Parenting tips: Raising a family & teaching kids for moms, dads - WSMV Channel 4
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Read to your baby, sing and play games. But don't waste money on programs that claim to teach infants to read, a new study suggests. More>>
Car seats are heavier than ever--and some parents aren't including that weight when they fit their kids and car seats to LATCH systems. More>>
The cost of treatment for children born with heart defects varies widely across the United States, according to new research. And higher costs may not mean better care. More>>
Over the past two decades, reports of food allergies have nearly doubled among black children, a new study reveals. More>>
Under new U.S. guidelines on school lunches, low-income students are eating more fruits and vegetables, according to a new study. More>>
Parents play a crucial role in helping children develop a positive body image and healthy eating habits, an expert says. More>>
A rare "polio-like syndrome" has caused paralysis in about 20 children from across California, according to a report released Sunday by physicians in the San Francisco Bay Area. More>>
Doctors wait longer to prescribe blood pressure drugs to young adults than to older patients, a new study finds. More>>
Babies born to women who suffer a fever early in pregnancy may have a slightly increased risk of certain birth defects, a new review finds. More>>
Having a stable home life as a child, nice friends and success at school reduces the odds of getting sexually transmitted diseases as a young adult, according to a new study. More>>
Premature babies often struggle to learn to eat. Now, a special pacifier that plays prerecorded songs seems to help speed the process along, researchers say. More>>
New research suggests that children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may benefit from getting a type of training during school hours that monitors their brain waves to help improve attention. More>>
Kids who are picked on by their peers may see lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being -- especially if the bullying is allowed to persist for years, a new study suggests. More>>
They remind you when it's time to take your medicine, coach you through emergency medical procedures and text you their approval when you eat your veggies. More>>
Premature infants face a number of challenges, including a known risk of language delay. More>>
Too few American girls and boys are getting vaccinated against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV), the President's Cancer Panel reported Monday. More>>
Teenage girls diagnosed with major mental illness are much more likely to give birth, according to a new study from Canada, suggesting such girls should become a special target for anti-pregnancy efforts. More>>
The increasing number of people in developing nations who own televisions, computers and cars might explain rising rates of obesity and Type 2 diabetes in those countries, a new study suggests. More>>
Recent illness outbreaks at schools in three states have prompted the recall of 5- and 25-pound bags of Uncle Ben's Infused Rice products, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Monday. More>>
One-year-old infants are 10 times more likely to suffer burns and scalds than older children, and the main causes of these injuries are hot drinks and hair irons, a new British study finds. More>>
Epidurals are better pain relievers during labor than patient-controlled doses of a fast-acting painkiller called remifentanil, new research suggests. More>>
Women in their late 30s or 40s are often told that the odds of delivering a baby with a birth defect rises with age. More>>
American teens are taking in as much dietary salt as adults, far exceeding guidelines on healthy limits for daily consumption, new research warns. More>>
The more colds and other viral infections a woman has during pregnancy, the more likely her child is to have asthma, researchers report. More>>
The number of pregnant women who elect to deliver their baby at home is increasing, but home delivery can lead to problems, researchers say. More>>
These days, having a crammed work, kids and activities schedule has almost become a status symbol. But being super-busy isn’t always a sign of a fulfilling life More>>
Preschoolers from big families tended to score a bit lower on one vocabulary test. However, in cases where those kids had a sensitive big brother or sister, the vocabulary disadvantage disappeared. More>>
Children who were small during the early stages of fetal development may be at increased risk for heart problems, a new study indicates. More>>
Football players and wrestlers are the high school athletes most prone to shoulder injuries, and they're more likely to injure their shoulders in competition than in practice, a new study shows. More>>
A new study points to a possible added risk factor for Type 2 diabetes: a wedding band. More>>
Be careful when you plunk your youngster into a shopping cart on your next trip to the grocery store. More>>
Delaying the morning school bell might help teens avoid sleep deprivation, according to a new study. Later school start times appear to improve teens' sleep and reduce their daytime sleepiness. More>>
Fast-food consumption is often blamed for the epidemic of overweight and obesity among U.S. children. But a new study finds that poor eating the rest of the day is most strongly linked with weight issues. More>>
Parents are more likely to confuse their children's names when they sound alike, a new study reveals. More>>
DNA might be a key factor in excessive physical aggression in toddlers, a new Canadian study suggests. More>>
Your kids may come home from school this winter with something more worrisome than homework -- sniffles, tummy bugs and even (ick!) lice. More>>
Nearly 40 percent of preschoolers with autism are getting some kind of complementary or alternative therapy for their condition. More>>
Frequent colds are a normal part of young children's lives, but sometimes a stuffy nose becomes a more severe lung infection. Now, a new study clarifies some of the factors that put certain kids at greater risk. More>>
Is your dinner table a battlefield? You aren't alone. But your child isn't doomed to a diet of white bread and chicken nuggets -- there's hope. Kids are more likely to try foods that they had a hand in cooking.
