Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
A new review paper concludes that varied diets and persistence in exposing infants and children to healthy foods, even when they don't like them at first, are key to promoting healthy eating behaviors. Repeated exposure can familiarize the child with specific flavors and set the stage for later acceptance of healthy flavors.
A clinical trial found that implanting a shunt or endoscopically reducing intracranial pressure is equally effective in treating hydrocephalus, but endoscopy may have fewer long-term complications. The study also found that children with normal brain development had better outcomes.
A randomized trial showed that an alternative, potentially one-time operation called endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus cauterization (ETV/CPC) is as good for infant brain development as placing a shunt. The study found no significant difference in cognitive scores between the two groups after 12 months.
New Hampshire's neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) diagnoses increased fivefold from 52 to 269 between 2005 and 2015. The average hospital stay for NAS-diagnosed newborns rose to 12 days, compared to three days for non-exposed infants.
The Constance A. Howes Women's Health Innovation Research Fund has awarded $75,000 in grants to three Researchers from Women & Infants Hospital are advancing knowledge and care models related to women's health and gender-based research.
Researchers at Lancaster University found that 10-week-old babies who practiced 'reflex walking' showed a stronger brain response when watching humans walk compared to those who didn't. The study suggests that experience can refine the perception of biological motion in early infancy.
A study published in Science Advances found that infants born within a half mile of a hydraulic fracturing site were 25% more likely to be born at low birth weights, increasing their risk of infant mortality and long-term health problems. The research also found significant impacts on cognitive development.
A study analyzing recorded conversations between doctors and parents of critically ill infants found that medical staff often downplay quality of life issues, leaving families more optimistic than intended. Clinicians' prognostic statements were twice as likely to be optimistic than pessimistic.
Researchers found that labeling people and objects in books enhances infant attention and retention. The study, led by Lisa Scott, suggests that shared reading with labeled books can support cognitive development in the first year of life.
Early evidence suggests that a gene therapy developed at St. Jude improves immune systems in infants as young as 2 months old with XSCID, offering broad protection and reducing the need for protective isolation. The treatment has been shown to be well-tolerated and effective in restoring immune function.
A landmark clinical trial demonstrated that providing dietary B. infantis EVC001 resulted in rapid and substantial remodeling of the infant gut microbiome, reducing potentially harmful bacteria and improving gut health. The study also showed that breastfed infants colonized by B. infantis had significantly lower levels of endotoxin.
A nationwide study found that mandatory newborn screening policies for critical congenital heart defects significantly reduced infant cardiac deaths. The study, which analyzed data from 2007-2013, showed a notable decrease in early infant deaths due to these defects in states with implemented mandatory screening policies.
Researchers found that infants raised in homes with multiple accents recognize words differently than those exposed to single accents. The study suggests that children from diverse linguistic environments process language uniquely and highlights the importance of considering accent variation when studying speech development.
A study found that cerebral blood flow is altered in preterm newborns' brains, with key regions such as the insula and anterior cingulate cortex receiving decreased blood supply. This alteration may serve as an early warning sign of disturbed brain maturation.
A new study found that stressed newborn babies exhibit a heightened brain response to pain, but their behavior remains unaffected. This dissociation between brain activity and behavior has implications for pain assessment in infants.
Infants' brainwaves synchronize with adults when they make direct eye contact, allowing for more effective communication and potentially enhancing learning. This synchronization also enables infants to communicate more effectively, making vocalizations when the adult makes direct eye contact.
Babies exposed to antibiotics for GBS developmentally delayed gut bacteria, which recovered by 12 weeks of age. Long-term effects on infant health are unclear.
University of Miami Assistant Professor Elizabeth Simpson challenges a 2016 study that claims human babies do not imitate, citing flaws in methodology and presenting evidence of neonatal imitation. Her research suggests that imitation is a marker of healthy social development in infants.
A University of Alberta study found that infant boys born to mothers with asthma have a reduced gut microbiome, particularly lower levels of Lactobacillus, which could lead to a preventative approach to reduce the risk of asthma. The study also suggests sex-specific differences in the impact of maternal asthma on infant gut microbes.
A study published in Development and Psychopathology found that infants who experienced higher distress and received less physical contact had an underdeveloped molecular profile compared to those with more comfortable interaction. This effect was detectable four years later, pointing to the possibility of slower epigenetic aging.
