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Most Parents Don't Ask About Unlocked Guns in Homes Their Kids Visit

Most parents haven’t considered the potential risk of an unlocked, poorly stored firearm in a house their child is visiting, a new study shows.

More than 60% of Illinois parents have never asked another parent about an unlocked gun in their home before allowing their child to visit for a playdate, researchers found.

Most said they never asked because it didn’t occur to t...

Text-Messaging Program Helps Parents Keep Infants at Healthy Weight

Text messages and other online feedback can help prevent obesity in very young children, a new study demonstrates.

Kids had a healthier weight-for-height growth curve during their first two years if parents were offered electronic feedback on feeding habits, playtime and exercise, researchers found.

“What is kind of exciting from our study is we prevented those children who wo...

Having a Preemie Baby Can Harm Job Prospects, Income

The health problems of preemie babies cause untold heartache for new parents.

But these families also face a strained financial future, a new study finds.

About 30% of parents with a very low birth weight baby, under 3.3 pounds, have had to make serious decisions about their employment and career based on their child’s health, researchers discovered.

Having a preterm bab...

More Kids With Food Allergies Are Needing Psychological Care

Anxiety is driving more children with potentially dangerous food allergies to seek out psychological care, a new study finds.

Focusing on one Ohio hospital, the researchers found a more than 50% jump in psychology referrals for kids with food allergies between 2018 and 2023.

“Our c...

Many Teens Using Protein Bars, Shakes to Boost Muscle

Teenagers are increasingly turning to protein-packed bars, shakes and powders to help them add muscle to their frames, a new study shows.

Two in five parents say their teen consumed protein supplements in the past year, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

Teen boys more commonly turned to protei...

Fitness, Activity Boosts Kids' Mental Health, Too

Kids with good physical fitness are more likely to grow into teens with better mental health and brain function, a new study has found.

Children who performed better at shuttle sprints scored better on cognitive tests as teenagers, researchers found.

In addition, better cardio fitness in childhood added up to lower levels of

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • October 18, 2024
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  • Parents or Ambulance: How a Child Reaches an ER Could Matter

    It’s natural for a parent to bundle an injured child into a car and rush their kid to the emergency room.

    But that decision could actually delay their child’s emergency care, a new study shows.

    Severely injured children brought to an ER by their parents aren’t treated as quickly as those who arrive via ambulance, the researchers discovered.

    On average, a chil...

    3% of U.S. High School Students Identify as Transgender, First National Survey Finds

    WEDNESDAY, Oct. 9, 2024 (HealthDay news) -- About 3% of U.S. high school students identify as transgender, according to the first federal attempt to gather national data on trans teens.

    Another 2% question their gender identity, results from the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed.

    The survey also found that trans and gender-questioning teens face much higher rates of bullying, p...

    Record Rate of U.S. Kindergartners Failed to Get Recommended Vaccines

    In yet another sign that childhood vaccinations can't be taken for granted, new government data shows that a record number of kindergartners were exempted from the required shots during the last school year.

    That leaves more than 125,000 new students without the protection of at least one childhood vaccine, even as measles vaccination rates among kindergartners have already fallen below ...

    Reading to Your 1- and 2-Year Old Boosts Their Vocabulary, Study Finds

    Sharing a book with your baby will build her vocabulary fast, but time with screens likely won't, Norwegian researchers report. 

    Their new study on shared reading and vocabulary size dovetails with a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics

    What Do Families Fight About Most? New Study Finds Out

    In a world where families may be more apt to interact with technology than with one another, some things never change.

    Many still struggle to get along. But just what do 21st century families fight about?

    A new survey of 593 parents with at least one child between the ages of 4 and 17 offers some clues — and the flashpoints are very familiar.

    For couples, communication ...

    America's Pediatricians Want You to Read a Book With Your Child

    Read to your little ones.

    That's the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) prescription for fostering loving, nurturing relationships during early infancy and early childhood -- a time of critical brain development.

    "Reading together with you...

    Grandma, the Family Dog: Unexpected Sources of Opioid Tragedies for Young Kids

    Grandma's pill organizer. Fido's pain medication. A tossed-away tissue.

    All are potential sources of opioid poisoning for young children, researchers at the New Jersey Poison Control Center report.