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Premature babies who cry a lot may be more likely than other preemies to have behavior problems by the time they reach preschool, a new study suggests. More>>
Young children who receive flu and pneumococcal vaccines at the same time are at increased risk for temporary fever, a new study reports. More>>
Women who breast-feed may have a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis later in life, new research suggests. More>>
When it comes to treating depression in children, newer antidepressants all seem to carry about the same risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, a new study shows. More>>
The record-shattering cold weather that's gripping much of the United States can pose extreme health risks, doctors warned Monday. More>>
Dogs can recognize the faces of familiar people and canine pals, a new study finds. More>>
Winter sports and snowy day activities provide lots of exercise and fun, but there's also the risk of injury, an expert warns. More>>
Teen drivers quickly move from focused to distracted while behind the wheel, and this raises their risk for accidents, a new study finds. More>>
The effect that AIDS is having on American kids has improved greatly in recent years, thanks to effective drugs and prevention methods. The same cannot be said, however, for children worldwide. More>>
Fortunata Kasege was just 22 years old and several months pregnant when she and her husband came to the United States from Tanzania in 1997. She was hoping to earn a college degree in journalism before returning home. More>>
New brain research suggests one reason girls mature faster than boys during their teen years. More>>
The holidays are a potentially dangerous time for children with diabetes, an expert warns, and parents need to take steps to keep them safe. More>>
Almost one in six fathers doesn't live with his children, according to new research that looked at how involved dads are in their children's lives. More>>
Kids who don't get enough sleep at night may experience a slight spike in their blood pressure the next day even if they are not overweight or obese, a new study suggests. More>>
Many mothers think their youngest child is smaller than he or she actually is, according to new research. More>>
A potential new way to identify premature infants at high risk for delays in motor skills development may have been discovered by researchers. More>>
The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that it wants makers of antibacterial hand soaps and body washes to prove their products are safe for long-term daily use and more effective than regular soaps. More>>
Here are seven holiday activities to slow down and make the morning more magical and memorable for both you and your children.
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Girls who hit puberty early might be more likely than their peers to get into fights or skip school, a new study suggests. More>>
White children in the United States have higher liver transplant survival rates than blacks and other minority children, a new study finds. More>>
Young children are falling out of high chairs at alarming rates, according to a new safety study that found high chair accidents increased 22 percent between 2003 and 2010. More>>
Following home-heating safety measures will help keep you and your family safe this winter, experts say. More>>
Parents' concern about their children's online safety might vary according to their race, ethnicity and other factors, a new study suggests. More>>
The number of U.S. teens who wind up in the emergency room after taking the club drug Ecstasy has more than doubled in recent years, raising concerns that the hallucinogen is back in vogue, federal officials report. More>>
As young children sleep, the connections between the right and left sides of their brains strengthen, according to a small new study. More>>
Premature infants with no obvious problems in the structure of their brains may still have subtle chemical differences compared with full-term babies, a new study finds. More>>
When it comes to making friends in high school, the classes a student chooses seems to set the course, a new study finds. More>>
DNA can be used to predict taller-than-average height, a new study finds. More>>
Politeness and consideration for fellow diners could play a role in holiday weight gain, a new study suggests. More>>
The holidays can be a difficult time when a loved one has Alzheimer's disease, but there are ways to keep the season happy and memorable, an expert says. More>>
Sure, some tots will play a board game quietly in the corner, but if you’ve got a crew with a bit more energy, read on for Thanksgiving craft ideas to keep them occupied this holiday season.
