Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
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.
Researchers developed an AI-powered platform that rapidly diagnoses genetic diseases in critically ill infants, matching expert interpretation in 95 cases. The platform correctly diagnosed three of seven ICU patients with 100% sensitivity and precision, affecting treatment outcomes.
This observational study found that state Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act was associated with reduced rates of low birth weight and preterm births among black infants, but not Hispanic or white infants. The study used data from 15.6 million births between 2011-2016.
A new study reveals that soft bedding is responsible for almost 70% of sleep-related infant deaths. The most common causes of suffocation in babies under one year old are overlay, soft bedding, and wedging.
Infants with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1) have been cured of the disease using gene therapy developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The treatment produced functional immune cells, including T cells and B cells, in all but one patient.
A small clinical trial shows that gene therapy can safely correct the immune systems of infants with X-SCID, a rare life-threatening disorder. The treatment involves inserting a normal copy of the IL2RG gene into the patient's blood-forming stem cells.
Research suggests that mode of delivery influences the development of the gut microbiota in infants, with C-sections linked to delayed bacterial colonization and increased risk of respiratory infections. This may have implications for future respiratory health.
Research at Columbia University found that providing clear information on the sugar content and health risks of sugary drinks can help families make informed choices. The study's lead author recommends using visual aids and graphic warning labels to inform parents about healthy alternatives.
A study of 70 mothers and infants found that maternal stress impacts neurodevelopment at 2 months old. Higher maternal education acts as a protective factor against the stress effect.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles implemented child-parent psychotherapy in the NICU to support infant-parent relationships. The approach has been shown to reduce post-traumatic stress symptoms and promote resilience in families.
A recent study published in Nature Cell Biology suggests that light therapy could be an effective treatment for premature babies' vision problems. The research discovered a molecular pathway controlled by light exposure that regulates eye development and prevents conditions like retinopathy of prematurity and myopia.
A large multicenter trial found that standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation did not reduce the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death at 36 weeks postmenstrual age for extremely preterm infants. In contrast, sustained inflations did not appear beneficial in reducing BPD risk and mortality in this vulnerable popu...
Pediatric health researchers offer new insights for RSV vaccine development, highlighting the importance of type 1 interferons in infants' immune response. The study suggests strategies to enhance type 1 interferon responses and improve existing vaccines, offering hope for prevention of severe RSV disease in infants.
A recent study of child-feeding habits among Marshallese in Arkansas found high compliance with medical standards for breastfeeding infants, but also reliance on rice and processed foods. Researchers identified economic and cultural barriers to incorporating fruits and vegetables into the diet.
Researchers develop AI method to extract clinically important movement patterns from normal video recordings, enabling early CP detection and assessment of neurological development. The study shows promise for automated movement analyses in diverse applications, including out-of-hospital screening and therapeutic decision-making.
A major breakthrough in artificial womb technology has demonstrated its ability to support extremely preterm babies equivalent to a human fetus at 24 weeks of gestation. The study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology shows that the technology can maintain stable, growth-normal state for five days.
A recent University of Michigan-led study found that mothers of fussy babies are at a higher risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. The study explored whether a baby's level of prematurity in combination with infant fussiness influences the severity of maternal depressive symptoms.
The study found significant racial segregation and inequality in NICU care for very low-birth-weight and preterm infants. Researchers identified sociodemographic factors, hospital quality, access, and choice as key contributors to these disparities.
The I-ACQUIRE trial evaluates an intensive pediatric therapy to increase upper extremity skills, gross motor development, and cognition in infants with strokes under four weeks old. The study aims to transform clinical rehabilitation for thousands of newly diagnosed infant stroke victims annually.
This observational study reports on outcomes for smallest infants born under 400 grams, highlighting the importance of timely intervention in improving survival rates. Overall, the study found that these tiny infants can survive and even thrive when receiving necessary medical support.
Research shows indigenous Mexican mothers can breastfeed successfully after C-sections, reducing negative child health effects. The practice is culturally mediated and offers protective benefits that reduce health problems.