    Their five-year look at 230 cases of opioid exposure in children between 1 month and 6 years of age shows how easily they get their hands on dangerous drugs.

    "I've seen too many kid...

    Fussy Eater? It Might Be in Your Kid's Genes

    Pulling your hair out in frustration with your finicky youngster?

    Don’t blame your parenting style -- genetics likely played a huge role in their eating habits, a new twins study FINDs.

    Fussy eating is mainly influenced by genes, according to findings published Sept. 19 in the Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry<...

    Parents, Know the Nursery Products Most Linked to Infant Deaths

    Each year, an average of 174 U.S. kids under the age of 5 lose their lives over causes linked to nursery products.

    Many of these tragedies could be prevented, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday issued a list of products deemed most hazardous.

    Leading the list by far: Any soft bedding added into cribs, bassinets and playpens. These products alone were part ...

    Child's Risk for Obesity Depends on Where Parents Can Shop for Food

    The corner bodega or neighborhood Kwik-E-Mart could be fueling childhood obesity in the United States, a new study suggests.

    Children have a more than 50% increased chance of obesity if they live in a place without ready access to full-fledged grocery stores stocked with fresh and

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 18, 2024
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  • Childhood Trauma Can Raise Health Risks for a Lifetime

    Deprivation, neglect and abuse during childhood can increase a person’s long-term risk of health problems, a new study warns.

    “Stress is implicated in nine of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States today,” said senior researcher Dr. George Slavich, director of the UCLA Laboratory for S...

    Poll Finds Many Parents Worry About Kids Finding Friends

    Many parents worry that their kids aren’t popular enough, or that they aren’t making the right friends, a new survey finds.

    About 1 in 5 parents say their child aged 6 to 12 has no friends or not enough friends, according to the results of the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 16, 2024
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  • Helicopter Parenting: Spotting It, and Expert Tips to Curb It

    It’s natural for a parent to want to protect their children and keep them from harm.

    But sometimes this understandable desire crosses over into “helicopter parenting,” an overbearing need to be part of a child’s every decision and dilemma.

    “A helicopter parent is often fueled by anxiety, and that anxiety can come in different flavors: anxiety for their ...

    Moms, Don't Meddle With Your Kids' Friends: It'll Only Make Things Worse

    Meddling moms who try to prohibit their kids’ friendships with troublemakers will only make things worse, a new study says.

    Limiting contact with a friend who appears to be a bad influence tends to exacerbate the behavior problems parents were hoping to head off, researchers reported recently in the Jour...

    Saltwater Drops in Nose Could Shorten Kids' Colds

    Saltwater nose drops can reduce the length of a kid’s cold by two days, a new study demonstrates.

    “We found that children using saltwater nose drops had cold symptoms for an average of six days, where those with usual care had symptoms for eight days,” said researcher

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • September 6, 2024
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  • Follow These Steps to Tasty, Healthy School Lunches

    Backpacks. Notebooks. Folders. Pencils. These are all essentials for a good start to your children's school year, but what about their nutrition?

    As summer ends and kids return to classrooms, one culinary medicine expert offers up easy ways to help your children eat healthy foods during the school day.

    School lunches have gotten healthier since last April, when the U.S. Department o...

    Experts Warn of Unsafe Fake Children's Car Seats Sold Online

    Jillian Davis was pleased to be gifted a car seat during her pregnancy, from a family member who bought it online from a major retailer.

    But following the delivery of her daughter in late June, a car seat tech at her Salt Lake City hospital informed her that the seat was an unsafe counterfeit.

    “It’s completely shocking because this is my fourth child and I’ve never...

    Evidence Supports Classroom Cellphone Bans, Expert Says

    Classroom cellphone bans should help improve learning environments in schools, a child development expert says.

    Keeping the devices out of classrooms would help focus attention, improve problem-solving and -- by allowing kids to occasionally lapse into boredom -- spur creativity, says Jon Piacentini, a child and adolescent...

    U.S. Surgeon General Calls Parental Stress an Urgent Public Health Issue

    Almost half of American parents surveyed say they face "overwhelming" levels of stress on a daily basis, and in an advisory issued on Wednesday U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called parental stress an urgent public health issue.

    Murthy...

    Grit, Love for Learning: It's Not Just Smarts That Boost Child Academics

    A child's intelligence is not the sole key to academic success, a new British study concludes.

