter Set (Ravensburger)

• Jumbo Circus (Weplay)

• Marble Rush Tip and Swirl Set (VTech)

• Mini Diamond 120pc + Figures + Car Set (Picasso Tiles)

• National Geographic Dinosaur Terrarium (Blue Marble)

• National Geographic Mega Craft Kit (Blue Marble)

• National Geographic Mega Science Magic Kit (Blue Marble)

• Snap Circuits Green Energy (Elenco)

• Snap Circuits Junior (Elenco)

• Stanley Jr. DIY Pull Back Airplane Kit (Red Toolbox)

• STEM Master Builder 24pc Set (Magformers)

• STEM Master Builder 14pc Set (Magformers)

• Supercolor Panels 78pcs (Geomagworld)

• Trestle Tracks Deluxe Set (Fat Brain Toy Co.)

“Each of the carefully curated STEAM toys on the list can offer children hours of educational fun,” said Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing at The Toy Association. “Parents can feel confident in knowing these are quality toys that will invite kids to be actively and independently involved in their learning, while teaching them fundamental STEAM skills in creative and exciting ways.” 

If you blew it on Mother’s Day and didn’t get mom a gift, not to worry – the U.S. government has a few they’d like to give her, and all the stepmoms, grandmothers, and mother figures as thanks for all they do.

Nope, it’s not candy or flowers or a rebate check for being a good mom, but rather four little-known programs that financially support women and mothers who take care of themselves and their flock.

Child Care help

Anyone who has an infant knows that the cost of childcare is a runaway train. The median yearly childcare price for one child in center-based infant care now runs more than $8,000 in small counties to more than $17,000 in very large counties. Even the parents who opt for home-based infant care could be looking at anywhere from $6,000-$11,000 out of pocket. 

Luckily, the Child Care and Development Fund helps low-income families with children under 13 afford childcare. The program helps make sure that children are safe, healthy, and growing while their parents are working or attending school.

Additionally, the Child Care Resource and Referral Services program helps find childcare programs that meet a family’s needs. In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be a parent or primary caregiver responsible for children under the age of 19 years or responsible for a child(ren) with a disability.

Nutrition help

The WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education to women who are pregnant, nursing, postpartum, or with children feve years old or younger – if they are considered low income. Services are also available to infants and children up to age five who are nutritionally vulnerable. 

An added benefit of WIC is that it can be combined with other programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. 

The WIC’s How to Apply page has further information.

Women's Health Care Benefits for Veterans

Moms who have served in the military have the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to thank for six comprehensive medical services for women. These services include:

• Health promotion and disease prevention

• Primary care

• Mental health services

• Women's gender-specific health care (e.g., hormone replacement therapy, breast and gynecological care, maternity, and limited infertility

• Acute medical/surgical, telephone, emergency, and substance abuse treatment

• In-home, rehabilitation, and long-term care

This program is available at all VA Medical Centers and the only qualification is that an applicant has to be enrolled in the VA health care system or qualify based on one of the exceptions in the law. Anyone interested should check out the Basic Medical Benefits Package for Veterans to see the complete program requirements.

Family Planning Services

Several local clinics are operated by Family Planning Services to provide family planning and preventive health services to women and their families. To help you decide how many and how far apart to have children, these services include educational resources, medical screenings, and social services. The Clinic Finder will help you locate a clinic near you and how to apply.

And there are federal benefits for more than just parents, too

If you think that the only people who receive federal benefits are low-income Americans, you’d be wrong. Yes, a lot of public benefits go to senior citizens who’ve paid for those services over a lifetime of work, but many middle-class families are eligible for these programs. 

To find out what benefits and resources you might qualify for, check out the U.S. government's Benefit Finder. The form can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes to finish, but once you have completed the questionnaire, you will receive a list of government benefits you may be eligible for and where you can apply. By the way, all answers are kept confidential. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Baby Trend are warning parents about a risk of head or neck entrapment between the pivoting front canopy and the armrest or seat back of Baby Trend’s Sit N’ Stand Double and Ultra strollers.

Affected strollers have model numbers beginning with “SS76” or “SS66." The company has not issued a recall.

A child’s head or neck can become trapped by the canopy if another child climbs on the exterior of the stroller or when a child in the front seat of the stroller is not securely restrained in the seat using all five points of the harness. Entrapment could lead to a loss of consciousness, serious injury, or death.

Baby Trend has received one report of neck entrapment in the space between the front of the canopy tube and armrest of a Baby Trend Sit N’ Stand double stroller, resulting in the asphyxiation death of a non-occupant 14-month-old whose father was nearby but was unable to see the child. 

Baby Trend has also received one report of entrapment in the space between the back of the canopy tube and the seat back of the front seat, resulting in neck bruises to a 17-month-old child, who was partially secured. 

Remove the canopy

Consumers can mitigate the hazard by removing and separately storing the canopy when not in use, not allowing children to play on the strollers, and always fully securing children in the strollers with the built-in five-point harness. 

The Sit N’ Stand Double and Ultra strollers, model numbers beginning SS76 or SS66, have a black or silver frame and a black tray at the front with oval cutouts on the sides. “Sit N’ Stand” is printed in white on the sides of the frame. “Baby Trend” is printed on the side of the mesh basket under the seat. The model number is printed on a sticker located on the left inside rear of the frame, near the left rear axle. The Sit N’ Stand strollers have been sold nationwide since 2009.

The popular strollers have been and are sold online at www.babytrend.com, Amazon.com, bedbathandbeyond.com and other online retailers. They have also been sold in stores such as  Walmart, Target, Kohl’s, and buybuy BABY.

What to do

Instructions on how to remove the detachable canopy for Sit N’ Stand Double or Ultra strollers with model numbers beginning SS76 or SS66 are provided in the product manual.  Consumers are encouraged to report incidents or injuries associated with the Baby Trend Sit N’ Stand Double or Ultra strollers or with any product to CPSC at www.SaferProducts.gov. 

Consumers may also direct questions regarding Baby Trend products to Baby Trend at 800-328-7363 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time Monday through Friday or by email at info@babytrend.com.

Are you looking for the location for your kid’s next birthday party? You may need to look no further than your local Lowe’s store. 

The home improvement store has announced that it will begin hosting kids’ birthday parties. The goal is to expose kids to building from a young age, while also supplying parents with everything they need for a successful birthday party. 

“Home improvement is about the whole family and that’s why we have Weekending at Lowe’s events every Saturday at our stores, including our kids’ workshops that help us feel connected to our littlest DIYers,” said Jen Wilson, senior vice president, enterprise brand and marketing at Lowe’s. “And this launch is a natural extension of that relationship – not only do we want to inspire future builders, but we want DIY – and Lowe’s – to be an integral part of family milestones and memories.” 

Getting creative with kids 

Lowe’s will kick off its Build a Birthday series in 10 markets across the country: 

• Franklin, TN

• North Peoria, AZ

• Orem, UT

• Central Dallas, TX

• Brooklyn, NY

• Naperville, IL

• Eastlake, CA

• North Bergen, NJ 

• Huntersville, NC

• Noblesville, IN

The parties are designed for kids ages five and older and can accommodate as many as 20 kids. The base party packages are for parties of 12 kids, and parents have the option to upgrade to include 20. 

Every child gets some Lowe's swag

Every child in attendance will receive a DIY project kit and a party favor from Lowe’s, which includes backpacks, water bottles, or t-shirts. Parents will have the opportunity to book their children’s birthday parties on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, and they can upgrade their party package to include pizza, dessert, and drinks from Domino’s

The DIY projects include race cars, wooden castles, or even custom shelves, and all kids will receive the proper safety equipment to help prevent any potential injuries.

The group will also be assisted by a Lowe’s employee to guide them through the building project and teach them the ins and outs of these activities. 

For more information, click here. 

“Synthetic identity fraud” isn’t a term that’s batted about much in the news, but it may be the biggest problem facing Americans today. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that nearly 85% of all identity theft cases are actually synthetic – meaning that a fraudster creates a new identity using a combination of real and fake information. 

This might include using a real Social Security number (SSN) along with a fake name and address or using a real name and address with a fake SSN. The goal is to create an identity that appears legitimate to financial institutions and government agencies, which can then be used to open new accounts, apply for loans, get a credit card, buy a car, collect unemployment, or commit other forms of fraud.

“Think of it as Frankenstein fraud since thieves piece together information from different people to create one new identity,” the Security.org team said in a new report covering the issue.

The biggest targets are children

Children are excellent targets for synthetic ID fraud because they are basically unmonitored in the world of consumerism, with no real credit history for a creditor to take a look at. 

“[Fraudsters] prefer numbers issued in the past 18 years since they’re likely to belong to minors. Children typically don’t apply for loans or credit until age 18, giving criminals ten or even 15 years to wreak havoc before anyone notices,” the researchers said.

The sad thing is that if a child’s SSN has been purloined by a fraudster, by the time they go out in the real world, their creditworthiness could be laid to waste. Student loan? Forget it. New home? Forget it. 

According to Security.org’s report, two out of every three parents are clueless about synthetic identity fraud. Most never check their children’s credit reports or use credit monitoring services to track their children’s credit activity. 

How the game is played

The moment an identity thief gains access to a Social Security number, they’re off to the races. Step number one is applying for credit online. And if they’re turned down? No biggie. And if they apply for $1,000 credit line and only get $500, no great loss there because they’re $500 richer, and if they’re smart, they pay the $500 off on time so they can start a credit history – one which will eventually bring in larger credit limits.

At a point where an ID thief amasses $10,000 to $15,000 worth of credit, a “bust out” occurs, and the perpetrators go on a shopping spree, then – poof! – evaporate from the credit scene, no longer worrying about debt. After all, those things they bought on their way out aren’t really attached to their credit history, but some 10-year-old kid in Paducah, Ky. whose SSN they stole.

And parents will know their child is a victim quickly, too. They’ll start to get documents relating to unemployment benefits you never applied for, credit card offers in the mail, and maybe even a letter from the IRS about delinquent taxes or notices that your government benefits application or student loan application has been denied.

How parents can protect their kids’ SSNs

The Security.org team said the first box parents should check is limiting the number of places where their child’s SSN appears. For example, you might keep the physical card with the number in a locked file drawer and perhaps keep a password-protected computer file with the number.

Other tips to protect your child’s data include:

• Don’t give out SSNs whenever requested. Camps, caregivers, and schools must have a good reason to ask for kids' SSNs. Often, they do not, so leaving SSN fields blank is a parent’s right.

• Be very selective about who can access personal data. The researchers said that more often than not, victims of synthetic identity theft know the perpetrator. It could be the parent of a friend or a weird uncle, but locking up a kid’s Social Security card and number can help protect their identity.

• Check with your child’s school about their cybersecurity policies and encourage them to strengthen their standards. Also, find out how they protect your child’s data during online educational activities.

• Teach your kids what’s appropriate to share when chatting with people online: Explain to your kids that they should not share home addresses, phone numbers, SSNs, and other data online, and monitor their online activities.

• Check your child’s credit score – maybe even set up monitoring their credit. Better safe than sorry. And, remember, credit scores are free.

And if your child’s SSN is stolen and winds up in the hands of a synthetic identity thief? The first thing to do is to go to identitytheft.gov to get started on a recovery plan. There, you can pick and choose the situation that fits you best. For example, if someone files a federal tax return using your information or used your (or your child’s) details to file for unemployment insurance. 

Also, contact all the companies where you know fraud happened. “When contacting the company or firm where the fraud occurred, explain that someone stole your child's identity and opened fraudulent accounts,” the researchers suggested.

“Say your child is a minor and cannot enter legal contracts. Have the company close the account and send a letter confirming your child is not liable for the account, and always note who you talked to and the times of your conversations.”

Parents with sick children this season have sometimes struggled to find pain relief medicine. Now both CVS and Walgreens have begun to limit purchases of the medications amid short supplies.

CVS shoppers can only buy two children’s pain relief products in one transaction. Walgreens is more lenient, allowing online shoppers to purchase as many as six products in one transaction. It has no limit on in-store purchases.

Walmart said it has seen a significant increase in demand for children’s health products but has been able to keep enough of the products on store shelves to meet the demand.

The shortage has little to do with supply chains. Both chains say the shortages are being driven by an outbreak of upper respiratory infections in children over the last few months.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) says it has remained in contact with its member companies that manufacture pediatric analgesics, including liquid formulations. It says the companies are operating facilities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are not currently experiencing widespread shortages.  

‘Recent and rapid increase in demand’

“The reason for the scarcity of OTC children’s pain relievers at certain retail locations is a direct result of the recent and rapid increase in demand driven by a rise in pediatric cases of respiratory illnesses including the flu, COVID, and RSV,” CHPA said in a statement. “Manufacturers are producing at full capacity and directing product inventory to where it is needed most. However, we understand it might be frustrating for parents to quickly locate these products from their usual pharmacy or retailer due to intermittent out-of-stocks.”

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, has been widespread across the U.S. since early fall. It is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. 

Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than one year of age in the United States.

While RSV is surging, there has also been an uptick in COVID-19 cases, especially in California. This year’s flu season is also the worst since before the pandemic. Healthcare providers have dubbed it a “tripledemic.”

There is no shortage of studies that have looked at the ways that too much time in front of screens can be detrimental to kids. Researchers have found that excessive screen time can affect everything from kids’ vision, to physical health, and overall mental well-being. 

With the holidays right dead ahead, kids are gearing up for holiday break. With electronics an ever-present part of our day-to-day lives, how can parents ensure they’re actually connecting and spending time with their kids when they’re not in school? 

Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development is a nonprofit organization that works to understand the media’s impact on child development. This holiday season, it's offering parents 13 tips on how to encourage ditching screens and creating more personal connections with kids. 

“The holidays can be a period of increased screen time for kids, whether it’s more time playing video games, scrolling through Instagram, or binging the latest series,” the organization wrote. “But it can also be a great opportunity to establish new habits, spend more quality time with family, and set intentions for the new year.” 

Going screen-free for the holidays

The goal of these tips is to help families spend more time together – and less time looking at tablets, smartphones, laptop screens, and TVs. Here is what experts from Children and Screens recommend for having a screen-free holiday season: 

• Set Goals: Holidays mean a holiday break. With no school, kids have more free time, and rather than assume they’ll spend that time in front of screens, plan ahead with your little ones. Think about other activities they can engage in, friends or family they can see, or games they can play that don’t involve screens. 

• Go Screen Free: Create designated times when all devices are put away. Make sure that everyone in the family abides by these rules. With no one in front of screens, it’s the perfect time to connect with each other. 

• Have Fun with Dinner Time Conversations: Without phones, dinnertime can still be fun and exciting for families. Children and Screens experts encourage families to play games at the dinner table, ask each other interesting questions, or take the time to learn more about each other. 

• Embrace Boredom: While it may feel difficult for many kids – and parents! – being bored is okay. Not having a phone or computer at the ready gives kids more time to tap into their imaginations and let their minds wander to creative places. 

• Create and Explore Together: The holidays are a great time to do things as a family. This can mean doing simple activities together, like playing board games or looking through old family photo albums. 

• Find Balance: Instead of spending all of the holiday break in front of different screens, this is a great opportunity for kids to try an assortment of different things. There’s time to read books, visit with friends or family, participate in holiday traditions, and even have screen time – when it’s balanced with other activities.

• Get Engaged: The holidays are a great time for parents to join in this screen-free challenge with their kids. Brainstorm ideas of things to do, places to visit, or activities to do together. 

• Take Screen Time Breaks: Experts recommend that for every hour of screen time, kids take a 10-15 minute break. Any activity that doesn’t involve screens counts as a break. 

• Take Time for Others: Giving back to those in need – especially during the holidays – can be incredibly fulfilling for families to do together – whether that’s donating clothes or volunteering at local organizations. 

• Share the Love: Use the holiday break to share love with a family member or friend every day. Children and Screens encourages families to pick a new family member – either who lives in the house, or who’s part of the extended family – or friend every day of the holiday season to shower with love. 

• Stick to Routine: While the usual day-to-day routine is likely to change without school, it’s still important for kids to have a schedule. Any rules that are typically in effect regarding screen time should be maintained during breaks from school. 

• Stay Connected: It’s important for kids to feel and stay connected to their friends. Though this is likely to entail a lot of virtual communication with school out of session, balance between screen time and screen-free time is key. 

• Motivational Interview Activity: Parents can help kids better understand their screen time habits by asking them thoughtful questions. These kinds of conversations can also be more likely to set future change in motion in regard to kids’ screen time habits. 

For more insights on child development and screen time – for the holidays and beyond – visit Children and Screens.

What parent doesn’t want their child to have an opportunity to grow cognitively? Ever since Teddy Ruxpin started talking to kids in 1985, toy manufacturers have continued to up the ante on building toys that could elevate a child’s learning.

Now, however, some manufacturers may have gone too far – collecting and using data about the children who interact with their toys, according to a new report from the U.S. PIRG Education Fund. Smart Decisions about Smart Toys: High-tech toys can put children at risk builds on the group’s recent investigation of dangerous toys undertaken for the recent 37th annual Trouble in Toyland report. 

How far is too far? As an example, the manufacturer of the software that brings the Fuzzible Friends Alexa-connected toy to life states in its privacy policy that it may receive the geolocation and transcripts of a child’s interactions with the toy, contingent on parental consent.

And, get this – if a child happens to say their age while playing with the toy, that information would be included in the transcript the company receives. 

“Toys are toys. They shouldn’t be devices companies use to harvest our children's personal information, picture or voice,” said R.J. Cross, director of PIRG Education Fund's Don’t Sell My Data campaign.

“Unnecessary data collection puts our children at risk. Toy manufacturers must take the safety and security of children seriously.”

'We have your data and we’ll have it forever'

Think about this. In the wrong hands, the possibility exists that a 3-year-old toddler’s data could be repurposed over and over again, year after year.

Cross said that toy manufacturers may partner with other tech companies to process and store data, and if they feel they’ve reserved the right to share a child’s data with other parties, they could possibly sell or share that data further, including to third-party marketers. 

