Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
Research reveals that 8-month-old infants are more likely to reach for distant toys when an adult is present, indicating they understand the social context and plan their actions. The study suggests that babies perceive adults as expanding their ability to act in the world.
Researchers found that infants selectively paid attention to native speakers of their language, even when the information was not transmitted through verbal speech. This behavior was replicated with 5-month-old infants and suggests that children use native speakers as a way to efficiently learn relevant cultural knowledge.
A new study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that maternal involvement is the greatest contributor to long-term neurobehavioral development in preterm infants, with a single-family room NICU allowing for greater and most immediate opportunities for maternal involvement.
The study compared seven ventilation strategies and found that LISA, a non-invasive ventilation strategy, was the most effective in preventing death and/or chronic lung disease in preterm infants. On average, LISA resulted in 164 fewer preterm babies dying or having long-term breathing problems.
A study found an association between maternal high-fat diets and changes in infant gut microbiomes, affecting energy extraction and immune development. The researchers discovered that high-fat diets were linked to reduced numbers of Bacteroides microbes, which play a crucial role in breaking down carbohydrates.
A clinical trial found that thiamine-fortified fish sauce improved erythrocyte thiamine diphosphate concentrations in lactating women and their breastfed infants. The study suggests that fortified fish sauce could be a simple and sustainable vehicle for thiamine fortification throughout Southeast Asia.
Researchers developed a noninvasive device that tricks premature infants' brains into thinking they're running, reducing apnea of prematurity incidents and low oxygen levels. The device uses vibrating disks on the skin to stimulate nerve fibers, promoting increased breathing.
Researchers found that infants' airways are colonized with bacteria or bacterial DNA at birth, which could predict severe lung disease. The 'healthy' pattern of colonization seen in BPD-resistant infants is protective, with increased abundance of Lactobacillus.
Researchers at Kyoto University observed spontaneous smiles in newborn Japanese macaques, suggesting that this behavior has been present for over 30 million years. These early smiles are believed to be related to the development of cheek muscles, enabling the production of real smiles and laughter.
Researchers at Duke University developed a handheld device capable of capturing high-resolution images of infants' and toddlers' retinas. The device overcomes previous limitations in imaging the retina, allowing for detailed structural information about the eyes to be gathered.
A new study of 180 pre-term infants found that those who received predominantly breast milk during their NICU hospitalization had larger deep nuclear gray matter volume and better IQs, academic achievements, memory, and motor function. Breast milk intake correlated with improved cognitive outcomes at age 7.
A study published in Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that preterm infants with acute kidney injury have distinct protein profiles in their urine compared to those with healthy kidneys. This discovery could help physicians diagnose kidney health in newborns and improve treatment outcomes.
A new study found that preterm infants with acute kidney injury (AKI) have higher levels of certain proteins in their urine compared to healthy infants. This could lead to better diagnostics and treatment for AKI in newborns, which is a common complication in premature infants and can predict poor clinical outcomes.
A study found that maternal HIV infection influences the microbiome of uninfected infants, leading to a relatively immature and dysbiotic microbiome. This disruption can compromise the infant's immune system development. Researchers propose providing beneficial bacterial and prebiotics to improve long-term outcomes.
HIV-infected mothers' breast milk alters oligosaccharide composition, leading to less diverse and immature gut microbiomes in their uninfected infants. This study suggests preventing microbiome disruptions may improve HIV-exposed babies' health.
Late preterm babies, born between 34 and 36 weeks, were developmentally on track with peers at age two. However, by preschool and kindergarten, they showed less than optimal math and reading scores compared to full-term infants.
Researchers at the University of Missouri discovered that a manufactured form of lactoferrin can help protect premature infants from staph infections. The study found that giving very-low-birth-weight premature infants lactoferrin virtually eliminated germs responsible for staph infection.
A new study found that background noise in homes and schools impairs toddlers' word learning skills. However, providing additional language cues can aid young children in overcoming this difficulty. The research suggests that reducing background noise or highlighting important information can help children learn effectively.
A recent review paper highlights the importance of choosing nutrient-dense, soft, and neutral-tasting foods for infants, with avocados emerging as a suitable first food solution. The study suggests that caregivers often opt for sweet foods, which can lead to early preferences and nutritional deficiencies.
