Articles tagged with Infants
At 2-6 months old, infants learn to connect visible bits and pieces of the world to form mental representations. By 4 months, they can accurately perceive occlusions in object trajectories, laying the foundation for lifelong visual perception.
African-American infants are disproportionately affected by sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) due to sleeping on non-crib surfaces or sharing a bed with adults. The study highlights the need for public awareness campaigns to address this racial disparity and promotes the use of cribs as the only safe places for sleeping babies.
Researchers found moderate cell death in brain regions involved in learning and memory, as well as significant learning and memory deficits in infant rats exposed to common pediatric anesthesia drugs. The study suggests that prolonged exposure to these anesthetics may be problematic for developing brains.
A study found that premature babies with mild to moderate oxygen deprivation during or immediately after birth had significantly lower cognitive and language skills compared to those with no such risk. The researchers suggest that even minor risk of hypoxia may be associated with damage to the brain's periventricular white matter.
Researchers at Tufts University found that 1-year-olds can pick up on emotional signals from TV and make decisions based on them. Infants as young as 12 months old are able to use information from televised emotional reactions to guide their interactions.
Researchers found alterations in airway structure due to cigarette smoke exposure in utero may cause symptoms and abnormal lung function in exposed infants. A potential therapy for premature babies with bronchopulmonary dysplasia has been identified as low molecular weight catalytic antioxidant.
Preterm infants exhibit intense moods, withdrawal to new stimuli, and irregular bodily functions at 6 weeks, but these challenges resolve by six months and 12 months as they adapt to full-term infant-like behavior, according to a study published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
A study by Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa found that massage therapy helps infants develop a more aligned circadian system with their mothers' night-day cycle. After 14 days of bedtime massage therapy, infants in the treatment group showed improved sleep coordination, with peak activity during early morning hours.
A study by Gerianne Alexander found that male and female monkeys showed similar preferences for 'boy' and 'girl' toys as human children, suggesting innate preferences. The findings suggest that perceptual cues attract males to active play objects like cars and balls, while females prefer toys with nurturing functions.
A Purdue University psychology professor's research reveals infants can comprehend words and grammar from a young age, defying the common notion of gradual learning. By analyzing infant responses to language experiments, Hollich's study shows that babies as young as 5 months old demonstrate surprising linguistic savvy.
Researchers tested infants' ability to recognize relationships among shapes, finding they paid more attention to pairs of shapes that occurred most often together. This innate ability helps babies build a concept of the world by recognizing patterns in images and is essential for learning and understanding.
A groundbreaking study by Dr. Jorge Bezerra at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has identified a genetic underpinning to biliary atresia, the most common reason for liver transplant in children. The discovery points to a potential role of cytokines in driving an inflammatory response against the body's own tissues.
A study by Purdue economist William Masters found that African mothers are willing to pay a premium of 30% for infant food with guaranteed quality and safety information. This could lead to reduced child malnutrition rates if generic options were made available, saving up to 6 million lives annually.
A study by the American Heart Association suggests that long Q-T syndrome, a heart condition, may be responsible for some sudden infant deaths. Researchers analyzed DNA from frozen heart tissue of unexplained infant deaths and found genetic anomalies in 32% of cases.
Researchers found a significant correlation between maternal placenta inflammation and infant neurological function decline. The study revealed chorioamnionitis as a key cause of perinatal brain injury, potentially leading to new diagnostic tests and preventive strategies.
Pre-terms exhibit significantly slower processing speed at recognizing new faces, a skill linked to intelligence and academic achievement. The study suggests pre-terms' slower processing speed is rooted in infancy and may be related to medical risks such as respiratory distress syndrome.
Researchers found that infants can distinguish between their own name and another name linked with a word, recognizing 'bike' but not 'cup'. This ability is crucial for learning word meanings and patterns.
Researchers have identified a genetic mutation that causes acute fatty liver of pregnancy, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition. Screening newborns can detect the disease early, allowing for treatment and preventing deaths.
A study by University of Washington psychologists reveals infants' ability to gaze follow is crucial for learning language and understanding emotions, with open eyes leading to longer attention and more vocalization. By 14 months, infants become sensitive to potential obstacles and can initiate pointing and babbling towards objects.
Researchers found that Cox-2 inhibitors preserve crucial growth-inducing chemicals that help lungs and tissues grow in premature babies. The study suggests these medications may prevent diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity, common complications of premature birth.
