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… read on > read on >
All Mommy:
Not Born Equal: Preemie Babies Fall Into 3 Risk Categories
Not all babies born prematurely will suffer long-term developmental problems, a new study finds. Preemies tend to fall into three risk categories, with about one in five (20%) scoring above average on standard cognitive tests, researchers reported Aug. 13 in the journal Child Development. A second profile representing 41% of preemies scored above normal on… read on > read on >
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… read on > read on >
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,… read on > read on >
Obamacare Boosted New Moms’ Access to Mental Health Care
Pregnant women and new moms have better access to treatment for mood disorders, thanks to Obamacare, a new study finds. More women received treatment for their pregnancy-related depression or anxiety after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect in 2014, researchers reported Aug. 9 in the journal JAMA Network Open. However, researchers said more… read on > read on >
Blood Test Can Predict a Dangerous Lung Issue for Preemie Babies
Simantha Nation’s son, Atticus, struggled to breathe from his very first gasp for air. Born very preterm at 26 weeks’ gestation, Atticus was rushed to the NICU, where he was intubated and connected to a ventilator. The first time Nation saw her son, he was covered in tubes and wires. “It was devastating to see… read on > read on >
How Likely Is It That Autism Recurs in One Family?
There’s a good chance that if one child in a family has autism, another will also develop the disorder, a new study suggests. Children are seven times more likely to be diagnosed with autism if an older sibling has the disorder, researchers reported recently in the journal Pediatrics. “Pediatricians and family members have to keep… read on > read on >
Text Messaging Can Help Teens Kick the Vaping Habit
An interactive text-message support program can help teenagers quit vaping, a groundbreaking new clinical trial finds. Teens who subscribed to the anonymous program, called This Is Quitting, were 35% more likely to report not vaping nicotine by the end of a seven-month study, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.… read on > read on >
Many Doctors Underestimate the Pain of IUD Insertion for Women. The CDC Wants to Change That
Plenty of women know that having an IUD inserted in their uterus can be an excruciating experience, but new government guidance issued Thursday may soon make the experience less painful for many. For the first time, updated recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise doctors to counsel women about pain control… read on > read on >
EPA Bans Vegetable Pesticide That Can Harm Fetuses
In an historic move, the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday banned the use of a pesticide that can harm fetuses. Known as dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA or Dacthal), the weedkiller is used on a variety of crops, including broccoli, onions, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage. However, when a pregnant woman is exposed to the chemical, it… read on > read on >