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Severely obese teens are at increased risk for a host of serious health problems as adults, including asthma, kidney disease and sleep disorders, according to a new study. More>>
Boys who drink more milk during their teenage years might not see any drop in their risk for hip fractures as adults, new research suggests. Just the opposite: Their risk actually might rise. More>>
Although today's fathers pitch in with routine child care more than dads did a few decades ago, a new study finds that mothers are still doing more. Even when both parents work outside the home. More>>
Pack up and take your pick of these primo family-friendly routes.
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Moderate exercise during pregnancy may boost your baby's brain development, according to new research. More>>
With another flu season fast approaching, those in the know offer ways to guard against infection or deal with the flu if your efforts fail. More>>
Researchers say they have some good news for severely obese teens who decide to undergo weight-loss surgery: These patients are at low risk for major surgical complications. More>>
Most American parents would prefer email consultations with doctors instead of office visits when their kids have minor illnesses, a new poll finds. More>>
Getting regular daily exercise of moderate to vigorous intensity may also boost students' academic performance, according to a new U.K. study. More>>
Looking to plan a family vacation that is both entertaining and educational? Go historical.
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There may be good news for moms-to-be: A new study finds that women in labor and delivery may not have to forgo all nutrition or rely solely on ice chips to rehydrate, as is typically the case now. More>>
Pregnant women exposed to even low levels of air pollution are more likely to have low-birth-weight babies, a new study suggests. More>>
A regular bedtime might guarantee more than a good night's sleep for both kids and their parents -- it turns out that a regular bedtime can make for a better-behaved child, new research suggests. More>>
A new study confirms the high danger posed by gunshot wounds in kids: Hospital statistics from several U.S. urban areas reveal that at least 8 percent of children who were shot died. More>>
Tech-loving kids can make a blackout feel like an eternity -- if you don’t have a plan in place. Turn this surprise into a period of family bonding and fun with the following ideas.
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The Guardian is a small, tracking device to be worn by a child as a bracelet or necklace. When combined with a mobile application, the radio chip communicates with the parent's mobile device and can send an alert when the child has traveled too far away.
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Delayed introduction of gluten to a baby's diet and breast-feeding longer than one year appear to increase the risk of celiac disease, researchers report. More>>
Do you long for your child to choose the symphony over SpongeBob and couscous over mac ’n’ cheese? Raising a cultured kid can be easier than you think.
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New research confirms what experts have suspected: The decision not to vaccinate children for nonmedical reasons can have far-reaching effects, including raising the risk of infections for other children and their families. More>>
Cooking at home is more cost-effective than ordering in, better for your family’s health, and if you do it right, quicker, too. Check out this list of items you should always have in stock for delicious, kid-friendly 30-minute meals.
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Parenting a chronically ill child can cause stress that affects the whole family. More>>
These days, extended families are more likely to be spread out. The good news is, today's grandparents are more tech-savvy than they were even five years ago.
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With the kids back at school and parents' schedules more hectic, mid-September is a good time for a reminder of proper car-seat safety. Sept. 15 to Sept. 21 is also Child Passenger Safety Week. More>>
Asthma control during pregnancy is vital because uncontrolled asthma can cause harm to mothers and their babies, according to a new review. More>>
Women taking prescription painkillers such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and Percocet early in pregnancy are twice as likely to give birth to babies with devastating neural tube defects such as spina bifida, a new study suggests. More>>
Small changes in household routines, such as limiting TV time and increasing sleep time, can help minimize excess weight gain in young children at high risk of obesity, according to new research. More>>
Commercial baby foods don't meet infants' dietary needs when they are weaning, according to a new study. More>>
Will the amount of time your child spends tweeting and sharing online affect their grades?