And with cyber thieves as cunning as they are in breaching a company’s user data pool, the chances a child’s data will be exposed in a breach or a hack grows exponentially. In fact, that’s already happened.

In one instance, when smart toy manufacturer Vtech’s data was breached in 2015, the names, birthdays, genders, and even photos and voice recordings of 6.4 million children were exposed online. 

Other risks include unsecured internet connections which can allow a toy to become an eavesdropping device, a microphone that bad actors could potentially use to talk to kids, and toys with companion apps that may include in-app purchases, where kids may run up big bills by accident. 

Before you buy your child a 'smart toy,' take these precautions

U.S. PIRG offers a complete guide as to what parents should consider before buying their child a smart toy, but the basics are simple. If a toy has any of the following features, a parent would be wise to reconsider purchasing it unless they also have the ability to set time limits, control privacy, etc.:

• Cameras, microphones or sensors

• Chat functions

• Location sharing

• In-app purchases

• Programming to accomplish a high level of individual personalization

“Read the fine print,” Cross urges. “Look at the terms & conditions and privacy policies for answers to key questions like what data does the toy gather about my child, what does the manufacturer use it for, and does the manufacturer share my child’s data with other companies?”

Parents and caregivers are being warned not to use the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold by Otteroo Corporation.

An evaluation of the devices by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) found they can deflate during use or storage. As a result, the child occupant may slide out of the product into the water, leading to serious injury or death.

A a six-month old infant died by drowning in 2020 in Maine after slipping through an Otteroo infant flotation ring.

In a separate incident in New York in 2020, a three-month old infant was seriously injured.

Several devices pose concern

At issue are the LUMI and MINI infant flotation rings sold nationwide since January 2014, and discontinued models of infant flotation rings: the Version 1, sold from 2014 to 2015, and the Version 2, sold from 2015 to 2018.

According to CPSC, there have been 68 incidents where infants slipped through the head opening of the flotation ring and required immediate rescue.

CPSC is urging consumers not to buy the Otteroo infant flotation rings, and advises those who own one to stop using it and dispose of it immediately.

Additionally, consumers should NOT resell or donate the Otteroo infant flotation rings to avoid putting other infants in danger by the hazard.

Pushback from Otteroo

Otteroo has taken issue with the CPSC warning.

It claims the neck floats come with thorough safety instructions and warnings which -- if followed -- will ensure safe use.

Otteroo also says the warnings make it clear that neck floats are meant to be used under close and constant adult supervision.

And it contends there are inconsistencies and limited evidence concerning whether the neck floats were directly responsible.

The firm has refused to agree to CPSC’s request for an acceptable recall.

If AT&T is your carrier and you’ve got kiddos in the family, that combination is being fused by the carrier with the launch of its first kids-focused tablet.

The tablet is a version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite where the hardware and software are designed specifically with parents of young kids in mind – easy to set up and restricted access to apps, the internet, and other safety points of concern.

In an email to ConsumerAffairs, an AT&T spokesperson said that the table is perfect for little hands, too, with an 8.7-inch display with a rugged, durable case to handle the toughest of tough love and a battery life estimated at up to 11 hours. 

The price and the bonus content

Consumers actually have two price options: They can either purchase the device online or in stores for $250 upfront or spread that $250 over 36 months (a little less than $7/mo.).* 

AT&T customers also get access to Samsung’s Kids platform for free. That way, parents have the ability to quickly toggle out of “kids mode” and use the tablet like any other tablet when they need it.

*(0% APR, 36-mo. installment agreement with. $0 down for well-qualified customers. Tax on full price due at sale. Credit card may be req'd [except MA, PA, ND]. $35 activation fee and other fees may apply). 

And the all-important parental controls

Parental controls are nothing to be messed with and both Apple and Google (for Android) have made sure that those controls remain well-guarded.

AT&T/Samsung are following suit with the new tablet, allowing parents to set limits on playtime as well as give access to specific contacts and apps. Parents can also check the usage report to see what their child is doing or make sure they’re only seeing what’s appropriate when using this tablet.

How do you know if this tablet is the “right” device for your child? When that question was posed to AT&T, they said this:

“AT&T has teamed up with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to create free digital resources found on AT&T ScreenReady to help families use technology safely and responsibly. Parents can use the AAP’s interactive Family Media Plan tool to help create healthy digital habits for their family.”

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania explored some of the risks associated with adolescents’ behavior patterns. According to their findings, being impulsive during the early adolescent years can lead to poorer behaviors down the road.

“Kids with impulse control problems are at risk for a variety of adverse outcomes, such as drug use, acting-out behavior, and antisocial behavior,” said researcher Dan Romer.

“What we’ve found is that you’ve got to start mitigating impulsivity before it starts influencing behaviors that lead to substance use and antisocial behavior disorders. Once adolescents are on a trajectory of engaging in those behaviors, it may become more difficult to prevent disorders later in adolescence than it is to treat impulsivity itself.”

Targeting impulsivity

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 365 kids enrolled in the Philadelphia Trajectory Study. Participants were between the ages of 10 and 12 when the study began. They were interviewed once per year for six years and then completed one final interview two years later. During the interviews, they answered questions primarily about their behaviors and their choices at each stage of adolescence. 

The study highlighted impulsivity in early adolescence as a marker of future behavior. When the study began, children who were the most impulsive were the most likely to experience changes to their personality in later adolescence, including antisocial behavior and alcohol use disorder.  

However, for participants who developed more impulsive traits later in adolescence, this behavioral shift wasn’t as likely. The researchers found that antisocial behavior became an important predictor of future behavioral outcomes. 

“It is also important to target antisocial behavior to interrupt the cascade that predicts both alcohol use disorder and antisocial personality disorder,” said researcher Ivy Defoe. “In fact, the study showed that increases in antisocial behavior in mid- to late-adolescence further predicted increases in impulsivity as well. This is consistent with labeling theory that suggests that individuals who show antisocial behavior are subsequently labeled as ‘antisocial’ or ‘rule-breakers,’ which causes them to further exhibit attributes that are associated with such behavior.” 

The researchers hope more work is done to better identify young people who may be struggling with their mental health to help prevent potentially harmful behaviors as they grow into adulthood. They recommend an increase in screenings for these conditions, as well as mindfulness interventions geared towards adolescents. 

Mothers affect their kids both physically and mentally by how they interact with them. Now, researchers from the University of Houston are exploring how moms’ personal lives can affect their kids’ attachment styles. 

According to their findings, mothers who struggle with their own interpersonal relationships are more likely to have kids who develop an insecure attachment style, which can ultimately affect kids well into adulthood. 

“When mothers struggle in their own interpersonal relationships, the passing on of secure attachment and healthy relationship functioning to adolescent offspring seem to be impeded,” said researcher Carla Sharp. “Maternal interpersonal problems were associated with higher levels of insecure attachment in adolescent offspring such that adolescents would either dismiss the need for attachment with their moms or show angry preoccupation with the relationships with their moms.” 

Developing attachment issues

The researchers interviewed 351 pairs of mothers and children who were receiving inpatient psychiatric care. Children were asked specifically about their attachment to the people in their lives and the effect it has had on them. Mothers were asked to report on what they remembered about bonding with their own mothers. Both groups also answered questions about how close they felt to other people, if they struggled to feel close with other people, or if they tried too hard to please others. 

The study showed that when mothers struggled to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships – platonic, familial, or romantic – their children were more likely to have attachment issues. The researchers also found that this could be generational; mothers involved in the study who had poor experiences with their mothers were more likely to struggle in their relationships with their own kids. 

The researchers explained that all parents are hoping their children develop a secure attachment; this is when kids feel emotionally supported and connected to their parents and view them as comforting figures. However, this study highlighted the other attachment styles – insecure, dismissing, and preoccupied -- often create insecure attachments in kids.

Kids with insecure attachments will either completely reject a connection with their parents or have an unhealthy preoccupation with their relationship. Over time, this can affect mental health by increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. It can also be detrimental to social relationships and increase the risk of substance abuse. 

While many parents want to prepare their kids academically to start kindergarten, a new study conducted by researchers from Penn State suggests that sleep is an equally important factor for kindergarten readiness. 

According to the team's findings, the transition to kindergarten is likely to be easier when kids get comfortable with a consistent bedtime routine before starting school full-time. 

“We found that children who had 10 or more hours of sleep per night on a regular basis, particularly before the kindergarten year began, tended to maintain that more optimal sleep pattern across their full kindergarten year,” said researcher Doug Teti.

“This has significant implications for anyone interested in promoting healthier sleep patterns in children making the transition to first-time schooling; parents should do what they can to help their children regularly get most – if not all – of their sleep during night hours before the school year even begins.” 

The benefits of a sleep schedule

For the study, the researchers had 220 kids wear activity trackers to measure their sleep habits. They picked four one-week sessions starting in the summer months before kindergarten and then assessed sleep again in September, November, and April. The kids’ kindergarten teachers also answered questions about the children’s kindergarten preparedness and how well they transitioned into the new school year. 

The researchers found that children who got at least 10 hours of sleep each night had the most successful transition into kindergarten. The findings also showed that consistently getting this level of sleep was tied to better academic success, emotional development, and learning engagement.

The researchers noted that these benefits were only identified when kids were regularly sleeping for 10 or more hours each night. One night of not getting enough sleep, or trying to make up for lost nighttime sleep with a daytime nap, wasn’t effective.

“Good sleep hygiene appears to be just as beneficial for young children as it is for adults,” said Teti. “Establishing habits that lead to a good night’s sleep before the kindergarten year begins seems to give kids a leg up when making that transition to formal schooling."

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan Medicine explored the harm that too much screen time can have on kids’ vision.

Their findings showed that excessive time in front of screens can increase the likelihood that children become nearsighted. However, the team says many parents aren’t aware of these risks.

“Many parents may not be aware of both the short and long-term health issues linked to excessive screen time, including its effect on children’s eyes,” said researcher Sarah Clark. “Our findings suggest that some parents may have inaccurate perceptions of activities that affect their child’s eye health and vision to minimize risks.” 

Knowledge gap surrounding screen time

The researchers surveyed over 2,000 parents who had children between the ages of three and 18. Parents answered questions about their kids’ screen time habits, their experience at the eye doctor, how much time they spend outdoors, and other lifestyle habits. 

The survey showed that just half of the parents knew about the effect that screen time can have on their kids’ vision. The researchers explained that a lot of time on devices combined with little time outdoors can increase the likelihood that kids become nearsighted. These vision problems can worsen over time and increase their risk of other complications. 

The researchers also found that less than 30% of parents reported that their kids wore blue light glasses. The team explained that blue light may not affect vision, but it can affect kids’ sleep quality. They recommend that kids stay off screens and avoid blue light within one hour before bedtime.

Eye exams and sun protection

In addition to screen time, the survey also looked at what other factors parents consider important for protecting their children’s vision. Many parents also weren’t clear on the effect of the sun on eyesight, with just two in five parents reporting that they have their kids wear sunglasses when outdoors. Experts have long suggested that parents take measures to protect their kids’ eyes when they’re out in the sun. 

“While parents often make sure their children’s skin is protected with sunscreen, they may not think about protecting their eyes from the sun as well,” said Clark. 

In this study, one in seven parents reported that their kids hadn’t been to an eye doctor in two years. However, to ensure that kids’ vision remains strong and healthy, the team encourages parents to make yearly eye doctor appointments.

“Children should get vision tests at least every two years to make sure eyes are developing properly,” Clark said. “It’s important to identify and treat vision problems as early as possible, because undiagnosed vision issues can lead to serious eye conditions in the future, including permanent vision loss.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton explored how vitamin D may benefit infants. According to their findings, women who take vitamin D throughout pregnancy may help lower their babies’ risk of developing eczema. 

“We know that vitamin D can affect the immune system and the proteins that make up our skin,” said researcher Keith Godfrey. “We were interested to know if vitamin D supplements taken by pregnant women would have an impact on their child’s risk of atopic eczema. 

“Our findings showed a positive effect, which was more evident in infants that breastfed. This may reflect supplementation during pregnancy increasing the amount of vitamin D in breast milk.”  

Benefits of vitamin D

The researchers had 700 pregnant women involved in the study. Half of the women took 1,000 IU of vitamin D from the time they were 14 weeks pregnant through delivery; the other half took a placebo throughout their pregnancies. The team followed the women and their infants through pregnancy and the first four years of the infants’ lives. 

The study showed that taking vitamin D supplements helped lower the risk of atopic eczema through infants’ first 12 months of life. Ultimately, there was no link between vitamin D and eczema beyond the first year of infants’ lives. 

“We found no effect at 24 and 48 months suggesting that other postnatal influences might become more important beyond infancy or that the babies themselves might also need to be supplemented during the postnatal period for a sustained effect,” said researcher Dr. Sarah El-Heis. 

The team found that vitamin D was even more protective for infants who were breastfed than infants who were formula-fed. Breastfeeding for at least one month and taking vitamin D during pregnancy provided the lowest risk of eczema for infants involved in the study. Based on these findings, the researchers hope more women consider incorporating vitamin D supplements into their pregnancy regimens. 

“Our results showed that babies of mothers who received supplements had a lower chance of having atopic eczema at 12 months, which supports recommendations for vitamin D supplements to be routine during pregnancy,” Dr. El-Heis said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health explored how different times of year may affect women’s reproductive health. According to their findings, women may be at a higher risk of miscarriage during the summer months as opposed to the winter months. 

“Any time you see seasonal variation in an outcome, it can give you hints about causes of that outcome,” said researcher Amelia Wesselink. “We found that miscarriage risk, particularly risk of ‘early’ miscarriage before eight weeks of gestation, was highest in the summer. Now we need to dig into that more to understand what kinds of exposures are more prevalent in the summer, and which of these exposures could explain the increased risk of miscarriage.” 

Summertime health risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data on more than 6,100 women enrolled in the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO). The study follows women from the time of conception through six months after delivery, and the women shared information on pregnancy loss, lifestyle, medical history, and sociodemographics. 

The researchers identified a link between miscarriage risk and time of year. Women involved in the study were at a 31% higher risk of a miscarriage at any point in their pregnancy in August compared with February. The study also showed that where women lived played a role in their miscarriage risk, as women in the Midwest had a higher miscarriage risk in early September, while women in the South were at a higher risk in late August. 

This link was particularly strong for early miscarriages. In North America, the risk of a miscarriage in the first eight weeks of pregnancy was nearly 45% higher in late August than in early February. 

Though the research team plans to do more work to better understand what role the time of year plays in miscarriage risk, they believe that exposure to high temperatures may be dangerous to women’s health. 

“We know that heat is associated with higher risk of other pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery, low birth weight, and stillbirth, in particular,” said Wesselink. “Medical guidance and public health messaging – including heat action plans and climate adaptation policies – need to consider the potential effects of heat on the health of pregnant people and their babies.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explored how teens’ experiences with cyberbullying may have detrimental effects on their mental health. Their findings showed that young people are more likely to attempt suicide and have suicidal thoughts when they’re bullied online. 

“At a time when young adolescents are spending more time online than ever before, this study underscores the negative impact that bullying in the virtual space can have on its targets,” said researcher Dr. Ran Barzilay. “Given these results, it may be prudent for primary care providers to screen for cyberbullying routinely in the same way that they might screen for other suicide risk factors like depression. Educators and parents should also be aware of the substantial stress bullying in the cyberworld places on young adolescents.” 

Mental health risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 10,000 U.S. children between the ages of 10 and 13 who were enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. The kids answered questions about their experiences with cyberbullying and any history of suicidal thoughts or attempts. They also answered another survey about any traditional, offline bullying that they’d experienced or engaged in. 

The study showed that children who experienced cyberbullying were at a higher risk of having suicidal thoughts and attempting suicide. Nearly 9% of the group reported a history of cyberbullying, while 7.6% of the kids reported dealing with suicidality in some way. 

One interesting note from the study is that kids who were bullied online weren’t necessarily being bullied in person. The study showed that traditional bullying also differed from cyberbullying in how it affected the bullies. While those who cyberbullied others weren’t affected from a mental health perspective, offline bullies and targets of offline bullying were likely to struggle with suicidal thoughts and attempts. 

The researchers also found that children who were victims of cyberbullying were likely to struggle with mental health regardless of outside factors, such as school environment, family conflict, racial discrimination, parental relationships, and negative life events. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that experts utilize these findings to improve suicide prevention strategies for young people. 

“Our findings suggest being a target of cyberbullying is an independent risk factor for youth suicidality,” said Barzilay. “For policymakers wishing to optimize youth suicide prevention efforts, this study should further encourage interventions for those who are being bullied online.” 

A new study conducted by the researchers from the University of Virginia Health System explored the new safe-sleep guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The goal of the new recommendations – which encourage parents to keep infants on their backs on flat, level surfaces to sleep – is to protect infants from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

“The best way to protect your baby while they are asleep is to follow these guidelines,” said researcher Dr. Rachel Moon. “When you place your baby for sleep, they should be on their back in a crib, portable crib, or bassinet that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, and there should be nothing but the baby in the crib.” 

Promoting safe sleep habits

Experts say parents need to do everything possible to make their babies’ sleeping environment as safe as possible and that their recommendations will help guide those efforts. 

Keeping infants on their backs to sleep isn’t a new recommendation, but the researchers are reinforcing the importance of this sleeping position. They also say parents should avoid putting any stuffed animals, pillows, or blankets in the crib or bassinet with their babies.

While many infants are likely to fall asleep in their car seats or strollers, the team says this shouldn’t be a habit. Infants – especially those under four months old – shouldn’t be regularly sleeping on anything inclined. 

They also explained that breastfeeding and using pacifiers were linked with lower levels of SIDS. 

What to avoid

The recommendations highlight a few other things that parents should avoid when creating sleeping habits for their infants. For starters, any items that are marketed toward reducing the risk of SIDS are likely to be ineffective. They noted that there is no official evidence that any such products can be protective of infants’ health. 

Additionally, they recommend that parents stop swaddling when their babies are around three or four months old. Once they start becoming more mobile, swaddling can be dangerous and increase the risk of suffocation. 

