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THIS WEEK'S
HEADLINES
NEWS IMPACTING CHILDREN 0-5 AND THEIR FAMILIES
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Here is a quick look at some headlines from this week impacting the lives of kids 0-5 and their families. The purpose of these stories is simply to share information, and do not necessarily reflect First 5 Kern's areas of support, opinions or efforts towards these issues.
Follow First 5 Kern on social media (@First5Kern) for more kids news, as well as information about our funded programs and initiatives.
Now for the headlines...
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Antibiotic use in babies linked to allergies, asthma and other conditions, study finds |
Children younger than two who are given antibiotics are more likely to have a number of ongoing illnesses or conditions later in life, a new study finds.
Babies and toddlers who received one dose of antibiotics were more likely to have asthma, eczema, hay fever, food allergies, celiac disease, problems with weight and obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in childhood, according to the study published Monday in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. (CNN)
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How to protect your toddler's eyes from added screen exposure
One of the biggest risk factors of all this added screen time is the amount of stress it puts on your eyes. Some doctors expect that upwards of 50-90% of adults will experience vision problems related to screens at some point in their life. (Baby Gaga)
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Over 1 million US children have been diagnosed with Covid-19
Over a million children under 18 have been diagnosed with Covid-19 in the United States since the start of the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association said Monday.
"As a pediatrician who has practiced medicine for over three decades, I find this number staggering and tragic," said Dr. Sally Goza, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which represents pediatricians. (CNN)
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EARLY CHILDCARE & EDUCATION
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California is reshaping its Early Education Programs — and you can weigh in
Next month, California leaders will unveil a much-anticipated Master Plan For Early Learning and Care that will shape programs in the state for years to come.
And there's still a chance for the public to weigh in — the state's Early Childhood Policy Council will hold a special meeting dedicated to the plan on Friday, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. (LAist)
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University scholars plant seeds in a new field of study: Early Childhood Policy
When Jessie Rasmussen ran for a seat in the Nebraska legislature, she prioritized serving children and families, having spent more than two decades working as an early childhood educator.
But “I didn’t learn until after the fact that you can write a policy for law that’s really well-intended, but how it gets implemented is the real story.” (EdSurge)
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Diet and lifestyle during pregnancy linked to modifications in infants' DNA |
A new study has shown pregnant women with obesity could reduce the health risks for their infants through improved diet and more physical activity.
The research investigates the impact of high glucose in mothers with gestational diabetes and changes to infants DNA. They found that regular exercise and a healthy diet hindered those changes and bore better outcomes for the child. (Medical Xpress)
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March of Dimes gives Bakersfield a 'C' rating in annual report card
The United States gets a C- grade for its preterm birth rate according to the 2020 March of Dimes Report Card. The March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization that leads the the fight for maternal and infant health in the United States.
The report card shows that the U.S. is among one of the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth because the country’s preterm birth rate has increased for the fifth year in a row. (KGET)
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Preterm births dropped during lockdown, but not for COVID patients
Much to researchers’ surprise, premature births have consistently dropped throughout the coronavirus pandemic. The reasons behind the trend remain unknown, but it’s a positive pattern that suggests there might be something about lockdowns and COVID-19 preventive measures that’s preventing them.
At the same time, evidence shows that women battling coronavirus during pregnancy have a 25% higher risk of premature birth than healthy women, (The State)
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New self-administered digital health tool helps women assess risk for premature delivery |
Women who are intending to become pregnant or who have just found out they are pregnant can quickly learn of their risk for preterm birth with a noninvasive, self-administered digital tool called PopNatal.
The PopNatal assessment is completed online via a mobile device or computer and typically takes less than 15 minutes for most patients. (MedicalXpress)
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ACEs & TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
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How trauma impacts the health of black infants |
Black mothers die in childbirth at three to four times the rate of whites. That holds true regardless of wealth or education. Black babies are more than twice as likely to die in their first year.
Research suggests racial discrimination is a likely cause of both preterm birth and infant mortality, outweighing factors like obesity, smoking or poor prenatal care.
"A large body of research shows that that stress across pregnancy can have an impact on low birth weight and preterm birth in particular," says one researcher. (NPR)
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How to manage exhaustion when your kid just won't sleep
“Sleep is a basic human need,” says Lauren Hartz, LPC, a psychotherapist in Pennsylvania and mom of two children.
She knows firsthand what it’s like to subsist on little sleep: For the past 9 years, Hartz has been giving medicine to her oldest son every 6 hours — including at 2 a.m.
Whatever your specific situation, however, there are many ways you can boost your energy and savor more (or at least more restful) sleep. Here’s how. (Healthline)
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The 'logistical nightmare' of being a NICU parent during COVID-19
Having a baby spend any length of time in the NICU is not something any parent hopes or plans for, but estimates suggest up to 15% of babies born in the U.S. each year do so.
Under even the absolute best of circumstances, it can take a huge toll on parents’ emotional health. Add in a global pandemic, and experts fear the emotional load has become nearly impossible for mothers and fathers to bear. (Huffington Post)
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First 5 Kern was established in 1998 when California voters passed Proposition 10, which levied a 50-cent tax on tobacco products. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax are used to fund local programs in the areas of health and wellness, early childcare and education, and parent education and support services that promote early childhood development for children ages zero to five.
For more information on First 5 Kern and the agencies we support, please visit www.First5Kern.org and follow us on social media.
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Special thanks to Vecteezy for assistance on graphics
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