A recent study reveals that asthma affects over 42,000 US households, with moderate to severe persistent disease prevalent among individuals. Additionally, the research highlights the significant impact of asthma on daily activities, affecting two-thirds of respondents.
A large study found that African American infants who slept on their stomachs were at more than twice the risk for SIDS compared to those sleeping in other positions. The research also highlighted disparities in healthcare recommendations and access to information about safe sleep practices among different racial groups.
Duke University psychologists found that infants who used 'sticky mittens' had more sophisticated abilities to explore objects and showed increased cross-sensory exploration. The study suggests that providing rich opportunities for infant learning is crucial for development.
A home-based preschool program in South Carolina has shown significant improvement in disadvantaged children's school readiness and academic performance. The program, which provided twice-weekly visits to families from low-income backgrounds, resulted in higher test scores compared to the general population.
A study of pregnant women found that those consuming high levels of DHA during pregnancy had infants with more mature sleep patterns, characterized by lower active to quiet sleep ratios and less sleep-wake transition time. Breastfed infants also showed improved neurological development compared to formula-fed infants.
Newborn infants exhibit increased pain response after repeated painful procedures, learning to anticipate pain. The study supports efforts to decrease pain in infants undergoing medical procedures.
A study of nearly 22,000 infants found that only one case of seizures was linked to a low Apgar score and high umbilical cord acid levels. Seizures were common in babies born weighing less than 3.3 pounds, affecting 6% of those cases.
A new study analyzing over 7,000 pediatric autopsies found that nearly 60 specimens suggested diagnoses of metabolic disorders as the underlying cause of infant and child deaths. The most commonly detected disorders were medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and glutaric acidemia type I and II deficiencies.
A recent study found that prenatal zinc supplementation had no significant effect on the mental development of children. However, infants whose mothers received zinc supplements during pregnancy showed poorer nutritional status, which was strongly related to their development. The researchers emphasize the serious nature of undernutrit...
A recent study found a significant change in the types of bacteria involved in early-onset sepsis in low-birth-weight infants, with an increase in E. coli cases and antibiotic-resistant strains. The shift raises concerns about the impact of increasing antibiotic use during labor on these vulnerable infants.
A study of 65 women who experienced stillbirth found that those who saw their dead baby were more likely to develop depression and anxiety. Women who did not see their stillborn child had lower rates of mental health issues, suggesting that forcing mothers to confront their loss may be counterproductive.
The American Academy of Neurology has released new guidelines for neuroimaging in premature and low-birth-weight infants. The guidelines recommend screening cranial ultrasonography for all preterm neonates under 30 weeks gestation, with follow-up imaging at 36-40 weeks gestation.
Asthma airway remodeling begins in childhood and continues into adulthood, affecting lung function and increasing the risk of respiratory complications. A new study found that 7.4% of children with asthma developed structural abnormalities in their airways at age 18, a rate similar to adults with asthma.
UT Southwestern researchers have developed two blood tests that can predict central nervous system infection in infants born to mothers with syphilis. These tests, which detect neonatal antibodies and DNA of the syphilis organism, were found to be effective in identifying all cases of CNS infection in a study of 148 infants.
Researchers found that 6-month-old hearing infants consistently preferred American Sign Language to pantomime. The infants spent more time looking at ASL than pantomime, even when given the freedom to look elsewhere. This study expands on previous findings of infants' sensitivity to spoken language and may indicate a universal preferen...
Researchers analyzed care in US, Australia, Canada, and UK to find similar survival rates for low-birth-weight babies. The US spent more on neonatal intensive care but less on reproductive and prenatal care.
A meta-analysis of zinc supplementation found that both height and weight increased positively in response to zinc supplements. Infants and children who were initially stunted or underweight realized the greatest benefit from zinc supplements. Zinc supplements also significantly increased serum zinc concentrations.
The study found that enriched egg yolks increased red cell membrane DHA levels by 30-40% in both breast-fed and formula-fed infants. Additionally, plasma iron levels were improved in all groups, with no negative impact on cholesterol concentrations.
Dr. Johnston's research focuses on reducing infant pain in preterm babies, finding skin-to-skin contact and sugar administration can be effective soothing methods. She also coaches pediatric nurses and promotes a pain awareness campaign to improve treatment options for infants and their families.
A recent study suggests that infants 'tune in' to familiar face groups and perform better at recognizing faces of humans than other species. The researchers propose that this specialization occurs only with experience in viewing faces and may signal a general change in neural networks involved in early cognition.
