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18 Nov

Long Hours in Day Care Won’t Cause Behavioral Problems, Study Finds

Researchers find little evidence that spending extensive time in day care causes behavioral issues from biting to bullying.

Health News Results - 484

Just 2 Kids Worldwide Are Known to Have This Rare Genetic Disease. Their Parents United for a Cure

When Yoni Silverman, now 13, was a toddler, his parents fretted as he missed milestone after milestone. The New York City couple took their son to a host of specialists, searching for answers about why he wasn’t speaking and had difficulty with balance, among other developmental issues.

Fast forward a few years later, and a Boston couple was going through something similar with their no...

Even a Little Extra Weight Can Raise Kids' Odds for High Blood Pressure

Even modest weight gain above the average puts kids at risk for high blood pressure, new research shows.

“Hypertension during youth tracks into adulthood and is associated with cardiac and vascular organ damage," said lead study author Corinna Koebnick of Kaiser...

Did 'Helicopter' Parents Cause the Mental Health Crisis in Today's Young?

Kids and teens are struggling with their mental health in America, and one new report suggests the overinvolvement of parents may be partly to blame.

Kids don't get to roam any more. They've lost time for free play and risk-taking amid parents' fears about the dangers of the world, said report co-author David Bjorklund<...

Tonsillectomies Can Be Tougher for Kids With Developmental Delays

Children who have developmental delays may be at greater risk for complications after a tonsillectomy, researchers report.

“This elevated risk of complications should be included in pre-operative counseling and has potential implications for pre-operative decision making and treatment plans in this high-risk population,” said

Could Tiny Plastic Particles Reach the Fetus From Mom's Food? Rat Study Raises Concerns

Most food and water contains "nano-sized" microplastics, and new animal research suggests these tiny particles pass from pregnant rats to their unborn offspring and may impair fetal development.

The same could be true in humans, the study suggests.

“Much remains unknown, but this is certainly cause for concern and follow-up study,” said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • March 1, 2023
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  • Kids Born After Elective Induced Labor Performed Worse in School: Study

    You're 38 weeks pregnant and so uncomfortable you can barely move, so you ask your doctor if labor can be induced early.

    That's not necessarily a good idea, according to new research that found children born after elective induced labor may do worse in school.

    Dutch researchers found that 12-year-olds who as newborns were delivered after elective induced labor scored lower on tests...

    Young Kids, Adults Use Same Brain Areas to Solve Tough Problems

    Adults use a special part of their brain to solve tough problems. Now, new research shows that kids do the same.

    Scientists used brain scans and challenging work to assess how kids and adults might work through these tough problems and whether or not their problem-solving processes were the same.

    Turns out they were.

    The researchers found that while the multiple demand network...

    Healthier School Meals Program Led to Less Overweight Kids: Study

    More than a decade ago, the Obama administration passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 as a way to counter the toll the obesity epidemic was taking on children's health.

    The goal was to markedly improve the nutritional value of federal food programs that regularly put free and/or low-cost breakfasts, lunches and snacks on the plates of nearly 30 million American students.

    Toddlers' Attention to 'Motherese' Could Give Clues to Autism

    Some toddlers who don't interact with their parents may have early signs of autism, a new study suggests.

    Researchers showed kids between 12 and 48 months of age "split-screen" moving images, then used eye tracking to evaluate their attention. Some toddlers who paid closer attention to scenes without people rather than to someone saying playful phrases a mother might use were later diagno...

    Kids Conceived Via IVF Have No Higher Risk of Heart Issues

    The heart health of children conceived through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is similar to that of their naturally conceived peers, researchers have found.

    The large study found no robust difference in blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and glucose mea...

    USDA Proposes New Rules to Cut Sugar, Salt in School Meals

    American schoolchildren could be getting school lunches that have less sugar and salt in the future, thanks to new nutrition standards announced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday.

    These are the first school lunch program updates since 2012, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    What’s dif...