The researchers hope these guidelines help parents keep their infants safe and reduce some of the worries around proper sleeping habits. 

“These recommendations are consistent with prior guidelines, with some updates based on new information,” said researcher Dr. Fern Hauck. “We want to reach new parents, grandparents, and other infant caregivers so that everyone is aware about how best to keep their baby safe. We also want parents to know that it is important to speak to your baby’s doctor about the guidelines and have an open discussion so that you can share your thoughts and make the best choices in caring for your baby.”

A new study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine explored some of the pregnancy risks for women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). According to their findings, pregnant women with the hormone condition may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular issues during delivery. 

“Oftentimes, women with PCOS are understandably concerned about the immediate effects of, like an irregular menstrual cycle, excess body hair, weight gain, and acne,” said researcher Dr. Erin Michos. “However, the long-term cardiovascular complications are also a serious problem.” 

The risk of pregnancy complications

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 17 million births between 2002 and 2019. The team broke down how many women had PCOS while pregnant. 

Among the more than 195,000 women who had PCOS at the time of delivery, it was clear that there was a link between PCOS and cardiovascular complications during pregnancy. Blood clots proved to be the biggest risk: Women with PCOS were more than 80% more likely to develop a blood clot during delivery. There was a nearly 80% higher risk for a weakened heart, a 76% higher risk of heart failure, and a 56% higher risk of preeclampsia. Women with PCOS were also twice as likely to have abnormal heartbeats at the time of delivery. 

It’s also important to note that there were other health and demographic factors that came into play for pregnant women with PCOS. The researchers learned that Black women with PCOS were at a higher risk of heart complications during delivery, while all women with PCOS were more likely to be obese, have high cholesterol, and struggle with diabetes. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings highlight the associated long-term heart health risks that are prevalent among women with PCOS. 

“Our study shows that PCOS is indeed a risk factor for acute cardiac complications at the time of delivery and should be taken seriously,” said researcher Salman Zahid. “We want to stress the importance of optimizing the cardiovascular health of women with PCOS with prevention efforts, especially Black women and lower socioeconomic groups because we believe that those are the most vulnerable populations and will benefit most from intervention.” 

Government safety regulators are warning parents not to use a popular infant-to-toddler rocker because at least 13 infants have died in one between 2009 and 2021.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price jointly issued an alert to consumers saying the products should never be used for sleep and children should never be left in one without supervision.

The products in question are the Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rockers and Newborn-to-Toddler Rockers.

Fisher-Price says it has sold more than 17 million of the rockers worldwide since the 1990s and reviews and evaluates reported incidents that occurred while infants were in the products. The company said parents and other caregivers should visit Fisher-Price’s Safe Start webpage for safety videos, tips, and additional safety information, as well as the latest safety warnings for rockers and other infant products. 

Consumers are also encouraged to report incidents to Fisher-Price at 800-432-5437.

Suffocation risk

Products designed to hold infants have long been a concern because of the risk of suffocation. Babies who are unable to move when placed in a rocker, swing, or glider can suffocate if they end up face down.

In 2018 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that parents were still engaging in risky infant sleep practices that were resulting in deaths. At the time, the CDC reported deaths due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) had reached an annual average of about 3,500 a year.

Pediatricians say the best place for an infant to sleep is on a firm, flat surface in a crib, bassinet, or play yard. Parents and caregivers should use a fitted sheet only and never add blankets, pillows, padded crib bumpers, or other items to an infant’s sleeping environment.

Infants should always be placed to sleep on their back. Infants who fall asleep in an inclined or upright position should be moved to a safe sleep environment with a firm, flat surface such as a crib, bassinet, or play yard.

CPSC recently finalized a rule requiring that infant sleep products have a sleep surface angle of 10 degrees or less. The rule goes into effect next week.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan explored the long-term risks associated with parents spanking their children. According to their findings, children who are spanked may be more likely to become victims of physical abuse. 

“Nearly one-third of children under five in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience spanking,” the researchers wrote. “Studies from North America suggest that spanking is associated with heightened risk of physical abuse.” 

Understanding the risks of spanking

For the study, the researchers analyzed over 156,000 responses to the UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys. All of the children involved in the study were between the ages of 1 and 4, and they came from 56 LMICs around the world. 

The biggest takeaway from the study was that spanking children was linked with a higher risk of physical abuse. The risk of physical abuse for children who weren’t spanked was under 10%, whereas the risk of physical abuse was 22% for children who were spanked. 

The team created a hypothetical model of 100 children to better understand the impact that spanking can have on their physical well-being. Based on their findings, approximately 32 of the 100 hypothetical children were spanked; physical abuse would then be prevalent in seven of those 32 children. 

The team noted that physical abuse would affect four fewer children in the hypothetical model if spanking was eliminated. In the national population, eliminating spanking would lower the risk of physical abuse by over 30%. 

“Child welfare advocates should discourage caregivers from using spanking, in order to prevent physical abuse,” the researchers wrote. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California Los Angeles explored some of the risks that pregnant women face when exposed to air pollution.

According to their study conducted on mice, women who are exposed to air pollutants during pregnancy may have a higher risk of complications that affect their health and their babies’ health. 

“The cellular changes we have observed could provide the missing link between exposure to air pollutants and adverse pregnancy outcomes, thereby helping to focus development of preventive strategies for at-risk pregnancies,” said researcher Dr. Sherin Devaskar. 

Pollution may affect the placenta

The researchers divided female mice into two groups for the study: one group was nasally exposed to pollutants two months before conception and then throughout pregnancy; the second group was exposed to saline. The team analyzed tissue samples from both groups to understand what effect pollution could have on pregnant women and their babies. 

The study showed that the mice exposed to the pollution were affected on a cellular level and that the impact can affect health outcomes for mothers and infants.

As pollution enters the lungs, the immune system is activated in an unhealthy way that can ultimately affect the placenta. The researchers explained that this immune response can lead to a loss of vascular cells in the placenta, which could affect the food and nutrient supply going to the baby. It can also increase the risk for serious pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and preterm birth. 

The researchers also observed that exposure to pollution during pregnancy was associated with inflammation in the lining of the uterus. 

While the researchers plan to do more work in this area to better understand the precise dynamics behind air pollution exposure and pregnancy risks, they say these findings highlight some specific ways that pollutants can affect pregnant women and their babies. 

Recent studies have highlighted the effects that maternal stress during pregnancy can have on infants’ development. Now, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have found that having older siblings can lead to better behavior and stronger development in young children. The findings remained true even when children were exposed to their mothers’ stress in utero. 

“In the first years of their lives, children develop the cognitive, social, and emotional skills that will provide the foundations for their lifelong health and achievements,” the researchers explained. “To increase their life prospects and reduce the long-term effects of early aversive conditions, it is therefore crucial to understand the risk factors that negatively affect child development and the factors that are instead beneficial. 

“Overall, our results confirm the negative effects that maternal stress during pregnancy may have on the offspring, and suggest an important main effect of older siblings in promoting a positive child development.” 

Benefits of siblings

The researchers had nearly 400 mother-child pairs answer questions about behavior, development, and stress. The team followed the women and their children from pregnancy until their children were 10 years old. They also took into account social and environmental factors that could affect stress levels and the role that siblings played on children’s developmental and behavioral outcomes. 

The study showed that women who reported higher levels of stress during pregnancy were more likely to report that their children struggled with behavior once they reached seven years old. They found that many of the mothers reported feeling tense, worried, and experienced a loss of joy during pregnancy. Over time, this translated to poorer behavioral outcomes for their children. 

“These results confirm previous findings about the negative impact that even mild forms of prenatal stress might have on child behavior, even after several years, and highlight the importance of early intervention policies that increase maternal well-being and reduce the risks of maternal stress already during pregnancy,” said researcher Federica Amici. 

However, a positive takeaway from this study was that children who had older siblings were more likely to have better behavioral and developmental outcomes regardless of their mothers’ stress levels. The team explained that interactions with older siblings can give kids important social tools. These sibling social dynamics may also help improve kids’ emotional development and problem-solving skills. 

“We were especially impressed by the important role that siblings appear to play for a healthy child development,” said researcher Anja Widdig. “We hope that our findings will draw attention to the importance of public health policies that directly target children and their siblings, and promote a healthy environment for their well-being and the development of high-quality sibling relationships.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from NYU Langone Health explored the efficacy of different fertility treatments. According to their findings, women who freeze their eggs when they’re younger may have more success having a baby later in life than women who opt for IVF. 

“Our findings shed light on the factors that track with successful births from egg freezing, which include careful screenings of embryos to be thawed and implanted,” said researcher Dr. Sarah Druckenmiller Cascante. “A better understanding of the live birth rate from egg freezing for age-related fertility decline is necessary to inform patient decision-making. 

“Importantly, our study is based on actual clinical experience, rather than mathematical modeling with limited data, which is most of what has been published on the chances of birth from egg freezing thus far.” 

Success of egg freezing

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 540 women who froze their eggs at an average age of 38. Between 2005 and 2020, the group went through 800 rounds of egg freezing, 605 egg thaws, and 436 embryo transfers. 

Ultimately, the study showed that nearly 40% of the women who froze their eggs between the ages of 27 and 44 years old were successful at having at least one child. While this figure is comparable to women who undergo IVF treatment, the researchers noted that egg freezing becomes a more successful option as women get older. 

The researchers cited data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that shows less than 20% of 40-year-old women delivered babies through IVF. However, this study showed that women who froze their eggs – even later in life – had better pregnancy outcomes.

Regardless of age, women who thawed over 20 eggs were nearly 60% likely to have a successful pregnancy and birth; women who thawed over 20 eggs under the age of 38 had a 70% success rate for pregnancy and birth. The study also included data on 14 women who froze their eggs between the ages of 41 and 43, and these women had healthy pregnancies and deliveries. 

“Our results provide realistic expectations for those considering oocyte preservation, and demonstrate that egg freezing technology empowers women with improved reproductive autonomy,” said researcher Dr. James A. Grifo. “Freezing eggs at a young age becomes an option to be one’s own egg donor at advanced age. As young patients freeze eggs and do more than one cycle, the success rates will be even higher than reported in this study.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology explored the link between breastfeeding and asthma. According to their findings, babies have a lower chance of developing asthma when their mothers breastfeed them for longer. 

“The results of the study indicated that the longer a mother exclusively breastfed, the lower the relative odds of her child having asthma, or asthma-related outcomes,” said researcher Dr. Keandra Wilson. 

Long-term respiratory benefits

The researchers analyzed data from over 2,000 mother-child pairs who were enrolled in the ECHO PATHWAYS studies. The mothers reported how they fed their children -- including breastfeeding, formula, and juice -- and how long they gave their children each option. The team followed up with the mothers when the children were between the ages of 4 and 6 and asked them about their children’s asthma outcomes. 

The team discovered a link between the duration that the women breastfed their babies and a lower risk of asthma. 

“There was a ‘dose-response’ effect depending on how long the mother breastfed: Babies that were breastfed 2-4 months had only 64% likelihood of having as many asthma outcomes as those who were breastfed less than 2 months; those breastfed for 5-6 months had 61% likelihood, and those who breastfed for more than 6 months had a 52% likelihood,” Dr. Wilson said. 

While breastfeeding proved to have some protective respiratory benefits, the researchers learned that not all feeding options yielded the same outcomes. There was no lower risk of asthma outcomes observed when women either supplemented breastfeeding with formula or added in juice or other foods. 

“Asthma runs in families, and according to the CDC, if a child has a parent with asthma, they are three to six times more likely to develop this condition than someone who does not have a parent with asthma,” said researcher Dr. Angela Hogan. “Anything a parent can do to lower the odds of their child getting asthma is worth considering.” 

The baby formula shortage is getting some much-needed relief thanks to the White House and FedEx. The assistance is part of the “Operation Fly Formula” effort, a Biden administration initiative that is designed to get as much baby formula on store shelves as soon as possible.

It’s been a busy week for FedEx’s network of long-haul pilots and express truck drivers. On Sunday, the company delivered its first airlift of formula – 114 pallets of Gerber Good Start Extensive HA that was flown in from Ramstein Air Base in Germany. On Wednesday, another FedEx plane flew from Germany with an additional 100,000 pounds – or about 1 million 8-ounce bottles – of Gerber formula. The shipment was offloaded and moved onto FedEx Express trucks for transport to a Nestle distribution center in Pennsylvania.

FedEx stated that it remains engaged with the Biden administration to provide logistics and transportation support as needed for Operation Fly Formula.

Transporting formula quickly

FedEx is involved with the effort because the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have the authority to use Department of Defense-contracted commercial aircraft to pick up formula overseas and bring it to the U.S. 

“Our network was designed for missions like this – to move time-sensitive shipments safely and quickly,” said Gina Adams, Senior Vice President for Government and Regulatory Affairs, at FedEx. “The FedEx Express integrated air and ground network expedited the movement of baby formula from manufacturers overseas to the United States for distribution to retail locations and hospitals throughout the country. We’re proud to be working with the U.S. government and our healthcare customers to help alleviate this crisis.”

"Typically, the process to transport this product from Europe to the U.S. would take two weeks,” explained White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “Thanks to Operation Fly Formula, we cut that down to approximately three days. This is a testament of the president's commitment to pulling every lever to get more infant formula onto the market."

The White House is prepared to do more

President Biden has said he will direct his administration to take whatever actions are deemed necessary to ensure there is enough safe infant formula for U.S. families.

His options include invoking the Defense Production Act, entering into a consent agreement with the FDA to reopen Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility, and issuing guidance to permit major formula manufacturers to import formula that is not currently being produced for the U.S. market.

Same-sex couples face a lot of social and legislative stress, and a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Cologne explored how this can affect their kids. The findings show that kids are likely to develop well socially, regardless of their parents’ stress. 

“The new findings clearly show that same-sex families have strong resilience strategies to protect their children from prevailing legal hurdles and societal rejection,” said researcher Dr. Mirjam Fischer.

“For example, parents create an environment in which their children receive appreciation and recognition from others and where other same-sex families provide positive role models. However, it should not be necessary in the first place that parents have to develop these strategies.” 

Kids’ behavior is likely to remain solid

For the study, the researchers compared data from the Dutch national register on 62 kids from same-sex parents and 72 kids from different-sex parents. Parents were between the ages of 30 and 65, and children were between the ages of 6 and 16 years old. The parents completed surveys about their children’s behavior, relationships with other kids, emotional adjustment, hyperactivity, social behavior, and more. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that there were no developmental differences between children from same-sex and different-sex parents. Both groups of kids were ranked similarly by their parents when it came to important social and emotional areas. 

Though many same-sex couples may deal with struggles socially and emotionally, this study showed that those same concerns aren’t passed down to their children. The researchers explained that these results are positive, as the type of stress felt by many same-sex couples may lead to both physical and mental health struggles. Based on these findings, parents may not need to worry about how their stress is affecting their kids. 

The team hopes that more work is done to show the similarities between children of same-sex and different-sex parents. They believe that the goal moving forward should be to have resources in place for same-sex parents who may be struggling with various stressors. 

Parents who are looking for ways to get their children outside and active this summer may have a new reason to redouble those efforts. Findings from a recent study suggest that engaging in "adventurous" playtime can help children develop better mental health. 

Helen Dodd, the lead researcher of the study and a professor of child psychology at the University of Exeter, says investing in ways to promote adventurous play can only benefit children in the long run. 

"We're more concerned than ever about children's mental health, and our findings highlight that we might be able to help protect children's mental health by ensuring they have plentiful opportunities for adventurous play," she said. 

"This is really positive because play is free, instinctive and rewarding for children, available to everyone, and doesn't require special skills."

Countering effects of COVID-19 lockdowns

The researchers came to their conclusions after surveying 2,500 parents about their young children's play activities, mental health before the COVID-19 pandemic, and mood during the first COVID-19 lockdown.

The team found that children who were able to spend more time playing adventurously outside had fewer problems linked to anxiety and depression and a more positive outlook during the first lockdown. The team said these results were consistent across a range of factors like age, sex, and family finances.

"This important research shows that this is even more vital to help children thrive after all they have missed out on during the Covid-19 restrictions. More play means more happiness and less anxiety and depression," said Dan Paskins, the director of the UK Impact at Save the Children.

What is adventurous play?

The researchers point out that there are several activities that children can engage in that qualify as "adventurous play." Some of them include:

• Camping out overnight;
• Swimming or paddling in a river or lake;
• Jumping from a swing;
• Creating obstacle courses inside or outside; and 
• Exploring woods alone or with a friend.

"This research emphasises the importance of adventurous play. Children and young people need freedom and opportunities to encounter challenge and risk in their everyday playful adventures," said Jacqueline O'Loughlin, CEO or PlayBoard NI. 

"It is clear from the research findings that playing, taking risks and experiencing excitement outdoors makes a positive contribution to children's mental health and emotional well-being. The rewards of allowing children to self-regulate and manage challenge in their play are widespread and far-reaching. Adventurous play helps children to build the resilience needed to cope with, and manage stress in challenging circumstances."

The full study has been published in the journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development.

A new study conducted by researchers from the Endocrine Society explored the effect that stress can have on women’s fertility. The researchers learned that higher exposure to stress made it harder for female mice to get pregnant. 

“We examined the effect of stress on ovarian reserve using a scream sound model in rats,” said researcher Wenyan Xi, Ph.D. “We found that female rats exposed to the scream sound had diminished ovarian reserve and decreased fertility.” 

How stress affects fertility

For the study, the researchers divided up female mice into three groups for three weeks – one group was exposed to white noise, one group was exposed to background noise, and a third group was exposed to a screaming sound. The team analyzed the effect that the different sounds and the stress had on the number and quality of the mice’s eggs, their ability to get pregnant, and their sex hormones. 

The researchers learned that exposure to the screaming sound, which caused a spike in stress levels, had a negative effect on the mice’s fertility. They had higher cortisol levels, which in turn created lower levels of two important reproductive hormones – Anti-Mullerian hormones and estrogen. The former is responsible for the production of reproductive organs, while the latter aids in reproductive development. 

