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Not Just Blabber: What Baby's First Vocalizations and Coos Can Tell Us
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 20, 2024
- Full Page
A baby’s gentle murmurs and coos can melt even the stoniest heart.
But those giggles and babbles are more than just music to a doting parent’s ears.
These vocalizations actually are signs that a baby’s heart is working rhythmically in concert with...
Team Sports Score Big Points for Your Child's Brain, Study Finds
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- December 17, 2024
- Full Page
There may be something special about team sports in childhood that helps sharpen a kids' brain, new research shows.
Children who were on soccer or volleyball teams scored higher on tests of "executive function" -- thinking skills needed to organize, remember details, mak...
Too Much Screen Time Harms Preschoolers' Sleep, Behavior
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- December 12, 2024
- Full Page
Too much screen time can sabotage preschoolers' sleep, potentially turning them into terrors around the house, a new study warns.
Bad sleep can exacerbate children's struggles with poor attention,
Newer Epilepsy Meds Safe During Pregnancy, Won't Affect Kids' Neurodevelopment
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- December 2, 2024
- Full Page
For decades, it's been known that certain older medications women use to control epilepsy seizures can pose risks to a fetus.
However, data now suggests that no such risk exists for newer-generation anti-seizure meds.
“We need to balance making sure th...
Child-Teacher Bond in Early Education Could Have Lasting Impact
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- November 20, 2024
- Full Page
Fostering good relationships with teachers in the early grades may have long-lasting benefits, new research suggests.
"These early connections significantly influence not only academic achievement, but also social and emotional development and executive functioning skill...
Childhood Attention Issues Show Links to Later Risk for Psychosis, Schizophrenia
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- October 29, 2024
- Full Page
Most kids with attention issues won't go on to develop serious psychiatric conditions like psychosis or schizophrenia.
However, a new study finds poor attention spans in childhood, plus certain genes, could play a role in raising the risk for these conditions.
Of...
Weed Use During Pregnancy May Harm Kids' Behavior, Thinking Skills
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 28, 2024
- Full Page
Smoking marijuana during pregnancy may quell your morning sickness, but it could also harm your child’s development, a new study warns.
Cannabis exposure in the womb is associated in early childhood with poorer thinking skills, researchers reported Oct. 28 in the j...
EPA Finalizes Tough New Standards on Lead Paint Dust
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- October 24, 2024
- Full Page
In a move that further toughens safety standards for lead paint dust, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced the finalization of a rule that declares any detectable amount of the toxin in a home or child care center to be hazardous.
“Too often ou...
Why Friendships in Your Teen Years Are So Important
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 11, 2024
- Full Page
Friendships forged during a person’s turbulent teenage years lay the essential foundation for their happiness later in life, a new study suggests.
...
3% of U.S. High School Students Identify as Transgender, First National Survey Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- October 8, 2024
- Full Page
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 (HealthDay news) -- About 3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, according to the first federal attempt to gather national data on trans teens.
Another 2% question their gender identity, results from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior ...
EPA Finalizes Rule to Require Removal of Lead Pipes in U.S. Water System
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- October 8, 2024
- Full Page
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday finalized a rule that will require the removal of all lead pipes from the country's water systems.
“We’ve known for decades that lead exposure has serious long-term impacts for children’s health. And y...
Reading to Your 1- and 2-Year Old Boosts Their Vocabulary, Study Finds
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- October 3, 2024
- Full Page
Sharing a book with your baby will build her vocabulary fast, but time with screens likely won't, Norwegian researchers report.
Their new study on shared reading and vocabulary size dovetails with a new policy statement from the
Air Pollution Could Be Changing Children's Brains
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- October 3, 2024
- Full Page
Even air pollution levels considered safe by U.S. standards appear to cause differences in the brains of growing children, a new review suggests.
"We're seeing differences in brain outcomes between children with higher levels of pollution exposure versus lower levels of ...
America's Pediatricians Want You to Read a Book With Your Child
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- September 30, 2024
- Full Page
Read to your little ones.
That's the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) prescription for fostering loving, nurturing relationships during early infancy and early childhood -- a time of critical brain development.
Moms, Don't Meddle With Your Kids' Friends: It'll Only Make Things Worse
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- September 9, 2024
- Full Page
Meddling moms who try to prohibit their kids’ friendships with troublemakers will only make things worse, a new study says.
Limiting contact with a friend who appears to be a bad influence tends to exacerbate the behavior problems parents were hoping to head off, r...
Evidence Supports Classroom Cellphone Bans, Expert Says
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 29, 2024
- Full Page
Classroom cellphone bans should help improve learning environments in schools, a child development expert says.
Keeping the devices out of classrooms would help focus attention, improve problem-solving and -- by allowing kids to occasionally lapse into boredom -- spur cr...
Why 'Socializing' Your Young Child Is So Important
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- August 25, 2024
- Full Page
When you have a young child, you can wind up spending most of your time changing diapers and feeding them, but one expert suggests that socialization is also important for your child's future well-being.
From an early age, socialization can help hone their communication ...
