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First Good Evidence That Babies React to Taste, Smell in Womb

At the kitchen table, babies trying different foods might look eager or offended, depending on the flavor of what they are asked to eat.

It turns out infants may develop those taste differences while still in the womb, according to a new study that delivered the first direct evidence that infants can smell and taste while in utero.

In the study, researchers fed 100 pregnant women a...

Walking, Sitting: What Works Best to Help Baby Stop Crying?

A new study hands parents what seems like a miraculous gift: A simple, free technique that takes just 13 minutes to put wailing infants to sleep.

Researchers in Japan found that walking around while carrying infants for five minutes calmed the newborns, while another eight minutes of sitt...

Getting Kids Walking, Biking to School Can Lead to Long-Term Fitness

Kids who walk, skateboard or ride their bikes to school when they are young are more likely to keep it up as they get older, reaping the health benefits, recent research suggests.

“The walk to school is a wonderful moment in the day that provides children a glimpse of living an active lifestyle,” said study...

One Form of Fertility Treatment May Raise Long-Term Cancer Risk in Offspring

Children born as a result of a common fertility procedure involving frozen embryos may have higher risk of cancer, Swedish researchers report.

In frozen-thawed embryo transfer, an embryo is created in a laboratory from an egg and sperm, frozen and later thawed before implant...

Half of Moms of Children With Autism Have Depression

While half of mothers of children with autism suffer symptoms of depression, a new study has discovered that did not raise the risk of behavioral problems for their kids.

It was both a surprising and heartenin...

Tight Blood Sugar Control Boosts Brain Power of Teens With Type 1 Diabetes: Study

When teenagers with type 1 diabetes get better control of their blood sugar, their brains may benefit, a new clinical trial shows.

Researchers found that when teenagers started treatment with a newer technology — often dubbed "artificial pancreas" systems �...

Leading U.S. Pediatricians' Group Issues Guidelines to Prevent Patient Abuse

Recent years have seen several high-profile cases of doctors sexually abusing young patients. Now the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is issuing new recommendations aimed at prevention.

Medical visits are usually a safe place for children and teenagers, but when abuse does happen, it is an egregious violation.

One reason, the AAP says, is because parents and kids trust that hea...

Breastfeeding Can Protect Hearts of Mom, Baby Long Term

Breastfeeding can deliver long-term heart benefits to both mother and child, a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA) says.

The immune systems of newborns and infants can be strengthened by breast milk, which has long been a...

Tips to Food-Fueling Your Active Vegan Child

Kids can take part in sports while on vegetarian and vegan diets, but parents and caregivers must help them select foods that will fuel them and meet their nutrition needs.

Vegan athletes can become deficient in vitamin B12, vitamin D, long-chain omega-3 fats, riboflavin and calcium, so it's important to find good substitutes, said Roberta Anding, a registered dietitian at Baylor College ...

Kids Born Premature Lag in Elementary School, But Most Catch Up Later

While babies born prematurely may lag behind their elementary school peers, they eventually catch up, British researchers report.

By the end of high school, only the kids born before 32 weeks of gestation were continuing to struggle, according to a new study published online Aug. 17 in the journal

  • By Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 18, 2022
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  • The More Words Your Preschooler Knows, the Better They Do in Class

    Kids who enter preschool with good vocabulary and attention skills have a head start on academic success.

    That's the takeaway from a new study of nearly 900 4-year-olds and their ability to engage with teachers and peers, as well as their involvement in classroom tasks.

    “The levels of ...

    Lead Poisoning Plus Systemic Racism Are Harming Black Kids' Test Scores

    It's well known that exposure to lead can harm young children's brain development. Now a new study suggests that racial segregation may be compounding the detrimental effects of lead on Black children.

    The study, of close to 26,000 schoolchildren, found that Black children with elevated blood lead levels had wo...

    Premature Birth Tied to Higher Risk for ADHD

    Children born a little early -- before 39 weeks of pregnancy -- are more likely to have symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), new research suggests.

    While birth before 37 weeks' gestation has known links to hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention, this study inve...

    If a Child's Grades Falter, Consider Hearing Loss

    While some may think of hearing loss as something that happens with age, it can also happen to kids.

