Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
The discovery of two Ice Age infant remains at the Upward Sun River site in Alaska offers a rare glimpse into the lives of early human societies. The burials, dated to around 11,500 years ago, include grave offerings such as hafted compound weapons and provide insights into funeral practices and social organization.
A large study found that using world region-specific birth-weight curves for immigrant mothers and their babies can predict adverse outcomes more accurately than Canadian curves. This method may help avoid unnecessary interventions and reduce parental stress.
The national preterm birth rate fell to 11.4% in 2013, beating the federal Healthy People 2020 goal seven years ahead of schedule. Despite this progress, the US still ranks among high resource countries with one of the highest preterm birth rates.
A new study reveals breastfeeding mothers experience shame due to exposure, while those who don't breastfeed face judgment and condemnation for perceived failures. The study emphasizes individualized support and addressing cultural constraints associated with infant feeding.
A Florida State University study reveals that parent-led social intervention can improve developmental levels, social communication skills, and autism symptoms in toddlers. The treatment model is affordable, efficient, and accessible to any early intervention system.
Researchers at the University at Buffalo found that infant dietary patterns are influenced by mothers' socioeconomic backgrounds and racial identities. Babies whose diet included more breastfeeding and solid foods adhering to international guidelines were associated with higher household income and mothers with higher education levels.
A new acoustics study suggests that mothers alter their speech patterns to both babies in a twin pair, even if only one infant has hearing loss. Mothers use lower pitch and more variable intonation with the normal-hearing twin compared to the hearing-impaired twin.
A study on newborn mice reveals a previously unknown mechanism involving bone growth and muscle contraction that rapidly realigns fractured arm bones. This finding could lead to alternative approaches for treating fractures in adults, improving treatment outcomes by reducing side effects like muscle atrophy.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that infants at 7 months old can distinguish between fearful and non-fearful eye expressions, indicating an early ability to detect social cues. This suggests that brain processes for automatic eye recognition develop during infancy.
Researchers have found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) can stimulate soluble sFlt1 production in the placenta, contributing to the development of preeclampsia. Elevated VEGF levels during early pregnancy can cause severe placental damage and embryonic lethality.
A new study found that babies whose mothers used cocaine during pregnancy have increased amounts of hyperphonation in their cries, indicating nervous system damage. The researchers also identified a similar spectral characteristic in rat pups treated with prenatal cocaine exposure, paving the way for translational analyses to detect is...
A study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found a strong link between early-life exposure to peanut protein in household dust and peanut allergy in children genetically predisposed to a skin barrier defect. Exposure to peanut protein was associated with a three-fold increase in risk of school-age peanut allergy.
A genetic analysis of childhood obesity found a strong link between genetic susceptibility and body size, shedding light on the causes of this complex condition. The study identified specific genetic markers associated with increased risk of obesity in children, highlighting the importance of early intervention.
A standardized slow enteral feeding protocol significantly reduces necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and accompanying death in infants with extremely low birth weight. Infants on the slower protocol showed comparable weight gain, head growth, and NICU stay without increased mortality.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that frontline health workers can accurately diagnose bacterial infections in young infants, but access to antibiotics is limited. The study suggests that improving diagnosis and antibiotic access can help reduce neonatal deaths in low- and middle-income countries.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that children raised in institutional settings had reduced cortical thickness and greater ADHD symptoms. The study suggests a mechanism linking institutional rearing to compromised brain development.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is revisiting its policy on toddler screen time as technology advances. Pediatricians Dr. Dimitri Christakis and Dr. Donald Shifrin will debate the topic at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition, with both agreeing that hard rules are challenging to implement.
Researchers found that toddlers use visual and social cues to understand the motivations of people around them, and their impulsive tendencies influence their behavior. The study suggests that early self-control skills are crucial for children's development, with individual variability predicting later school readiness and behavior.
The partnership aims to identify and support sustainable approaches to protect and nurture early brain development, ultimately increasing human capital by transforming impoverished communities. Funding of $2.9 million supports 19 projects in 8 countries, with a focus on improving maternal, newborn, and child health.
The UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute has named three recipients of the inaugural Harry Winston Fellowships, supporting young pediatric physician-scientists conducting research to prevent, treat, and cure diseases in children. Dr. Kristina Adachi, Dr. Leslie Kimura, and Dr. Edward Talya will receive funding for their p...