Research finds a modest association between prenatal and infant pesticide exposure and an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The study supports efforts to prevent exposure during pregnancy to protect brain development.
A study by Laura Miller-Graff found that breastfeeding for six weeks can protect infants from the negative effects of prenatal intimate partner violence. This protective effect was observed in low-income women who experienced IPV during pregnancy.
Researchers discovered a genetic variant in troponin I that disrupts calcium-binding affinity in thin muscle filaments, leading to arrhythmias in human cardiac cells. This finding may contribute to SUDI by triggering sudden cardiac arrest.
Researchers found that infants' precise tuning to their native language influences the range of human languages they link to cognition. Listening to human languages, including native and non-native ones, engages infants' speech processing system.
A recent analysis found that giving the steroid betamethasone to pregnant women at risk of late-preterm delivery results in lower hospital stays for infants. The study estimated costs for over 1,400 mother-infant pairs and found that the average cost for those who received the drug was $4,681, compared to $5,379 for those who did not.
A new study by New York University researchers found that five-month-old infants can differentiate between laughter from friends and strangers. The ability to detect the nature of social relationships is thought to be an early emerging tool in human infancy, possibly due to a detection system using vocal cues.
A collaborative study between Seattle Children's Research Institute and Microsoft data scientists found that smoking during pregnancy doubles the risk of sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). The study estimated that up to 800 deaths from SUID could be prevented each year if women smoked no cigarettes during pregnancy.
Elevated soothability in infants was associated with increased likelihood of early childhood obesity and shorter breastfeeding duration. Infant temperaments of elevated soothability and activity also linked to early introduction of sugary drinks, contributing to obesity risk.
A study of toddlers and infants found that they expect group members to punish wrongdoers, indicating early understanding of group norms. This suggests that young children's expectations of indirect punishment are driven by an abstract sense of ingroup support.
Deaf children who received cochlear implants before 12 months of age learn spoken language more rapidly and are more likely to use it as their sole means of communication. This study suggests that early cochlear implantation can have a transformative impact on language development in deaf infants.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine updates sodium and potassium intake recommendations to reflect current evidence. The report introduces a new category for sodium based on chronic disease risk reduction and establishes updated adequate intake values.
A study analyzing genetic data from 791 family trios identified 160 genes associated with preterm birth, many related to inflammatory pathways. Candidate biomarker genes were found in the RAB31 and RBPJ genes, implicated in both preterm and very early births.
Researchers have discovered that breast milk contains a variety of yeasts and fungi, including Malassezia and Davidiella, which are present in different geographic locations. These findings suggest that breast milk plays an important role in the initial seeding of fungal species to the infant gut.
A study found that automated programs can identify sepsis in sick infants hours before clinicians recognize it, offering potential for improved clinical outcomes. Machine-learning models analyzed patient data from electronic health records to predict which infants had sepsis.
A new wireless system overcomes limitations of traditional systems by using ultrathin sensors and wirelessly streaming vital sign data. This approach enables parents to have skin-to-skin contact with preterm or sick newborns, a crucial aspect of clinical care.
Researchers found no significant difference in breastfeeding duration between early-term and full-term infants, suggesting that healthy premature babies can have successful breastfeeding outcomes. The study included 2,700 pairs of mothers and infants and monitored them from birth to 12 months or until breastfeeding ceased.
A new study found that babies sleeping less at three months old are more likely to have mothers without a university degree or experience prenatal depression. The researchers analyzed data from over 600 infants and their mothers, revealing that maternal education and prenatal depression significantly impact infant sleep duration.
Research suggests that infants as young as six months old can detect anger in their mothers' voices and respond with increased brain activity. Maternal interactions also play a crucial role in shaping the infant's brain response to angry vocalizations.
Researchers examined antibody isotype and B cell receptor composition in young children, finding associations between environmental exposures and increased somatic hypermutation frequencies. This study sheds light on the complex relationships between environmental factors and immune system development in childhood.