Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
A new article reviews commonly used coronavirus treatments and their potential impact on breastfeeding infants. Despite a lack of evidence, the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine advises continued breastfeeding with careful handwashing and mask-wearing to minimize viral exposure.
Use of antibiotics during infancy may increase children's risk of becoming overweight or obese, while prenatal antibiotic use does not appear to affect weight in subsequent years. Investigators analyzed 23 studies involving over 1.2 million participants and found no link between prenatal antibiotic use and childhood obesity.
A new AI-based device has been developed to help diagnose aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (AP-ROP) in newborns. The study found that infants who developed AP-ROP were more premature and had lower birth weights, highlighting the need for early detection and monitoring.
Scientists at the University of Alberta found that prenatal fruit exposure enhances memory consolidation in infants, suggesting a nonpharmacological intervention to improve infant cognition. The study replicated previous findings in humans and fruit flies, offering valuable information for pregnant mothers.
The updated online tool provides information on infant survival and neurological impairment, incorporating hospital data to inform treatment decisions. Researchers found that hospital-specific estimates of survival are as important as gestational age in determining infant outcome.
Researchers have discovered that newborns' brains show a strong connection between face and place processing networks just six days after birth. The findings suggest that babies are born with a specialized visual cortex, with patterns of brain activity similar to those of adults.
Researchers analyzed 30 infants' brain networks and found domain-specific organization in facial recognition (by 6 days) and scene recognition (by 27 days). These findings indicate that innate connectivity plays a crucial role in shaping the developing cortex.
Researchers studied how infants learn language through vocal interactions with caregivers, identifying key features of effective communication structures. They also analyzed the spread of information on social media and in offline networks, highlighting the importance of accounting for neighbors' biases and geographic segregation.
Research found that babies in bilingual homes quickly and frequently shift their gaze between stimuli, adapting to a more complex environment. This adaptation may help infants learn multiple languages by matching speech sounds with mouth movements.
The Obesity Society's latest research explores the pathophysiology of obesity, therapeutic goals, and differential risk. A new coding system is proposed to address suboptimal efforts in prevention and treatment, offering a personalized approach to care.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy report improved lung function in infants born after FETO therapy, which involves a minimally invasive procedure to block the fetal trachea. The study found that prenatal and postnatal monitoring and care were highly coordinated, allowing for favorable outcomes in the 14 infants born.
A new study by researchers at the University of California San Diego confirmed an association between human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in breast milk and infant growth. High concentrations of certain HMOs were linked to increased height and weight, while low concentrations were associated with reduced growth.
A new study finds that young infants exposed to common household cleaning products are more likely to develop childhood wheeze and asthma by three years of age. The study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, suggests that chemicals in cleaning products can damage respiratory tract cells, increasing the risk of asthma.
Scientists have discovered a complex biological process in premature lungs that stimulates production of immune cells, which can help fight respiratory infections. The findings could lead to new treatments for premature infants, who are vulnerable to lifelong respiratory illnesses.
A new NIH-funded study suggests that natural sugars in breastmilk, known as human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), may influence a child's growth from infancy through early childhood. The study found associations between HMO composition and growth patterns among 800 pairs of mothers and children.
A new smart jumpsuit quantitatively assesses children's spontaneous movement, helping to detect abnormal neurological development. The device provides valuable insights into infant motility, which can be used to support everyday activities and interventions.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that fewer than 1 in 4 Tennessee infants exposed to hepatitis C at birth were tested, highlighting inadequate testing rates. The study also revealed disparities in testing rates based on the mother's racial background, with African American mothers being tested less frequently.
A study found that a 15-month-old boy attempted to sing along to 'Happy Birthday' after hearing it played on a toy. The research suggests that babies learn music patterns and rhythms through spontaneous imitation.
Researchers estimate that more than half of African mothers have experienced the death of a child under age five, and nearly two thirds have experienced any child's death. This study highlights the burden of bereavement as a public health threat in low-income regions.
The DELIVER trial examines the safety of PrEP and a dapivirine vaginal ring in pregnant women, providing critical data for HIV prevention choices. The study will enroll 750 healthy, HIV-negative women aged 18-40 years and assess the acceptability and feasibility of these tools.
