Online Mum gathers up baby, toddler, child, parenting and pregnancy news and places the links here!
9 June 2010
Is that woman pregnant or fat?
Some commuters don’t give up their seats for pregnant women because they fear offending someone who is just overweight, it has emerged. In this article expectant mothers give tips on how to tell the difference
23 May 2010
UK’s child mortality rate falls behind other countries
The UK is lagging behind other high income countries on cutting child mortality, international figures show.
Along with the USA, New Zealand and South Korea, child deaths in the UK have not fallen as quickly as expected.
19 May 2010
Difficult conception tied to higher pregnancy risks
High-risk pregnancies are more likely in women who have difficulty getting pregnant, with or without help from hi-tech fertility treatments, new research finds.
18 May 2010
Postpartum Depression in New Dads: Fathers Get It Too
Postpartum depression is a familiar rite of new parenthood. Feelings of emptiness, sadness and anxiety settle in after the birth of a child, and in severe cases last for months. It turns out that this common condition, once considered the province of the mother, may affect many new fathers too.
Baby blues can affect dads too
Sydney Morning Herald article
18 May 2010
When adoption breaks down
A row between Russia and the United States over a boy sent back by his adopted US family has highlighted the issue. Adoptions that break down are rarely talked about but are devastating for all involved.
17 May 2010
Regulations on healthy school meals branded ‘draconian’
Strict healthy eating rules are leading to pupils shunning school lunches in favour of fast food, catering operators have claimed.
Fergus Chambers, of Cordia, which runs Glasgow’s school canteens, said the regulations were “draconian”.
17 May 2010
Toddlers who lie ‘will do better’
Toddlers who tell lies early on are more likely to do well later, researchers claim.
The complex brain processes involved in formulating a lie are an indicator of a child’s early intelligence, they add.
12 May 2010
The shame of baby deaths in Britain: Child mortality total is the worst in Western Europe
The number of deaths among children under five is worse in Britain than anywhere else in Western Europe as women delay motherhood and lead unhealthy lives.
Researchers say 4,324 under fives died in the UK in 2008, which was ‘way ahead’ of the number in France, Germany and Italy.
More than half of the children died within the first four weeks of life and many of the deaths were preventable, according to their report.
17 May 2010
Young carers ‘bullied at school’
Two-thirds of young carers are bullied at school, according to a new study.
A quarter of young people, who care for a sick or disabled family member, also admitted that they suffered from stress.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, which provides support for carers, questioned 700 young people between the ages of six and 18.
14 May 2010
Mums-to-be think mother knows best
Mothers-to-be think their own mothers know better than the medical profession when it comes to health advice, researchers say.
Online mum article: What my Mother never told me about being a Mother
12 May 2010
The shame of baby deaths in Britain: Child mortality total is the worst in Western Europe
The number of deaths among children under five is worse in Britain than anywhere else in Western Europe as women delay motherhood and lead unhealthy lives.
Researchers say 4,324 under fives died in the UK in 2008, which was ‘way ahead’ of the number in France, Germany and Italy.
More than half of the children died within the first four weeks of life and many of the deaths were preventable, according to their report.
10 May 2010
Revealed: Baby name regrets
ONE in five parents regret the name they gave their child, a study has found.
Many wish they had picked a name which wasn’t quite as popular, while one in five wish they had chosen a moniker which was easier to spell or pronounce.
Online Mum article: Babies names – do’s and don’ts for naming your baby
6 May 2010
Lack of pre-school places leaving children unprepared
Parents have told BBC Newsline that children’s education will suffer if more pre-school places are not made available.
Three -year-olds are supposed to be offered a year of preparation before going into primary school.
But finding a suitable place in some areas has become very difficult.
5 May 2010
Study Reveals How to Get Kids to Eat More Fruit
Here’s a potential tip for getting kids to eat their fruit: Make it look flashy.
That’s the conclusion of Dutch researchers who examined ways to boost fruit consumption in 94 children 4 to 7 years old. If the fruit was presented in a visually appealing way, kids ate almost twice as much of the juicy produce than if it was presented in a more run-of-the-mill manner.
Online Mum article: Easy fruit snacks for kids
3 May 2010
‘Long-term harm’ of too much TV for toddlers
Can too much TV lead to unhealthy habits? The more TV a toddler watches, the higher the likelihood they will do badly at school and have poor health at the age of 10, researchers warn.
Online mum article: Kids TV wasn’t like this when I was young!