The article presents a framework for future development of fetal interventions while minimizing maternal risk. Experts highlight the need to limit the number of fetal surgery centers due to high costs and rare conditions.
An international study found that introducing gluten at different ages has no effect on developing celiac disease, and genetic factors are the primary risk factor. The study's results suggest a blood test for HLA genotype could determine high-risk infants, paving the way for preventive interventions.
A Rutgers researcher trained 4-month-old babies to recognize important sound patterns, accelerating the development of their brain maps. This allowed them to process language more efficiently and accurately at 7 months old.
Researchers are developing a fingerprint-based recognition method to track vaccination schedules for infants and toddlers, increasing immunization coverage in developing countries. Fingerprints can accurately record immunizations, overcoming issues with lost or destroyed paper documents.
Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine advocate for standardized assessment tools and evidence-based treatment choices for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome. Nonpharmacologic interventions like breastfeeding may also help decrease NAS symptoms.
A UGA study reveals that socio-economic concerns drive mothers' decisions to bed-share. Salm Ward recommends personalized options and harm-reduction techniques to educate the population about safe sleep.
Researchers found that infants with profound hearing loss who received cochlear implants reached vocalization levels of their hearing peers. This suggests that hearing is a critical aspect of motivation for making early sounds, and that auditory feedback plays a dynamic role in infant behavior.
A prospective, longitudinal study found that single family room NICUs provide optimal levels of maternal involvement, developmental support, and staff involvement, leading to better medical and neurodevelopmental outcomes for preterm infants. Infants cared for in single family rooms had improved weight gain, fewer medical procedures, l...
A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found a strong link between cytomegalovirus (CMV) and maternal breast milk in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. CMV was detected in 76% of mothers, with 27 out of 28 postnatal infections occurring among infants fed CMV-positive breast milk.
A new study confirms that maternal breast milk is a primary source of postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. The researchers found that CMV-seronegative and leukoreduced blood transfusions effectively prevent transmission, but breastfeeding from CMV-positive mothers poses a significant risk.
Research finds HE4 hormone plays key role in modulating ovarian cancer response to hormones and therapies. The study identified a mechanism by which hormonal therapies like Tamoxifen and Fulvestrant restore sensitivity to chemotherapy in HE4-overexpressing tumors.
Researchers found that toddlers' abilities to accurately guess word meanings increase with age, while social cues become less effective. Children can retain around three new words per day, highlighting the importance of rich word-learning environments.
Researchers discovered a genetic link between changes near the ROBO2 gene and the number of words spoken by children in early stages of language development. The study found significant association between genetic variations and expressive vocabulary in infancy, suggesting a strong role for genetics in early language skills.
A study analyzed the economic and health services of singleton, twin, and higher-order multiple births, finding that twins and HOMs were at higher risk for stillbirth, neonatal death, prematurity, and low birth weight. The average hospital costs for these groups were significantly higher than those for singletons.
A new study found that hearing diverse languages in infancy can make babies more open-minded in their social learning. Infants from diverse neighborhoods were more likely to imitate actions from a non-English speaker than those from less diverse areas.
A new study found that mothers with positive childhood experiences and those who have come to terms with negative ones are more infant-oriented when seeing videos of crying babies. Mothers who responded negatively to crying were more likely to focus on themselves, indicating a need for stress management support.
A new grant-funded program seeks to expand a 5-year-old autism early detection model, which assesses toddlers for ASD around their first birthday. The program's goal is to reduce the mean age of ASD diagnosis in multiple cities across the U.S., with potential benefits for children's brain development.
A six-month infant intervention program eliminates symptoms of autism and developmental delay by 3 years old. Parents played a crucial role in the success of this early treatment.
University of Alberta researchers have developed a new resuscitation method that combines oxygen flow and chest compressions, increasing survival rates for newborn babies. The technique has already helped save the lives of eight infants in a clinical trial.
E-cigarette nicotine refill cartridges contain high levels of nicotine, posing a risk to young children who may accidentally ingest them. The US CDC reports a massive rise in accidental poison calls related to e-cigarette refills, with over half involving children under 5.