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Transitioning from summer to a new school year is hard for any kid, but it is particularly difficult for children who have trouble processing new sensations. More>>
Music may soothe the savage beast, but a new study argues that novice teenage drivers who rock out to a playlist of favorite tunes may end up with impaired motor skills. More>>
As soon as the updated seasonal flu vaccine becomes available, parents should bring children aged six months and older to get vaccinated, according to an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). More>>
Parents' goals for treating their child's attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to steer the treatment in a distinct direction, new research shows. More>>
Males may be the more vulnerable sex when it comes dying young -- not just from accidents, but from a range of causes, a new study finds. More>>
When free to choose, kids with autism pick games that engage their senses and avoid games that ask them to pretend, a new study finds. More>>
Unlike the case with adult readmissions, higher hospital readmission rates for children may not necessarily indicate poor quality of care, according to new research. More>>
Preschoolers who stutter typically do not suffer emotional or social problems because of it, and even tend to have stronger language skills than their peers, a new study suggests. More>>
Kids with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are 20 times more likely to exhibit some traits of autism than children without ADHD, according to a new study. More>>
A new school year may be fast approaching, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end just yet.
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When you think about it, a family vacation by train is a no-brainer. The price is right, the scenery terrific, and everyone’s in a good mood.
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Toddlers who watch too much television have a more difficult time when they start kindergarten, a new Canadian study suggests. More>>
Hispanic teens are more likely to abuse illegal and legal drugs than their black or white peers, a new report finds. More>>
By the time they reach the fourth grade, children exposed to lead are nearly three times more likely to have been suspended, a new study contends. More>>
How much time a man spends doing housework is related to the type of job he has, a new study suggests. More>>
The more brothers and sisters you have, the less likely you are to get divorced, a new study contends. More>>
By using a simple rule to assess children's ankle injuries, doctors could reduce the use of X-rays by 22 percent -- and so spare kids unneeded radiation exposure, according to a new study. More>>
While some behaviors increase the risk of obesity for both boys and girls, new research shows there are gender differences. More>>
Stomach pain is a common childhood complaint, and now a new study suggests it may place some kids at higher risk for anxiety disorders or depression as adults. More>>
This summer make your own kid snacks rather than purchasing premade snacks. You'll have a better idea of what your kids are eating and you'll probably save money at the grocery store.
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Less than half of all American teenagers get their first driver's license within a year of becoming eligible to drive, a new study from AAA says.