    U.S. Parents Face Big Disparities in Access to Autism Care Services

    Autism services are harder to find in many of the places where Black, Hispanic and Native American families live, new research shows.

    It's known that there are racial disparities in U.S. families' receipt of autism services — ranging from diagnosis and behavioral therapy to school and community programs.

    The

  • Amy Norton HealthDay Reporter
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  • January 30, 2023
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  • Fiber: It's Important to Your Child's Diet, Too

    Just like adults, children need lots of fiber in their diets.

    Fiber is part of what fuels a child’s normal growth and development. It helps them feel full longer, controls blood sugar levels, reduces cholesterol and promotes regular bowel movements, according to Children's Health of Orange County, Calif. ...

    Mom's Exposure to Dirty Air in Pregnancy Could Harm a Toddler's Development

    A mother-to-be's exposure to air pollution during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on her baby's brain development, new research indicates.

    Toddlers scored lower on assessments for thinking, motor and language skills when their mothers had more exposure to pollutants during pregnancy, according to researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

    “Our findings sug...

    Preterm Birth Tied to Lower IQs, Poorer School Grades

    By the time they're teenagers, babies born prematurely may be getting poorer school grades than their non-preemie peers.

    Researchers found that babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy had lower scores on math and language tests during their teen years compared to kids born at 40 weeks.

    However, the study did not find a significant difference in later brain function in babies born b...

    Is My Child Too Skinny? Advice on When to Be Concerned

    While childhood obesity gets a lot of attention, some kids struggle with the opposite issue — they have trouble gaining weight.

    So, how can parents know if their child is “too skinny?”

    While the best resource is likely a child’s pediatrician, experts have also weighed in on the topic.

    “Underlying health conditions can result in children and adolescents being underwei...

    Elementary School Kids Get Healthier When Gardening Is on Curriculum

    A Texas-based education initiative has found that enrolling children in poor communities in gardening and cooking classes may help boost their long-term health.

    Called “Texas Sprouts," the program covered one full academic year and exposed elementary school children in 16 low-income schools access to outdoor gardening instruction, nutrition information and cooking lessons. Parents were ...

    Happy, Loved Teens Become Heart-Healthier as Adults

    When teenagers feel good about themselves and their lives, it may also do their hearts good in the long run, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that teenagers who generally felt happy, optimistic and loved went on to show better cardiovascular health in their 20s and 30s, versus kids who lacked that level of mental well-being.

    Overall, they were more likely to maintain a healt...

    Frequent Social Media Checks May Affect Young Brains

    Social media's impact on young people is a hot topic, with most kids and teens wanting to do whatever their friends are doing and parents worrying about setting limits.

    A new study examines whether frequent checking of social media sites (Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat) is associated with changes in functional brain development in these early adolescents, about age 12.

    Using brain...

    Look Out for the Early Signs of Autism

    When children have autism, it's possible to recognize the symptoms as early as when they are 18 months old.

    Although it takes a doctor to diagnose the condition, parents and caregivers should be aware of the signs, advises the Autism Research Institute, offering some other tips for noticing early symptoms.

    Children with autism may have variety of social, communication and behaviora...

    Newborns' 'Random' Body Movements Are Helping Them Learn

    Those seemingly random kicks or wiggles a newborn baby makes have a purpose.

    With each movement, the baby is developing its sensorimotor system, which it will later use to perform sequential movements. The sensorimotor system lets a person control muscles, movement and coordination.

    Researchers studying these “spontaneous” newborn movements and comparing them to babies a few mon...

    Can Too Much Screen Time Raise a Child's Odds for OCD?

    Preteens who spend much of their free time watching online videos or playing video games may have a heightened risk of developing obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that among 9,200 9- and 10-year-olds they assessed, the odds of developing OCD inched up ...