Near-infrared spectroscopy technologies offer improved quality of life through portable, sensitive, and non-invasive diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The latest advances enable researchers to investigate complex illnesses and dysfunctions.
Research suggests that home-cooked meals designed for infants and young children often exceed energy density and dietary fat recommendations, yet are cheaper than commercially available baby foods. The study found that commercial products met dietary recommendations on energy density more frequently than home-cooked meals.
A new study from Duke University found that infants born to obese mothers were 8% larger during the first two years of life compared to those born to healthy-weight mothers. The study also showed a link between maternal weight gain during pregnancy and infant size.
UAB will receive $200,000 per year in base funds for the next five years through the NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. The network focuses on addressing preterm birth through translational research, genetics, and new technologies.
Researchers will assess treatment of asymptomatic babies born with congenital CMV and investigate frequency of neonatal herpes infections in the US and Peru. Early detection and close follow-up can lessen the effects of congenital CMV in infants.
A new Northwestern University study shows that infants can discern between categories as early as 9 months old, depending on the names used to describe them. This finding highlights the impact of language on cognitive development, suggesting that naming influences the identification of discrete categories in infants.
A clinical trial found that HIV-infected mothers taking a three-drug antiretroviral regimen during breastfeeding can virtually eliminate HIV transmission to their infants. The study, which included over 2,400 pairs from sub-Saharan Africa and India, showed nearly all babies survived their first year of life.
By inducing autophagy, researchers at Drexel University and Yale University decreased lung injury in mice exposed to high oxygen levels, offering a potential solution for preventing chronic lung conditions like Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants.
A new mouse model of bronchopulmonary dysplasia has been developed to study pulmonary hypertension, enabling the detection of the disease at an earlier time point through echocardiography tests. This breakthrough could lead to improved diagnoses and more effective treatments for premature infants.
Researchers at FAU found garlic aroma in breast milk due to AMS metabolite formation. Further research is needed to clarify potential impact on infants' eating habits and food preferences.
A study found that a twice daily program of assisted range-of-motion exercises significantly improves bone strength in very low birth weight pre-term infants. This could lead to a reduced risk of osteopenia and future fractures.
Researchers developed a fluorescent protein method to accurately detect unconjugated bilirubin in newborns, minimizing blood sample interference. The UnaG method offers a highly sensitive and accurate detection method for preterm infants, potentially reducing neurological handicaps.
A study published in The BMJ found that less than 60% of premature babies born in 11 European countries received a package of four simple, widely available care measures known to improve survival. Receiving full evidence-based care was associated with improved survival rates.
Infants born to vaccinated mothers show high protection against influenza illness at 8 weeks, but efficacy decreases with age. The duration of this protection is limited to the first 8 weeks of life.
The EPICE project highlights the underuse of effective medical practices, such as corticosteroid administration and surfactant therapy, in very premature infants. With improved care, mortality rates can be reduced by 18%, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based medicine for these high-risk babies.
A NIH-led team studied implementation science approaches to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission, identifying effective interventions such as baby showers and breastfeeding support. The study found that deploying point-of-care tests and administering pre-exposure prophylaxis were likely cost-effective and resulted in timely initiat...
Historical research reveals that foetus and infant cadavers were valued by anatomists for studying growth and development, often kept in museums. Researchers found that anatomists preserved the skulls of infants intact to use as teaching aids, differing from adult cadavers.
Researchers found that teaching parents bedtime techniques can improve infants' sleep-related behaviors, leading to longer sleep duration and reduced rapid weight gain. Establishing good sleep habits early in life is crucial for preventing obesity and promoting emotional health.
A new study found that infants produce broadly neutralizing antibodies within the first year of HIV infection, which could accelerate path to HIV vaccine. The novel antibodies, produced relatively quickly after infection, may improve HIV-vaccine design by mimicking infant immune response.
New studies show antibiotics can delay infant microbiome development, reduce bacterial diversity, and lead to temporary antibiotic resistance gene presence. The findings suggest a need for further research on long-term consequences of gut microbiome disturbances linked to obesity, diabetes, and allergies.
Researchers found that targeted intervention with WIC collaboration significantly improved follow-up rates and age at hearing diagnosis for low-income mothers' newborns. The study reduced loss to follow-up rates by 71% and diagnosed hearing issues earlier, leading to better speech, language, and reading outcomes.