The team hopes these findings emphasize the fertility risks associated with higher stress levels. 

“Based on these findings, we suggest stress may be associated with diminished ovarian reserve,” said Dr. Xi. “It is important to determine an association between chronic stress and ovarian reserve because doing so may expand our appreciation of the limitations of current clinical interventions and provide valuable insight into the cause of diminished ovarian reserve.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University explored how parents’ financial concerns may impact their infants’ sleep. According to their findings, babies may be more likely to have poor sleep when their parents struggle to afford diapers. 

“Sleep promotes brain development and solidifies learning and memory,” said researcher Sallie Porter. “Children with compromised sleep are more at risk for childhood obesity and emotional and behavioral problems.” 

Poor sleep can yield long-term effects

For the study, the researchers surveyed nearly 130 parents of children under the age of three. They answered questions about their financial hardship, diaper needs, and their infants’ sleeping habits. This included information on their perception of their children’s sleeping habits, general sleeping problems, how long it typically takes their babies to fall asleep, how often their babies wake up in the middle of the night, and any struggles they experience with sleep and their bedtime routine. 

Ultimately, one-third of the participants were short on diapers each month, while more than 75% said they were short on diapers at least once per year. Nearly 90% of the parents also said they were food insecure. 

This lack of diapers was found to be linked with poorer overall sleep outcomes. When parents struggled to provide diapers, they reported that their infants slept less, woke up more throughout the night, and had generally poorer sleep on a regular basis. 

This financial burden also affected how parents viewed their infants’ sleep. The more that parents struggled to provide diapers, the poorer their perception was of their kids’ sleeping habits. 

The researchers explained that a lack of sleep affects infants’ health and development long-term, and struggling to afford diapers can negatively affect parents’ mental health. The team hopes pediatricians work with families in need of diapers and help direct them toward resources that can help them. 

“Approximately one-third of U.S. mothers report difficulty affording diapers, and prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely much higher,” said Porter. “Diaper need is associated with an increased incidence of irritated skin and urinary tract infections. It is also related to increased maternal mental health symptoms.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from St. John’s College and the University of Cambridge explored the health benefits of parents finding out the sex of their baby. 

According to the findings, knowing the sex of a baby before giving birth may reveal important health information, as carrying male babies has been linked with complications. Having a treatment plan before delivery can ensure that women are making lifestyle choices that are best suited to their health. 

“Often parents don’t want to know the baby’s sex because they want it to be a surprise,” said researcher Dr. Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri. “But actually knowing the sex would help to identify whether a pregnancy may be at greater risk of than another because we know that some conditions of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction can be more prevalent in women that carry male babies than females.

“We don’t quite know 100 percent why that is but it might be related to the fact that male babies grow faster in the womb. So it might be that their demands for nutrients and oxygen supplied from the mother through the placenta can easily become limited, so the male baby may not be receiving all that it really wants and needs to grow to its full capacity. It may be that its resilience against stresses or poor conditions in pregnancy may be lower than say, for females, who have got less requirements.”  

How babies’ gender affects pregnancy health

The researchers conducted their study on pregnant mice to better understand how knowing the sex of infants can inform health care during pregnancy. The team was primarily focused on mitochondria, which is where the placenta gets its energy from. They looked at how changes to mitochondria affected the mice’s health during pregnancy. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that the mice exhibited differences in their placenta function when they were carrying male babies versus female babies. The placenta had better function when the mice were carrying lighter female babies, as opposed to heavier male babies. 

“The placenta has an amazing skill in changing how it forms and how it functions,” said Dr. Sferruzzi-Perri. “This can be seen at multiple levels from the way in which the cells form in the placenta, its genes and proteins, even its mitochondria. These can all change in response to different types of cues, whether it’s in a mother that has been eating sugary, fatty diet, or in a pregnancy where there is rivalry between the siblings when there’s more than one baby, but what I think is probably the most novel aspect is that the way the placenta does adapt seems to depend on whether the baby’s female or male.” 

Staying healthy during pregnancy

Based on these findings, the researchers hope more pregnant women find out the sex of their babies before delivery in order to create treatment plans that are specifically designed for them and their health. The goal is to have more therapies in place that would directly target the placenta and improve the health of women and their babies. 

“These therapies would increase the way in which the placenta functions, how it develops, even how at the level of its mitochondria it produces energy to support fetal growth,” Dr. Sferruzzi-Perri said. “A lot of this groundwork is reinforcing to us that the placenta is fundamental for healthy pregnancy outcomes, and that fetal sex is important. But by looking at the different sorts of genes, proteins, and cellular mechanisms, we might identify targets that could be like biomarkers and specifically targeted in the placenta to improve outcomes for mothers and their babies.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Bath explored how consumers divide household chores between mothers and fathers. Their findings showed that married mothers who have higher salaries than their husbands are also more likely to take on more of the household responsibilities. 

“Of course, we understand why specialized division of labor exists, but there is no reason for this specialization to be gender-specific,” said researcher Dr. Joanna Syrda. “Traditional division has been conventionally explained by men earning more and working longer hours and has a certain logical appeal. 

“However, I found that the gender housework gap actually gets bigger for mothers who earned more than their spouses – the more they earned over their partner, the more housework they did."

Income impacts household duties

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics from 1999 through 2017. This included long-term information on more than 6,600 couples across the U.S. 

While society has moved past some traditional gender norms, the researchers identified an interesting trend among heterosexual couples when it comes to income and household chores. Married mothers who made more money than their husbands were also more likely to take on the bulk of household responsibilities. 

“Married couples that fail to replicate the traditional division of income may be perceived – both by themselves and others – to be deviating from the norm,” Dr. Syrda. “What may be happening is that, when men earn less than women, couples neutralize this by increasing traditionality through housework – in other words, wives do more and husbands do less as they try to offset this ‘abnormal’ situation by leaning into other conventional gender norms.” 

The researchers learned that this trend wasn’t as strong among unmarried partners who lived in the same house compared to those who were married. Moving forward, the team hopes these findings can help couples understand their dynamics and hopefully prevent future conflicts. 

“This is important, because how couples divide the increased domestic workload after becoming parents will be an important determinant of earnings inequalities between women and men over the course of their lives – a pattern once settled upon is often difficult to renegotiate,” Dr. Syrda said. “And these norms may be passed to their children.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored the mental health benefits associated with teens participating in artistic activities. 

Their work showed that engaging in activities like dance, orchestras, and acting, among several others, was linked with less antisocial and criminalized behaviors. Teens were also more likely to report better well-being and mental health when participating in these groups. 

“Past research has shown that getting involved in the arts can have a big impact on teenagers’ mental health and well-being,” said researcher Dr. Daisy Fancourt. “Our study adds to evidence about the wide-ranging benefits that arts and culture can have for young people, demonstrating a positive link between the arts and a lower prevalence of antisocial behavior.

“Notably, these findings remained, even when taking into account factors such as children’s age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic background, their parents’ educational background, where they lived, and their previous patterns of antisocial behavior.” 

Mental health benefits of artistic activities

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 25,000 teens enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health and the National Educational Longitudinal Study. Participants and their parents reported on their involvement in arts and culture activities, and the team assessed their mental health and well-being at several points over the course of the study. 

“Our definition of arts and cultural engagement was very broad,” said researcher Dr. Jess Bone. “It included dancing and acting in school clubs, reading, going to cinemas, museums, concerts, and music classes, as well as other hobbies that teenagers took part in regularly.” 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that there was a positive correlation between participating in artistic activities and reduced antisocial and criminal behaviors. Teens were less likely to sell drugs, misbehave in school, or get into fights. They also reported viewing these behaviors in a negative light and reported stronger self-control. 

Overall, teens had better overall mental health and well-being when they spent more time involved with the arts. This was true even one and two years removed from participating in such activities. 

“Finding ways to reduce antisocial behavior among teenagers is important because these behaviors may become established and continue into adulthood, affecting someone’s whole life,” said Dr. Bone. “Our findings demonstrate the importance of making arts and cultural activities available for all young people, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has limited access to and funding for these resources.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Otago explored how kids can benefit from their parents sharing memories with them.

The team explained that when parents are coached on how to discuss memories with their children, it helps them develop a better sense of identity and overall well-being as they grow and develop. 

“Our findings suggest that brief coaching sessions with parents early in children’s lives can have long-lasting benefits, both for the way adolescents process and talk about difficult life events and for their well-being,” said researcher Elaine Reese. 

“We believe parents’ elaborative reminiscing helps children develop more complete, specific, and accurate memories of their experiences, providing a richer store of memories to use when forming their identities in adolescence. Elaborative reminiscing also teaches children how to have open discussions about past feelings when they’re no longer in the heat of the moment.” 

Genuine conversations can benefit kids

For the study, the researchers evaluated the results from an ongoing trial that followed 115 mothers and their children. When the study began, the mothers were chosen to either participate in a training that taught them how to engage in elaborative reminiscing with their kids or to be in a control group with no training. The mothers underwent this training when their babies were one, and the team then tracked how this impacted their well-being 14 years later. 

The researchers learned that children of mothers who participated in the elaborative reminiscing training had marked improvements in well-being. By talking through some of the more simple memories of childhood, kids were better able to discuss some of the more difficult events they’d experienced by the time they were teenagers. 

“As a parent of a toddler myself, I can confirm that these elaborate reminiscing techniques are enjoyable and easy to learn,” said researcher Dr. Claire Mitchell. “Our study helps pave the way for future work with parents of young children to promote healthy interactions from the beginning that could have enduring benefits.” 

Talking through memories is helpful

The study found that talking through memories during childhood helped give kids a better sense of themselves during their teenage years. The researchers also found that these kids had fewer emotional difficulties and better overall well-being. 

Moving forward, the team hopes these findings spark more conversations between parents and their children and also work to improve mental health and wellness for adolescents. 

“The ultimate goal is to encourage parents to have more sensitive and responsive conversations about events in their lives,” said Dr. Mitchell. “For some young people, this dip is the beginning of more severe mental health issues that can be difficult to treat. Thus, it is important to find ways to prevent mental health difficulties earlier in life if possible.” 

Several studies have highlighted the ways that screens can negatively impact kids’ sleeping habits. Now, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder explored how even minimal light exposure may be detrimental to kids’ sleep. 

According to their findings, dim lighting before bedtime may affect preschoolers’ production of melatonin and disrupt their regular sleeping patterns. 

“Our previous work showed that one, fairly high intensity of bright light before bedtime dampens melatonin levels by about 90% in young children,” said researcher Lauren Hartstein. “With this study, we were very surprised to find high melatonin suppression across all intensities of light, even dim ones.” 

Keeping lights off near bedtime

For the study, the researchers had 36 children between the ages of three and five participate in a nine-day experiment. The children stayed on a strict sleeping schedule for the first seven nights; this allowed them to develop stable melatonin levels. On the eighth night, the kids’ rooms were transformed to be completely dark, and they had their saliva sampled every half hour from noon through bedtime. On the last night, the kids played on a light table an hour before bedtime. Each night of the study, the kids wore a watch that tracked their light exposure and sleep. 

The researchers learned that exposure to the light from the table significantly affected the children’s ability to produce melatonin. Compared to the second to last night of the experiment when the children’s rooms were darkened, the light from the table suppressed melatonin production anywhere from 70% to 99%. 

The researchers tested out different brightness levels on the last night of the study when the children were playing on the table. Even for children who had the tablets set to the dimmest levels, their melatonin production dropped by nearly 80%. For half of these kids, this light exposure before bed halted their melatonin production for the next hour. 

“Together, our findings indicate that in preschool-aged children, exposure to light before bedtime, even at low intensities, results in robust and sustained melatonin suppression,” said Hartstein.  

Adopting healthy bedtime habits

From a biological perspective, the researchers explained that children’s eyes are more susceptible to light because their pupils are larger than adults’ pupils. This can certainly play a role when it comes to light exposure before bedtime. 

While it’s nearly impossible for parents to eliminate all forms of light for their kids before going to sleep, the researchers hope this study helps inform families about the things they can adjust to help encourage healthy sleep.

“Kids are not just little adults,” said researcher Monique LeBourgeois. “This heightened sensitivity to light may make them even more susceptible to dysregulation of sleep and the circadian system.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University explored how a commonly-used chemical – phthalates – may impact women’s and infants’ health during pregnancy. 

According to their findings, exposure to phthalates, which are found in everything from personal care products to electronics, may affect women’s hormone levels during pregnancy. The team warns that this may have an effect on both women’s health and infants’ development. 

“We are all exposed to phthalates in our environment through the products we use and the foods we eat,” said researcher Emily S. Barrett. “Our findings show that these chemicals may alter the production of essential placental hormones, which has important implications for the course of pregnancy as well as subsequent child health and development.” 

Identifying risks to healthy hormone levels

To better understand the potential pregnancy risks related to phthalate exposure, the researchers analyzed data from over 1,100 women enrolled in the Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) study. They closely monitored the women’s exposure to phthalates throughout their pregnancies and evaluated their placental corticotropin-releasing hormone (pCRH) levels. This hormone affects maternal and infant health throughout pregnancy, and higher levels may indicate certain pregnancy complications. 

The researchers identified a connection between the women’s exposure to phthalates and changes to their pCRH levels, with higher levels of exposure being linked to higher pCRH levels. The chemical posed the biggest risk to women with other pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure or gestational diabetes. 

The researchers explained that pCRH is responsible for several important processes throughout pregnancy, including starting the process of labor and delivery. However, when levels spike, it puts women and their infants at an increased risk for complications. Women may be more susceptible to postpartum depression and high blood pressure, while infants may struggle with healthy growth and development. 

Now, the goal is to continue doing research in this area to better understand how women can best protect themselves during pregnancy. 

“Associations between phthalates and pCRH among women with pregnancy complications grew stronger across the course of pregnancy,” said Barrett. “We know very little about how women with pregnancy complications are affected by environmental exposures. This study sets the stage for future research in that area.” 

Recent studies have found that breastfeeding may come with health benefits for women, including a lower risk of postpartum depression or cognitive decline. Now, researchers from the American Heart Association have found that breastfeeding may also lower the risk of heart disease and related deaths. 

“Previous studies have investigated the association between breastfeeding and the risk of cardiovascular disease in the mother; however, the findings were inconsistent on the strength of the association and, specifically, the relationship between different durations of breastfeeding and cardiovascular disease risk,” said researcher Dr. Peter Willeit. “Therefore, it was important to systematically review the available literature and mathematically combine all of the evidence on this topic.” 

Heart health benefits of breastfeeding

The researchers analyzed eight studies conducted in countries around the world, which included data on over 1.2 million women. They tracked the women’s breastfeeding history and their heart health.

The researchers learned that a history of breastfeeding was linked with several protective health benefits. Women who breastfed were 11% less likely to develop cardiovascular disease and 17% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Similarly, breastfeeding was linked with a 12% lower risk of stroke and a 14% lower risk of coronary heart disease. 

“It’s important for women to be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for their babies’ health and also their own personal health,” Dr. Willeit said. “Moreover, these findings from high-quality studies conducted around the world highlight the need to encourage and support breastfeeding, such as breastfeeding-friendly work environments, and breastfeeding education and programs for families before and after giving birth.” 

The number of times women gave birth or their age when they gave birth had no correlation on the relationship between breastfeeding and heart health. However, breastfeeding for at least one year was associated with the best heart health outcomes. 

While many women know the infant health benefits of breastfeeding, the researchers hope these findings emphasize the health benefits that come from breastfeeding for mothers. 

“Raising awareness regarding the multifaceted benefits of breastfeeding could be particularly helpful to those mothers who are debating breast versus bottle feeding,” said researcher Dr. Shelley Miyamoto. “It should be particularly empowering for a mother to know that by breastfeeding she is providing the optimal nutrition for her baby while simultaneously lowering her personal risk of heart disease.” 

The holiday season isn’t always the most joyful time of year for consumers because it can come with a lot of additional stress. Researchers from Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan recently explored how parents’stress may impact their children.

According to their findings, about 20% of parents reported that their stress during the holiday season makes it hard for their children to fully enjoy this time of year. 

“People are surrounded by images depicting the holidays as a time of peace, love, and joy,” said researcher Sarah Clark. “Many parents want to give their children those perfect magical memories to treasure for years to come. 

“But all of the behind the scenes work to make that vision come true could have the opposite effect for some families. Excessive parental stress can add tension and diminish the joy children associate with the season.” 

Managing holiday stress

For the study, the researchers surveyed parents around the country to better understand what the holidays are like for them and how they think their experiences and attitudes impact their children. 

The survey showed that one in six parents reported high levels of stress during the holidays, with mothers reporting higher stress levels than fathers. The top three reasons for holiday stress included having to do extra tasks, concerns over family members’ health, and finances. 

Ultimately, about 20% of the parents reported that their children were negatively affected by this holiday stress. The results showed that most of this negativity comes from both children’s and parents’ high expectations for the holidays. 

Beating holiday stress

The researchers also asked parents how they manage stress levels during the holidays. More than 70% of respondents said alone time helps them lower their stress levels. Listening to music, exercise, and religious services were also helpful for some people. 

The researchers recommend that families talk about what's most important to them during the holiday season and what aspects of the holidays bring up too much stress. 

“One strategy is to talk as a family about holiday plans and priorities,” said Clark. “Parents may have misconceptions about what their child’s favorite holiday memories and traditions are – they could actually be much simpler than you think.” 

The researchers hope these findings lead to meaningful conversations among family members about stress and mental health during the holidays. 

“The holiday season may be a time for parents to model good mental health hygiene, by verbalizing how they recognize and try to relieve stress,” said Clark. “This approach is an invitation for children to share their own feelings of stress and a reminder to take action when their stress is elevated.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Curtin University explored how preeclampsia may act as a risk factor for preterm birth. Their findings show that preeclampsia increases the risk for preterm birth, and one early delivery is likely to increase the risk of future preterm deliveries if preeclampsia persists. 