    Parents and teachers should consider hearing loss if a child's academic performance declines or he or she develops behavioral issues, lack of focus and depression, the American Academy of Audiology advises.

    “Because children often don't realize they are missing information and may ...

    Too Little Sleep May Harm Young Kids' Brains

    For peak performance, school-age children need more than a healthy diet and exercise. They also need plenty of sleep.

    A new study finds that elementary school kids who get less than nine hours of sleep each night show significant differences in some brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence and well-being compared to those who get the advised nine to 12 hours' sleep.

    “We ...

    Tough to Get Your Kid to Take Medicine? An Expert Offers Tips

    Sometimes it's difficult for parents to get their child to take necessary medication.

    One expert who spends part of her workday guiding parents through this challenge offers some suggestions to make the ordeal easier.

    Emily Glarum, a child life specialist at the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, offers these tips: Be honest, practice it, provide choices, set a sch...

    Neighborhood Factors Could Raise Your Child's Odds for Asthma

    Inner-city kids are known to be at greater risk for uncontrolled asthma. Now, new research suggests that violent crime and poor school achievement may be two reasons why.

    “Experiencing violent crime can result in toxic stress, and decreased educational attainment is associated with lower health literacy,” said study author Dr. Jordan Tyris, a hospitalist at Children's National Hospita...

    Lonely Childhoods Make Adult Drinking Problems More Likely

    Having friends in childhood may help keep you clean and sober as a young adult, new research suggests.

    Researchers from Arizona State University (ASU) interviewed more than 300 college students who participated in assessments that focused on childhood loneliness, stress levels and drinking behaviors. The results determined there was a link between feelings of loneliness in their pre-adole...

    Snuggling With Dad: Fathers' Contact Can Help Preemies Thrive

    Decades of research have shown the power of skin-to-skin contact between preemies and their moms, but would the same technique, dubbed "kangaroo care," work with fathers?

    Yes, claims a new Australian study that found when dads held their premature babies close to their bare chest, they reported feeling a "s...

    Breastfeeding May Be Key to Letting Preemie Babies Thrive

    Preterm infants who are breastfed do better in school and are less likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says a new study.

    Preemies have a higher risk of doing poorly in math, reading and other academic skills, previous studies have shown. They're also at greater risk for ADHD.

    But starting them off with lots of breast milk appears to blunt this risk an...

    Can Anxiety Disorders Pass From Parent to Child?

    From the ongoing pandemic and the monkeypox outbreak to the charged political landscape, New York City mom and entrepreneur Lyss Stern has been increasingly anxious.

    Stern worries that she will pass all of this fretting down to her 8-year-old daughter, and a new study suggests she just might.

    "Children may be more likely to learn anxious behavior if it is being displayed by their s...

    Long, Regular Sleep Key to Kindergarten Success

    Long, restful and - most importantly - regular sleep is key to helping kindergarteners adjust to school, and a new study urges parents to start forming good sleep habits a full year ahead of time.

    Researchers found that kids who regularly got 10 hours of sleep or more b...

    How Childhood Abuse Can Haunt the Senior Years

    Poor mental and physical health among older adults may trace back to childhood abuse, a Canadian study suggests.

    The study, published online July 7 in the journal Aging and Health Research, found that people who were physically abused during childhood were twice as likely ...

    About 1 in 7 U.S. Kindergarten Kids Now Obese

    Despite reports that rates of childhood obesity are decreasing, kids seem to be packing on pounds at younger ages.

    In 1998, just under 73% of children entering kindergarten in 1998 had a normal body mass index (BMI), while 15.1% were overweight, and 12% were obese.

    However, fast forward 12 years and just 69% of kids started kindergarten at a normal BMI, a new study finds.

    An...

    Teens Have Triple the Odds of Misusing Marijuana Compared to Adults

    In yet another report that illustrates the dangers pot poses to the young, developing brain, a new British study finds teenagers are much more likely than adults to develop an addiction to marijuana.

    "We found that teenagers are three and a half times more likely to have severe cannabis use disorder, whi...

    Most U.S. Kids Score Low on Heart Health

    Most U.S. children and adults have poor scores for heart health, according to a new assessment tool called "Life's Essential 8."