30 Apr 2010
Motor Skills Lag in Poor Preschoolers
More than three-quarters of disadvantaged preschool children in the United States have trouble with basic motor skills, such as running, jumping, throwing and catching, a new study finds.
This means these children are at risk of giving up on physical activity and becoming obese teens and adults, the researchers added.
30 Apr 10
‘Cultural’ barrier to breastfeeding older children
Mothers who breastfeed older children face “cultural” opposition despite no evidence that the practice is harmful, a leading parents’ charity has said.
30 Apr 10
Motor Skills Lag in Poor Preschoolers
More than three-quarters of disadvantaged preschool children in the United States have trouble with basic motor skills, such as running, jumping, throwing and catching, a new study finds. This means these children are at risk of giving up on physical activity and becoming obese teens and adults, the researchers added.
25 Apr 10
Should you allow your baby to cry at night – or should you give in?
Last week Penelope Leach, the renowned authority on child development, reignited the debate over routines and controlled crying. “Leaving your baby to cry could damage its brain,” read the headlines, as Leach launched her book The Essential First Year.
It was a blatant attack on rival baby guru Gina Ford, author of the Contented Little Baby series, who advocates strict routines and – in some situations – “controlled crying.” “That kind of early-induced anxiety may relate to anxiety right through adult life,” says Leach.
Guardian parents and parenting article
21 Apr 10
Early baby survival rate ’static’
Babies born before 24 weeks are spending longer periods in intensive care but their overall survival rates have not improved, a study has found.
14 Apr 10
Do toddlers need cake as well as carrots?
A new survey shows some nurseries are giving children too much in the way of fruit and vegetables, and not enough starchy carbohydrates to meet their energy needs. Have healthy eating messages left us in a state of confusion about what children should be consuming?
12 Apr 10
Internet child health advice ‘wrong’
Typing your child’s medical problem into Google is unlikely to deliver much in the way of good advice, UK researchers have said.
7 Apr 10
Parents ’spend more’ quality time with children
The time parents spend with their children increased over a 25-year period, research suggests.
5 Apr 10
Pregnancy exercise ’slims babies’
Light exercise during pregnancy may improve the future health of a child by controlling weight in the womb, New Zealand and US researchers say.
16 Mar 10
Warning over ‘low-quality’ nursery food
Concerns about the quality of food given to thousands of toddlers in England’s nurseries have been raised in a government-commissioned report.
15 Mar 10
Multiple-birth parents ‘face unique pressures’
Families with multiple births face an extra burden of financial hardship and are more likely to have marital problems, a study suggests.
4 Mar 10
Do working mums make healthy children?
A new study suggests the children of mothers who work part-time are healthier than those of their full-time or stay-at-home counterparts. Where does this take the debate on the effects of working mothers on the health and happiness of their offspring?
3 Mar 2010
Tots don’t get their words worth from language DVD
Regularly watching a vocabulary-building DVD doesn’t appear to help young children learn new words or improve their overall language skills, a new study reports. The researchers also found that youngsters who started watching educational DVDs at an early age had poorer language skills than their peers, although it’s not clear why.
Guardian Health and Wellbeing article
2 Mar 2010
Snacks mean U.S. kids moving toward “constant eating”
U.S. children eat an average three snacks a day on top of three regular meals, a finding that could explain why the childhood obesity rate has risen to more than 16 percent, researchers have said.
26 Feb 2010
Babies ‘change their cry to signify if they are hungry, sad or in pain’
Mothers know that their babies have different cries that mean different things, but scientists claim they can put these changes to a practical use.
“Babies change their cry to signify if they are hungry, sad or even in pain, and technology could soon identify which, scientists believe.
Identifying the changes could lead to the development of baby monitors capable of diagnosing an infant’s complaint, they claim.”
25 Feb 2010
‘Most unfortunate names’ revealed
What do you call some of the most unlucky people in Britain? Justin Case, Barb Dwyer and Stan Still.
It sounds like a bad joke, but a study has revealed that there really are unfortunate people with those names in the UK.
Online Mum articles on baby names
Baby Names & their meanings
Babies names – do’s and don’ts for naming your baby
List of questions to think about to help you decide on babies names.
25 Feb 2010
One in 10 five-year-olds at risk of disengaging from education
More than one in 10 five-year-olds are already at risk of disengaging from education when they start school, according to a think tank report.
23 Feb 2010
£200,000 to raise a child? Try these money-saving tips
Tips for saving money in rasing your children
The cost of raising a child now has topped £200,000, and according to friendly society LV=, and in the first year alone an average little one will set his or her parents back £9,152.