A new study from MIT and Harvard University found that babies as young as 10 months can integrate information about costs and benefits to calculate the value of a goal. By observing an agent's effort to achieve a goal, 10-month-old infants inferred the amount of value they placed on it.
A new study found that infants attribute more value to rewards that are harder to attain, indicating they can grasp concepts of reward and cost. Infants gaze longer at scenarios where the character chooses a less desirable reward over a more accessible one, suggesting they understand that greater effort is needed for better outcomes.
The study identified five subgroups of eczema in children, with one-third resolving by age five and others persisting into adulthood. Genetic risk factors contribute to long-lasting eczema, highlighting the need for tailored treatments and clinical trial approaches.
A new study suggests that a second HIV test can substantially reduce incorrect diagnoses in infants, saving costs on unnecessary treatment. The study found that confirmatory testing reduces the number of infants incorrectly diagnosed with HIV by 99.6%, leading to cost savings over a lifetime.
Researchers found that babies as young as six months old can recognize relationships between words and objects, such as cars and strollers. This understanding of word relationships is linked to the amount of time caregivers talk about objects in their daily lives.
A study examines infants' understanding of word relationships at 6 months old, finding they look longer at unrelated image pairs. The learning environment plays a crucial role in developing language comprehension in early childhood.
A recent NIH study found that obese pregnant women are more likely to give birth to large infants, with fetuses experiencing longer bones and higher birth weights. This increased fetal growth may predispose these infants to obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life.
A new study at Queen's University is using a nipple-monitoring device to evaluate the feeding skills of high-risk newborns in intensive care. The goal is to better identify and address feeding difficulties, allowing for more accurate treatment recommendations and potentially shorter hospital stays.
Researchers found that cockatoos excel at fitting shapes into specific frames without requiring training or visual alignment like humans. They require fewer attempts to insert simple shapes compared to non-human primates, highlighting an allocentric frame of reference similar to toddlers.
The study found Africa has the highest burden of GBS, causing 54% of estimated cases and 65% of stillbirths and infant deaths. A vaccine could potentially prevent 231,000 infant and maternal GBS cases with an 80% effective rate.
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria affect an estimated one in five pregnant women worldwide, leading to stillbirths and infant deaths. A new study estimates that GBS is responsible for at least 147,000 stillbirths and infant deaths globally each year.
A new study suggests that biologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritis during pregnancy do not significantly increase the risk of opportunistic infections in infants. Researchers found no significant difference in infection rates among infants whose mothers used biologics compared to those who did not.
Researchers found that babies prefer to look at the likely option when it is easier to distinguish, but not when the difference is smaller. Six-month-old babies can also estimate which color makes up the majority of balls and choose accordingly.
A new law in Rhode Island requires coverage for fertility preservation prior to gonadotoxic medical therapy. The authors of the perspective published in NEJM recommend revising existing non-infertility-related mandates or establishing a separate definition for fertility preservation, which could encourage other states to follow suit.
A clinical trial shows that nusinersen, a new medication, is 'transformative' for babies with spinal muscular atrophy, enabling them to show gains in motor function and increasing their chances of survival. The treatment was approved by the FDA for all patients with this progressive neuromuscular disorder.
A new study demonstrates that babies can learn, remember and use contextual cues in a scene to guide their search for objects of interest. The study found that 6-month-old babies showed steady improvement in finding faces in repeated scenes, but didn't get any quicker or more accurate in finding faces in new scenes.
Researchers developed illuminated pajamas that emit therapeutic blue light directly onto a baby's skin, improving the treatment experience and reducing discomfort. The photonic textiles, woven into satin fabric, are breathable, comfortable, and suitable for everyday wear.
Researchers discovered that mothers with high levels of neutralizing antibodies were more likely to pass on HIV to their infants through breast milk. Infants born to these mothers were also at higher risk of serious illness or death from the virus.
A longitudinal study published by the American Psychological Association found that women who breastfed their children longer exhibited greater maternal sensitivity well past infancy and toddler years. The effect sizes were small, suggesting the bond may be strengthened through multiple interactions, not just breastfeeding.