    Fewer than 30% of 2- to 19-year-olds had high scores for cardiovascular health on the new American Heart Association scoring tool. And their scores got lower with age. Just 14% of 12- to 19-year-olds had high scores, compared to 33% of 6- to 11-year-olds and 56%...

    Study Spots Key Factor in Kids' Friendships

    While kids in a classroom are likely to be familiar with all their classmates after a short time, the children they are assigned to sit near are likely to become their closer friends, a new study suggests.

    Researchers from Florida Atlantic University found that after seat assignments changed, students were more likely to become friends with newly near-seated classmates, than with those w...

    Kids Happier, Healthier Away From All Those Screens: Study

    New research confirms the dangers of too much screen time for kids and teens: Those who play sports, take music lessons, or socialize with friends after school are happier and healthier than children who are glued to a screen during these hours.

    "Scr...

    Why Getting Along in Preschool Is So Important

    The expression "plays well with others" is often tossed around to describe people who are less likely to ruffle feathers, and new research shows these sandbox skills really matter.

    It turns out that kids who play well with others in preschool are less likely to experience mental health issues ...

    Neurodevelopmental Issues Double in Babies Exposed to COVID in Womb: Study

    The babies of women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy may have developmental difficulties during their first year, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that pregnant women with COVID-19 were more likely to have preterm births and infants with developmental problems. The greatest risk was in the third trimester,

  • Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 10, 2022
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  • Another Study Finds Kids of Same-Sex Parents Do Just Fine

    Children raised by same-sex parents are just as well-adjusted as kids raised by different-sex parents, researchers say.

    In the new study, the researchers compared 62 Dutch children (aged 6 to 16 years) whose parents were the same sex with 72 kids whose parents were different sexes. The investigators considered prosocial behavior, hyperactivity, peer problems, emotional adjustment and gene...

    A Child's Pet Dog May Shield Them From Crohn's Disease

    Add a lower risk of Crohn's disease to the many benefits of having a dog during childhood, a new study suggests.

    Sorry, cat lovers, researchers didn't find a similar benefit for you.

    "We did not see the same results with cats, though we are still trying to determine why," said senior author Williams Turpin, a research associate with Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto and the University...

    C-Sections Won't Raise Baby's Odds for Food Allergies

    Babies delivered by cesarean section are no more likely to have food allergies during their first year of life than other infants, according to an Australian study.

    The association between type of delivery and food allergy risk had been unclear, so researchers decided to take a closer look.

    For the study, they analyzed data on more than 2,000 infants in Australia; 30% were delivered...

    It's 'Kids to Parks Day': Get Out, Get Active

    It's a good idea to get children outside every day, but especially on Kids to Parks Day, a national day of outdoor play on May 21.

    "Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, outdoor time and nature exploration are safe for most kids," pediatrician Dr. Danette Glassy said in an ...

    Could Video Games Boost a Child's Intelligence?

    Folks often believe that video games rot a kid's mind, but a new study argues the opposite could be true.

    Children actually might get a brain boost from playing hour after hour of video games, researchers report.

    American kids between 9 and 10 years of age who spent more time playing video games experienced a significant increase in their intelligence scores when retested two years ...

    Most Day Care Programs Don't Give Kids Enough Exercise

    Rates of childhood obesity in the United States are soaring, and new research suggests child care programs may be part of the problem.

    Most tots in these programs aren't getting nearly enough exercise.

    National guidance for child care programs calls for providing at least two opportunities a day for physical activity, totaling 60 to 90 minutes. While the new study found that 74% of ...

    No Link Between Antidepressants in Pregnancy, Epilepsy in Children

    There's good news for women with a mental health condition: Taking antidepressants early in pregnancy doesn't increase a baby's risk of having epilepsy or seizures, researchers say.

    "The findings of this study are very important," said study co-author Ayesha Sujan of Indiana University Bloomington. "Pregnancy can be a trying time, and the addition of

  • By Robert Preidt HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 12, 2022
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  • Pregnant American Women Are Facing Higher Exposures to Chemicals

    Exposure to potentially harmful chemicals is on the rise among pregnant women in the United States, a new study warns.