19 Feb 2010
Mom’s diet may alter infant’s allergies
Eating lots of vegetables and fruits during pregnancy may lower the chance of having a baby with certain allergies, hint study findings from Japan.
19 Feb 2010
‘Myth-busting’ pregnancy advice given by NHS
Pregnant women do not need to “eat for two”, drink full fat milk or even alter how much food they eat for the first six months, NHS experts say.
16 Feb 2010
Poor parenting ‘blamed for all’
The politicisation of parenting is damaging family relations and education, an academic has warned.
15 Feb 2010
Mother scoops baby language prize
A teacher from Falkirk has won an international prize for a course she designed to teach babies French.
11 Feb 2010
Extremely premature babies show higher autism risk
Children born extremely preterm may face a much higher-than-average risk of developing autism later in childhood, a new study suggests.
Researchers found that of 219 children born before the 26th week of pregnancy, 8 percent met the criteria for an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at age 11. That compared with none of 153 classmates who were born full-term and included in a comparison group.
9 Feb 2010
Unplanned pregnancy warning to older women over 35
Experts fear older women are ditching contraception in the mistaken belief that they cannot get pregnant past a certain age. The Family Planning Association (FPA) believes the message on infertility and age has gone “too far”. Although fertility does wane, women can still get pregnant well into their thirties, forties and even fifties.
9 Feb 2010
Online safety push for five-year-olds
Children as young as five are being targeted in a new online safety campaign backed by the government.
8 Feb 2010
3 Simple Steps Can Cut Childhood Obesity
A new study finds three household routines lower the risk of obesity in children: having family dinners, getting enough sleep and limiting weekday TV time. Four-year-olds in homes that followed these practices had a nearly 40 percent lower prevalence of obesity than children who did none of these things. Of course childhood obesity – a soaring phenomenon in America – ultimately is fueled by poor diet and lack of exercise. But increasingly scientists have been able to tie other lifestyle factors to weight gain.
3 Feb 2010
Pregnancy ‘baby brain’
Expectant mums need to stop blaming their bump for memory lapses, say experts who want to dispel the “baby brain” myth.
BBC News website readers have been sending in their comments on the story.
BBC Health comments
3 Feb 2010
Pregnancy baby brain lapse ‘a myth’
Expectant mums need to stop blaming their bump for memory lapses, say experts who want to dispel the “baby brain” myth. Neither pregnancy nor motherhood addle a woman’s brain, say the researchers based on their study of 1,241 women both before and after having babies.
2 Feb 2010
How to be the best dad ever when baby arrives
Miriam Stoppard column: Some people still believe a mum’s role is more important but that doesn’t have to be the case.
23 Jan 2010
Why children need more sleep
Children sleep an hour less today than 30 years ago – and it’s having a dramatic effect on their intelligence, behaviour and obesity levels
20 Jan 2010
Fathers to be offered more help
Fathers are to be offered more support in bringing up children, under new plans being set out by the government.
4 Jan 2010
‘One in six’ children have difficulty learning to talk
Nearly one in six children – and almost one quarter of boys – have difficulty learning to talk, research suggests.
16 Dec 2009
MPs back home educating families
The education select committee discusses home educating children.
12 Dec 2009
Special delivery: born in strange places
Stories of babies born in inusual places. In a circus, on a lifeboat, on a plane and in a post office
12 Dec 2009
Pocket money ‘rose by 11p a week on average’ in 2009
Pocket money rose in 2009 despite the recession.
9 Dec 2009
Pregnancy parking bays discussed
Proposals are being discussed to allow heavily pregnant women priority parking spaces. A pink badge scheme for pregnant women would be run similar to the blue badge scheme for disabled car users.
2 Dec 2009
Toxic chemicals found in a third of children’s toys
A study by a consumer group reports that harmful chemicals including lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury are to be found in a 3rd of childrens toys in the US.
9 Dec 2009
Boy died after getting tangled in cord, inquest told
Another young child has died due to getting caught in a blind cord. This story is dreadfully sad, and reminds us all to check our homes for dangers.
Online Mum articles on baby and toddler saftey in the home
Child and baby safety – 13 things to look out for in your home
Baby and child safety in the home – useful information
Child safety products that can help prevent injuries to babies and young children
3 Dec 2009
Parents splashing out on top quality nativity costumes
I remember when boys put tea towels on their heads to play the shepherds and girls had halos made from tinsel and coathangers. Times have changed, not necessarily for the good,
29 Nov 2009
Buzzing flies more likely to wake men than crying babies
A study has shown that women wake more easily than men if a baby or child is crying. Very general article – but worth a read.