The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) has published a Best Practice Statement on pelvic organ prolapse, emphasizing the importance of proper evaluation and counseling for women. The statement outlines treatment options, including physical therapy, pessaries, and surgery, tailored to individual patient needs.
A recent study revealed that only 11 percent of pediatricians follow guidelines for introducing peanut-containing products to infants to prevent allergies. High-risk babies, those with egg allergy and/or severe eczema, are not being referred for testing prior to introduction.
A new study suggests a significant increase in childhood peanut allergies in the US, with rates rising 21 percent since 2010. Nearly 2.5 percent of U.S. children may have an allergy to peanuts, and black children are disproportionately affected.
Researchers developed software using machine learning to analyze EEG signals from preterm infants, providing an estimate of brain functional maturity. The method is more precise than current methods and enables automatic monitoring of premature infant brain development.
Research discovered a developmental abnormality in babies' brains that increases risk of SIDS when sleeping on their front. The abnormality affects the control of breathing, heartbeat, and responses to oxygen deprivation.
A new study finds that continuously recording aEEG data provides more accurate predictions of outcomes for infants undergoing cooling therapy. Infants with persistent abnormal patterns are at increased risk of adverse outcomes, highlighting the importance of continuous monitoring.
Recent research reveals that some infant rice cereal samples tested for high amounts of methylmercury, posing health risks to babies who consume them. The study found rice-based cereals had significantly higher levels of the substance compared to products with no rice.
Researchers observed maternal responses to infant crying across 11 countries, finding common brain activity patterns in new mothers. The study suggests a neurobiological and evolutionary basis for the human maternal response to infant cries.
Researchers found that infants can match emotions with probable causes and search for the cause when it's incongruent. They distinguished between five positive emotional expressions in tasks involving looking and searching behaviors.
A NIH study found that infant cries activate specific brain regions related to movement and speech in mothers worldwide. Consistent behaviors across cultures suggest hard-wired reactions to infant cries.
Rapid whole-genome sequencing of neonatal ICU patients reveals a genetic diagnosis in 35% of cases, leading to changes in medical management and improved outcomes. The procedure saves an estimated $1.3 million per hospitalization, making it a cost-effective option.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that infants with trisomy 13 or 18 who underwent heart surgery had a significant decrease in in-hospital mortality and an increase in survival rates. This benefit lasted for up to two years, doubling the number of babies that survive more than one year after surgery.
A study aims to develop biomarkers for early detection of cognitive and behavioral problems in premature infants, enabling the design of early interventions. The research focuses on identifying structural abnormalities in subcortical brain regions that may predict long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Researchers found that mothers alter their voice timbre when speaking to infants, regardless of native language. This consistent shift enables computers to distinguish between infant- and adult-directed speech.
A joint statement by world experts calls for caution in applying the Disorganised Infant Attachment classification to assess infant mental health and potential cases of abuse. The statement highlights the classification's limitations and suggests it should not be relied upon alone for child protection assessments.
A new, portable brain scanner has been developed to image infant brain activity in a clinical setting. The device weighs just 40 grams and can distinguish between quiet and active sleep states, as well as detect seizures with high resolution.
A new article introduces the concept of food justice to address infant feeding disparities and environmental injustices in breast milk access. The authors propose activism strategies to advance food justice, emphasizing the importance of breast milk as a basis for infants' immune response.
The Congenital Zika Virus Program at Children's National evaluated 36 women and their fetuses, revealing that 89% had been bitten by Zika-tainted mosquitoes or exposed via sex with an infected partner. Tragically, four fetuses suffered severe birth defects, leading to two non-viable pregnancies and one infant death.
Astronomers have detected Freon-40, an organohalogen compound, around an infant star and a comet using ALMA and Rosetta. This finding suggests that organohalogens may be significant components of planetary formation materials, rather than indicators of life.
High-risk newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD) exhibit reduced functional connectivity between key brain regions even before undergoing corrective open heart surgery. Global network organization remains intact, but small world networks show remarkable ability to withstand early-life brain injury.
A longitudinal neuroimaging study found that fetal MRI can detect brain damage caused by Zika exposure in utero more effectively than standard ultrasound. The study revealed three pregnancies with abnormal fetal MRIs showing extensive areas of brain damage, which were not detected by ultrasound.