Articles tagged with Infants
A new study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation finds that only Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, and São Tomé and Príncipe are on track to meet the WHO's exclusive breastfeeding goal by 2025. With optimal breastfeeding practices, over 800,000 child deaths could be averted annually.
Researchers studied cortical thickness in 43 infants over two years, finding it increases rapidly until 14 months. Each developmental region of thickness was functionally important, with some continuing to thicken beyond 2 years.
Introducing peanut protein regularly can lower a baby's risk of developing a peanut allergy. Canadian Medical Association Journal recommends introducing peanut butter or powdered puff at home between 4-6 months for most babies.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found a link between the 2016 US presidential election and an increase in preterm births among Latina mothers. The analysis revealed 2,337 excess preterm births, or 3.5%, more than expected following the election.
Infants born to mothers exposed to high levels of air pollution are more likely to be admitted to a newborn intensive care unit (NICU), with risks increasing from 4% to 147%. The study suggests that limiting pregnant women's exposure to high levels of air pollutants may help reduce NICU admissions.
A new study found mothers living near intense oil and gas development have a 40-70% higher chance of having children with congenital heart defects. The study analyzed 3,324 infants born in Colorado from 2005-2011, estimating monthly intensity of well activity to confirm positive associations between maternal exposure and CHDs.
Researchers analyzed fossilized teeth from an extinct human species and found evidence of barium accumulation suggesting breast feeding up to a year, helping overcome seasonal food shortages. This finding may inform strategies to improve modern breast-feeding practices.
Australopithecus africanus mothers breastfed their infants continuously from birth to about one year of age. The research team analyzed over two-million-year-old teeth and found that nursing appears to continue in a cyclical pattern, with the mother supplementing gathered foods with breastmilk during seasonal changes and food shortages.
Researchers found that infants as young as 10.5 months can recognize communication through variable sound sequences, leading to increased attention towards target shapes in interactions with agents. This ability may play a crucial role in language acquisition and social-cognitive development.
Researchers measured VOC emissions from polyurethane mattresses under simulated sleeping conditions, finding elevated levels of some compounds that could cause eye irritation, headaches, and even cancer. The study emphasizes the need for further research on possible health effects of chronic exposure to VOCs.
Researchers found toddlers who spent more time in groups with other children excelled at associating new words with objects. This skill is crucial for word learning and native language development.
A study at Boston Medical Center found that symptom-triggered medication dosing for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome reduces hospital stay length and unnecessary medication exposure. Infants treated with this approach had a median stay of 10.5 days, compared to 17 days for fixed-schedule treatment.
Research reveals preterm infants with growth failure have altered gut bacteria and delayed metabolic development, which may be treated through individualized interventions. The study's findings offer new insights into predicting and preventing growth failure in premature infants.
Researchers at CRID found that infants produce 40% more NETs than adults, leading to more severe organ damage and higher mortality rates in sepsis cases. Breaking down NETs with a drug can improve survival rates for infant patients, highlighting new treatment strategies.
A two-decade study on identical twins and triplets adopted as infants sheds light on the balance between nature and nurture in child development. The research aims to clarify historical misconceptions about twin studies and offers lessons for contemporary scientific inquiry.
After WIC introduced better food options in 2009, researchers found improved health outcomes for mothers and babies. They were less likely to experience preeclampsia and more likely to gain recommended weight during pregnancy.
A study published in Hospital Pediatrics found that concurrent benzodiazepine exposure impacts the severity of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) more so than other substances. Infants exposed to both opioids and benzodiazepines were over 50% likelier to require medication treatment.
Research from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital reveals that women with short-term education are more likely to have infants who die within the first year of life. Premature birth and low foetal weight account for 55-60% of cases.
A review paper highlights the importance of choline and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for infant brain and eye development, with inadequate intakes linked to visual and neurocognitive deficits. The study suggests that supplementation, particularly for vulnerable populations, may improve maternal and infant health.
A long-running study on premature infants found that stress from birth can lead to cognitive limitations, social struggles, and increased risk of health issues. Researchers will continue the 30-year study to understand how to limit NICU stress and mitigate its impact throughout life.