Telegraph article
25 Nov 2009
Should dads be in the delivery room?
I for one, wanted my partner with me when I gave birth, but are there good reasons why men should not be allowed?
23 Nov 2009
Abused by their own children
What happens when you are scared of your own child’s violence. An important, little talked about subject
BBC Magazine article
23 Nov 2009
Why Kids Ask Why
Your child isn’t trying to exasperate you when he constantly askes WHY?
Yahoo news article
23 Nov 2009
Dirt can be good for children, say scientists
Research states what some parents already believe – that kids can be too clean. It states that bacteria on the skin can help in fighting infection, and germs can prime the body against allergies.
18 Nov 2009
MS Need Not Preclude Pregnancy
“Women and their doctors have been uncertain about the effect of MS on pregnancy, and some women have chosen to delay or even avoid pregnancy due to the uncertainty,” “We found that women with MS did not have an increased risk of most pregnancy complications.”
04 Nov 2009
Baby given ‘botulism dummy’ fights for life
It is believed a baby became seriously unwell after it’s dummy / pacifier was dipped in honey. Occasionally honey can contain bacteria that produces toxins in babies intestines. This can cause infant botulism.
See online mum article: Weaning a baby. What foods to avoid giving your baby – and why.
The Sun article
28 Oct 2009
Down’s syndrome trend examined
Great factual article about the Downs Syndrom trend from Nursing Times
It covers:
- Where did the story come from?
- What kind of scientific study was this?
- What were the results of the study?
- What interpretations did the researchers draw from these results?
- What does the NHS Knowledge Service make of this study?
- Links to the headlines
- Further reading
28 Oct 2009
Why haven’t DVDs made my baby a genius?
A great article about parents getting refunds on Baby Einstein DVD’s. Have you bought them? I did, and my baby loved them. I never expected him to become a genius watching them, I liked them because he did. I didn’t see any harm. Nice images, nice music. Better than cartoons, and kept him amused when I needed him to be!
London Evening Standard article
27 Oct 2009
Emergency c-sections predominate
While the high rate of ceasarians in the UK is still an issue, the rise of elective c-sections has not risen according to fears that “too posh to push” would increase surgery.
27 Oct 2009
Steep rise in Down’s pregnancies
The number of babies born with Downs Syndrome in the UK has risen, largely due to women becoming pregnant later in life when there is a higher risk.
21 Oct 2009
Stress impact on male fertility
New research suggests that a man can suffer fertility problems due to his mother suffering stress while pregnant
21 Oct 2009
Maternal mortality across the world
Experiences of maternal mortality around the world, stories from the US, UK, Malawi, Afghanistan, and Ethiopia
19 Oct 2009
New hope for IVF mothers as British scientists develop test that trebles chance of baby and removes Down’s risk
A new screening technique increases the chance of conceiving by IVF by up to 3 times, and also can check for chromosome abnormalities therefore removing the risk of Downs Syndrome
19 Oct 2009
It is unfair that only women are left holding the baby
Article about returning to work after having a baby.
20 Oct 2009
Fathers ‘not taking full leave’
Many fathers are not taking the paternity leave they are entitled to, as they cannot afford to do so, even though they would like to spend more time with their children.
20 Oct 2009
Experts back folic acid in bread
The FSA (Food Standards Agency) has advised the government that folic acid should be added to bread on a mandatory basis. They believe that this will stop many babies developing spina bifida. Folic acid plays a key role in foetal growth.
16 Oct 2009
Delay formal lessons ‘to age six’
A new report suggests formal learning in the Uk should not begin until children are 6 years old, and that learning should be ‘play based’
16 Oct 2009
‘No post-jab paracetamol’ advice
Research suggests that babies should not be given paracetamol after vaccinations as a precaution against post injection fever.
16 Oct 2009
Fetal kick charts – inaccurate
Research claims that pregnant women shouldn’t rely on kick charts to tell if their baby is moving enough.
14 Oct 2009
Tips for a safe sleeping baby
BBC video showling ‘Judith Howard from FSID giving her top tips for safe sleeping baby and ways to reduce the risk of cot death.’
14 Oct 2009
54% of cot death babies shared a sleeping place with parents
Co-sleeping has always been a controversial issue. Many parents listen to the advice that you should NEVER sleep with your baby, others are tempted, while some think it a very natural thing to do.