    Instead, intelligence plus "non-cognitive" factors, such as a determination to excel despite obstacles and an innate love of learning, can push a child to the top of the class, new genetic data shows.

    "Our research challenges the long-held assumption that intelligence is the primary driver...

    Trans Kids More Often Turn to Teachers Than Parents for Help

    Troubled transgender students are more likely to turn to school staff than their own parents for support, a new study finds.

    Trans teens feeling depressed and anxious are 74% less likely to seek help from parents than from adults at school, compared to ci...

    Why 'Socializing' Your Young Child Is So Important

    When you have a young child, you can wind up spending most of your time changing diapers and feeding them, but one expert suggests that socialization is also important for your child's future well-being.

    From an early age, socialization can help hone their communication skills and foster companionship and empathy. Relationships teach young children about perspective, taking turns and mean...

    Does Your Child Need Glasses? Look for These Signs

    You've noticed your young child complains of headaches and rubs their eyes a lot. Does that mean it's time to get glasses?

    It could, says a Baylor College of Medicine expert, and noticing these signs early is critical for young children because their schoolwork could suffer or they could lose their vision completely.

    “There is a period -- approximately the first eight years of...

    Could AI Help Spot Autism Early?

    AI can help predict which young kids are more likely to develop autism, a new study says.

    The AI looks for patterns in medical data that can be easily obtained from children 2 or younger without extensive assessments or clinical tests, researchers said.

    The “AutMedAI” program was able to identify about 80% of children with autism, when tested using data from a group of 1...

    Parents' Excessive Smartphone Use Could Harm Children's Mental Health

    A child at the dinner table talks about trouble at school or an argument with a friend, but parents aren't listening: They're checking their smartphones instead.

    It's a scenario that plays out millions of times per day across America, and it could be harming the mental health of children, a new study suggests.

    Kids ages 9 to 11 who said their parents spent way too much on their smar...

    Parents Think Social Media, Tech Is School Kids' Greatest Foe: Poll

    Parents are worried that social media and technology will get in the way of schoolkids building meaningful connections with classmates and teachers during the upcoming school year, a new poll finds.

    Half of parents (50%) say too much time spent with technology will be their kids’ top challenge in forming positive connections with those around them, say national poll results from the...

    Tips to Help Your Child Adjust to a New School Year

    Back-to-school can feel like a rushed jumble, as kids leave behind summer fun for the next step in their education.

    But there are specific ways parents can help students show up sharper, get young athletes ready to compete, and have anxious kids settled down and ready to learn, experts say.

    Prioritize sleep

    Kids will have a good start to the school year if the...

    Kids' Bedtimes Might Influence Odds for Drug, Alcohol Use as Teens

    Regular bedtimes won't just help your child be alert for a busy school day; they might also help keep them from abusing drugs or alcohol as a teen, new research suggests.

    Youth who'd had early bedtimes in childhood and adolescence were significantly less likely to be drinking or using marijuana by the time they were 15, compared to kids who'd stayed up late and had fewer hours sleep, rese...

    One Key to Better Parenting: Laughter

    Want to be a better, more effective mom or dad? Trying sharing a good laugh with your kid.

    New research among folks ages 18 to 45 found many citing humor as one of the reasons they had, and continue to have, a positive relationship with their parents.

    “My hope is that people can learn to use humor as an effective parenting tool, not only to diffuse tension but develop resilien...

    Tougher State Insurance Laws Get Kids Needed Mental Health Care

    Kids more often get the psychiatric care they need if they live in states that mandate insurance coverage for child mental health care, a new study confirms.

    Parents and caregivers were 20% less likely to say they'd had trouble getting mental health services for a child if they lived in states with comprehensive laws around mental and behavioral health insurance coverage, reported a team ...

    More Toddler Screen Time Brings More Tantrums, Study Finds

    Using tablets as 'e-babysitters' for toddlers could lead to more tantrums, which in turn can have harried parents trying to calm a child by handing them a tablet, new research shows.

    This type of "vicious cycle" played out during the early years of many of the Canadian youngsters tracked in the study.

    The bottom line, according to the researchers: "Tablet use in early childhood can ...