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Correcting disruptive behavior in young children could help prevent them from using alcohol and drugs when they're teens, researchers report. More>>
A mother's personality can affect whether she decides to breast-feed, according to a new study. More>>
Already embraced by millions for their portability and ease-of-use, new Canadian research suggests that smart technologies also serve as therapeutic tools autistic children. More>>
Poor children are more likely than their wealthier counterparts to smoke cigarettes, but less likely to binge drink and no more likely to use marijuana, a new study reveals. More>>
Playgrounds can offer children a great place to get exercise and have fun, but parents need to be aware that there is a risk for injuries and know how to prevent them. More>>
Allergy and asthma triggers can turn your backyard from a summer oasis into a place of misery if you don't take precautions, experts say. More>>
Diapers can take a big bite out of the family budget, and now a new survey of low-income moms finds that many struggle to afford enough diapers to regularly change their babies. More>>
A family history of cancer raises your overall risk of developing cancer, including types of cancer far removed from those suffered by your relatives, according to a new study of 23,000 people. More>>
Eighty-two percent of American adults support banning smoking in cars when children younger than 13 are in the vehicle, according to a new survey. More>>
Falling television sets continue to be a source of serious injuries to young children, a new study shows. More>>
If parents divorce when their children are young, the split can affect how secure these children will feel about their relationship with their parents as adults, new research shows. More>>
Newer, heavier and more expensive football helmets will not lower a player's risk of concussion, new research finds. More>>
If you want your kids to spend less time parked in front of a television, you need to set the example. More>>
Children whose parents use "harsh" physical punishment such as slapping or shoving may end up in relatively poorer physical health as adults, a new study suggests. More>>
Going to bed at different times every night appears to reduce children's brainpower, a new British study suggests. More>>
When workplace stress spills over into your personal life, your family's well-being can also suffer, new evidence suggests. More>>
Insulin plays an important role in making breast milk, according to a new study that may help explain why many mothers have difficulty producing enough milk to nurse their baby. More>>
Most sports-related facial fractures among children occur when they're trying to catch a baseball or softball, according to new research. These injuries are relatively common, and they can be serious. More>>
Many violent young people carry guns, a new study shows. More>>
Fireworks add sparkle to Independence Day festivities but they need to be handled with care -- and by adults, a prominent group of U.S. surgeons says. More>>
Newer-generation "active" video games give a slight boost to children's physical activity levels at home, according to a new study. More>>
Safety experts have long warned that all-terrain vehicles, or ATVs, pose serious threats to kids, who may not have the strength or judgment to safely operate the bouncy, heavy machines. More>>
Babies as young as 2 months know when they are about to be picked up and prepare themselves for it, according to a new study. More>>
When children head off to outdoor camps this summer, they need to be protected from ticks and tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, experts say. More>>
What are the odds that we'll actually get sick by going swimming in a pool?
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If you have a baby who's learning to talk, you may feel the need to chatter incessantly to boost her vocabulary, but a new study says another factor is crucial: the ability to provide non-verbal clues. More>>
Breast-feeding, a practice already linked with many health benefits, could help a child become more upwardly mobile as an adult, British researchers report. More>>
Despite the introduction of pitching limits in youth baseball, throwing injuries requiring surgery are increasing at a dramatic rate in the United States. More>>
Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests. More>>
Black and Hispanic children with autism are markedly less likely than children from white families to receive specialty care for complications tied to the disorder, a new study finds. More>>
Being picked on by your brother or sister may seem like a normal part of growing up, but for some kids the bullying may be a source of depression and anxiety, a new study suggests. More>>
Every day in the United States, three children drown. Although many people expect a drowning child to splash and yell for help, these accidents often happen quietly without anyone noticing. More>>
Offering flu shots at elementary schools could reduce the number of flu cases and deaths among children, a new study suggests. More>>
Summer is the most dangerous time of the year for teen drivers and distracted driving is often the reason why, experts say. More>>
Having grown up with gadgets galore, young parents aren't as worried about the potentially corrosive effects of too much screen time on their offspring, a new study suggests. More>>
The proportion of families in the United States that can't keep up with their medical bills declined between 2011 and 2012, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More>>
This year, get a little creative with your kids and make Dad feel special with a homemade treat. More>>
This Father's Day, take a minute to think about the kind of dad you want be. More>>
Legalizing marijuana may have unintended consequences. Since medical marijuana was legalized in Colorado, more than a dozen young children have been unintentionally poisoned with the drug, researchers report. More>>
