Child health News

Musical pacifier helps prem babies

Many premature babies have trouble learning how to suck and feed, so Florida State University hasdeveloped the Pacifier Activated Lullaby device to hospitals around the world.

Prenatal nutrition cuts mortality

In malnourished regions the earlier in pregnancy women receive micronutrient and food supplements, the greater the benefit in terms of infant and child mortality, a report notes.

Breastfed babies gain less weight

Babies who breastfeed gain less weight over their first year compared to babies fed from a bottle - even if the bottle contains breast milk, suggests a new study.

Autistic people lag in school

Young adults with autism are less likely to go to college or hold down a job than their peers with other types of disabilities, a new US study finds.

Batteries to blame for ER visits

The number of kids treated in emergency rooms after swallowing batteries or lodging them in their noses and ears – has almost doubled over the past 20 years, a new study suggests.

Gut bugs a factor in child obesity

Levels of certain gut bacteria and low protein intake may raise children's risk of being obese, new research suggests.

Kids who sleep with parents thinner

Children who wake up at night and are allowed to fall back asleep in their parents' bed re less likely to be overweight than kids put back into their own bed, a new study says.

Babies' brains benefit from music

After completing the first study of its kind, researchers have discovered that very early musical training benefits children even before they can walk or talk.

Lots of TV bad for kids diets

The more TV kids watch, the less likely they are to eat fruits and vegetables every day, and the more likely they will eat things like candy and sodas, fast food and even skip breakfast, research shows.

Blood poisoning: speed saves lives

Speed can save lives – especially in the case of blood poisoning. The more quickly and directly doctors recognise and treat sepsis, the greater the patient’s chances of survival.