Articles tagged with Infants
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that electronic toys with lights, words, and songs decrease the quantity and quality of language compared to traditional toys and books. This is significant because limited parent-child playtime can be a challenge for many families, making optimizing this time crucial.
Two-year-olds demonstrate impressive touch-screen skills, able to swipe, unlock, and search for features. Researchers suggest this technology may aid in childhood development assessment and early intervention.
Turn-taking in human communication appears to have origins in primate gestural interactions, predating the development of language. This double-tasking of comprehension and production may motivate compact clause structures in all languages.
A new study found that 95% of families made at least one error in car seat use, and 91% made a serious error. The most common mistakes included loose harnesses, incorrect installations, and low chest clip positions.
New research suggests that low-dose aspirin should be given prophylactically to all women at high risk of preeclampsia, which affects 3-7% of births in the US. The approach could reduce morbidity, save lives and lower healthcare costs.
Research identifies abnormal cell cycle gene activity as a common underlying factor for brain overgrowth and undergrowth in autistic toddlers. The study found that disruptions in cell cycle networks, which control prenatal neuron production, contribute to abnormal early brain growth.
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that antidepressants used during the final two trimesters of pregnancy were associated with an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children. The study, which analyzed data on over 145,000 pregnancies and infants, found a significant increase in ASD diagnoses among children exp...
A new article published in Acta Paediatrica stresses the importance of direct interactions with family members for infants' cognitive and language development. The research suggests that screen-based activities like iPads or DVDs may actually hinder language skills, leading to potential delays.
Scientists at Texas Biomed aim to develop a functional cure for babies born with HIV by testing a combination of antiviral drugs and vaccines in infant monkeys. The goal is to induce long-lasting protective immunity and eliminate the virus from tissue reservoirs.
A 30-year analysis suggests that safer sleep environments are one of several factors behind the decline in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) rates. Improved prenatal and neonatal care, reduced maternal smoking, increased breast feeding, and declines in teen pregnancy also contribute to the trend.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed two antibodies to potentially treat or prevent pertussis, a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that affects millions of infants worldwide. The antibodies potently neutralize pertussis toxin, bolstering immune function and rapidly reducing white blood cell counts.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a new probabilistic model that allows robots to learn new skills by watching people and imitating them. The team combined child development research with machine learning approaches, inspired by infants' ability to infer adult intentions through self-exploration.
A new study found that higher cigarette taxes are strongly associated with lower infant mortality rates in the US. The association is stronger for African American infants than non-Hispanic white infants, which has implications for reducing disparities in infant mortality between the two groups.
A study of 1315 infants found no significant benefits from using probiotic Bifidobacterium breve to prevent late-onset sepsis, death, or necrotizing enterocolitis. The results contradict previous meta-analyses suggesting reduced mortality and complications associated with probiotic administration.
A recent study found that the chikungunya virus can lead to severe brain infections, including encephalitis, with a higher incidence rate than West Nile virus and similar infections in the US. The infection is particularly severe in infants and people over 65, with a high death rate of 17% and long-term disabilities reported.
A recent study found a significant increase in infant deaths and injuries caused by crib bumpers, with 48 deaths specifically attributed to the bedding accessory between 1985-2012. The researchers recommend a nationwide ban on crib bumpers due to their role in suffocation and strangulation incidents.
A new mattress device has been shown to reduce apneic events by 50% and improve breathing stability in preterm infants, with potential benefits for hospital stays and long-term cognitive development.
Researchers found that older toddlers as young as 32 months prefer looking at average-weight figures over obese ones, with maternal anti-fat prejudice strongly correlated. This suggests that children absorb and display societal attitudes early on, highlighting the need to address weight-based prejudice.
A new vibration-based prevention technology has been shown to reduce apneic events and improve critical clinical parameters in prematurely born infants. The technology, tested in a neonatal intensive care unit, demonstrated a 50% reduction in apnea incidence and ameliorated oxygen desaturation events.
A large study found that infants under 12 months are most at risk of serious physical abuse, with severe injuries leading to a threefold increase in mortality compared to other types of trauma. The majority (98%) of abused children were under 5 years old, and nearly all (76%) were less than 1 year old.
Researchers found that infants of blind parents paid less attention to adults' eye gaze compared to those with sighted parents. However, these infants developed advanced visual attention and memory skills, suggesting active learning from their blind caregivers.