A leading pediatricians' group is highlighting the plight of children in military families in a new report. More>>
A new study of twins suggests that genes may play a big role in how long babies and toddlers sleep at night, while environment is key during nap time. More>>
Pregnant women with specific alterations in two genes may be at increased risk of suffering depression after giving birth, a small new study suggests. More>>
A child whose mother lived near heavy traffic while pregnant faces a relatively higher risk for developing a respiratory infection before the age of 3, a new study suggests. More>>
As many as one in five American children under the age of 17 has a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year, according to a new federal report. More>>
Even children with low levels of lead in their blood score lower on reading-readiness tests when they begin kindergarten, a new study found. More>>
Significantly more U.S. children have a neurodevelopmental or mental health disability than did a decade ago, according to new research. More>>
The vast majority of parents admit to being distracted in some way while driving their young child around, a new survey reveals. More>>
The United States appears to be in the throes of a prescription drug abuse crisis among teens, with a new survey showing that 24 percent of high school students -- more than 5 million kids -- have abused these medications. More>>
New research suggests that up to two-thirds of parents still encourage teenagers to finish all the food on their plates, even if the teen is overweight. More>>
Elderly pedestrians face a much higher risk of being killed in a traffic accident than the young do, a new government report finds. More>>
Although students who get free or discounted lunches through federal programs are more likely to be obese than students who don't, kids in states that set higher standards for these meals are less likely to suffer that fate. More>>
Smoking scenes in youth-rated movies doubled in number between 2010 and 2012, and have returned to the same level as a decade ago, according to a new report. More>>
In what may seem a surprising finding, kids in a new study who ate more often over the course of a day were less likely to be overweight than their peers who ate the traditional three squares. More>>
Small kids who are given large plates and then allowed to serve themselves take more food and consume more calories, new research finds. More>>
It's not how much time teens spend watching TV but how intensely they watch that adds on the pounds, new research suggests. More>>
The number of teen driver-related fatalities has dropped by almost half in the last six years, and the number of teen passengers killed in crashes involving teen drivers fell 30 percent in the United States. More>>
The chickenpox vaccine is very effective at preventing the disease, and its protection doesn't wane over time, new research finds. More>>
Many parents of children with advanced cancer have high to severe levels of psychological distress, a new study finds. More>>
It's rare for children in the United States aged 10 to 12 to be sexually active, especially on a voluntary basis, a new study finds. However, almost one in five teens has had sex before age 15. More>>
About 11 percent of school-age children in the United States -- and 19 percent of high-school-age boys -- have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). More>>
When doctors use quick-and-easy disease labels to sum up symptoms of concern in an otherwise healthy infant, parents are more apt to want to treat their child with some type of medication. More>>
Parent behavior training is an effective and well-studied intervention for preschoolers at risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new review shows. More>>
Children of highly educated parents have healthier diets, according to a new study. More>>
Single-load liquid laundry packets are becoming more popular but need to be used and stored safely. More>>
Parents who want to help their teens better navigate the world of college drinking might consider a pre-college chat on the topic. New research suggests it will help douse their desire to imbibe when they hit campus. More>>
Although some parents worry about the sheer number of vaccines babies typically receive, a new U.S. government study finds no evidence that more vaccinations increase the risk of autism. More>>
Although rare in the United States, three babies with birth defects caused by rubella (or "German measles") were reported in 2012 and doctors need to be on the lookout for such cases, a new government report indicates. More>>
Poor children who move three or more times before they're 5 years old are at increased risk for behavioral problems, a new study contends. More>>
Bystanders judge same-sex parents more harshly than straight parents, according to a new study. More>>
Five-year-olds who watch television for three or more hours a day are a bit more likely to fight, steal and have other antisocial behaviors by the age of 7, a new study suggests. More>>
Having regular family suppers is good for teens' mental health, according to a new study. More>>
Child development experts advise parents not to introduce solid foods, such as baby cereal, into an infant's diet until the infant is at least 4 to 6 months old. More>>
Physically active children may be at lower risk for fractures when they grow older, according to a new study from Sweden. More>>
If your young children are picky eaters, they may be able to blame it on their genes, according to a new study. More>>
On airplanes, measles can spread beyond the passengers seated immediately around an infected person, a new study says. More>>
The number of children in the United States with autism spectrum disorder has jumped dramatically since 2007, federal health officials reported Wednesday. More>>
A problem with a certain brain circuit may be one reason why 7-month-old infants who later develop autism are slower to shift their gaze and attention from one object to another. More>>
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