Government Report Links Excessive Fluoride in Water to Lowered IQs in Kids
- Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
- August 22, 2024
- Full Page
High levels of fluoride in drinking water may dim the intelligence of children, a new U.S. government report shows.
Based on an analysis of published research, the potentially controversial
Parents' Excessive Smartphone Use Could Harm Children's Mental Health
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- August 16, 2024
- Full Page
A child at the dinner table talks about trouble at school or an argument with a friend, but parents aren't listening: They're checking their smartphones instead.
It's a scenario that plays out millions of times per day across America, and it could be harming the mental h...
Parents Think Social Media, Tech Is School Kids' Greatest Foe: Poll
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 16, 2024
- Full Page
Parents are worried that social media and technology will get in the way of schoolkids building meaningful connections with classmates and teachers during the upcoming school year, a new poll finds.
Half of parents (50%) say too much time spent with technology will be th...
Not Born Equal: Preemie Babies Fall Into 3 Risk Categories
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- August 14, 2024
- Full Page
Not all babies born prematurely will suffer long-term developmental problems, a new study finds.
Preemies tend to fall into three risk categories, with about one in five (20%) scoring above average on standard cognitive tests, researchers reported Aug. 13 in the journal ...
Some Genes Might Send Girls Into Puberty Earlier
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- July 2, 2024
- Full Page
A girl's genetics can indirectly influence the age when she has her first period, by accelerating her weight gain in childhood, a new study finds.
A number of other genes also can directly affect the age of puberty, some with profound effects, researchers added.
Mo...
How Handing a Child a Screen During a Tantrum Could Backfire Long-Term
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- July 2, 2024
- Full Page
When your preschooler pitches a fit, handing them a smartphone or tablet is probably the fastest -- and the worst -- way to stop it, a new study suggests.
"If parents regularly offer a digital device to their child to calm them or to stop a tantrum, the child won't learn...
Could Mom's Smartphone Use Affect Baby's Language Development?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 26, 2024
- Full Page
Mothers tend to speak less to infants when they're on their smartphones, a new study finds.
Moms talked 16% less to their babies when they were fiddling with their phone, researchers found.
Shorter 1- to 2-minute intervals of phone use interfered with mom-baby inte...
Younger Kids in Class Might Be Misdiagnosed With ADHD, Autism
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- June 7, 2024
- Full Page
If your child is among the youngest in their school grade, it's more likely they'll be mistakenly identified by teachers as having ADHD or autism, a new study confirms.
"Adults...
Could Brain 'Overgrowth' Contribute to Autism?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- June 7, 2024
- Full Page
Severe forms of autism could be linked to overgrowth of the brain's outer layer that starts while a baby is in the womb, a new study finds.
Toddlers with autism have cerebral cortexes -- often referred to as "gray matter"-- that are roughly 40% larger than those of child...
Will Epilepsy Meds Taken in Pregnancy Affect a Child's Creativity?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 30, 2024
- Full Page
Newer epilepsy drugs taken while pregnant won't affect the creative thinking of children, an effect that had been observed in older medications, a new study reports...
1 in 9 U.S. Children Have Been Diagnosed With ADHD
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 23, 2024
- Full Page
About 1 in 9 American children have ever received an ADHD diagnosis, slightly more than the number of kids currently being treated for the disorder, a new study shows.
About 7.1 million ...
Drive to Be 'Perfect' Parent Isn't Healthy, Survey Finds
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 8, 2024
- Full Page
Parents striving to be "perfect"will never attain that goal, and the aim isn't even healthy for their families, a new study says.
The risks of striving for perfection are such that researchers have now created a scale to help parents track their burnout and, if necessary...
How Bad Was Beethoven's Lead Poisoning?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 8, 2024
- Full Page
No one knows what caused the liver and kidney disease that led to Ludwig van Beethoven's untimely death.
But one popular theory"that high lead levels killed the great composer"should be ruled out, researchers argue in the journal
Helping Your Child Make Friends With a Child With Autism
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- May 8, 2024
- Full Page
Kids are very likely to make the acquaintance of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at some point, whether they know it or not.
An estimated 95% of children with disabilities enroll in regular schools, experts say.
"Given the rates of autism diagn...
Parental Deaths to Guns, Drugs Harmed Nearly 100,000 U.S. Kids in 2020
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- May 6, 2024
- Full Page
Nearly 100,000 U.S. children lost a parent in 2020 to gun violence or drug overdose, a three-fold rise since 1999, according to a new study.
Overall, these two causes made up nearly a quarter (23%) of parental losses in 2020, almost double the level cited in 1999, accord...
Opioids During Pregnancy May Not Raise Psychiatric Risks for Offspring
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 25, 2024
- Full Page
Prescription opioids taken during pregnancy are not associated with a substantial increase in risk of developmental disorders like ADHD in children, a new study has found.
"A slightly inc...
Pandemic Had Only Minor Effect on Young Kids' Development
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- April 22, 2024
- Full Page
The pandemic caused only "modest"delays in developmental milestones for infants and toddlers, a new study has found.
Previous research has reported that pandemic-related lockdowns disrupted the lives of many people, including families with young children.