A Swedish study found that mothers who gained 4 kg/m2 or more between pregnancies had a higher risk of low Apgar scores, neonatal seizures, and meconium aspiration. Preventing weight gain could reduce birth asphyxia and improve infant health.
Babies born at 41 weeks' gestation are more likely to score higher on standardized tests and be classified as gifted, while also facing a slightly higher risk of physical disabilities. This advantage is particularly pronounced in children born to mothers with low education levels.
Late-term infants born at 41 weeks showed improved cognitive performance, including higher test scores and a lower risk of poor cognitive outcomes. However, they also had a higher rate of physical disabilities compared to full-term infants.
Oxford University researchers found that infants' cuteness appeals to all senses, triggering caregiving behaviors vital for infant survival. This study reveals the complex choreography of slow, deliberate prosocial behaviors eliciting fundamental brain pleasure systems.
A UK survey found that overweight very young children consume larger meals than healthy weight children, consuming approximately 11 calories more per meal, but eating less frequently. This disparity in meal size, not frequency, appears to be a significant risk factor for childhood obesity.
A new study found that vaccinating mothers against flu can significantly reduce the risk of their infants getting flu during the first four months after birth by 70 percent. This breakthrough could help reduce flu-related deaths, particularly in poor developing countries where access to healthcare is limited.
A global increase in baby formula sales, especially in East Asia, raises concerns about the health of millions of mothers and their children. The study highlights the need for governments to regulate marketing and ensure supportive work policies for breastfeeding mothers.
Researchers found that infants are better at learning words with repetitive syllables than those without. This bias may help explain why many baby-talk words have repeated syllables, such as 'choo-choo' and 'night-night'. The study suggests that repetition plays a key role in word learning from an early age.
A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology identified risk factors for ophthalmoscopic findings in infants born with microcephaly and presumed Zika virus infection. Infants with smaller head diameters at birth and those whose mothers reported symptoms during the first trimester were more likely to have ocular involvement.
A recent study found that mothers who consumed more fruit during pregnancy gave birth to children with better cognitive development. The study, led by University of Alberta researcher Piush Mandhane, discovered that increased prenatal fruit intake was associated with higher IQ scores in one-year-old infants.
Researchers at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that breastfeeding for six months reduces the risk of ear infections by 30% and diarrhea by 25%. However, pumping breast milk from a bottle also provides some protection against ear infections and may reduce diarrhea risk compared to formula feeding.
Research on great ape communication reveals cooperative turn-taking sequences in both bonobos and chimpanzees, differing in their styles of gaze-based and signal-pause response based interactions. These findings suggest that cooperative communication may have arisen to coordinate collaborative activities more efficiently.
A new study found that listening to human vocalizations helps infants form categories, while nonhuman primate vocalizations preserve their early link between signals and categorization. This research highlights the importance of language exposure in early development.
A study of adults born premature and low-birth-weight found they were less likely to be employed, have children, or earn higher incomes compared to their normal-birth-weight counterparts. Despite these differences, many of these individuals are living independently and contributing well to society.
A new study suggests that human intelligence developed in response to the demands of caring for infants, who are born prematurely and require intelligent parents. The research found a strong correlation between weaning time and general intelligence in primates.
A new study suggests that sharing risk factors for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with bereaved parents does not increase self-blame and can help prevent future deaths. The research found that most parents who lost a child to SIDS did not blame themselves, but rather experienced overwhelming guilt.
A new University of Toronto study examines the effect of infant vocalizations on adult cognitive conflict processing and attention. The research found that infant cries reduce attention to tasks and trigger greater cognitive conflict than infant laughs.
Grand Challenges Canada funds nine creative ways to protect and nurture cognitive development of children in developing countries. Kangaroo Mother Care is expanded to improve lives of low birth weight infants in West Africa, while eight new innovations pursue approaches to help children reach their full potential.
A study of 1,421 Canadian children found that early introduction of allergenic foods decreases the risk of sensitization to these foods. Early introduction of eggs was especially beneficial, reducing the risk of sensitization to any of the three tested foods. The study suggests a shift in thinking from delayed food introduction to earl...
A recent study published in JAMA found that high-dose recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) did not improve cognitive development or reduce neurodevelopmental delay in very preterm infants at 2 years old. The study randomly assigned 448 preterm infants to receive rhEPO or placebo and followed their outcomes for over two years.