First off, I want to congratulate Sheri Hall on the birth of her daughter Charlotte, born on October 13th weighing in at 8 pounds 4 ounces!! Since babies have been on my mind in anticipation of Sheri’s maternity leave, a recent review about crying and colic behavior caught my eye. [Read more…]
Can the Use of Probiotics Effect Crying Babies?
November 11, 2013 By 1 Comment
The evidence on schools and risky behavior
September 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Millions of youth across the globe returned to school this month after an extended summer break. In our family, we sent one to kindergarten and the other to preschool for the first time, which came with its own set of worries: bus rides, blankies and healthy snacks.
Midwives: Good for moms and babies
September 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment
In the United States, it’s common for pregnant women to see an obstetrician for prenatal care and to deliver their baby. But in most other parts of the world, it’s primarily midwives – care providers who are often nurses and certified by a national organization – who care for pregnant women.
The link between media and violence
September 2, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Each time there is a tragic shooting that makes the headlines, media pundits question whether the violence found in many U.S. movies, TV shows and video games is a contributing factor to real acts of violence.
The evidence on babies, sleep and crying
August 27, 2013 By 51 Comments
I’ve still got babies on the brain as I refresh my memory on how to care for a newborn. By the time they were two months old, my two older children were learning to sleep in their cribs. That meant letting them cry and learn to settle themselves when I knew all of their needs were met. So I was curious to read some recent media reports about the evidence on “crying-it-out.”
Skin-to-skin is best for newborns
August 12, 2013 By 1 Comment
With only about 9 weeks until our third child is due, I’m starting to think once again about everything that comes along with a new baby. At a recent birth preparation class, the instructor encouraged us to look up the evidence about holding your baby skin-to-skin immediately after he or she is born.
The evidence on music therapy
July 29, 2013 By 5 Comments
We’ve all heard the idiom, “Music is good for the soul.” But, according to the evidence, it’s good for your health as well.
How to identify emotional abuse and neglect in preschoolers
June 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment
The evidence is clear that developing skills early-on – especially before children enter kindergarten – is essential for success later in life. Unfortunately, children face consequences throughout their lives when they do not get the support they need as babies and preschoolers. Physical and behavioral problems and delays in social and communication skills are just some of the poor outcomes. [Read more…]
The state of preschool
June 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Preschool is important to children’s development – the evidence on that is clear. But since preschool is not required and often not offered by local school systems, not all families have access to quality preschool programs. [Read more…]
Youth smoking prevention works
May 1, 2013 By 1 Comment
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, causing about 500,000 deaths per year and driving up costs in the U.S. health care system. [Read more…]
Pregnancy and alcohol consumption: What we know
April 24, 2013 By 3 Comments
We have some exciting news in my family: We are expecting our third child in mid-October. The upcoming addition to our family has me reviewing the evidence on how to have a healthy pregnancy. So I was intrigued when I saw an article in the New York Times this week about alcohol consumption during pregnancy.
[Read more…]
Evidence on child well-being across the globe
April 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Ensuring children grow up to be healthy, productive and fulfilled adults are major goals of every society. Children across the world today face complex risks and challenges including the wide availability of unhealthy foods, the prevalence of bullying and increases in drug and alcohol abuse. [Read more…]