Research suggests that baby brains are more efficient at recognizing faces than adults, particularly monkey faces. By six months old, infants can distinguish between individual humans and monkeys, but this ability declines with age.
Researchers studied over 1000 pregnant women from diverse countries and found no significant link between optimal timing of conception and lower birth defect rates. The findings are reassuring for natural family planning users and those with infrequent or sporadic sexual activity.
Research reveals a significant drop in episiotomy rates from 56% to 31% between 1979 and 1997. However, the procedure remains overused, particularly among private practitioners, increasing the risk of rectal dysfunction and fecal incontinence for young mothers.
A recent study published in Pediatrics found that babies with a history of colic are more likely to experience symptoms after drinking apple juice, while white grape juice has no significant impact. The research suggests that parents should choose white grape juice as the best option for their baby if they have had colic.
Research finds that infants with flow limitation in breathing may be more likely to develop asthma, while rhinovirus infection increases disease severity in acute bronchiolitis, and exercise can be safely done by women with sickle cell anemia
A Yale research team proposes that serotonin neurons play a crucial role in detecting carbon dioxide levels during sleep and triggering arousal. This response is absent in infants who die of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), potentially leading to fatal consequences. The study's findings shed new light on the underlying causes of SIDS.
Researchers found that 5-month-old infants can determine the number of collective entities, moving groups of items, when non-numerical factors are controlled. This suggests that infants can represent numbers and perform simple arithmetic operations, challenging existing theories about mathematical knowledge development.
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a preventable condition characterized by decay of primary teeth, affecting underserved and poor communities. UCSF researchers found a significant association between ECC and low cariogenic bacterial levels, lack of dental insurance, and family income.
A study of 101 newborns found that 40% tested positive for drugs, with cocaine and heroin being the most common. The researchers argue for more funding on rapid-screening technology and better educational outreach to prevent drug exposure during pregnancy.
A study published by Case Western Reserve University found that prenatal cocaine exposure affects child cognitive development, but not motor development. Tobacco exposure had negative effects on motor development in infants. The study controlled for various factors and used standardized assessments to determine developmental outcomes.
A study suggests that a high intake of DHA may reduce the risk of postpartum depression. Babies who receive sufficient levels of DHA also benefit from improved neurological development. The American Chemical Society research aims to raise awareness about the importance of nutrition for mothers and their babies.
Under-sized infants who were exclusively breastfed for the first six months scored higher on IQ tests at five years of age compared to those with formula or solids introduced early. The study's findings also support the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding on cognitive development, without compromising growth.
Pre-term infants who received cycled light from birth and at 32 weeks postconceptual age grew more rapidly than those who received it later. The study suggests that a circadian environment is important for pre-term infants, and light can promote growth and healthy sleep patterns.
A new study shows that 14-month-olds can imitate a novel means action modelled to them, but only if it's considered the most rational alternative. This indicates that imitation of goal-directed action is a selective interpretative process. In contrast, infants perform the 'hand-action' automatically, suggesting an emulation-like process.
A study of Peruvian children found that chronic malnutrition in infancy is associated with poor cognitive function in late childhood. Children who were stunted or had Giardia infections performed lower on the Wechsler intelligence scale, highlighting the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies and parasitic infections early on.
Researchers found rapid weight gain during the first four months of life significantly associated with an increased risk of being overweight at age seven. The study also found that even a modest increase in weight gain of 100 extra grams per month resulted in a 25% higher risk of being overweight.
A Canadian study analyzed 19,265 infant deaths in 17 NICUs between 1996 and 1997, finding that common causes of death were birth at a different hospital, congenital anomalies, infection, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. The risk-adjusted mortality rates varied significantly among hospitals.
A study of premature infants born in the late 1970s has found that they continue to face educational challenges into adulthood. The research, which followed 242 infants until age 20, found that fewer premature adults had graduated from high school and had lower I.Q. scores compared to their full-term peers.
A recent study found that having two copies of a less-common version of the klotho gene is linked to a shorter lifespan in infants, while one copy may be associated with a longer life in older adults. The researchers also discovered that the variant is relatively common across different ethnic populations.
Researchers investigated gas exchange between infants and their environment while sleeping facedown on soft bedding. They found that hypoxemia, not hypercarbia, is the more important factor contributing to SIDS deaths, suggesting a new approach to prevention.