    "This is the first time we've been able to measure the amounts of chemicals in such a large and diverse group of pregnant women - not just identify chemicals," ...

    Better School Lunches Blunt U.S. Kids' Weight Gain

    America's kids have a weight problem, but regulations that boosted the nutritional standards for school meals may have helped slowed down weight gain among low-income students, a new study finds.

    For decades, the National School Lunch Program has provided free or low-cost meals to U.S. schoolchildren. As of 2016, more than 30 mil...

    There's a Secret to Getting Kids to Eat Vegetables

    Do you have a child who refuses to eat anything green? Rewarding them for trying new vegetables may make them more willing to eat them, a new study claims.

    "It's important to start eating vegetables from a young age," said lead rese...

    Kids' Sleep Suffers When Parents Can't Afford Diapers

    It might seem like an unlikely connection at first, but a new study finds that infants and toddlers suffer sleep issues -- and maybe other problems --- when their parents can't afford diapers.

    "Sleep promotes brain development and solidifies learning and memory," noted study co-author Sallie Porter, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Nursing in New Jersey. "Children with

    Obesity May Be Affecting Heart Health in Kids as Young as 6

    As early as age 6, children who carry extra weight could be headed down a path toward future diabetes or heart disease, a new study suggests.

    The study, of nearly 1,000 Danish children, found that kids who were overweight often had elevations in blood sugar and insulin by the time ...

    Most Transgender Children Stick With Gender Identity 5 Years Later: Study

    Kids who feel their true gender identity doesn't match the sex they were given at birth are sometimes given the chance to adopt the lifestyle and characteristics of the opposite gender, in a process known as "social transitioning."

    It involves no treatments or su...

    Could a Stressed-Out Pregnancy Hinder a Toddler's Development?

    Babies born to women who are stressed out during pregnancy may be more likely to experience social, emotional and learning problems as they grow up, new research suggests.

    "Mom's elevated psychological distress affects not just her, but her unborn baby's brain development," said st...

    Are Vegetarian Diets Healthy for Growing Kids?

    Vegetarian diets are a healthy choice for growing kids -- though they may slightly raise the odds of youngsters being underweight, a new study suggests.

    The study, of nearly 9,000 young children, found that those on vegetarian diets were, on average, of similar weight and height as their peers who ate meat. They were also on par when it came to blood levels of iron and vitamin D -- which ...

    When Is the Right Time to Tell a Child They Have Autism?

    Bella Kofner, a 24-year-old graduate student in special education at the College of Staten Island in New York, was 10 when her parents first told her she had autism. Developmental psychologist Steven Kapp, now 35, was 13 when he was told the same.

    So, is there a best time to tell children they have the developmental disorder? New research suggests that younger is better.

    Kofner, Kap...

    Teen Brain Naturally Tunes Out Mom's Voice

    Mom's voice may be music to a young child's brain, but the teen brain prefers to change the station, a new study finds.

    Past research using brain imaging has revealed how important a mother's voice is to younger children: The sound stimulates not only hearing-related parts of the brain, but also circuits involved in emotions and "reward" - in a way strange voices simply do not.

    The ...

    Another Long-Term Health Issue Tied to Abuse in Childhood: Cholesterol

    The toll of child abuse is wide-ranging and long-lasting. Researchers warn that childhood abuse is tied to high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes in adulthood, raising odds for heart disease and stroke.

    In contrast, those who grew up in nurturing homes are less likely to have heart disease risk factors.

    "Our findings demonstrate how the negative and positive experiences we have in chi...

    Kids Who Witness Domestic Violence May Suffer Mentally for Decades

    Witnessing violence between your parents is traumatic when it happens, but a new study finds that trauma can raise your risk of depression and other mental health problems.

    The study included more than 17,700 Canadian adults who took part in a national survey on mental health. Of those respondents, 326 sa...

    Virtual Learning Didn't Slow Preschoolers' Reading Skills

    Preschoolers can learn reading skills in a virtual classroom, University of Washington researchers say.

    "Children are ready to learn to read at the age of 5. But the pandemic robbed children of the opportunity for in-person reading instruction," said Patricia Kuhl, co-director of the Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences (I-LABS), in Seattle. "What we've shown here is that an online rea...