 The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no television viewing for children under age 2, but most babies in the US watch between 1 to 2 hours of TV a day.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston studied whether it matters. Continue reading Neutral effects of TV viewing in infants
 Dr. Darcy DeLoach Walworth from Florida State University studied the effect of music therapy on premature infants’ and full term infants’ developmental responses and parents’ responsiveness. Continue reading Effect of music therapy on infants
During the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology this April, researchers from Stanford University, in California will report, “Women who have multiple sclerosis (MS) may reduce their risk for relapse after pregnancy if they breast-feed.”
The findings will stir debate. Continue reading Should mothers with MS breast-feed?
 It’s the discomfort experienced by patients during medical procedures required to give drugs or conduct tests (eg, heel stick, circumcision, or inserting a needle in a blood vessel).
The evidence for several CAM options in infants was reviewed by researchers at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA in California. Continue reading CAM for procedural pain
It started January 19th, but it’s never too late to join in.
Here are several summaries posted over the past 2 years related to food preferences and the risk of allergy in infants. Continue reading Food allergy and intolerance week
Vitamin D treatment during infancy might protect from the development of type 1 diabetes, according to this review of the medical literature by researchers from the Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals in the UK. Continue reading Does vitamin D reduce the risk of diabetes in infants?
 Since fortification of flour with folic acid started 10 years ago in the US, efforts have been taken to fortifying flour with vitamin B-12.
So, how prevalent is B-12 deficiency? Continue reading Prevalence of vitamin B-12 deficiency
Peanut allergy is associated with a severe food-related allergic reaction. It tends to present early in life, usually does not resolve; and trace quantities can induce an allergic reaction in highly sensitized people.
This study by researchers at the University of Melbourne in Australia looked at the relationship between soy consumption and peanut sensitization in children. Continue reading Soy and the risk of peanut allergy
Perinatal depression includes major and minor depressive episodes during pregnancy or within the first 12 months following delivery.
Researchers from Taiwan report that taking omega-3 fatty acids might be beneficial. Continue reading Treating perinatal depression with omega-3
Researchers from the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston have published a detailed review.
Their interest relates to the needs of vitamin D in the breastfeeding mother and her infant and child, but they also present a detailed and well-referenced review. Continue reading Update on vitamin D
Melamine-contaminated products from China have been a topic here for almost 2 years.
Now, the FDA has published guidelines for safe levels. Continue reading Safety update on melamine in infant formula
As an update to yesterday’s discussion about undeclared ingredients in medicine and other products from China, here’s the latest FDA advisory, warning the public not to consume certain dairy products because of possible melamine contamination.
A list of the products and a brief discussion of the dangers of melamine follows. Continue reading More contaminated foods from China
An op-ed in The New York Times is critical of the effects of veganism (a vegetarian who omits all animal products from the diet) on young ones.
The money quotes? Continue reading Strong words about the effects of a vegan diet on infants, babies, and toddlers
The American Academy of Pediatrics has doubled the recommended daily vitamin D intake from 200 IU to 400 IU for infants, children, and adolescents. Continue reading New recommendations for vitamin D in pediatrics
Taking the right probiotic early in life seem to reduce the risk of eczema. Continue reading Using probiotics to prevent eczema
Acute otitis media (middle ear infection) is a common childhood infection, leading to doctor visits, antibiotics, and even surgery.
Researchers from the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands studied if pacifier use might increase the risk. Continue reading Pacifiers and the risk of middle ear infections
Is it possible that infant feeding patterns can influence long-term changes in cholesterol metabolism?
An international group of researchers think it might. Continue reading Breastfeeding and cholesterol later in life
Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida report that adding lavender-scented bath oil to the infant bath results in lower stress in the mother and child, less crying, and better sleep. Continue reading Lavender baths lower stress in mother and child
Live probiotic bacteria and dietary prebiotic oligosaccharides (together termed synbiotics) are being used in infancy, but evidence of their long-term effects and safety is lacking.
Now, researchers from Helsinki University Central Hospital in Finland report their effects. Continue reading Feeding synbiotics to newborn infants
It turns out that Australia has one of the highest rates of allergic disease (hay fever, asthma, hives) in the world.
So, Australian Family Physician reviewed current recommendations. Continue reading Allergy prevention in children