“Until recently, a first birth at full term was considered a reduced risk for a preterm delivery in the next pregnancy,” said researcher Jennifer Dunne. “However, there is emerging evidence that a complicated first pregnancy, regardless of whether the baby was delivered early or at full-term, increases the subsequent risk of a baby being born prematurely.” 

Preeclampsia increases risk of preterm birth

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 125,000 women who had multiple births in Australia between 1998 and 2015. They paid close attention to four major pregnancy complications that could increase the risk of preterm birth: preeclampsia, stillbirth, low birth weight, and placental abruption. 

The study showed that preeclampsia played the biggest role in increasing the risk for preterm birth. For women who delivered preterm as a result of preeclampsia, there was a higher risk for delivering early a second time if preeclampsia returned. 

“When both pregnancies were complicated by preeclampsia, the risk of a subsequent preterm birth increased 10-fold after an initial term birth and 17-fold when the first birth was preterm, compared to women who had an uncomplicated first pregnancy,” Dunne said. “This study also found that there was a three-fold higher risk of women experiencing a subsequent case of pre-eclampsia after a preterm birth in the first pregnancy that was not complicated by preeclampsia.” 

Preeclampsia not the only pregnancy risk

While preeclampsia was linked with the strongest risk of preterm birth, the researchers also learned that any of the four major pregnancy complications may contribute to early deliveries. 

“Having any of the four complications in their first pregnancy puts women at an increased risk of a preterm birth in their next pregnancy, regardless of whether that first birth ended at full term or preterm,” said Dunne. “Likewise, women whose first pregnancy ended in preterm delivery were at an increased risk for each pregnancy complication in the second pregnancy.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work is done in this area to better understand women’s health risks during pregnancy and delivery. 

“The findings of this study will help clinicians to better identify women who are at an increased risk of either a preterm birth or complications in their subsequent pregnancies,” Dunne said. “Further research is now needed to reveal the specific pathways that explain these strong links between pregnancy complications and preterm births, whether they be genetic, pathological, and behavioral or recurrent issues.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum explored some of the most effective ways for parents to get toddlers to better handle having to wait. According to their findings, toddlers’ temperaments are an important consideration when it comes to picking the right distraction.  

“In the present study, toddlers chose a distraction strategy (active vs. calm) matching their temperamental activity level,” the researchers wrote. “This finding suggests that it could be helpful to give toddlers a choice of toys with different activity levels to help them regulate themselves when they are expected to handle a mildly distressing situation on their own.” 

Teaching toddlers emotional regulation

For the study, the researchers had nearly 100 two-year-old toddlers and their parents participate in a series of experiments that tested the children’s ability to wait.

In the first trial, the toddlers were told to wait three minutes for a small piece of candy. They were given two different toys to help them pass the time before they received their prize. One of the options was a lawnmower toy, which was considered more active; the other was a set of cups, which the researchers said was more calming. 

Ultimately, the team saw a direct correlation between the children’s temperament and how they chose to use their waiting time. 

“We observed that children who were described by their parents as rather calm tended to occupy themselves by playing calmly, such as stacking the cups, and the toddlers who were characterized by their parents as rather active tended to play in an active manner, such as running around with the lawn mower and thus managed to regulate their negative feelings well,” said researcher Joanna Schoppmann. 

How parents can be role models

In the second trial, the researchers were interested in understanding how parents can support their toddlers when it comes time to wait for things. Again, the children were waiting for three minutes for a small piece of candy. But this time, one group had the researchers demonstrate different ways that they could entertain themselves while they waited. A second group played for the entirety of the three minutes with no mention of waiting. 

While this trial showed no relationship between the toddlers’ temperaments and how they distracted themselves, the researchers learned that parents can serve as models for easing their toddlers into waiting. When the children in the experiment saw other adults playing or distracting themselves, they were more likely to do the same -- in any capacity -- during the three minutes. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope this work can help parents better manage their toddlers so they can learn how to control themselves when having to wait for something. 

A new study conducted by City University London explored the possible risks of kids frequently playing violent video games. According to their findings, these games may not be linked to an increase in violence among kids. 

“Popular media often links violent video games to real-life violence, although there is limited evidence to support this link,” said researcher Dr. Agne Suziedelyte. “I find no evidence that child-reported violence against other people increases after a new violent video game is released. Thus, policies that place restrictions on video game sales to minors are unlikely to reduce violence.” 

Understanding the impact of video games

The researchers had boys between the ages of eight and 18 involved in the study. They tracked the release of some of the most popular violent video games and interviewed parents to understand how the boys acted. The team was primarily concerned with two types of violence among the participants: the destruction of things and aggression against other people. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that children weren’t likely to be violent or aggressive towards others following the release of violent video games. However, kids may be more likely to be destructive with the things in and around their homes after playing these types of games. 

While many parents may be hesitant to allow their kids to play these types of games, the researchers believe these findings explain how exposure to violence in this way can affect kids in their day-to-day lives. 

“Taken together, these results suggest that violent video games may agitate children, but this agitation does not translate into violence against other people -- which is the type of violence which we care about most,” said Dr. Suziedelyte. “A likely explanation for my results is that video game playing usually takes place at home, where opportunities to engage in violence are lower. This ‘incapacitation’ effect is especially important for violence-prone boys who may be especially attracted to violent video games.” 

Several studies have highlighted the risks for consumers associated with exposure to smoke and pollution from wildfires. Now, a new study published in eLife suggests that these pollutants could be especially harmful to pregnant women and their unborn children.

According to their findings, when women are exposed to wildfire smoke during pregnancy, it may increase the risk of low birth weight for their infants. 

“Babies with low birth weight are at higher risk of a range of diseases in later life compared to normal weight newborns,” said researcher Jiajianghui Li. “Several studies have shown the effects of landscape smoke on acute lung and heart conditions, but the health impacts of these pollutants on susceptible pregnant women are not well known. We wanted to explore the association between birth weight and exposure to fire source pollution across several countries and over a long time period.” 

Newborn health risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 110,000 siblings from more than 50 low- or middle-income countries. They also looked at information collected by the Global Fire Emission Database to determine how the participants were directly impacted by forest fires and evaluated survey responses from women involved in the U.S. Agency for International Development. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a direct relationship between exposure to wildfire smoke pollutants and low infant birth weight. 

“The effect was even more pronounced when we looked at whether exposure to fire smoke was linked to low or very low birth weight; for every microgram per cubic meter increase in particulate matter, the risks of low and very low birth weight increased by around three and 12 percent, respectively,” said researcher Tianjia Guan. 

The team took the findings a step further by looking at individual families to see if any factors impacted the infants’ low birth weight. They learned that those with a family history of low birth weight were at the greatest risk and were more likely to have newborns with very low birth weight when exposed to wildfire smoke. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope more work can be done to protect consumers from these harmful pollutants. 

“Our global, sibling-matched study has identified a link between exposure in pregnancy to landscape fire pollution and reduced birth weight in low- and middle-income countries,” said researcher Tao Xue. “Newborns from families where lower birth weights were more common were the most susceptible. It is essential to develop steps that reduce the frequency of landscape fires, for example through climate change mitigations, to protect maternal and infant health in these vulnerable populations.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Kansas explored the stressors that parents who are nurses may experience in their day-to-day schedules. Their findings showed a significant link between stress and sleep issues for parents who are also nurses. 

“We were really interested in looking at how the sleep-stressor relationship is different for nurses who are parents and nurses who are not parents,” said researcher Taylor Harris. “We also wanted to look at how many children parents have further influences the relationship between sleep and stress in those working parents, because caregiving at work and at home can be particularly difficult -- sometimes we don’t always look at that intersection specifically in the most prominent health care profession, which is nursing.” 

How does parenting impact stress and sleep?

For the study, the researchers had 60 nurses complete surveys for two weeks; some of the nurses involved in the study were parents, and others were not. The questions were about the participants’ sleeping patterns and stress levels, with each participant being prompted to complete the surveys four times throughout the day. 

The study showed that nurses with children at home weren’t getting as much sleep as those without children; parents also experienced more stress than non-parents. The surveys also indicated that having more children led to more stress and worse sleeping habits.

“The most striking findings were when looking at nightly sleep quality and stressor frequency and then nightly sleep quality and stressor severity,” Harris said. “We see how the participants who were parents had this stronger linkage between poor sleep and frequency and severity of stress, showing how for this population of nurses -- all either day shift or night shift workers -- being a parent really exacerbates that link.” 

These findings are concerning because struggling with sleep and having to manage a lot of stress at work and at home can negatively impact nurses. The researchers worry about nurses with children finding balance so they can do their best both at home and at work. 

“Sometimes we don’t think about the sleep-stressor link, and that can be really important in terms of intervention purposes for nurses who are parents, so that they can in turn be both better workers and better parents,” said Harris. 

“Caregiving both at home and work is really difficult and being able to provide whatever type of intervention that would help nurses sleep better would then help lower those stressor frequencies and severity of stressors and, in turn, promote better cognitive performance at work and just better quality of life overall.” 

While several studies have highlighted the health benefits of breastfeeding for newborns, a new study conducted by researchers from UCLA explored the benefits for mothers. Their findings revealed that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of cognitive decline for women in later life. 

“While many studies have found that breastfeeding improves a child’s long-term health and well-being, our study is one of the very few that has looked at the long-term health effects for women who had breastfed their babies,” said researcher Molly Fox, Ph.D. “Our findings, which show superior cognitive performance among women over 50 who had breastfed, suggest that breastfeeding may be ‘neuroprotective’ later in life.” 

Cognitive benefits of breastfeeding

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from 115 women over the age of 50 who were involved in one of two long-term studies run at UCLA. The women answered questions about their pregnancy and reproductive histories and completed cognitive assessments that measured four important factors: executive functioning, learning, delayed recall, and processing. 

The study showed that breastfeeding was associated with better cognitive outcomes for the women involved in the study. However, how long the women breastfed also played a role in their cognitive outcomes. 

The researchers learned that women who breastfed for more than a year outperformed women who either didn’t breastfeed at all or stopped breastfeeding after less than a year in all four cognitive categories. Similarly, women who breastfed anywhere from one to 12 months performed better on three out of four categories compared with women who never breastfed. 

“Future studies will be needed to explore the relationship between women’s history of breastfeeding and cognitive performance in larger, more geographically diverse groups of women,” said Dr. Fox. “It is important to better understand the health implications of breastfeeding for women, given that women today breastfeed less frequently and for shorter time periods than was practiced historically.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Bar-Ilan University explored how exposure to extreme temperatures may impact women during pregnancy. Their findings showed that experiencing severe hot or cold temperatures during pregnancy may increase infants’ risk of having a low birth weight. 

“Our study demonstrated the significant associations between exposure to high and low outdoor temperature and birthweight in all term births born in Israel during five years,” said researcher Dr. Keren Agay-Shay. “Lower birth weight may indicate abnormalities in intrauterine growth and is a risk factor for morbidity during early childhood and over the entire course of life.” 

Understanding pregnancy health risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 624,000 births in Israel between 2010 and 2014. They also evaluated the residential areas where the women gave birth and tracked the temperatures throughout the women’s pregnancies. 

The researchers learned that exposure to extreme temperatures during pregnancy -- whether hot or cold -- increased the risk of infants being born with a low weight. Extreme cold temperatures were linked with a lower birth weight of 56g, while extreme hot temperatures were associated with a lower birth weight of 65g. 

The study found that these risks were the highest in the later months of pregnancy. Exposure to extreme weather in the second -- and even more so in the third -- trimester was associated with the biggest drop in birth weight. 

“The patterns of associations were consistent when stratified by urbanicity and geocoding hierarchy, when estimated for daily minimum and maximum temperatures, when exposures were classified based on temperature distributions in 49 natural regions, and when estimated for all live births (including preterm births and those with birth defects),” said Dr. Agay-Shay. 

Because global temperatures are predicted to continue going up, the researchers hope these findings lead to changes in public health strategies that address climate change. 

While many parents opt to put their infants in a carrying sling for long walks or to run errands, a new study may have consumers rethinking their purchasing options. 

According to researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics, baby-wearing products may increase the risk of serious injuries for infants under the age of one. 

“The most precious thing a parent will ever wear is their child,” said researcher Dr. Samantha Rowe. “But like when buying a new pair of shoes, parents must be educated on the proper sizing, selection, and wear of baby carriers to prevent injury to themselves and their child.” 

Keeping infants safe

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 2011 through 2020. In that time, there were more than 14,000 infant injuries related to baby carriers. 

The majority of the injuries were incurred by infants younger than six months old, and nearly 84% of these accidents resulted in head injuries; approximately 20% of infants were taken to the hospital following the injury. 

The researchers learned that 30% of the injuries occurred when a parent was wearing a sling-type baby carrier. Around 20% of these types of injuries occurred when a caregiver fell while wearing a baby carrier.

Ultimately, the biggest risk of wearing a baby carrier is for very young infants. The study showed that infants aged 0-5 months were involved in the most accidents, though all babies under the age of 1 had a higher risk of experiencing these types of injuries. 

Baby carriers make it easier for caregivers to multitask and form attachment bonds with their infants. However, safety is the most important thing for both newborns and caregivers. To avoid significant injury and hospitalization, the researchers recommend that parents and caregivers take the time to do their research on these products -- especially when it comes to selecting the right product size. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Academy of Pediatrics explored the health risks associated with infants’ exposure to marijuana through their mothers’ breast milk. According to their findings, premature infants showed no short-term health risks when their mothers breastfed and tested positive for THC. 

“Providing breast milk from THC-positive women to preterm infants remains controversial since long-term effects of this exposure are unknown,” said researcher Dr. Natalie L. Davis. 

“For this reason, we continue to strongly recommend that women avoid marijuana use while pregnant and while nursing their babies. Our study, however, did provide some reassuring news in terms of short-term health effects. It definitely indicates that more research is needed in this area to help provide women and doctors with further guidance.” 

What are the risks?

For the study, the researchers analyzed medical records of more than 760 preterm infants born between 2014 and 2020. The team tested all of the mothers for THC and monitored the infants’ health outcomes. They compared results from infants given THC-positive breast milk with those who were given either formula or breast milk from THC-negative mothers. 

Ultimately, the researchers learned that all of the infants involved in the study experienced similar health outcomes, regardless of their mothers’ THC status. The researchers tracked the infants from the time they were born until they were allowed to be taken home, and all of the key health markers -- feeding habits, breathing difficulties, and lung development -- were comparable.

While nearly 20% of the mothers tested positive for THC at the time of delivery, there were no significant short-term health challenges identified. The researchers hope more work is done in this area to better understand the potential long-term effects of marijuana exposure in women’s breast milk. 

“Teasing out the effects of THC can be very difficult to study,” said Dr. Davis. “We found that women who screened positive for THC were frequently late to obtain prenatal care, which can have a detrimental effect on their baby separate from marijuana use. This is important to note for future public health interventions.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Children’s National Hospital explored what it’s like for kids to deal with food allergies. Their findings suggest that many kids who have food allergies face threats to their mental health because they tend to get teased or bullied.

“Food allergy-related bullying can have a negative impact on a child’s quality of life,” said researcher Linda Herbert, Ph.D. “By using a more comprehensive assessment, we found that children with food allergies were bullied more than originally reported and parents may be in the dark about it. 

“The results of this study demonstrate a need for greater food allergy education and awareness of food allergy-related bullying among communities and schools where food allergy-related bullying is most likely to occur.”

Bullies taunt and intimidate children with food allergies

The researchers came to their conclusions after analyzing questionnaire responses from over 120 parents and 120 children between the ages of 9 and 15 with a significant food allergy. The kids answered questions about their social-emotional experiences with food allergies, and their caregivers did the same. 

Ultimately, nearly 20% of the children reported that they had been bullied because of a food allergy. However, only 12% of parents knew this was an issue. 

Of the children who were bullied, verbal teasing was the most common way that the kids were affected. In these cases, bullies weren’t physical; instead, they tended to mock kids for their allergies and tried to intimidate them. In 55% of bullying cases, children were taunted with food items that they were allergic to. Bullies would throw the food at them, wave it in their faces, or bring it in or near their food. 

The researchers hope these findings highlight the ways that kids are impacted by their food allergies when they’re at school. Being aware of the issue is important for caregivers so they can try to provide the right support.

“It’s important to find ways for children to open up about food allergy-related bullying,” Dr. Herbert said. “Asking additional specific questions about peer experiences during clinic appointments will hopefully get children and caregivers the help and support they need.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California San Francisco explored the risks pregnant women face when they’re exposed to air pollution. Their findings showed that exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution during pregnancy can have significant impacts on newborns, including low birth weight and premature birth. 

“The air pollution-attributable burden is enormous, yet with sufficient effort, it could be largely mitigated,” said researcher Rakesh Ghosh, Ph.D. 

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from previous studies that tracked both indoor and outdoor air pollution. They compared the results with 2019 data on pregnancies and related complications to determine how air pollution can negatively impact newborns. 

On a global scale, the study showed that all forms of air pollution were linked to nearly 3 million underweight newborns and 6 million premature newborns in 2019. In the U.S., air pollution was responsible for nearly 12,000 premature births.  

Two regions were associated with the highest levels of air pollution -- sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The researchers found that if pollution levels are stabilized in these two hotspots, it would significantly benefit pregnancy outcomes. 

All types of air pollution are problematic

While outdoor air pollution has been well-documented, the researchers explained that everything from stoves and fireplaces to cleaning products can contribute to higher indoor pollution levels. They note that all sources of air pollution can increase the risk for pregnancy complications. 

The researchers hope these findings highlight the importance of fighting against climate change and rising air pollution levels. 

“With this new, global and more rigorously generated evidence, air pollution should now be considered a major driver of infant morbidity and mortality, not just of chronic adult disease,” said Dr. Ghosh. “Our study suggests that taking measures to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution levels will have significant health co-benefit for newborns.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London explored the potential long-term effects associated with traumatic childhood experiences. 

According to their findings, experiencing neglect and abuse during childhood may be associated with an increased risk of premature death. 