A new study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare provides criteria for good infant sleep, revealing large individual variations in sleep patterns. The study found that infants' sleep improves significantly during their first two years, with most children waking up only once during the night by age two.
The study found associations between parenting stress and lower household income with increased screen exposure among toddlers. Lower household income was also linked to more frequent feeding of children during screen time, contributing to excessive screen use.
A study of nearly 100 infants found that even when hungry, they gave a tasty snack to a stranger. The researchers suggest early social experiences can shape altruism in young children.
US sales of toddler milks more than doubled from 2006 to 2015, driven by increased TV advertising spending and lower prices. This surge in sales occurred despite health experts' recommendations that parents not serve toddler milks, citing added sugars and lack of nutritional benefits.
A study on rats and mice found that early life experiences impact the brain's biological and functional development, leading to unique changes in memory formation. The researchers discovered that specific experiences during infancy mature learning and memory abilities, while others do not.
A new study from the University of Washington suggests that parentese, a simple grammar and words speaking style, enhances children's later language skills. Parents who participated in individual coaching sessions used parentese more often than control-group parents, resulting in increased child language output.
New research suggests that tailor-made vaccines can significantly reduce rates of serious bacterial diseases like pneumonia and sepsis. By analyzing genomic data and modeling bacterial evolution, scientists identified optimal vaccine designs for specific populations, which could lead to a 50% reduction in disease rates.
A study found that parent coaching interventions enhanced the use of parentese and parent-child turn-taking in conversations, leading to increased language development by 18 months. Socioeconomic status did not affect the observed links between parental speaking style and infant language development.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston has received a $3 million grant to provide child development strategies to infant and toddler specialists and teachers. The training focuses on improving interactions between teachers and children, as well as family engagement strategies to build strong emotional and social skill...
A national quality-improvement program in Canada's NICUs increased survival rates for very preterm babies by 25%. The EPIQ program also reduced chronic health issues and adverse outcomes, such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and sepsis.
A study published in Advances in Neonatal Care found that continuous skin-to-skin contact does not lead to better interaction between mothers and preterm infants. Despite its potential benefits for infant development, the study discovered no clear results regarding the effect on mother-infant interaction.
A new study by UW's Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences found that bilingual teaching led to sustained English-language comprehension and vocabulary-building in infants, regardless of socioeconomic background. Online training enabled the replication of the research-based method globally.
The study found that infants who consumed grains had higher nutrient intakes, better diet quality scores, and broader food group intake. Grains were associated with greater daily dietary fiber, iron, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 compared to non-consumers.
A new study finds that children born to mothers who both drank and smoked beyond the first trimester of pregnancy have a 12-fold increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The study also shows that prenatal alcohol exposure, particularly from heavy drinking during pregnancy, can increase SIDS risk.
Infants integrate both personal and observational learning to decide how and when to attempt tasks, rather than randomly mimicking others. They use a cost-benefit analysis approach, considering the potential risks and rewards of persistence.
A large study of infant physical activity levels suggests that less active infants may accumulate more fat, which could predispose them to obesity later in life. Higher physical activity was associated with lower central adiposity, a measure of lower-torso fat accumulation.
A study published in the American Journal of Perinatology found that moderate to late preterm babies with no significant medical problems are likely to be discharged at 36 weeks of postmenstrual age. This data-based estimate can help reduce parent stress and aid families in preparing for their baby's arrival home.
A new treatment protocol at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia reduced albuterol use in infants with bronchiolitis without compromising care. The protocol change prevented over 600 unnecessary treatments and did not impact patient admission rates or length of stay.
A study led by Professor Halvor Sommerfelt found that kangaroo mother care increased the chance of survival among low-birth-weight infants by 30% in the first month and 25% in the first six months. This intervention is considered easy and inexpensive.
Researchers at Princeton University found measurable similarities in baby and adult brain activity during natural play, showing that babies' brains are 'on the same wavelength' as adults', leading to a feedback loop of influence between their brains.