Day-to-da...
Almost 70% of Young Kids in Chicago Are Exposed to Lead in Tap Water
- Dennis Thompson and Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporters
- March 20, 2024
- Full Page
More than two-thirds of Chicago kids younger than 6 live in homes with tap water tainted by lead, a new analysis says.
There are detectable levels of lead in the drinking w...
MS Drugs Can Be Safely Taken While Breastfeeding
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 5, 2024
- Full Page
Certain drugs used to treat multiple sclerosis appear to be safe for babies if taken by breastfeeding moms, a new study finds.
Breastfed babies whose moms received monoclonal antibody treatments for MS did not develop any more developmental delays than babies not exposed...
Toddlers Fixated on Screens Talk Less With Parents
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- March 4, 2024
- Full Page
Using TVs and tablets as "e-babysitters" really cuts down on the time toddlers spend interacting with parents or other caregivers, new research shows.
The Australian team of investigators are calling the phenomenon "technoference" -- a scenario where "young children's ex...
Could General Anesthesia in Pregnancy Raise Behavioral Issues in Kids?
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- March 4, 2024
- Full Page
Children exposed to anesthesia in the womb when their pregnant mom has surgery are more likely to suffer from behavioral issues later, a new study finds.
Exposure to general anesthesia before birth was associated with a 31% increased risk of diagnosis with a behavioral d...
Simple Eye Test Might Spot Autism in Kids
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- February 29, 2024
- Full Page
The eyes may have it when it comes to the early diagnosis of autism in children, a new study finds.
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), have pinpointed a gene that affects how kids' eyes react when they turn their heads.
Typically, pe...
How Is Autism Diagnosed?
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- February 28, 2024
- Full Page
According to the advocacy group Autism Speaks, one in every 36 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Early diagnosis is crucial to helping to treat the condition, but how is a diagnosis done?...
Food-Focused Toddlers at Higher Risk for Eating Disorders as Teens
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 23, 2024
- Full Page
Toddlers who are really into their food might have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder once they enter adolescence, a new study shows.
Kids ages 4 and 5 with a strong urge to eat when teased with tasty food appear more likely to report a range of eating disord...
Want to Boost Your Preschoolers' Language Skills? Reminisce With Them
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 22, 2024
- Full Page
Talking about the "good old days"might elicit eye rolls from teenagers, but it could be the key to boosting a preschooler's language skills, a new study finds.
Reminiscing about past events with preschoolers presents young kids with high-quality speech as good as or bett...
Long Hours Watching Videos May Stunt Toddlers' Language Development
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 22, 2024
- Full Page
Television has been wryly referred to as the "electronic babysitter,"but a new study argues TV or other media could stunt a child's language development.
Children plopped in front of videos for hours on end tend to use phrases and sentences with fewer words, researchers ...
School Uniforms Might Get in the Way of Kids Exercising
- Carole Tanzer Miller HealthDay Reporter
- February 15, 2024
- Full Page
THURSDAY, Feb. 15, 2024 (Health Day News) -- Schools that want little girls to get plenty of exercise might want to rethink their dress code.
A University of Cambridge study of more than 1 million kids in 135 countries found that in countries where most students wear sch...
Schools May Be Underestimating How Many Kids Are Homeless
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- February 14, 2024
- Full Page
School districts could be severely underestimating how many kids are homeless in their communities, allowing those children to fall through the cracks, a new study warns.
Schools around the United States report that more than 1.2 million students are homeless every year....
Being Born Even a Bit Early Could Harm a Child's Development
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 26, 2024
- Full Page
Babies born even slightly early have a higher long-term risk of developmental difficulties that could affect their behavior and learning ability, a new study finds.
Infants born moderately (32-33 weeks) or late preterm (34-36 weeks) are more likely to have epilepsy or pr...
'Big Little Leap' to Kindergarten an Important Milestone for Kids
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 23, 2024
- Full Page
Kindergarten might seem like child's play, but embracing the adventure can play a key role in a kid's future educational success, a new study finds.
A successful early transition to kindergarten -- what the researchers called the "big little leap"-- can put a child firml...
Study Links Use of Acetaminophen in Pregnancy With Child Behavioral Issues
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 18, 2024
- Full Page
Expecting moms who often turn to acetaminophen for their aches and pains are more likely to wind up with kids who have behavioral issues, a new study warns.
Children between the ages of 2 and 4 were more likely to have attention and behavioral problems if their mothers f...
Too Much Screen Time Might Harm Kids' 'Sensory Processing'
- Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
- January 8, 2024
- Full Page
Exposing babies and toddlers to TV and other digital media could be linked to a heightened risk for dysfunction in what's known as "sensory processing," a new study warns.
Kids with "atypical sensory processing" are often hypersensitive to the touch, sound, taste or look...
Ear Infections Could Delay a Child's Speech
- Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
- January 8, 2024
- Full Page
Ear infections are common for kids, but they can lead to long-term developmental problems, a new study finds.
Temporary hearing loss caused by recurring ear infections can lead to delays in language development and sound processing years later, researchers reported recen...