“Our work shows the long-lasting consequences that specific types of child abuse and neglect can have,” said researcher Dr. Nina Rogers. “The findings are especially important because these early-life adversities are not uncommon, affecting millions of people in the U.K.” 

Risks of childhood trauma

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 9,300 people enrolled in the 1958 National Child Development Study. During the participants’ childhoods, their parents and teachers completed questionnaires about their home lives. Then, when the participants were in their mid-40s, they answered questions about childhood abuse. The researchers tracked the participants’ health outcomes over the next 13 years and monitored their mortality in that time. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a link between trauma during childhood and an increased risk of early death. 

Overall, 11% of the participants experience psychological abuse by the age of 16 and 1.6% experienced sexual abuse; the risk of premature death was 1.4 times higher when children were neglected and 1.7 times higher when children were sexually abused. 

However, the researchers also found that other life circumstances were also associated with an early death. In this study, children from lower-income families were 1.9 times more likely to experience premature death. 

The researchers accounted for several factors in adult life that could contribute to an increased risk of early death, including obesity, mental health, and substance abuse. They learned that there was a link between childhood neglect and smoking as an adult, but no other associations were made. 

“This study is the first to disentangle the independent association between different kinds of childhood maltreatment and mortality in adulthood,” said researcher Dr. Snehal Pinto Pereira. “Importantly, very few studies have considered the long-term implications of experiencing neglect in childhood. I therefore think our finding that children who are neglected have a 43% higher risk of dying early in adulthood, highlights a critical component of child maltreatment where knowledge of long-term outcomes is particularly sparse.” 

While recent studies have found that too much screen time can impact kids’ performance in school, it may not be a detriment to their overall behavior or socializing skills. 

In a new study, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder found that a lot of time in front of screens doesn’t have a negative impact on kids’ mental health and may actually be a benefit to their friendships. They also learned that academic performance, behavior, and sleep are only slightly impacted by electronics. 

“A number of papers in recent years have suggested that screen time might be harmful for children, but there have also been some reviews that suggest those negative effects have been overestimated,” said researcher John Hewitt. “Using this extensive dataset, we found that yes, there are relationships between screen time and negative outcomes, but they are not large and not dire.” 

What are the effects of screen time?

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 12,000 children enrolled in the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development study. The kids completed mental health assessments and answered questions about their screen time, and their parents provided information on their grades and overall behavior. 

The study showed that there were links between screen time and behavioral issues, but the researchers explained that there is more to the data than meets the eye.

Sleep and behavior were both negatively affected by too much screen time; however, many kids may try to distract themselves with their phones when they’re awake in the middle of the night, and parents may try to use screens as a way to help kids calm down. This means that screen time may not be the culprit when it comes to poor sleep or behavioral issues, but they are connected.

The researchers explained that although screen time can impact many parts of kids’ lives, the effects of spending a lot of time with devices aren’t necessarily detrimental long term. It’s also important to note that things like behavior and sleep can be impacted by other life stressors — not just screen time. 

“These findings suggest that we should be mindful of screens, but that screen time is likely not inherently harmful to our youth,” said researcher Katie Paulich.

Additionally, the study showed that some online activities actually help kids form closer bonds. Things like playing games together or connecting on social media can foster closer relationships among friends. 

Though many parents struggle with screen time limits, the researchers encourage consumers to think about kids holistically rather than sticking to specific guidelines. 

“The picture is unclear and depends on what devices, which activities, what is being displaced, and, I strongly suspect, the characteristics of the child,” Hewitt said. “I would advise parents not to be overly concerned about their kids spending a few hours a day on their devices.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the American Society of Hematology explored the risks associated with pregnant women missing out on important rounds of vitamin testing. 

Their work showed that a large percentage of pregnant women aren’t being tested for an iron deficiency, even though one in two pregnant women are iron deficient. 

“Despite the very high prevalence of iron deficiency in pregnancy, and how easy it is to treat, we are not doing a very good job of checking for it,” said researcher Dr. Jennifer Teichman. “It’s not top of mind, in part, because of inconsistent recommendations for ferritin testing across clinical guidelines.” 

The push for more iron testing

The researchers analyzed data from more than 44,000 pregnant women between 2013 and 2018. The women were seeking prenatal care at community laboratories in Canada, and they reported on how often ferritin testing, the blood test that is given to pregnant women to determine iron deficiency, was offered during pregnancy. 

The study showed that 60% of the women received ferritin testing during pregnancy, and more than 70% of those tests occurred at the initial pregnancy check-up. However, the researchers explained that taking only one test isn’t enough. Women can develop an iron deficiency at any point during pregnancy, and regular testing throughout the trimesters gives health care providers the best chance to start treatment. 

As women progress through their pregnancies, their need for higher iron levels continues to increase. A lack of iron may increase the risk of postpartum depression, low birth weight, and premature birth. This is why regular testing for iron levels over the course of pregnancy can help protect women and their babies. 

“Iron deficiency is very common, and there can be poor outcomes for both mom and baby if it isn’t identified and treated,” said Dr. Teichman. “The good news is that it’s easily found with a simple blood test and completely correctable with iron supplements.” 

The researchers hope guidelines change in the future to ensure that all pregnant women receive regular tests for iron deficiency throughout their entire pregnancies. Currently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force doesn’t recommend women receive ferritin testing during pregnancy; however, these findings make it clear that all women should be tested often throughout pregnancy to ensure the best health outcomes for themselves and their newborns. 

“Prenatal vitamins contain only a sprinkling of iron and many combine iron with calcium, which can inhibit the absorption of iron,” said Dr. Teichman. “The way to address the problem is by identifying iron deficiency early on and then supplementing women with therapeutic doses of iron, which has 10 times the amount found in most prenatal vitamins.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles explored the effects that sleep deprivation can have on new mothers. 

According to their findings, women are likely to age faster as a result of consistently losing sleep after giving birth. The researchers found that women's bodies can age up to seven years after just six months of an infants’ inconsistent sleep schedule. 

“The early months of postpartum sleep deprivation could have a lasting effect on physical health,” said researcher Judith Carroll. “We know from a large body of research that sleeping less than seven hours a night is detrimental to health and increases the risk of age-related diseases.” 

Speeding up aging

The researchers had 33 women who had recently given birth participate in the study. They analyzed the women’s blood samples and studied their DNA during their pregnancies and through their first year as mothers to understand how their sleeping patterns impacted their biological age. 

The researchers learned that getting seven hours of sleep was the benchmark for poorer health outcomes; women who consistently got fewer than seven hours of sleep aged faster than the women who were sleeping seven or more hours each night. By the six-month check-in, consistently getting fewer than seven hours of sleep per night was linked with speeding up the aging process by as much as seven years. 

“We found that with every hour of additional sleep, the mother’s biological age was younger,” said Carroll. “I, and many other sleep scientists, consider sleep health to be just as vital to overall health as diet and exercise.” 

Risk of disease also increases

The researchers also learned that these consistent sleep disruptions were associated with a higher risk of disease. Based on an analysis of the participants' white blood cells, getting less sleep after giving birth can make women more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and several other serious conditions. 

While the researchers are still unsure whether or not these risks pose a long-term threat to women's health and wellness, they hope these findings emphasize the importance of getting enough sleep after giving birth. 

The study results “and other findings on maternal postpartum mental health provide impetus for better supporting mothers of young infants so that they can get sufficient sleep -- possible through parental leave so that both parents can bear some of the burden of the care, and through programs for families and fathers,” said researcher Christine Dunkel Schetter. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Otago explored the benefits associated with getting infants crawling and moving. 

The team explained that crawling is an integral part of infants’ development, and the more that they’re able to crawl, the better they are at being able to identify and avoid potential hazards. 

“Caregivers should be aware of the important role crawling plays in infant development and the benefits of promoting crawling opportunities for their infants,” said researcher Dr. Carolina Burnay.

“By touching the floor and looking closely to it, infants learn to distinguish safe from unsafe surfaces to locomote and start avoiding falls… Over-protecting babies by limiting their opportunities to self-locomote does not keep them safe, instead, it delays their development of the perception of risky situations.”

Keeping infants moving

The researchers conducted two studies to determine how infants’ crawling skills impacted their ability to identify and avoid risks. Both studies were focused on how well the infants were able to avoid water, which is one area -- especially in the summer -- where parents are worried about their babies’ safety. In both cases, the researchers learned that infants with more experience crawling were less likely to fall when next to water.

“The main difference between the babies that fell and those who avoided falling in the water was the amount of crawling experience they had,” Dr.  Burnay said. “A very interesting result was that the amount of prior crawling experience they had informed their perception of the risk and behavior even when they were already walking -- hence it seems very helpful for babies to crawl and explore their environment.” 

While safety around water is certainly important for infants, these findings are also applicable to general safety. The more time that infants spend crawling, the better they’ll be at identifying potential hazards or risks to their safety. It’s important that parents and caregivers allow their babies the freedom to move around, as this developmental leap will likely help protect them. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Curtin University explored just how long women should wait to conceive again after pregnancy. 

Though many experts recommend that women wait between 18 months and two years to get pregnant again, their findings showed that the risk of complications was nearly identical when women were pregnant again within six months versus two years. 

“We compared approximately 3 million births from 1.2 million women with at least three children and discovered the risk of adverse birth outcomes after an interpregnancy interval of less than six months was no greater than for those born after an 18-23 month interval,” said researcher Dr. Gizachew Tessama. “Given that current recommendations on birth spacing is for a waiting time of at least 18 months to two years after live births, our findings are reassuring for families who conceive sooner than this.” 

Having safe and healthy pregnancies

For the study, the researchers tracked pregnancies and birth outcomes from women from the U.S., Australia, Finland, and Norway. More than 5.5 million women were involved in the study, and they collectively birthed more than 3.8 million babies. The researchers kept a record of the time in between their pregnancies and the safety of their pregnancies and deliveries. 

Ultimately, the team observed no significant differences between women who waited the recommended 18-24 months versus those who got pregnant much sooner. In terms of infants’ birth weight and preterm delivery, women who got pregnant again within six months had similar outcomes to women who waited more than a year. 

However, when women waited fewer than six months between pregnancies, there was an increased risk of spontaneous preterm birth. However, there was a higher risk for complications at birth when women waited longer than five years between pregnancies. 

Moving forward, the researchers plan to see if women’s ages play a role in the interval between pregnancies and any related complications. In the meantime, they hope these findings offer some comfort for consumers that have had successive pregnancies over shorter periods of time. 

Child car seats are designed to keep young children safe when traveling in a vehicle, but 17 state attorneys general say those seats are not safe enough. They’ve filed a petition with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to modify current standards.

In a letter sent to the NHTSA and the Department of Transportation, the coalition of state officials asked the former agency to immediately begin developing standards for side-impact. The letter said these standards should have been developed 20 years ago.

The attorneys general also urged the NHTSA to require labels on all car seats that say children should continue to use them until they exceed the height or weight limits.

“I’ve buckled my kids into their car seats more times than I can count, and each time I did so trusting that they were in the safest place they could be,” said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. “NHTSA has an obligation to every parent nationwide to adopt clear, strong standards that keep our children safe on the roads. Families cannot wait another 20 years for NHTSA to finally act.”

Tong points out that Congress first instructed the NHTSA to adopt side-impact standards for child car seats in 2000. He notes that manufacturers voluntarily conduct their own side-impact tests but without federal standards. As a result, he said parents aren’t sure which seats are the best.

“As families pack their cars for summer road trips, we must ensure that parents have the right information to keep their children safe on the road,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

Leading cause of death

In their letter to federal regulators, the attorneys general said auto accidents are the leading cause of death for children aged one to 13. They say child car seats have significantly reduced deaths and injuries, but there’s still room for improvement.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said side-impact crashes cause almost as many child injuries and deaths as frontal-impact crashes and are more likely than any other type of crashes to cause serious or fatal injuries.

“Almost 5,000 children under 15 have died in car crashes from 2015 to 2019, which equates to about 19 children each week over that time period,” she said.

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin evaluated the effects of physically punishing kids for bad behavior. 

According to the team, getting physical with children isn’t likely to lead to improved behavior. Instead, corporal punishment may negatively impact children’s overall well-being and ultimately lead to poorer behavior long term.  

“There is no evidence that physical punishment is good for children,” said researcher Elizabeth Gershoff. “All the evidence indicates that physical punishment is harmful to children’s development and well-being.” 

Avoiding physical punishment

To understand the effects of physical punishment, the researchers analyzed nearly 70 earlier studies that dove deeper into the topic. The team learned that there were no benefits associated with parents physically punishing their children. Though the practice remains legal in the U.S., children’s behavior didn’t improve when their parents used physical force as a means of discipline. Instead, the analysis showed that bad behavior remained for longer periods of time, and the children were more likely to experience neglect. 

“Parents hit their kids because they think doing so will improve their behavior,” Gershoff said. “Unfortunately for parents who hit, our research found clear and compelling evidence that physical punishment does not improve children’s behavior and instead makes it worse.” 

The researchers found that the longer the physical punishments lasted, the worse the outcomes were for the children’s overall well-being. Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings help change the laws surrounding physical punishment. 

“This is a public health issue,” said researcher Anja Heilmann. “Given the strength of the evidence that physical punishment has the potential to cause harm to children, policymakers have a responsibility to protect children and legislate to end the use of physical punishment in all settings.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Rutgers University explored patterns related to preschoolers' learning and general motivation. It suggests that in order for preschoolers to feel motivated to seek out more information, they need to be introduced to a topic without knowing everything about it.

“There is an infinite amount of information in the real world,” said researcher Jenny Wang. “Yet despite having to learn so much in such a short amount of time, young children seem to learn happily and effectively. We wanted to understand what drives their curiosity.” 

What makes kids interested in learning?

For the study, the researchers had 100 preschoolers participate in various experiments. The team designed books on a variety of topics and analyzed how well the kids understood them and how likely they were to seek out more information on any given topic. 

The study showed that the key for preschoolers to want to learn more is to not be bored or overloaded with information on any subject matter. When they begin to learn about something new that interests them, they’re more likely to be motivated to learn more when not all of the information is revealed right away. 

The researchers also explained that curiosity plays a big role in this. Kids’ interests impact what topics they’re most likely to want to know more about, but staying in that middle ground of knowledge is what sparks them to ultimately seek out more information. 

“Intuitively, curiosity seems to belong to those who know the most, like scientists, and those who know the least, like babies,” said Wang. “But what we found here is quite surprising: it was children in the middle who showed the most interest in learning about contagion, compared to children who knew too little or too much.”

Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings can help parents and educators of preschoolers stay engaged with new material. 

“Ultimately, findings like this will help parents and educators better support children when they actively explore and learn about the world,” Wang said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center has explored certain factors that can impact parents’ mental health. 

According to the team, parents are more likely to struggle with their mental health when their children are dealing with Complex Medical Conditions (CMCs). These problems can include conditions like congenital heart defects or cerebral palsy. 

“Having a child with this level of needs affects families in so many different ways,” said researcher Dr. Nathaniel Bayer. “With the right support, these families thrive and fulfill their goals. Without enough support, these families often struggle with the emotional and physical demands of constant caregiving, financial stressors, and employment issues. They may also be unable to find assistance from community services and home nurses, which are under-funded and under-reimbursed.” 

Parents’ mental health is taking a hit

To understand trends in parents’ mental health, the researchers analyzed data from the National Survey of Children’s Health. They were primarily interested in understanding the differences between three groups: parents of healthy children, parents of children with CMCs, and parents of children with non-complex health care needs. 

The researchers learned that parents of children with CMCs were five times more likely to struggle with mental health than parents of healthy children. While this finding alone is a cause for concern, the study also showed that more than 35% of parents of children with CMCs also faced difficulties finding mental health services; this was particularly tough for parents from low-income households. 

“Families of lower [socioeconomic status] often do not have the resources to easily access services,” Dr. Bayer said. “They may lack the transportation to travel to the clinic or struggle to find community resources in their area. If your family is also struggling to put food on the table or keep the lights on, it’s harder to manage your child’s medical needs and take care of yourself.” 

The researchers say many parents of children with CMCs rely on support services to help them through difficult times. These groups allow parents to exchange concerns and ideas, which can often help relieve mental health struggles. Of the parents involved in this study, just 15% reported having access to these kinds of resources. To ensure that parents’ mental health remains a priority, the researchers hope these findings lead to long-term changes in the health care field. 

“Mental health is part of health,” said Dr. Bayer. “Parent and caregiver mental health is a major issue that has a significant impact on children’s health. We need to talk more about parent mental health, screen for it more, and proactively support it.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Ohio State University found that the majority of U.S. consumers are in favor of paid parental leave. 

Though paid leave following the birth of a child isn’t guaranteed in the U.S., the study found that there was little difference in opinion between U.S.-based consumers and those from other countries when it comes to the policy. 

“We find marked differences in how Americans want paid leave administered compared to the rest of the world -- but very similar desires to have leave available,” said researcher Chris Knoester.  

How do consumers feel about paid parental leave?

To understand consumers’ general attitudes toward parental leave, the researchers analyzed responses from over 35,000 participants from more than two dozen countries, all of whom were enrolled in the International Social Survey Programme.

General support for paid parental leave was consistent from all of the study participants; more than 85% of participants from countries outside the U.S. supported paid leave, compared to 82% of U.S. participants who also supported it. The biggest differences between U.S. participants and those from other countries were specific support for paternity leave, how long paid leave should last, and governmental support for leave. 

Across the board, support for paternity leave was lower than that of maternity leave; however, those outside the U.S. garnered more support for giving fathers paid time off after the birth of a child. The researchers found that most opposition to paid paternity leave comes from those with more conservative political views or those with higher socioeconomic backgrounds. 

“These are the people who already largely have access to paid leave through their employers,” said researcher Richard Petts. “They would not directly benefit from it, because they already have it. It is a story of the have and the have-nots.” 

Similarly, participants from outside the U.S. were in support of paid leave that lasted more than one year, whereas those in the U.S. were comfortable with four months of leave. It’s also important to note that U.S.-based participants were generally less in support of governmental support for paid parental leave -- especially for paternity leave. 