Researchers at Children's National Hospital developed a direct measurement technique for cardiac output in newborns, utilizing changes in blood velocity after injecting saline. The study used ultrasound dilution and reported promising results, with potential implications for personalized care of critically ill newborns.
A new Penn Medicine study developed an mRNA vaccine that successfully protected young mice against influenza and other pathogens in the presence of maternal antibodies. The vaccine worked by continuously producing antigens, eliciting a prolonged immune response.
Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new method to predict crop traits using plant RNA data from 2-week-old corn seedlings. The approach outperforms traditional genetic marker-based methods and provides additional information not available from DNA alone.
A recent study published in E-Clinical Medicine found that about 75% of infants with HIV attained viral suppression on ART, but only 52% sustained it. Early treatment within the first two weeks of life led to similar outcomes as starting within the first two days of life.
Colombian infants exposed to Zika virus in the womb showed neurodevelopmental delays despite having normal brain imaging and head circumference at birth. The study found a link between subtle brain injuries and impaired neuromotor development in Zika-exposed children, emphasizing the need for long-term follow-up.
Researchers found that treatment with intranasal mupirocin and chlorhexidine wipes significantly reduced parentally acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections in NICU babies. The study suggests a simple strategy to reduce the spread of deadly bacteria in hospitals.
Researchers used MRI to assess neural activity in preterm infants and adults, finding similar patterns of interindividual variability in brain network activity. The study suggests that age-related increases in brain network variability may be linked to cortical maturation and expansion.
A study by Flinders University found that mobile apps support breastfeeding decisions but can also overwhelm mothers with information. The apps provide a modern way of tracking baby care aspects, but some may not be tailored to individual needs.
A study found that in a common subtype of autism, brain areas responsible for vision and attention are not controlled, leading to severe social symptoms. Researchers combined eye gaze data with brain scans to make the discovery.
Researchers have cracked a rare gene variant for a devastating disorder that causes severe neurodegeneration in infants, leading to loss of motor skills and language ability. Targeted B vitamin therapy has been successfully developed to treat the condition.
Researchers have found a way to stimulate breathing in premature babies using pure oxygen, which may help reduce the need for invasive respiratory interventions. The technique has shown promising results in preterm rabbit kittens and human clinical studies, offering a potential non-invasive solution for supporting fragile newborns.
Most NICUs lack fully automated clinical decision support tools to calculate nutrition for premature infants, leading to manual calculations and potential errors. The study's findings emphasize the importance of developing standardized computerized solutions to monitor and improve caloric intake delivery.
A new trial found that probiotic drops containing Bifidobacterium animalis BB-12 reduced daily crying by 50% in 80% of infants, improving sleep duration and stool frequency.
Research found that introducing peanut and egg early to infants can reduce the risk of developing a food allergy. Despite low adherence to an introduction regime, the study showed that early introduction was effective in preventing food allergies in specific groups of infants.
A new study suggests that police killings of unarmed Black Americans during pregnancy can lead to smaller birth weights and shorter gestational ages in nearby unborn Black infants. This unique effect is thought to be driven by perceived injustice, discrimination, and fear related to the killings.
A recent study published in Nutrition Today found that infant and toddler foods in pouches tend to have higher sugar content and fewer single-vegetable products compared to jarred or tray-packaged options. This highlights the need for caregivers to be aware of the nutritional profiles of these popular convenience foods.
Researchers at MIT have developed a model called ADEPT that demonstrates an understanding of basic intuitive physics. The model observes objects moving in scenes and makes predictions based on their underlying physics, registering levels of surprise when they deviate from expectations.
Researchers have found that disrupting normal microbial development in the intestine can lead to severe infections in newborns. Giving specific protective bacteria before infection may prevent deadly infections, suggesting a potential treatment for premature infants.
A national approach for pediatric sepsis surveillance has been developed, utilizing electronic health records to facilitate widespread tracking of rates and outcomes. The proposed approach includes a preliminary case definition adapted to address specific differences among infants and children.
A two-year study shows that starting antiretroviral therapy within hours of birth significantly reduces the HIV reservoir and improves immune responses in infants. This finding suggests that early treatment may substantially improve health outcomes in infants with HIV.