Eleven-month-old infants can associate languages with ethnicities based on individual encounters, the study found. The researchers played Cantonese and English to infants of Caucasian ancestry, showing them faces of Asian and Caucasian individuals.
Researchers have identified specific bacterial species in the human infant gut that protect against food allergies. Administering these microbes as a therapeutic can prevent food allergies from happening and even reverse existing ones in mice, offering a new approach to treating this common condition.
A new study published in Pediatrics shows that a state-wide quality improvement initiative improved hospital-based breastfeeding support practices and first milk expression among mothers of very low birth weight infants. However, disparities in mother's milk provision persisted after three weeks of hospitalization.
Researchers found a 14-gene signature that predicts two-year transplant-free survival in children with biliary atresia. The antioxidant N-acetyl-cysteine reduced liver injury and fibrosis, increasing survival times in mouse models.
Researchers discovered that an antibody in breastmilk, IgA, is necessary to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants. The study found that more bacteria bound to IgA reduced the likelihood of NEC in formula-fed babies compared to those fed breastmilk.
Researchers found that adult males were responsible for most infanticides in a Ugandan chimpanzee community, with victims often under one week old. The study suggests that the sexual selection hypothesis is the key driver behind this high rate of infant killings.
A new study by LSU Health New Orleans researchers reveals that mothers' pre-pregnancy weight status impacts the composition of their breast milk, affecting infant growth. Infants born to overweight or obese mothers exhibit less responsive growth to breast milk.
Researchers identified factors contributing to placental transfer of antibodies, including a preference for NK-activating antibodies that activate natural killer cells. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective maternal vaccines and deliver them during pregnancy to protect newborns from serious diseases like polio.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that using limited formula in the first days of life does not negatively impact breastfeeding at 6 months. However, it may alter maternal attitudes towards breastfeeding and lead to shorter breastfeeding duration. The study tracked 164 babies born at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals and P...
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine uses wearable motion-tracking devices to identify children with subtle motor impairments. The researchers found that typically developing children under age 3 use both arms equally, but in children with motor impairments, the ratio shifts significantly.
A new study found that child deaths fell by 5.2% and 3.4% after Brazil's 2014 comprehensive smoke-free legislation, reducing infant mortality rates and health inequalities. The research suggests strengthening smoke-free laws can help protect children's lives, particularly in middle-income countries.
Research in mice found that breastfeeding can transfer immunity beyond the period of breastfeeding, driven by immune cells rather than antibodies. This protection was transferred from mothers exposed to worm infections before pregnancy and provided lifelong benefits to their infants.
A multicenter research team will scan the brains of 250 infants in North America using MRI scans while they are sleeping, from 6 and 12 months old, to analyze brain structure and function. The goal is to identify differences in the brain that accurately predict which children are most likely to develop autism spectrum disorder.
A Rutgers-led study found that father-friendly cues in OBGYNS offices can boost men's involvement in prenatal care. Men who visited a waiting room with images of both men and babies reported higher expectations and confidence about parenting, leading to healthier behaviors and outcomes for women and infants.
A study published in PNAS finds that premature infants who listened to tailored music had improved brain network development and functional connectivity compared to those without music. The research suggests that music can be a valuable tool to support the development of fragile newborns.
Research using functional MRI found that music-based care plans enhanced brain circuit connectivity in preterm infants. This suggests music may improve future socio-cognitive function and prevent brain deficits.
A new study found that infants at high risk for autism were less able to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar speech patterns. The researchers suggest that interventions should begin during infancy for those at high risk.
A new study found that infants who are later diagnosed with autism react adequately when others initiate joint attention, but seldom actively seek to establish such episodes themselves. This suggests that children with autism have reduced social motivation already as infants.
A NEOMED researcher has designed a therapeutic intervention to help preterm infants suck, swallow and breathe. The study uses an animal model to measure feeding and breathing coordination in newborns, with the goal of developing a rehabilitation strategy for preterm infants.
The Bili-ruler is a novel, low-cost device for screening neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, which affects up to 80% of newborns. It uses six color strips arranged in a stepwise gradient of increasing yellow hue and has high diagnostic accuracy, validating its use in improving early recognition and care seeking in low-resource settings.