Researchers develop simple raisin test to forecast a child's attention and learning capacity. The test shows that premature-born toddlers are more likely to struggle with attention regulation and academic achievement.
Research reveals that infants can make transitive inferences about social dominance by 10-13 months of age, demonstrating an ability to reason logically. The study's findings suggest that this skill is evolutionarily important and may be shared with other animals.
A study found that providing babies with up to 12 months of liquid formula HIV drugs while breastfeeding with their HIV-positive mothers is highly effective in protecting them from infection. The study showed that rates of HIV infection fell to 0.2% when the drug was taken, and that adherence remained a key factor for success.
A study found that coconut oil consumption reduced gastrointestinal colonization by C. albicans in mice, suggesting a potential way to prevent invasive infections. The researchers plan to launch a clinical trial testing coconut oil in hospitalized infants at high-risk for developing systemic candidiasis.
A cohort study investigated the association between growth parameters and early feeding mode with neurodevelopmental outcomes in newborns with CHD. The study found that poor growth and device-assisted feeding were linked to increased risks of cognitive and motor delays at six and twelve months.
A study published in Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology found that feeding at-risk infants gluten until two years of age increases the risk of developing celiac disease. The research suggests that early gluten intake plays a role in disease course, particularly in children with genetic risk factors for celiac disease.
Researchers analyzed 2,176 children with cardiac arrest and found that just under half received bystander CPR, associated with an 11% likelihood of neurologically favorable survival. The majority of cardiac arrests occurred at home, but infants did not benefit from bystander CPR.
Chimpanzees orphaned before age 2 exhibit impaired social behavior as adults, including reduced grooming and partner activity. Decades after maternal deprivation, these individuals show deficits in social relationships within groups.
A Dartmouth College-led study finds that children born to mothers exposed to higher levels of arsenic during pregnancy are at a greater risk of infections and respiratory symptoms within their first year of life. This increased susceptibility may signal a greater risk of later-life allergic diseases or respiratory impairment.
A Canadian study found that black women are at a higher risk of preterm birth than white women, with rates mirroring those in the US. The study analyzed data from the Canadian Live Birth database and found that black women had an 8.9% preterm birth rate, compared to 5.9% for white women.
A study by NIH researchers found no increase in stillbirths after implementing a policy to delay elective deliveries before 39 weeks. The analysis of national infant birth and death statistics over several years showed that efforts to prevent elective deliveries were not linked to an increase in stillbirths on a national level.
A study found that adults who received kidneys from deceased pediatric donors aged 0 to 5 years experienced no surgical complications, organ failure, or rejection. The results showed excellent outcomes with no adverse effects from younger donor age or low weight.
Researchers found that infants can identify and link new sounds to meaning, indicating a social capacity for recognizing and learning from novel communicative signals. This ability broadens our understanding of infants' coordination of social, language, and cognitive development.
A new University of Michigan study found that low testosterone in fathers is associated with less sensitive parenting. Men who are more empathetic and have a loving relationship with their infant's mother exhibit nurturing fathering behavior. This can impact young children's social, emotional, and cognitive development positively.
A recent UTMB study found that severely obese pregnant women who maintained or lost weight during pregnancy had lower healthcare costs and healthier infant outcomes. The study compared 82 obese mothers with 85 healthy-weight mothers, finding that infants of obese mothers who lost weight were less likely to experience complications.
A new study suggests that variations in complex carbohydrates found in breast milk, called human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), are associated with variations in infant growth and obesity. Higher levels of certain HMOs at 6 months of age were linked to greater fat mass, while others were protective against obesity.
Researchers from the University of Montreal found that singing calmed infants twice as long as talking, with an average duration of 9 minutes for songs and 4.5 minutes for baby talk. The study suggests that singing has emotion-regulatory properties that can help parents soothe their children.
A new study examines the effectiveness of a shaken baby syndrome prevention program, Period of PURPLE Crying, which was implemented in North Carolina from 2009-2012. The program, teaching parents about normal infant crying, resulted in a decline of calls to nurse advice line but no significant change in AHT rates.
Two infants buried in Alaska, 11,500 years ago, share genetic material with Native Americans in North and South America. The study supports the Beringian standstill model, suggesting that Native Americans descended from Asian migrants who spent time in Beringia before moving to the Americas.