    1 in 4 Kids With Type 2 Diabetes Isn't Obese

    It's easy to blame the childhood obesity epidemic for growing cases of type 2 diabetes, but a new study finds nearly one-quarter of all diagnoses are not related to obesity.

    “The finding was somewhat surprising,” said Dr. Constantine Samaan, an associate professor in the department of pediatri...

    Using Devices as Babysitters Can Backfire on Parents

    It's an all-too-familiar scenario for many parents: Your preschooler starts to act up just as the phone rings or you start dinner.

    Maybe you hand over an iPad or smartphone to soothe the child so you can get down to business.

    And this probably does the trick. But if this is your go-to strategy, your child may be at risk for developing longer-term behavioral issues — especially boy...

    Type 1 Diabetes Doesn't Have to Hold Kids Back in School

    Children with type 1 diabetes miss more school than their peers without this condition, but the good news is these absences don't have to affect their grades or chances of going on to college, new research shows.

    Kids who had the tightest control of their diabetes missed seven sessions a year, while those who had challenges managing their blood sugar levels were absent for 15 session...

    1 in 10 Teens Have Sexted, Many See Porn by 6th Grade: Study

    A high number of preteens and teens in the United States have viewed pornography and many have also sent or received nude or seminude photos -- sexting -- over their smartphones, a new study reveals.

    “The prevalence rates we found in this study suggest that school counselors must be prepared to talk about sexting and pornography use with students, and to change the narrative about the...

    U.S. States With Tighter Access to Welfare Payments Have More Kids in Foster Care

    Researchers have discovered a link between access to welfare payments and foster care.

    As many as 29,000 fewer children may have entered the foster care system during the 12-year study if U.S. states had made it easier for poor families to receive cash through the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.

    "The relatively small amount of income provided through...

    Girl Toddlers Have Bigger Vocabularies, and Researchers Now Know Why

    Young girls tend to babble their way to bigger vocabularies earlier than boys, and researchers now think they might know why.

    It has nothing to do with gender, and everything to do with parental interaction, researchers assert.

    Parents tend to talk more to young children who have started talking and can respond to them, regardless of gender, according to data derived from more than ...

    Exposure to Zika Virus in Womb Might Alter Kids' Development

    Children exposed to the Zika virus may need more support as they start school, even if they were not diagnosed with Zika-related birth defects and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), a new study suggests.

    Children may still have differences in brain development, including those in thinking skills, mood and mobility, though researchers said some identified in the study may have been a measure ...

    As Kids' Obesity Rises, Brain Health Declines: Study

    Kids who are overweight or obese often struggle with school work, and now new research provides clues on how excess weight may harm the developing brain.

    “The main takeaway is to raise awareness about brain health consequences of obesity besides physical health consequences, especially since obesity rates are very high and continue to rise,” said study author

  • Denise Mann HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 29, 2022
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  • Even a Little Drinking in Pregnancy Can Reshape Fetal Brain

    Exposure to even low levels of alcohol while in the womb can change the structure of the fetus' brain, according to Austrian researchers.

    The study results suggest that pregnant women should strictly avoid alcohol, one author said.

    “Unfortunately, many pregnant women are unaware of the influenc...

    Time Spent in Day Care Won't Harm Child's Development

    Millions of parents drop their toddlers off at day care centers so they can go to work, but some are racked with guilt about it.

    One of their main concerns? Time spent in group day care could encourage their toddler to start acting out.

    Now, a large, new study suggests that parents can breathe a sigh of relief: Kids who spend long hours in day care centers aren't any more likel...

    Brain Imaging Shows How Young Kids Learn Quicker Than Grownups

    Ever wonder why kids seem to pick up new knowledge and skills faster than adults?

    A new study attributes the kids' mental prowess to differences in a brain messenger called GABA.

    "Our results show that children of elementary school age can learn more items within a given period of time than adults, making learning more efficient in children," said

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 17, 2022
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  • Growing Up With Lead in Drinking Water May Dull Brain in Old Age

    Lead is known to damage young children's brains, and a new study suggests the effects may still be apparent in old age.