A new study found that caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity does not have long-term harmful effects on sleep or control of breathing in children. The study, which assessed 201 preterm children at ages 5-12, showed no evidence of long-term detrimental effects of caffeine treatment on sleep duration or sleep apnea during childhood.
A recent study has shown that the addition of carboplatin and/or bevacizumab to standard chemotherapy regimens can significantly increase pathologic complete response rates in stage II-III triple-negative breast cancer patients. This may lead to improved outcomes and reduced risk of relapse.
A meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials found that dexamethasone may impact preterm infant intelligence in early stages after birth, but lead to hearing impairment at later stages. The study provides evidence for clinical application of dexamethasone in treating respiratory distress syndrome and chronic lung diseases.
Research shows that mothers living in greener neighborhoods are more likely to deliver at full term and their babies are born at higher weights. The study controlled for factors such as air pollution and neighborhood walkability.
A Singaporean birth cohort study found that six-month-old bilingual infants outperformed monolingual peers in recognizing familiar images and paying attention to novelty. This suggests a generalized cognitive advantage that emerges early in bilingual children, which may have implications for their future pre-school developmental outcomes.
Historic HIV vaccine trials have triggered an antibody response that lasts for two years, according to researchers at Duke University Medical Center. This response may provide protection against HIV infection.
A recent University of Georgia research study reveals that peer groups and clinicians play a critical role in developing effective breastfeeding programs. Mothers who received support from peer counselors reported higher success rates with breastfeeding, attributed to the positive influence of role models.
Parents who engage with their infant's babbling can accelerate their child's vocalizing and language learning, according to a new University of Iowa study. Infants whose mothers responded to their babbling showed an increase in developmentally advanced vocalizations and began directing more of their babbling towards their mothers.
A study found that high-dose EPO administered within 42 hours of birth reduced brain injury and white matter damage in preterm infants. The treatment was associated with improved neurodevelopmental outcomes, including lower rates of encephalopathy of prematurity.
Researchers found that administering EPO immediately after birth significantly reduces brain damage in premature babies. This study builds on previous research showing EPO's neuroprotective effects and holds promise for preventing long-term consequences of preterm birth.
Researchers cast doubt on theories that Australopithecus africanus exhibits key cranial adaptations found in modern human infants and toddlers. The study used high-resolution CT scans of the Taung Child's skull and brain, revealing no evidence for infant brain development similar to that of modern humans.
Researchers found that couples who role-played interacting with a doll during pregnancy exhibited similar behaviors towards each other when playing with their real infant. Positive interactions predicted supportive co-parenting, while negative interactions foretold conflict.
The study reveals a higher incidence of SCID in newborns, with survival rates significantly improved through early detection and treatment. The expansion of newborn screening programs has led to better outcomes for affected infants.
A new study supports the use of newborn screening tests for severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a life-threatening condition affecting approximately 1 in 58,000 infants. The test identified 52 cases of SCID, with all patients receiving lifesaving treatments and 92% surviving.
A review of bronchiolitis treatment reveals a tendency to prioritize oxygen saturation levels over other clinical assessment tools. Clinicians are often less likely to admit patients with falsely high oxygen saturation levels, highlighting the importance of considering all available data.
A study published in JAMA found that artificially increasing pulse oximetry readings by a small amount can significantly reduce hospitalizations for infants with bronchiolitis. The findings suggest that oxygen saturation should not be the only factor in deciding to admit or discharge patients.
Researchers found that infants exposed to opioids in utero had more severe symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome, with higher DNA methylation levels. This study suggests a link between early exposure and lasting epigenetic changes, potentially affecting future sensitivity to addictive substances.
A new study by CU Denver researcher Zaneta Thayer found that poor women experience higher cortisol levels during pregnancy, giving birth to infants with elevated cortisol responses to stress. These early life disparities can lead to serious disease later in life and highlight the need for stress reduction and social support.
A study analyzing over 3 million infants screened for SCID found an incidence rate of 1 in 58,000 births. The survival rate for SCID-affected infants is high at 87%, with further improvements seen when transplantation, enzyme replacement, and gene therapy are used.
Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) affects 1 in 58,000 infants, but recent screenings have detected nearly double the previously estimated incidence. The study found that infant screening programs can detect SCID early, allowing for timely treatment and improved survival rates.