Research this week claims that over half of cot deaths happen when an infant shares a bed or sofa with an adult.
12 Oct 2009
Dietary tips to keep your baby safe during pregnancy
It can be confusing as a to what you can and can’t eat when you are pregnant, The Daily Record gives us some guidelines.
10 Oct 2009
Sunshine Vitamin – cuts risk of premature birth
A new study reveals that women who take Vitamin D when pregnant can cut the risk of premature birth.
The dramatic findings suggest that “mothers who were given ten times the usual dose of Vitamin D during pregnancy had their risk of premature birth reduced by half and had fewer small babies… No test showed any adverse effect of the large dose of vitamin D.” *
This is great news. If a simple vitamin can help boost the health of babies and prevent premature birth, surely every woman should be encouraged to take it.
Vitamin D can be found in some foods, but it is mostly absorbed from sunshine. This means people living in cooler countries may not be getting enough. This includes the UK and parts of the US.
Vitamin D is found in foods such as oily fish, eggs and liver, and in fortified foods such as margarine, breakfast cereals and powdered milk. The levels in food alone are not enough.
Vitamin D has health benefits for other groups of people not just pregnant women. For example, Vitamin D deficiency is common and deficiency during pregnancy and childhood may increase the risk of a child developing Multiple Sclerosis.
2 Oct 2009
Today’s babies are tomorrow’s centenarians
They had better sort their pensions out now! – It is predicted that more and more babies will live to see their 100th birthday. “A review published in today’s edition of the Lancet, predicts half of all babies born in wealthy countries today will live for a century if current life expectancy trends continue.”
ABC (Austrailia) Science article
1 Oct 2009
Pregnancy-related diabetes: reducing the risk of complications
A really informative article about gestational diabetes – (diabetes that a pregnant woman develops)
30 Sept 2009
Cooling ‘cuts baby brain damage’
Giving babies that are starved of oxygen at birth mild hypothermia, can help save lives and reduce brain damage. A great news video from the BBC.
30 Sept 2009
Parents Lie to Children Surprisingly Often
Do you lie to your children?
28th Sept 2009
Hundreds of mothers of twins and triplets separated after birth
Mothers of twins and triplets are often seperated from their new babies due to a lack of special care baby units. Multiple babies are often born prematurely and need special care, lack of beds often means one child can be in one hospital with another child in a different hospital. Surely this cannot be acceptable in the 21st century?
27 Sept 2009
Childcare ‘help’ could be illegal.
A report on from the BBC today states that people who regularly mind their friends children could be breaking the law. According to OFSTED, parents who look after children for more than 2 hours at a time or more than 14 days a year should register as childminders or they are breaking the law.
Women often find childcare is a huge obstacle to returning to work after having children. It is no suprise that friends help each other out.
I tweeted the BBC article earlier today and it was no suprise that parents were insensed.
22 Sept 2009
More premature babies being born
More premature babies are being born, and survival rates for these babies are increasing according to a new survey.
15th Sept 2009
Dads to share maternity leave
Fathers will be able to take 6 months off work in paternity leave to look after their baby which will allow the mother to go back to work after 6 months if she wants to. This means mum and dad can share childcare in the 1st 12 months of baby’s life.
8 Sept 2009
Jack tops UK baby name list for 13th year
The results are in for the 2009 top UK baby names, Jack is No1 for the 13th year running
5 Sept 2009
Bizarre British contraception myths
A survey highlighted some bizarre thoughts about birth control.
5 Sept 2009
Why I changed my baby’s name
Sometimes the name you choose for your baby just doesn’t feel right. A mother’s story of what happened to her.
2 Sept 2009
Boy conceived using new test is born
A boy has been born after his mother’s eggs were screened in a new technique which offers hope to couples for whom IVF is not working
2 Sept 2009
Experts urge wider folic acid use
Experts call for women to start taking folic acid before they are pregnant, in order to reduce the risk of having a child with spina bifida.
21 Aug 2009
Call for cheaper school uniforms
Call is made by the LGA (Local Government Association for more affordable school clothing. Some parents are forced to buy their children’s school uniforms directly from the school or from one supplier.
19 Aug 2009
Baby monitor alert for parents
Fetal heartratet monitors come under fire. Experts claim they can delay women seeking help if their baby stops moving
14 Aug 2009
Your answers to 10 tricky children’s questions
Grown up answers to tricky children’s questions. Like WHY DON’T ALL FISH DIE WHEN LIGHTNING HITS THE SEA? I don’t know the answer to this but could be asked at any moment!
