Vitamin C may head off lung problems in babies born to pregnant smokers
Pregnant women are advised not to smoke during pregnancy because it can harm the baby’s lungs and lead to wheezing and asthma, among other problems. If a woman absolutely can’t kick the habit, taking...
Bigger birth weight babies at greater risk of autism
It is the first time that a clear link has been made between babies who grow to above average size at birth and risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder and follows from a study of...
Mum’s the word on pregnancy
University of Newcastle researchers are asking new mums to reflect on their pregnancy and post-birth experience to help researchers design a healthy lifestyle program for other mothers-to-be.
Dr Lesley MacDonald-Wicks said the University of Newcastle...
The right amount of Vitamin D for babies
A new study led by Prof. Hope Weiler, from the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at McGill University and by Dr. Celia Rodd of McGill’s Department of Pediatrics, has just confirmed that 400...
New recommendations in bedsharing debate
Researchers from Murdoch University’s School of Health Professions are urging health organisations to reconsider their attitudes to mothers and babies bedsharing.
Associate Professor Catherine Fetherston said Australian and overseas agencies’ warnings against bedsharing were not...
To treat autism in infants, play games they prefer
Most infants respond to a game of peek-a-boo with smiles at the very least, and, for those who find the activity particularly entertaining, gales of laughter. For infants with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however,...
Be alert to blind cord strangulation risk
Window blind cords pose a particular risk of accidental strangulation for young children, doctors have warned in Archives of Disease of Childhood.
Children between the ages of 16 and 36 months seem particularly vulnerable, they...
Bacteria may contribute to premature births
New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points to a common species of bacteria as an important contributor to bacterial vaginosis, a condition linked to preterm birth and increased risk...
Anti-epileptic drug during pregnancy associated with increased risk of autism
Maternal use of valproate (a drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and other neuropsychological disorders) during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of autism in offspring. The authors caution that these...
Why do babies calm down when they are carried?
Parents know that crying babies usually calm down when they are picked up and carried, but why is that? In a study from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute show that human babies and mouse...