A new study reveals that over 60% of infant deaths in car seats occur due to misuse, with most happening at home. The safest place for a baby to sleep is on a firm, flat surface outside of these devices.
Researchers found that infants with bacterial pneumonia were more likely to require supplemental oxygen, bronchodilators, or steroids due to lingering breathing issues. The study suggests a potential long-term impact of bacterial pneumonia on lung health in vulnerable populations.
Researchers captured detailed images of infants' skulls and brains before and during delivery using 3D MRI, finding that fetal head molding occurs in all seven infants, with different parts of the skull overlapping. The study suggests that infants experience greater skull stresses during birth than previously thought, potentially under...
A new study published in Breastfeeding Medicine found that early term infants (born at 37-38 weeks) are less likely to breastfeed within the first hour and at one month after birth. This is due to their neurologic immaturity, which can make breastfeeding more difficult.
Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found a wide difference in language exposure among fetuses, ranging from five hours to two hours and 45 minutes. This study aims to inform best practices for NICU care and understand the impact on early brain development.
Researchers found that quiet time in NICUs was related to improved infant health, with healthier heart rates during quiet hours. The study recommends using quiet time protocols to help NICU patients and implementing architectural noise reduction strategies.
A new study by Ohio State University and Purdue University found that young children are better teachers when it comes to learning new words. The research suggests that toddlers learn more effectively from other children, rather than adults or family members.
A study at Boston Medical Center found that mothers of very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants who expressed first milk within 8 hours had a higher probability of successful lactation. The research suggests prioritizing early milk expression to support long-term lactation success.
A new framework, secure base provision, predicts infant attachment with greater accuracy than traditional sensitivity-based approaches. Caregivers need only respond correctly 50% of the time to have a positive impact on their baby's development.
A comprehensive analysis of 25 studies revealed that prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) was more strongly associated with risk of adverse outcomes than gestational weight gain. The study included nearly 197,000 women and suggests that optimal pre-pregnancy weight is crucial for a healthy pregnancy.
Newborns with Apgar scores of 7, 8, and 9 have a higher risk of infections, breathing problems, brain injury, low blood sugar levels, and death compared to those with a perfect score of 10. A small change in score from 10 to 9 at five or ten minutes after birth also increases the risk.
A new study found that nasal high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (NHFOV) is superior to nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in preventing reintubation in preterm infants with neonatal ARDS. NHFOV reduced PCO2 levels and enabled infants to leave the hospital in fewer days.
Researchers found early ASD diagnoses remain stable and reliable in children aged 14-24 months, with 84% of initial diagnoses retained at final evaluation. The study suggests potential for earlier treatment with further research needed.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that autism diagnoses become stable starting at 14 months, with a mean age of diagnosis being significantly lower than previously reported. This suggests that accurate screening and earlier treatment can result in improved therapeutic benefits for children with ASD.
The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative initiative improved the care of opioid-exposed infants by reducing pharmacological treatment duration and length of hospital stay. The project, which monitored 9,648 infants from 2014 to 2018, saw a decline in the proportion requiring treatment from 48% to 42%.
Researchers found that a panel of plasma biomarkers can help identify infants most in need of additional interventions after therapeutic cooling. Cytokines and Tau protein levels changed over time, with peak levels occurring within the first 24 hours and again during rewarmed stages. This study aims to develop a more accurate risk asse...
Research at Children's National Hospital found that early lipid intake significantly increases global brain volume and boosts regional brain activity in micro-preemies. This is particularly important for preterm infants who are vulnerable to growth failure and neurocognitive impairment after birth.
A new quality improvement tool called Eat, Sleep and Console (ESC) has been shown to improve care of opioid-exposed newborns in NICUs. The ESC approach uses non-pharmacologic interventions and reduces hospital stays and medication exposure.
The Children's National Hospital NICU implemented a quality-improvement project that reduced unintended extubations by 60% over 10 years through standardized taping methods, bedside review of events, and reducing chest X-rays. The project saved an estimated $1.5 million per year and improved patient safety.
Researchers found 18 babies with ambiguous genitalia among 14,177 newborns, a frequency higher than previous studies. Lower birth weight was also linked to the condition, with preeclampsia common in those pregnancies.