Research on the health and development of babies. Covers motor development, maternal-infant health, cochlear implants, and infant nutrition.
A study published in Child Development found that moderate alcohol exposure during pregnancy can harm infant development, leading to reduced motor skills, shorter attention span, and increased drowsiness. The study, conducted on rhesus monkeys, suggests that even moderate drinking poses a risk to infant health.
Researchers found that colicky infants are more anxious and have more conflict in the first year after birth, but by three years old they are no different from other families. The "mood" of the family also improves over time.
Researchers found that infants who heard stories with complex words recognized and remembered the words even when spoken differently in a list, indicating they store sound patterns from frequent speech. This study sheds light on how young children learn language and master word meanings.
A new study found that 69% of babywalker-related injuries occurred in spite of adult supervision. Infant mobility is too great for young children to control, increasing the risk of falls and injuries. Researchers advocate for stricter standards on babywalker design to prevent further accidents.
Researchers found that home uterine activity monitoring had no significant impact on reducing very low birth weight (VLBW) babies, as most births were caused by conditions not qualifying for monitoring. Early prenatal care is crucial to benefit from monitoring, and many women lacked it.
Infants as young as 20 weeks old can produce three common vowel sounds by analyzing parentese, a unique form of speech used to communicate with babies. This study shows that parentese is characterized by over-articulation, making vowel sounds more distinct and expanding their range.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that one child asphyxiated in a window covering cord every 27 days between 1981 and 1995. The most common scenarios involve infants in cribs near windows or toddlers suspended from pull cords after jumping or falling nearby.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine report a test that counts AIDS viruses in blood can identify infected infants and extend their lives by starting treatment early. The test shows within a month after birth whether a baby born to an HIV-positive mother is also infected, allowing for prompt intervention.
Scientists measured viral load in 106 HIV-infected babies from birth to 5 years of age, finding that higher viral loads predict disease severity. Early HIV blood levels may also predict outcome of progression to AIDS in children, highlighting the need for early antiretroviral therapy.
A new treatment with inhaled nitric oxide significantly reduced the need for surgical intervention in infants with hypoxic respiratory failure. This non-invasive alternative offers a major advance, reducing risks and costs associated with ECMO therapy.
A large-scale study found that infant screening for neuroblastoma fails to detect the most severe form of the disease in nearly 500,000 Canadian infants. The researchers conclude that some cases of neuroblastoma detected by screening may resolve spontaneously or fail to progress.
Infants as young as 8 months can recognize word patterns and distinguish them from non-word sequences based on statistical recurrence. This ability allows them to quickly learn language, contradicting the long-held assumption that language acquisition relies heavily on innate abilities.
Research suggests postmature infants exhibit increased tremors and difficulty calming down after consuming sugar solution, a potential indicator of altered opioid pathways. The study aims to understand the long-term effects of Clifford's syndrome on infant development and behavior.
A new study reveals that premature infants born to women with mild high blood pressure may have a lower incidence of respiratory distress syndrome compared to those born to mothers with severe hypertension. Infants born to mothers with mild hypertension tend to mature faster, reducing the risk of chronic lung problems.
Infants as young as 7 1/2 months old can distinguish one voice in a clutter of distracting background noise, enabling them to learn language more efficiently. This ability, known as the 'cocktail party effect,' is believed to play an important role in infants' language development by increasing the amount of information available to them.
Emory University researchers identified a subpopulation of HIV-infected infants with a thymic-defect profile, characterized by low CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts. These high-risk infants were found to develop AIDS symptoms sooner and have increased mortality rates compared to those without the profile.
A five-center trial shows partial liquid ventilation is safe and effective, improving lung function and increasing survival chances for critically ill premature infants. The procedure involves introducing oxygen-rich liquid into the lungs, reducing pressure damage and improving oxygen exchange.
Newborns exposed to crack cocaine in the womb display excitability, lethargy, stress, and delayed motor skills, but may not require special care. Cocaine exposure may also impact parenting styles and lead to negative outcomes for babies.
A new study found that surfactant therapy significantly reduced the death rate of premature white infants, but failed to have a similar impact on black infants. The study, which analyzed 1,563 premature births, showed that while the overall mortality rate dropped 16%, the death rate for premature black infants remained unchanged.