“This may be a major reason why we don’t have more widespread and generous leave offered in the United States, even though most people support it,” Knoester said. 

The researchers found that those who believed in traditional gender roles were less likely to support paid time off, while women were generally more supportive of paid leave. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health explored how certain minerals during pregnancy may impact children’s health. 

According to their findings, having higher levels of selenium and manganese during pregnancy was associated with better blood pressure outcomes for children. The team found that maintaining healthy levels of these minerals may protect against high blood pressure long term.  

“These results suggest that healthy levels of selenium and manganese in mothers’ diets during pregnancy may protect their children against developing high blood pressure,” said researcher Noel Mueller, Ph.D. “This work highlights the importance of nutrition and environmental exposures in the womb for a child’s cardiovascular health and, as we continue this research further, could eventually lead to updated nutritional guidance and environmental regulations aimed at preventing disease.” 

Setting kids’ up for healthy blood pressure

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 1,200 mothers and their children enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort. The team evaluated mothers’ blood samples during pregnancy and paid close attention to levels of certain minerals and toxic metals. The researchers later measured the children’s blood pressure when they were between the ages of three and 15.

The study revealed that higher levels of selenium and manganese during pregnancy were linked with lower childhood blood pressure. Selenium was linked to the lowest blood pressure readings; the study showed that kids’ systolic blood pressure declined by more than six points each time their mothers’ selenium levels doubled. Comparatively, doubling manganese levels during pregnancy was associated with lowering systolic blood pressure by nearly three points. 

Though manganese appeared to have a milder effect on kids’ blood pressure, the researchers found that it was more powerful in protecting against the potentially harmful effects of toxic metals -- specifically cadmium.

The researchers explained that cadmium levels tend to be higher when women smoke or are frequently exposed to smoke. This study found that manganese can be effective at masking the consequences of cadmium; higher levels of manganese were linked to lower childhood blood pressure readings when women smoked or were exposed to the metal during pregnancy. 

For women interested in incorporating more of these minerals into their diets during pregnancy, the team recommends eating traditionally healthy foods like fish, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, and oatmeal. 

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan State University found that not becoming a parent may not impact consumers’ life satisfaction. 

The team learned that one-quarter of adults in Michigan do not want to have children, and this group experienced similar levels of happiness and satisfaction as those who had children. 

“Most studies haven’t asked the questions necessary to distinguish ‘child-free’ individuals -- those who choose not to have children -- from other types of nonparents,” said researcher Jennifer Watling Neal. “Non-parents can also include the ‘not-yet-parents’ who are planning to have kids, and ‘childless’ people who couldn’t have kids due to infertility or circumstance.” 

How do children impact happiness?

For the study, the researchers wanted to identify the difference between adults that didn’t plan on having children versus those who were considered nonparents. The team then analyzed responses from more than 1,000 adults who participated in the Michigan State University State of the State Survey. The group answered questions about their personalities, general life satisfaction, and political ideology. 

The researchers were surprised to learn that one-quarter of the participants identified as child-free and didn’t have intentions of having children. However, this choice didn’t affect their overall happiness or life satisfaction.

“After controlling for demographic characteristics, we found no difference in life satisfaction and limited differences in personality traits between child-free individuals and parents, not-yet parents, or childless individuals,” said researcher Zachary Neal. 

In terms of personality, the study showed that parents and nonparents weren’t too different; however, the researchers learned that there was a divide between the groups. The study found that parents didn’t have great attitudes about those without kids, whereas nonparents were much kinder to each other. 

Another big difference was in political leanings. The majority of nonparents reported having more liberal preferences than participants with kids. The researchers believe that this particular finding can have important implications in future elections.

A new study conducted by researchers from Michigan Medicine explored the health care costs associated with women giving birth. 

According to their findings, there are several reasons why consumers could be burdened with thousands of dollars in medical bills following the birth of a child -- even when covered by private health insurance. The team found that when infants require extra medical care or women deliver via C-section, it could cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000. 

“Many privately insured families believe that if they have health insurance, they’re protected from the costs of childbirth hospitalizations. Unfortunately, this is simply not true for many families, particularly if their baby needs NICU care,” said researcher Dr. Kao-Ping Chua. “Having a healthy baby is expensive enough given the costs of diapers, childcare, and baby equipment. Adding a $10,000 hospital bill on top of this can devastate some families,” Chua added.

The cost of childbirth

The researchers analyzed private insurance claims from across the country and focused their study on nearly 400,000 childbirths. The team looked at how much of the process was covered by insurance and what consumers had to pay out of pocket. 

While health insurance covered a portion of childbirth, the majority of the participants in the study were left with more than $3,000 in medical bills. When women delivered vaginally and their babies were healthy, delivery and hospital costs were nearly $3,100. 

As the cases became more specialized, the out-of-pocket costs increased. Medical bills reached nearly $5,000 -- and in some cases as much as $10,000 -- when infants spent time in the NICU. Similarly, women that delivered via C-section had nearly $4,000 in medical bills. 

The researchers explained that many in-hospital services for infants are necessary for overall health and wellness. Moving forward, the team hopes that insurance companies consider ways to reduce these costs for consumers so that a significant financial burden can be alleviated.

“Maternal and childbirth hospitalizations are essential to families’ health and well-being, with some babies needing longer stays because of complex or unexpected medical conditions,” said researcher Dr. Michelle Moniz. “These services are vital to ensuring the best possible outcomes for moms and newborns. We should be looking at ways to improve childbirth coverage to avoid sending families home from the hospital with thousands of dollars in debt.” 

Recent studies have highlighted the health risks associated with both pregnant women and children’s exposure to air pollution. 

Now, researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder have found that women who are exposed to air pollution during pregnancy may have an increased risk of bearing children who struggle with obesity. The team explained that air pollution was linked with excess weight gain, which can last through childhood and adulthood. 

“Higher rates of obesity among certain groups in our society are not simply a byproduct of personal choices like exercise and calories in, calories out,” said researcher Tanya Alderete. “It’s more complicated than that. This study and others suggest it can also relate to how much of an environmental burden one carries.” 

Identifying health risks

The researchers compared health records for more than 120 mother-infant pairs with air pollution data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality System. The team was primarily concerned with the infants’ weight gain and where they stored their fat. 

“We found that greater exposure to prenatal ambient air pollution was associated with greater changes in weight and adiposity, or body fatness, in the first six months of life,” said researcher William Patterson.

This was true for all of the infants, though the researchers found that male and female babies distributed weight gain differently. While male infants had more belly fat, female infants tended to gain more fat around their waists. 

The researchers explained that exposure to air pollution can heighten the body’s inflammatory response, which ultimately impacts other bodily functions and processes and leads to excessive weight gain. While the team plans to do more research in this area, they said that exposure to air pollution in utero can impact infants’ DNA make-up and affect the health of future generations. 

“This period, either during pregnancy or shortly after birth, is a critical window of development and adverse exposures can program the infant to have a host of problems in later life,” Patterson said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Reading found that teens are more likely to open up to people who they deem to be attentive listeners. 

The findings suggest that parents should try to learn to communicate better with their teens to make them more comfortable with being open. Being more engaged and making eye contact can help teens do just that. 

“We all know that listening to someone talk about their problems is an effective way of reassuring them and establishing a connection,” said researcher Dr. Netta Weinstein. “However, until now, there has been little thought given to the quality of that listening, and the difference that makes. 

“This study shows that in parent-teenager relationships, quietly listening to a teenager while showing them they are valued and appreciated for their honesty has a powerful effect on their willingness to open up.” 

Paying attention to listening skills 

The researchers had over 1,000 teens between the ages of 13 and 16 participate in the study. The participants were shown a series of videos where a teen was sharing something important with a parent. In half of the videos, parents practiced attentive listening skills; in the other half, they appeared aloof and distracted. 

Across the board, the participants were more drawn to the versions of the videos where the parents were paying attention and engaged in what the child was saying. When the parents in the videos made more eye contact and offered comfort and support to the teenagers who were sharing their feelings, the teens involved in the study felt more comfortable. 

The participants shared that the feelings of validation and empathy that they saw in the videos are two important factors in being willing to open up to their parents -- especially with vulnerable topics.

“With such a large group of participants, it is reassuring to see that active listening was universally beneficial across these years of adolescence,” Dr. Weinstein said. 

“The study has some important implications for teenage well-being as well. The participants said that the good listening model observed in the videos would lead to better well-being. Although we don’t know how often the expectation meets reality, but it’s clear that active listening is more likely to lead to a good outcome for teenagers than the more passive style we tested it against.” 

Several studies have identified the risks associated with women drinking alcohol while pregnant. Now, experts from the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology explored how alcohol can impact women before they conceive. 

According to their findings, drinking alcohol can hinder a woman’s likelihood of getting pregnant if it’s done during an ovulation cycle. Because of this, they recommend that women actively trying to conceive should avoid heavy drinking. 

“We found that heavy drinking during any phase of the menstrual cycle was significantly associated with a reduced possibility of conception compared to non-drinkers,” said researcher Dr. Kira Taylor. “This is important because some women who are trying to conceive might believe it is ‘safe’ to drink during certain parts of the menstrual cycle.”  

How alcohol affects conception

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from over 400 women between the ages of 19 and 41 that were enrolled in the Mount Sinai Study of Women Office Workers. Over the course of 19 menstrual cycles, the women provided monthly urine samples and reported daily on their alcohol intake. 

The researchers learned that women who had more than six drinks per week during their menstrual cycles, which was defined as “heavy drinking,” were less likely to conceive than women who weren’t drinkers. However, the study showed that it wasn’t just heavy drinking that impacted the likelihood of conception; moderate drinkers -- who had between three and six drinks per week -- also had a lower chance of getting pregnant. 

“During the luteal phase, which is the last two weeks of the menstrual cycle before bleeding would start and when the process of implantation occurs, not only heavy drinking, but also moderate drinking was significantly associated with a reduced possibility of conception,” Taylor said. “At the time of ovulation, usually around day 14 of the cycle, consuming a lot of alcohol -- either heavy or binge drinking -- was significantly associated with reduced chances of conception.” 

Binge drinking -- which is having four or more drinks in one day -- during any point in the menstrual cycle also reduced the likelihood of pregnancy; however, binge drinking during ovulation was linked with the lowest chances of conception. 

“If we assume that a typical, healthy, non-drinking woman in the general population who is trying to conceive has approximately a 25% chance of conceiving during one menstrual cycle, then out of 100 women approximately 25 non-drinkers would conceive in a particular cycle, about 20 moderate drinkers would conceive, and only about 11 heavy drinkers would conceive,” said Taylor. “But the effect of moderate drinking during the luteal phase is more pronounced and only about 16 moderate drinkers would conceive.

The researchers noted that their study was limited in scope, but that their findings could be immensely important to women who are looking to have children.“Our study only included a few hundred women and, while we believe the results strongly suggest that heavy and even moderate alcohol intake affects the ability to conceive, the exact percentages and numbers should be viewed as rough estimates,” Taylor said. 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg found that women infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) may be at an increased risk of preterm birth. 

“I would like to point out that the increase in risk for preterm birth is small for the individual woman carrying HPV,” said researcher Johanna Wilk. “But our results support that young people should get into the vaccination program against HPV.” 

Understanding preterm birth risk

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 1 million births recorded in the Swedish Medical Birth Register. They also looked at mothers’ medical histories using the National Quality Registry for Cervical Cancer Prevention and the Swedish Cancer Register. 

The team was interested in both HPV infection and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), which occurs when there are abnormal changes to cervical cells related to HPV infection. Nearly 12,000 of the participants were infected with HPV, and more than 23,000 women had been treated for CIN. 

The researchers learned that nearly 6% of women with HPV delivered prematurely, compared to 4.6% of women with no history of HPV. Additionally, more than 9% of the women who had received treatment for CIN had preterm births. 

“Our study is register-based and, although we’ve adjusted for various factors in the analyses, we can’t reliably answer the question of whether it’s the virus itself that causes the pregnancy and childbirth complications,” said researcher Verena Sengpiel. “All we can do is show a statistical association. 

The researchers hope that more women are treated and tested when their doctors notice abnormal changes in cervical cells due to HPV infection. Doing so could help increase the chances that women have a healthy pregnancy and successful delivery.

“The earlier these abnormal changes are detected, the better we can follow and treat them,” Wilk said. “And when you’re admitted to maternity care, it’s a good idea to tell your midwife if you’ve had cervical cell changes, and whether you’ve been treated for them. Then the maternity health staff can take that information into account when planning the monitoring of your pregnancy.” 

Several studies have highlighted the mental health struggles many women face during pregnancy and the ways that depression can impact physical health outcomes for women and their infants. 

Now, a new study conducted by researchers from King’s College London explored how depression can affect mothers’ relationships with their newborns. According to the team, women with a history of depression or those who experienced depression during pregnancy struggled to have meaningful connections with their newborns. 

“Our findings suggest that perinatal mental health professionals should offer support not only to women with depression during pregnancy, but also to pregnant women with a history of depression, as they may also be at risk of interaction difficulties,” said researcher Dr. Rebecca Bind. “Future research should try to understand why a history of depression, despite a healthy perinatal period, may impact the developing relationship.” 

How depression impacts mothers and newborns

To better understand the role that depression plays in the mother-infant relationship, the researchers analyzed the outcomes of more than 130 women and their infants over the course of one year. The women fell into one of three groups: history of depression but no current diagnosis, no current diagnosis or history of depression, and current depression diagnosis. 

The researchers checked in with the mothers and their infants eight months and 12 months postpartum. They watched short clips of their interactions and specifically looked at things like tone of voice, facial expressions, and affection to determine the quality of the relationships.  

Ultimately, the study showed that depression, either current or historical, hindered the mother-infant relationship. Women who struggled with depression during pregnancy experienced the brunt of it, as more than 60% of women in this group had poorer relationships with their infants. Comparatively, 56% of women with a history of depression struggled to maintain quality relationships with their infants, and less than 40% of mother-infant relationships were affected when women had no previous or current depression diagnosis. 

Mental health resources are needed

While these findings highlight the importance of having mental health resources more readily available for pregnant women, the study also showed that relationships between mothers and their children improved over time. By one year postpartum, all of the mother-infant pairs experienced positive changes in their interactions. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope these findings are instrumental in changing the way that health care professionals identify and care for pregnant women with depression. Having mental health resources available for all pregnant women is crucial to ensuring positive relationships between mothers and infants. 

“We recommend that health care professionals provide pregnant women at risk of interaction difficulties with examples of positive caregiving behaviors, and with ways to engage their babies and understand their needs, all of which could be incorporated into parenting and birthing classes and health visits,” said researcher Carmine Pariante. 

“We also suggest that interventions that can’t help the mother-infant interaction should be made more widely available, such as video feedback, where a clinician and mother discuss what behaviors work best to engage and comfort the baby, and structured mother-baby activities, such as art and singing groups. This is especially important because we know that the early years are vital for future mental health and well-being.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many consumers’ living situations, including prompting many young adults to return home to live with their parents. 

Now, researchers from North Carolina State University are working to make this transition a more positive situation for consumers. According to findings from their recent survey, adults who move back in with their parents don’t have to feel shame about the decision if they properly frame and plan it out.

“People move back in with their parents for a lot of reasons, and the trend is increasing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic woes,” said researcher Lynsey Romo. “We launched this study before the pandemic happened because we wanted to learn more about how adults who move back in with their parents manage that process. How do they think about it? How do they talk about it?” 

Coping with moving back home

The researchers surveyed 31 adults between the ages of 23 and 31 to understand how young adults handle moving back home with their parents. Participants discussed their decision to move back home and the things that have helped them view the move as something positive rather than a setback. 

The discussions ultimately boiled down to four main points that can help consumers stay positive about this decision: creating a timeline, detailing expectations, being mature, and contributing to household duties. 

Planning for the future is an important part of adults moving back in with their parents. Making it clear how long the arrangement will last and what adults hope to gain by the move are two good ways to maintain positivity and strong relationships in the home. 

In terms of expectations, the participants shared that it’s crucial for adults to hash out the details with their parents. This includes discussing everything from responsibilities around the house to financial obligations, and even curfews. 

Lastly, the participants said acting like an adult, even when around parents, can help give agency to adults living in their childhood homes. Being able to maintain maturity can help identify new roles in the house; though many adults may see moving in with their parents as a step backwards, it’s important to establish new boundaries in a familiar place. 

“On one hand, study participants were certainly aware of the stigma associated with moving back in with one’s parents as an adult,” said Romo. “However, it was equally clear that framing the decision to move back in with one’s parents as an investment in the future helped people think about the decision in a positive way and communicate about it in a positive way.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that these findings are beneficial to adult consumers that have moved back in with their parents or are planning a move back. There are ways to positively frame this situation, and having the right mindset can make all the difference. 

“Moving back home is a reality for a lot of people right now,” Romo said. “Hopefully, this work will make them make the most of that circumstance and avoid any stigma associated with it.” 

Spending time outdoors can have significant mental health benefits, and now a new study shows that kids might at least be somewhat aware of those advantages.

Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University conducted an experiment that asked children between the ages of seven and eight to draw a place where they feel happy. The majority of the children drew pictures of nature scenes, which indicates that the younger generation associates nature with well-being. 

“We wanted this study to explore children’s own perceptions of well-being, as most previous research has focused on adults,” said researcher Dr. Nicola Walshe. “This is despite a consensus that children’s perspectives differ significantly from adults.” 

The link between nature and well-being

The researchers had over 90 children from low socioeconomic backgrounds involved in the study. The goal was to have the children draw pictures of places that made them happy or were associated with positive memories and general well-being. 

More than half of the kids involved in the study drew pictures that were nature-related, with trees being one of the most commonly drawn elements in the pictures. The researchers were surprised by these findings because of how closely they aligned with adults’ views of happiness and well-being. 

However, it’s also important to note that even though nature was a consistent theme among the kids’ drawings, it wasn’t always the dominant part of the images. The researchers found that a lake or garden would often appear in the background of the drawing, but the people important in the children’s lives were featured more prominently. 

