It’s a scene played out in many homes across America — parents place their baby on a bed or sofa, thinking the child is safe while Mom or Dad slips away for a few moments. But new research finds that falls from beds and sofas pose a greater risk to children than many parents believe.… read on >
All Mommy:
Sleep May Speed Kids’ Recovery From Concussion
Good sleep helps speed young athletes recover from a concussion, a new study reports. The study included 356 athletes from Texas, age 19 and younger, who suffered a sports-related concussion. At their first clinic visit, 73 percent of the athletes had good sleep quality and 27 percent had poor sleep quality. Those with good sleep… read on >
Injured Parent Can Mean Sleepless Nights for Kids
Children face an increased risk for sleep problems if a parent suffers a serious injury, especially if the parent has a brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a new study reveals. Researchers used U.S. Military Health System records to identify more than 485,000 children of more than 272,000 parents who were seriously injured in… read on >
Instant-Soup Burns Send Almost 10,000 Kids to ERs Each Year
Many kids love a quick bowl of instant soup or tasty noodles, but these fast foods cause almost 10,000 scald burns in children each year in the United States, a new study estimates. What’s more, researchers found that two out of every 10 scald burns that send kids to the ER are caused by microwavable… read on >
Obesity May Harm Kids’ Academics, Coping Skills
Obese kids may have extra difficulty with schoolwork and coping under stress, a preliminary study suggests. In a survey of nearly 23,000 parents, researchers found that kids who were obese were less likely to show certain indicators of “flourishing,” versus their normal-weight peers. That meant less engagement in schoolwork and learning, and more difficulty coping… read on >
Guns Kill Fewer Kids in States With Strict Firearm Laws
Kids are safer in states with strict gun laws, a new preliminary study reports. Researchers found that the stringency of a state’s firearm legislation has a direct impact on the number of kids killed by guns. Twice as many child gun deaths occur in states with the most lenient gun regulation, compared with states where… read on >
How Necessary Is HPV Cervical Cancer Screening for Women After Age 55?
Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) has become the standard of care in screening for cervical cancer. But now, Canadian researchers say it may become unnecessary in women aged 55 or older who have one negative result with the test. The DNA-based HPV test is highly accurate in detecting 14 high-risk strains of the virus that… read on >
Many U.S. Parents Share Leftover Antibiotics: Survey
An “alarming” number of American parents save unused antibiotics and give them to family members and other people, a new study finds. This type of misuse helps fuel antibiotic resistance, the study authors said. Their report is scheduled for presentation Monday in Orlando, Fla., at the national conference of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).… read on >
Health Tip: When Kids Drink Coffee
Caffeine is a stimulant that is found naturally in some foods and is added to others. It can trigger a fast heartbeat, headache, digestive problems, high blood pressure, moodiness and insomnia, the National Safety Council says. Children may wind up feeling more of caffeine’s effects than adults, since presumably kids don’t consume as much and… read on >
Stigma of Autism Can Take Toll on Psyche
Social stigma may play a large role in the depression, anxiety and other mental health woes experienced by many people with autism, a small new study indicates. British researchers found that 72 percent of the psychological distress reported in 111 adults with autism was linked to social stigma, including discrimination and rejection. Many people with… read on >