    Nearly 1 in 3 U.S. Adolescents Are Getting Mental Health Treatment

    In findings that suggest more young Americans struggling with mental health issues are getting the help they need, a new poll shows that nearly a third of American adolescents and teens received some sort of mental health treatment in 2023.

    That translates to over 8 million young people between the ages of 12 and 17 getting counseling, medication or another treatment, the

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 31, 2024
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  • Suicides Among Kids Ages 8 to 12 Are Rising, Especially Among Girls

    The kids are not alright.

    New data shows a troubling 8% annual increase in the number of American children ages 8 to 12 who died by suicide, with the sharpest increase seen among girls.

    Suicide has now become the fifth leading cause of death among both male and female preteens, report a team led by ...

    Surgery Overused for 'Tongue Tie' Issue That Stops Babies From Breastfeeding, Experts Say

    Surgery is being overused to correct breastfeeding difficulties in infants, a new report says.

    A growing number of newborns are being diagnosed with ankyloglossia, also called “tongue-tie.”

    Tongue-tie restricts the tongue’s range of motion in a baby. An unusually short or tight band of tissue holds the tip of their tongue close to the bottom of their mouth, making...

    COVID-19 Virus Is Widespread in U.S. Wildlife

    The virus responsible for COVID-19 is widespread among wildlife, a new study finds.

    SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits and red bats, researchers reported July 29 in the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 29, 2024
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  • September is Peak Asthma Month: Is Your Child Ready?

    Peak asthma month is upon parents as summer draws to a close, experts warn.

    “September is known as Asthma Peak Month because kids have returned to school, and viruses are being passed around,” said allergist Dr. Gailen Marshall, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunol...

    Screens, Tweens and Sleep: Study Uncovers Tips for Better Rest

    Turning off smartphones is an important step in making sure tweens get the sleep they need, a new study says.

    Leaving a phone ringer on is associated with a 25% higher risk of sleep disturbance among tweens ages 11 and 12, according to a new report published July 22 in the

    U.S. Infant Deaths Rise for First Time in Decades

    For the first time in two decades, the infant mortality rate in the United States has risen, new government data shows.

    In a report released Thursday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that more than 20,500 babies died in 2022 before the age of 1. Overall, there were 5.6 ...

    Parents, Take Note: Survey Shows Teens Need More Support Than They Get

    As millions of American teens continue to struggle with their mental health, a new survey reveals a sizable gap between how much support teens say they get and how much support their parents think they are getting.

    In the report, published Tuesday by the National Center for Health Statistics, just over a quarter of teens said t...

    How Handing a Child a Screen During a Tantrum Could Backfire Long-Term

    When your preschooler pitches a fit, handing them a smartphone or tablet is probably the fastest -- and the worst -- way to stop it, a new study suggests.

    "If parents regularly offer a digital device to their child to calm them or to stop a tantrum, the child won't learn to regulate their emotions," said first author Veronika Konok...

    Tips to Safely Helping Your Baby Through Teething Pain

    Tending to a teething baby is tough: Parents want to help, but might not be sure how.

    Teething typically begins around 4 to 7 months of age, as the 20 or so "baby teeth" that will emerge by the age of 3 begin to form.

    The usual signs of teething include "mild irritability, a low-grade fever, drooling and an urge to chew something hard," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in...

    Sports Injuries: Your Guide to Helping Your Child Heal

    Youth sports are important for the development of children and teenagers, but there's no sure way to ensure a youngster doesn't get hurt while competing.

    That's why it's important for parents to spot and appropriately respond to their children's sports injuries, Dr. Eileen Crawford, an orthopedic surgeon with ...

    Could Mom's Smartphone Use Affect Baby's Language Development?

    Mothers tend to speak less to infants when they're on their smartphones, a new study finds.

    Moms talked 16% less to their babies when they were fiddling with their phone, researchers found.

    Shorter 1- to 2-minute intervals of phone use interfered with mom-baby interaction even more, decreasing a mother's baby talk by 26%.

    "Our advice to new parents is to be cognizant of the im...

    Trouble Getting Your Kids to Sleep? You're Not Alone, Poll Finds

    Nearly 1 in 4 parents struggle to get their child to sleep, a new poll reports.

    Some of this is related to poor sleep hygiene, but some also is due to dark worries harbored by the kids, researchers report.

    Parents of sleepless children are less likely to have a bedtime routine, more likel...