“We identified indicators of well-being that were made explicit in children’s drawings, such as the need for safety, happiness, and positive relationships,” said Dr. Walshe. “The drawings depicted nature and outdoor spaces as being interconnected with all aspects of well-being. For example, being able to play outside boosts physical well-being, while being able to stay calm and appreciate the beauty of nature can be linked to emotional or mental health.” 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that more of an effort is made to strengthen the connection that kids have with both nature and art. 

“Previous research has shown that wealth affects access to nature, with children living in deprived areas significantly less likely to have access to green spaces and outdoor places to play,” Dr. Walshe said. “Our research suggests that nature and open spaces underpin these children’s consideration of well-being. 

“As such, making nature explicit, and restoring the interconnectedness between the arts and nature should be a key priority for research to help improve children’s well-being.” 

Several studies have looked at the risks associated with premature birth. Now, a new study is looking at the link between preterm birth and developmental delays. 

According to the findings, infants born before 35 weeks are at an increased risk of struggling with developmental difficulties through childhood. This could translate to motor skill issues, sensory impairment, or cognitive dysfunction, among other concerns. 

“In this large, contemporary cohort of preterm-born children, we report development at age 5.5 in a broad range of areas, the need for educational assistance, complex developmental interventions, and parental concerns about their child’s development,” the researchers wrote. 

Understanding the developmental risks

For the study, the researchers analyzed data from more than 3,000 children enrolled in the France-based EPIPAGE-2 study. All of the children were born preterm, and they were divided into three groups based on the length of their mothers’ pregnancies: 24-26 weeks, 27-31 weeks, and 32-34 weeks. The researchers compared their developmental outcomes with 600 children who were born at full term. 

Ultimately, the researchers identified a clear relationship between preterm birth and developmental difficulties -- the further away women were from carrying their pregnancies to full term when they gave birth, the higher the risk of their child having developmental issues. 

Infants born between 24 and 26 weeks were nearly 40% more likely to develop a mild disability and 28% more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disability. Infants born between 32 and 34 weeks were nearly 35% more likely to have a mild disability and 12% more likely to have a neurodevelopmental disability. 

Children with mild disabilities often require extra assistance at school, including speech or physiotherapists, and parents in the study expressed high levels of concern for their children’s long-term development, well-being, and behavior. 

While this was an observational study, the researchers hope these findings highlight the ways that preterm births can have long-term impacts on children and their families. 

“This global perspective is important when advising parents, health personnel, and teachers, and also when designing follow-up and intervention programs for children born preterm,” the researchers wrote. “Extra educational assistance and complex developmental resources were often used, even for children born moderately preterm with no, or mild, neurodevelopmental disabilities. Difficulties faced by these groups of children and their families should not be underestimated.” 

Recent studies have highlighted how many children struggle with getting enough physical activity and sleep. For busy families, incorporating physical activity or making sure kids are sleeping enough can be difficult to plan into already packed schedules. 

However, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia found that staying flexible and rescheduling activities to fit into each day can lead to better physical and mental health benefits for kids.

“There are many competing time demands in modern families -- whether it’s after-school soccer, music lessons, or simply walking the family dog,” said researcher Dr. Dot Dumuid. “In this research, we calculated how much sleep, sedentary time, light exercise, and moderate-to-vigorous exercise was associated with the same improvements in mental health, physical health, and academic achievement. Exploring trade-offs between children’s activities is a promising way for families to make healthy choices that suit their regular family schedule.” 

Prioritizing balance

For the study, the researchers analyzed the physical and mental wellness of more than 1,100 children between the ages of 11 and 12. The kids completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and underwent assessments for height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). 

Ultimately, vigorous physical activity was found to be the most effective way for kids to maintain a healthy body and mind. However, there are other ways that parents can maximize their time and ensure their kids are getting the greatest mental and physical health benefits each day. 

“This study confirms that physical activity is the quickest and most effective way to deliver benefits for children’s physical health and mental well-being,” said researcher Trevor Shilton. “But the findings also offer some flexibility for families.” 

The team also found that sleeping for nearly 70 extra minutes can boost mental health, and sleeping for an extra 52 minutes can boost physical health. Similarly, mental health is likely to improve with an additional 35 minutes of exercise, while less than 20 extra minutes of exercise can boost physical health. Kids are likely to see improvements to both mental and physical health when they cut their sedentary time down by roughly 55 minutes. 

“For families with very little available time, small increases in moderate-to-vigorous exercise could be an option to improve children’s health and well-being; alternatively an earlier night could equally deliver the same health benefits -- importantly, it’s the flexibility that these findings offer that make them so valuable.” 

Making the most of the time you have

The researchers explained that their goal with this study was to show parents that there are ways to maximize their time to ensure their kids are getting the most benefits each day. Though there may not be the time to reach sleep or exercise goals every day, there are ways to reallocate activities to make the most of the time that’s available. 

“Helping young people make healthy choices and helping families create an environment that supports them in these choices can improve their quality of life in the future, as well as reducing their risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease,” Shilton said. 

Recent studies have highlighted the benefits associated with breastfeeding newborns. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Rochester Medical Center is adding to that body of work.

According to the team, infants that are breastfed tend to have better cognitive outcomes as they develop through childhood. The researchers looked at results from neurocognitive assessments of nine- and ten-year-olds and found that those with the highest scores were also the ones who were breastfed. 

“There’s already established research showing the numerous benefits breastfeeding has for both mother and child,” said researcher Hayley Martin, Ph.D. “This study’s findings are important for families particularly before and soon after birth when breastfeeding decisions are made. It may encourage breastfeeding goals of one year or more. It also highlights the critical importance of continued work to provide equity focused access to breastfeeding support, prenatal education, and practices to eliminate structural barriers to breastfeeding.” 

Benefits of breastfeeding

To understand how breastfeeding impacted children’s long-term brain function, the researchers analyzed results from over 9,000 kids enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. As part of the study, children completed neurocognitive assessments that tested things like memory, executive functioning, and general cognitive ability. The researchers analyzed their results and compared them with data on breastfeeding, which included information on whether the children were breastfed and for how long. 

Ultimately, children who were breastfed as infants had the strongest outcomes on the neurocognitive tests. In fact, the longer the children were breastfed, the better they did on the cognitive evaluations by the time they were nearing the end of elementary school. 

“The strongest association was in children who were breastfed for more than 12 months,” said researcher Daniel Adan Lopez, Ph.D. “The scores of children who were breastfed until they were seven to 12 months were slightly less, and then the one to six-month-old scores dips a little more. But all scores were higher when compared to children who didn’t breastfeed at all.” 

Moving forward, the team hopes that these findings encourage more women to try breastfeeding, as there could be significant long-term brain benefits. 

“Our findings suggest that any amount of breastfeeding has a positive cognitive impact, even after just a few months,” said Dr. Lopez. “That’s what’s exciting about these results. Hopefully from a policy standpoint, this can help improve the motivation to breastfeed.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from Stanford Medicine explored the complications associated with women getting epidurals to ease pain during childbirth. 

According to their findings, epidurals are not linked with an increased risk of a child developing autism. The team explained that these shots can help women with pain relief during labor, and they shouldn’t worry about adverse complications with their infants. 

“The epidural is the gold standard in labor pain management,” said researcher Elizabeth Wall-Wieler, Ph.D. “The vast majority of evidence around epidurals, including that from our new study, shows that they are the most effective means of providing pain relief to women during labor and that serious complications are rare.” 

A safe way to relieve pain

To better understand the relationship between women who received epidurals and later autism diagnoses, the researchers analyzed data from over 123,000 children born in Manitoba, Canada. 

Overall, less than 40% of the women involved in the study received an epidural during childbirth. The researchers learned that just over 2% of the children born to women who had received an epidural were diagnosed with autism; comparatively, just under 2% of children born to women who hadn’t received an epidural during childbirth were diagnosed with autism. 

The researchers were interested in this subject because of an earlier California-based study that identified a link between epidurals and autism diagnoses. However, the researchers said that study lacked an analysis of outside factors that can impact brain development and autism. 

In this study, experts evaluated several factors that may impact autism risk. Some of them included mothers’ smoking, alcohol, and recreational drug use; fetal distress during labor; genetic influences; socioeconomic factors; and pre-pregnancy health status, among many others. After accounting for all of these measures, the findings indicated that epidurals don’t pose a significant risk to autism diagnoses. 

The researchers hope that these findings encourage women to make decisions during labor based on their individual needs without worrying about how their choices may later impact their children’s development. 

“Our study has a stronger finding because we accounted for limitations the first study had,” said researcher Dr. Alexander Butwick. “An epidural remains a well-established and effective means of providing pain relief during labor, with several benefits associated with it.” 

A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Southampton explored the risks associated with consecutive miscarriages. 

According to their findings, weight is an important factor when it comes to this reproductive issue. The team found that women who are either underweight or overweight have a higher risk of having consecutive miscarriages. 

“Our findings suggest that having an abnormal BMI exacerbates a woman’s risk of suffering from repeated miscarriages, and so clinicians really need to focus on helping women manage this risk factor,” said researcher Ying Cheong. 

How weight can impact pregnancy

The researchers analyzed over a dozen earlier studies that looked at how women’s lifestyles impacted their reproductive health and the risk of having recurrent miscarriages. The team assessed factors like caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, weight, and body mass index (BMI) scores to determine what was most likely to contribute to multiple miscarriages. 

Their findings revealed that women’s weight played a large role in their reproductive health; women that were either underweight, overweight, or obese were at an increased risk of having consecutive miscarriages. 

“Our study included sixteen studies and showed that being underweight or overweight significantly increases the risk of two consecutive pregnancy losses,” said researcher Dr. Bonnie Ng. “For those with BMI greater than 25 and 30, their risk of suffering a further miscarriage increases by 20% and 70%, respectively.” 

Following a healthy lifestyle

Though caffeine and alcohol are associated with pregnancy complications, the researchers didn’t find any link between these habits and consecutive miscarriages in this study. 

“While our study did not find any associations between recurrent pregnancy loss and lifestyle parameters such as smoking, alcohol, and caffeine intake, further large-scale studies are required to clarify this,” said researcher Dr. George Cherian. 

Moving forward, the researchers hope that more work is done to ensure that women are following healthy habits throughout the entire pregnancy process. 

The White House is stepping up efforts to address the child care crisis caused by COVID-19. 

On Thursday, the Biden-Harris administration announced that it earmarked $39 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to help early childhood educators and family child care providers keep their doors open and the lights on. The new fund is an especially welcome relief for moms who have had to juggle child care while working remotely. 

“Since the start of the pandemic, roughly 2 million women have left the labor force, disproportionately due to caregiving needs and undoing decades of progress improving women’s labor force participation rate,” the White House said in a statement.

In fact, the administration is taking to heart all aspects of raising a family including the disparities in income levels brought on by differences in education levels and gender.

“Even as many fathers have returned to work, mothers, especially those without a four-year college degree, have not done so at similar rates. As a result, the gender earnings gap is predicted to increase by 5 percentage points in this recession, hurting our families and economy,” White House officials stated.

“As women work to regain employment, families with young children, and especially families of color where mothers are more likely to be sole or primary breadwinners, may face financial burdens for years to come. Parents need access to safe, quality child care to get back to work.”

Provisions of the plan

Here’s how the White House laid out all the plan’s provisions:

Help child care centers and family child care providers stay afloat. Included in this provision will be financial assistance for rent payments, mortgage payments, utility and insurance bills, maintaining or improving facilities, and paying off debt incurred during the pandemic.

Support providers with funds to enable safe and healthy learning environments. As COVID-19 winds down and parents look for child care options, a key ingredient is health safety. The Biden-Harris team says the new fund will have a positive impact on more than 5 million children by purchasing masks, improving ventilation, and providing consistent cleaning so centers and family providers can comply with the CDC’s Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs during COVID-19. 

Support the mental health of children and early educators. Providers can also use these funds to support the mental health of children and early childhood educators so they can help anyone who’s been socially or emotionally impacted by the pandemic. 

Payroll support and new hires. The White House said that it was giving special attention to help keep child care workers -- who are disproportionately women of color and immigrants -- on the payroll and give centers the financial ability to rehire anyone who was laid off. Child care providers can also use these funds to recruit new workers and increase the pay and benefits of child care workers and family child care providers.

Provide access to affordable care for families with the greatest need. The fund covers virtually anyone struggling to make ends meet so they can meet the cost of child care. The White House said the fund allows states, tribes, and territories the ability to provide direct subsidies to hard-pressed families earning below 85% of a state’s median income, as well as families performing essential work.

Lay the groundwork for a revamped childcare system. The White House’s intent for a portion of the fund is to rehab the current child care system so families can access the high-quality care they need going forward. One of the suggestions the administration offered was allowing states, tribes, and territories an option to set reimbursement rates at a level where children can not only receive high-quality care but will have increased access to care in the evenings and on weekends when many essential workers need help. 

To ensure healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, studies have cautioned pregnant women to avoid several potential risks, like smoking, drinking alcohol, and consuming caffeine. Now, Hadi Mohammadi, an engineer from the University of British Columbia, is urging pregnant women to be extra cautious when driving over speed bumps. 

He explained that when drivers are reckless about speeding over these obstacles, it can be harmful to both pregnant women and their babies. 

“There is lots of research about the importance of movement for women during pregnancy,” said Mohammadi. “Our latest research looked specifically at the impacts of sudden acceleration on a pregnant woman.” 

Staying safe behind the wheel

The researchers created a model of a third-trimester pregnant uterus for the purposes of the study. They then created an equation to determine how the fetus interacts with the uterus when impacted by the vibrations that occur when going over a speed bump. The team was primarily interested in seeing how the size of the speed bump and the speed that the car affected pregnant women and their babies. 

The study showed that speed bumps can put extra pressure on pregnant women’s amniotic fluid, which is responsible for protecting an unborn baby. The researchers say this can increase the risk of a number of complications, including abdominal pain for mothers and abnormalities to heart rate or brain development for babies. 

To ensure safety for both pregnant women and their babies, the researchers determined that cars should go no faster than 45 km/h, or just about 28 mph, over speed bumps. However, the optimal speed to protect the health and safety of pregnant women is about 15.5 mph. 

The researchers explained that this is true of speed bumps and any bumpy roadways; slowing down in these areas is the best bet. Moving forward, the team hopes that consumers take these findings into consideration when driving with pregnant women. 

“Obviously, there are other variables at play when a driver approaches a speed bump, but we hope our findings provide some evidence-based guidance to keep drivers and their occupants literally and figuratively safe,” Mohammadi said. 

Every parent takes a different approach when it comes to disciplining their children. Now, a new study conducted by researchers from Harvard University found that those who use corporal punishment may impact their child’s brain development.

According to their findings, spanking affected kids’ brain development much in the same way as more intense types of violence. The researchers worry about how this practice could affect long-term decision-making abilities, emotional processing, and general mental health. 

“We know that children whose families use corporal punishment are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, behavior problems, and other mental health problems, but many people don’t think about spanking as a form of violence,” said researcher Katie A. McLaughlin. “In this study, we wanted to examine whether there was an impact of spanking at a neurobiological level, in terms of how the brain is developing.” 

How spanking can affect development

The researchers had nearly 150 kids between the ages of 10 and 11 participate in the study. While laying in an MRI machine, the children were shown pictures of faces that were either showing fearful or neutral expressions. The researchers analyzed what effect the different faces had on the children’s brain responses. 

The study revealed that seeing images of fearful faces activated more areas of the brain in children who were spanked versus those who weren’t. Additionally, more areas in the prefrontal cortex were activated in these children. This is important because the prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making, social awareness, and personality expression. 

When comparing these results to those of children who had experienced more severe types of abuse, the researchers found that they were similar. 

“While we might not conceptualize corporal punishment to be a form of violence, in terms of how a child’s brain responds, it’s not all that different than abuse,” said McLaughlin. “It’s more a difference of degree than type.” 

What are the long-term risks?

The researchers explained that every child responds to discipline differently. While some kids who were spanked grow up to overcome this type of punishment, it’s important for parents to know what the potential risks are. 

The researchers hope that parents take these findings and veer away from this type of discipline because it’s clear that spanking children can have neurological consequences. 

“The important message is that corporal punishment is a risk that can increase potential problems for children’s development, and following a precautionary principle, parents and policymakers should work toward trying to reduce its prevalence,” said McLaughlin. “We’re hopeful that this finding may encourage families not to use this strategy, and that it may open people’s eyes to the potential negative consequences of corporal punishment in ways they haven’t thought of before.” 

While many parents are concerned about letting their toddlers spend too much time in front of screens, a new study conducted by researchers from the Association for Psychological Science explored what role TV plays in toddlers’ development. 

Their findings showed that watching TV isn’t likely to be the culprit for toddlers’ attention issues. However, these results are different from several other studies that have looked at toddlers and screen time. 

“The findings from the original study, upon further scrutiny, are not borne out,” said researcher Wallace E. Dixon, Jr. “We found that there is still no evidence that TV, by itself, causes ADHD or any kind of attention problems in young children. Our research also tells us that it’s important to be skeptical of earth-shattering findings that come in the form of ‘something that everybody is doing harms our children.’ Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” 

TV alone isn’t to blame for attention issues

The researchers analyzed data from more than 2,000 participants who were enrolled in the National Longitudinal Study of Youth to determine what effect watching TV had on toddlers’ attention spans. They applied a research technique that explores this association from hundreds of different angles and compared them to results from an earlier study. 

Ultimately, they learned that watching TV didn’t have a direct impact on toddlers’ attention issues. Though many parents are worried about how much time their young kids are spending in front of screens, and several studies have drawn links between screen time and attention, the findings from this study showed that exposure to TV alone during the toddler years isn’t likely to lead to attention issues during childhood and beyond. 

The researchers hope that parents and caregivers find solace in these findings and aren’t so hard on themselves for what activities they permit their kids to participate in moving forward. 

“What excites us about this research is that we can ease up on blaming parents or making them feel guilty for letting their children watch television when they are very young,” Dixon said.