Research shows that skin-to-skin snuggling between mothers and babies can decrease maternal stress levels, improving parent-child bonding and breastfeeding rates. The study found a significant reduction in maternal anxiety, feeling helpless, and stress related to NICU experience.
A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that nearly 1 in 6 advertisements for children's products in top parenting magazines conflicted with health and safety recommendations. In over half of these cases, ads promoted messages that could put a child's life at risk, such as unsafe sleep positions and choking hazards.
A new phage treatment has shown strong anti-microbial activity against Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can kill up to 40% of infected infants. The treatment, CR5, killed the bacteria quickly and effectively, without producing toxins or virulence factors.
A new study published in JAMA found that pregnant women with preeclampsia have a higher risk of delivering an infant with a congenital heart defect. The research examined hospital records of over 1.9 million mother and infant pairs, revealing significant association between the diseases.
Raising the smoking age to 21 would help curb early access to tobacco products, leading to reduced smoking rates. E-cigarettes are largely unproven as a smoking cessation tool with potential health risks unknown.
Researchers found that babies with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants soon babbled as often as their hearing peers, allowing them to catch up developmentally. Infants are actively engaged in their own developmental process and motivated by hearing their own sounds.
A large analysis found that preeclampsia is associated with a higher risk of noncritical heart defects in infants. Infants born to mothers with early-onset preeclampsia before 34 weeks also showed an increased risk of critical heart defects. However, the absolute risk remains low.
Researchers found invasive methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) caused more infections and deaths in hospitalized infants than methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The study suggests that measures to prevent MSSA infections should be included in addition to MRSA, alongside hand hygiene as a primary prevention strategy.
Researchers found that four-month-old infants can correctly identify the source of a tickle on their feet, but six-month-olds cannot. This suggests that human babies perceive touches solely on their bodies before developing a sense of touch in external space.
Researchers at WashU Medicine found that premature babies have weaker brain connections, particularly in networks linked to attention, communication, and emotions. Early intervention may improve outcomes for these children.
Researchers have found that treating hypoglycemia in newborns according to current recommendations is safe and appears to prevent brain damage. The study suggests that maintaining stable blood glucose levels without significant fluctuations may be crucial for preventing neurosensory impairments.
A new computer program analyzing functional brain MRIs of hearing-impaired children can predict effective language skills after cochlear implant surgery. The study identified two brain regions that effectively predict successful outcomes, providing potential biomarkers for clinicians.
Researchers with the University of British Columbia found that inhibiting infants' tongue movements impedes their ability to distinguish between speech sounds. The study suggests that babies' oral-motor movements play a crucial role in speech perception development.
Researchers found that infected cells in breast tissues could transmit the influenza virus from mothers to breast-feeding infants and vice versa using a ferret model. The study also showed that mammary glands can harbor live influenza virus and produce it in milk.
A Tel Aviv University study found that one-year-old infants with poor sleep quality, such as frequent night wakings and broken sleep patterns, are more likely to experience behavioral problems at the toddler stage. The research suggests that early intervention for infant sleep problems may improve later attention and behavior regulation.
Research found that infants taking inhaled corticosteroids during first 2 years of age are likely to be stunted, with budesonide use showing more pronounced effects. The study highlights the importance of using these medicines in infants appropriately and plans further investigation into their impact on growth.
Infants diagnosed with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) are at increased risk for hospital readmission, particularly due to withdrawal symptoms. The study suggests that families of infants with NAS may benefit from additional post-discharge resources to mitigate this risk.
Researchers measured radioactivity in infant formulas worldwide and found higher doses than reported limits but lower than recommended levels. Factors such as soil and raw material radioactivity affected levels, highlighting the need for improved monitoring.
Infants under stress exhibit less flexible behavior when presented with new situations, unlike adults who also show reduced flexibility due to stress. This study suggests that repeated exposure to stress in infancy may hinder knowledge acquisition and have lasting effects on cognitive development.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have discovered a strong link between elevated blood eosinophilia and late complications in preterm infants with necrotizing enterocolitis. High levels of eosinophils after NEC onset can predict life-threatening conditions like bowel rupture, fibrosis, and intestinal strictures.