Parenting/Kids News

FRIDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born prematurely to women who smoked during their pregnancy may be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) than premature infants born to nonsmoking moms, new research suggests.

FRIDAY, Aug. 29 (HealthDay News) -- Just a few glasses of wine over a short period in early pregnancy may cause fetal problems, suggest researchers from the Medical College of Georgia.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who go through a traumatic event during or soon before pregnancy may be at increased risk of having an underweight baby, a large study suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The blood pressure drug valsartan (sold as Diovan) safely and effectively lowers blood pressure in youngsters aged 1 to 5 years who have high blood pressure (also called hypertension), a study shows.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A cesarean childbirth procedure developed in the UK takes a "woman-centered" approach and incorporates many important aspects of natural childbirth, according to a recent report.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Drinking water that contains disinfection by-products at regulatory cut-off levels does not appear to raise a pregnant woman's risk of delivering a small baby or delivering prematurely, new research shows.

(HealthDay News) -- It's important for a child to learn to be independent and care for himself. But how do you know when a child is old and mature enough to stay alone?

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Compared to mothers who don't spank their children, mothers who've spanked their child in the past year are three times more likely to use harsher forms of punishment.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Treatment with a combination of anti-HIV drugs, known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), can improve the immune systems of infected patients, but new research indicates that in young children this effect may increase the risk of asthma.

CHESTERTOWN, Maryland (Reuters) - Wide-eyed and interrupting occasionally with comments like "My dad's a Marine," a dozen or so boys listened avidly as Sgt. Roy Meredith described being injured by shrapnel in Iraq.

(HealthDay News) -- No one is immune from worry -- even children. So it's important for parents to help them deal with their concerns in healthy ways.

MONDAY, Aug. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Parents, teachers and school staff need to take measures to ensure the safety of the more than 2.2 million American students with food allergies, says the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Parents who want their preschoolers to eat their fruits and vegetables should probably practice what they preach, a new study suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Steroid treatment given immediately before or after birth to reduce the rate and severity of chronic lung disease does not appear to harm cardiac function in children later on, according to a review of published studies by Dutch researchers.

SUNDAY, Aug. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Healthy foods should be included on the list of back-to-school supplies for your children, says a University of Michigan Health System expert.

PARIS (AFP) - Researchers have identified the hereditary gene mutations behind a deadly form of childhood cancer, opening the way to genetic tests in high-risk families, according to study released Sunday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers have found a gene that causes most inherited forms of neuroblastoma, a rare and deadly form of childhood cancer, and say the discovery points to new treatments.

SATURDAY, Aug. 23 (HealthDay News) -- With the start of school here, the American Lung Association is advising parents of children with asthma to follow a simple checklist to ensure this sometimes debilitating disease doesn't hinder their child's academic year.

(HealthDay News) -- Having diabetes shouldn't cause your child to miss out on the fun of sleepovers and school field trips.

(HealthDay News) -- Women should be cautious about exposure to any chemicals during pregnancy, even to hair dyes and treatments.

FRIDAY, Aug. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Suffering respiratory or ear infections in early childhood, having a dog in the house as a newborn, and even being raised in a large family all appear to increase the risk of snoring later in life, new research suggests.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women from iodine-deficient areas should use iodized salt for at least 2 years before becoming pregnant to prevent thyroid problems during pregnancy and to protect the fetus against the harmful effect of iodine deficiency on brain development, Italian researchers report.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who regularly exercise and limit their time in front of the TV and computer are much less likely to be overweight than their peers, a new study suggests.

PARIS (AFP) - Thinking of buying a pet for junior? Consider this: children who grow up in the company of cats, dogs or other furry friends are more likely to become snoring adults, according to a new study.

(HealthDay News) -- Mercury is found in many types of fish and shellfish. Because significant amounts of mercury can harm unborn babies and young children, women who are or may become pregnant, those who are nursing, and young children should avoid some kinds of seafood.

THURSDAY, Aug. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Some parents' refusal to vaccinate children seems to be behind the highest rate of measles cases reported since 1996, federal officials said Thursday.

ATLANTA - Measles cases in the U.S. are at the highest level in more than a decade, with nearly half of those involving children whose parents rejected vaccination, health officials reported Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Pregnant women who live through wars are more likely to give birth to a child who develops schizophrenia, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday in a study linking prenatal stress with the mental illness.

ROME (AFP) - The EU food safety agency on Thursday disputed claims of health benefits by food manufacturers, notably that dairy products promote good teeth and healthy body weight in children.