    Researchers found that among nearly 1,100 older U.S. adults, those who grew up in cities with lead-contaminated drinking water generally scored worse on tests of memory and thinking skills.

    The findings, experts said, suggest that older adults who were exposed to l...

    No Sign That Anesthesia in Pregnancy Affects Child's Later Development

    Moms who have had emergency surgery during pregnancy can rest assured that exposure to anesthesia is not linked to developmental issues in their children, a new study reveals.

    While surgery and anesthesia are typically avoided during pregnancy, up to 1% of pregnant women may require it for unexpected health

  • Cara Murez HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 28, 2022
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  • 400-Year-Old Mummy Reveals a Nobleman's Child, Kept From the Sun

    A “virtual autopsy” of a mummified 17th century Austrian infant has shed new light on Renaissance childhood — as well as the importance of vitamin D to health.

    The researchers used CT scans to examine the remains, which had been found in an aristocratic Austrian family crypt containing the perfect ...

    Toddlers Nap a Lot - and Then They Don't. New Research Uncovers Why

    Why do some preschoolers refuse naps while others have a meltdown without an afternoon snooze? Researchers suspect it may have a lot to do with a specific memory-related part of the brain.

    While young children all need a lot of sleep, they do vary widely in when they stop napping during the day: Some leave naps behind by the time they are 3, while many others happily take an afternoon nap...

    Video Games May Bring Cognitive Benefits to Kids: Study

    School-age kids who spend hours a day playing video games may outperform their peers on certain tests of mental agility, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that compared with children who never played video games, those who regularly spent hours gaming had higher scores on two standard cognitive tests: one measuring short-term memory and another gauging impulse control.

    Experts...

    Children & the Truth: A 'Complicated' Relationship

    While kids are told not to lie, they also get mixed messages about being honest in different situations.

    In a new study, researchers looked at how adults reacted to kids' levels of honesty in various situations, from telling bold truths to telling subtle lies.

    Among the key findings: Kid...

    Measuring Up: Scientists Spot Genes Linked to Height

    The answer to how tall a child will be is typically an estimate based on an average of the parents' heights.

    But an Australian study that included more than 5 million people has found that more than 12,000 genetic variants influence height.

    “Eighty percent of height differences between people are dete...

    Pandemic Lockdowns May Have Slowed Babies' Communication Skills

    When social interaction came to a halt during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, newborn babies missed out on vital communication milestones, researchers say.

    A new Irish study found about 25% of these new babies spent a year without ever meeting a child their own age. Incidental interactions with strangers and community members at grocery stores or play groups didn't happen. They...

    When Stroke Harms One Side of a Newborn's Brain, Other Side Takes Over

    Many language skills are "left brain," but a new study shows that when a newborn suffers a stroke in that region, the brain is able to shift those language duties to the right.

    The researchers said the findings highlight the striking malleabil...

    Another Sports Bonus for Kids: Healthier Eyes

    Sometimes allergies can lead to pink, irritated eyes. But allergic conjunctivitis, or "pink eye" may have a simple fix: physical fitness.

    That's the conclusion of researchers in Taiwan who tracked health data of more than 1.2 million children. The kids were examined at age ...

    Not All Kids With Autism Will Benefit From Therapy Dogs

    For many kids with autism, Rhett, a black Labrador retriever, has been a calming and comforting influence in his seven years as a therapy dog.

    But parents shouldn't assume that a service pooch is the solution for every child on the autism spectrum, a new study...

    COVID Infection Raises a Child's Odds for Type 1 Diabetes by 72%

    Children who fall ill with COVID-19 may have a slightly increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes, a new study suggests.

    Researchers found that of more than 285,000 children with COVID, 0.04% were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over the next six months. While that's a small percentage, it was 72% higher than the rate in a comparison group of kids with no history of COVID.

    Experts...

    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...

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