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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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Researchers find previously undetected chemicals in pregnant women, newborns |
Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) analyzed the blood of newborns and pregnant women and found 55 chemicals previously undetected in people, according to a recently published study in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
“Unfortunately, [we were] not surprised by the total number of chemicals as we’ve suspected they’ve been there. We’ve just struggled to identify them,” the study's author said. “The number of mystery chemicals that we can’t identify sources or uses for is very disturbing.” (Healthline)
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Pandemic increased stress for pregnant American women, study finds
Pregnancy is already a stressful time for many expecting mothers and the pandemic is just adding to that stress.
New research out of Washington State University highlights the toll the pandemic is taking on pregnant women in this country. (KOMO)
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Women's dreams change after childbirth
Experts who study sleep — as well as the millions of moms who’ve slogged their way through the postpartum period — understand that new parenthood radically transforms women’s sleep.
Surveys suggest that half of parents with new babies at home get just three hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. Postpartum women undergo hormonal changes that alter their circadian rhythms. (Huffpost)
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For black moms, not only is childbirth more dangerous,
it's more expensive
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Like most healthcare in the United States, pregnancy care can be expensive. After all, with both pregnancy and delivery, there's an element of risk. In 2018, for example, there were 17 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. But when the pregnant people in question are Black? That maternal mortality number triples.
The factors driving this tragedy are complex and systemic, but solutions exist—solutions that can save the lives of Black birth parents. So why aren't we using them? Quality health insurance is a prerequisite for accessing good medical care. Without access to this, Black folks are forced to pay out of pocket for maternal services that are not covered or forgo them while suffering the consequences. (Yahoo!)
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'Mother's own milk' for premature infants: Minority mothers need effective strategies
Minority mothers of premature infants may face special challenges in providing MOM (Mother's own milk) feedings. "In the United States, Hispanic and Black preterm infants are less likely than their white counterparts to receive feedings consisting of MOM," a recent study says.
The study's authors performed a comprehensive review of the past decade of research, and identified "zero articles" - not a single study evaluating specific programs designed to promote MOM feedings in Black or Hispanic preterm infants. (EurekAlert)
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Signs of autism in babies: a simple guide to developmental differences
As a parent or caregiver of an infant, you have an up-close view of your baby’s development. You can see the small changes in day-to-day behaviors that indicate a baby is building new skills and abilities.
If you know what to look for, you may be able to detect early signs of developmental differences like autism. This is because the earliest signs of autism aren’t the presence of unexpected behavior, but the absence of a skill or ability that usually develops by a certain age. (Healthline)
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Babies pay attention with assistance from immature brain region
Babies are capable of paying attention with laser focus. But with large areas of their young brains still underdeveloped, how do they manage to do so?
Using functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brains of awake babies, psychologists have shown that, when focusing their attention, infants recruit areas of their frontal cortex, a section of the brain involved in more advanced functions that was previously thought to be immature in babies. (Yale)
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Spotting asthma in your baby or toddler
Diagnosing babies and toddlers with asthma is challenging, because it's difficult to measure lung function in this young group. What makes diagnosis easier is knowing your child's symptoms.
A leading pediatrics group offers some tips for parents who suspect their infants or toddlers may have asthma or are having symptoms that could suggest another health condition. (MedicalXpress)
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Paper beats pixels on most picture books, research finds |
Digital picture books have been a godsend during the pandemic. With libraries shuttered and bookstores a nonessential trip, many parents have downloaded book after book on tablets and smartphones to keep their little ones reading.
But when the pandemic is over, many parents will face a dilemma. Should they revert back to print or stick with e-books? Do kids absorb and learn to read more from one format versus the other? (Hechinger Report)
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Negative words impact children's negative opinions of others,
study says
It turns out children really are listening to what you say.
Children who overheard someone saying negative words about a particular group of people developed negative biases toward them, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Child Development. (CNN)
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Going without shoes
can actually help your
toddler walk
Toddlers should wear shoes while outside to protect their feet, but going barefoot inside may actually be beneficial for them, Pierrette Mimi Poinsett, MD, a medical consultant at Mom Loves Best, told POPSUGAR.
Skipping the shoes is good for their foot development and it can help little ones learn to walk faster, she said. (Yahoo!)
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United States in last place for policies that help parents
Parents are well-aware that national policies supporting a work-life balance are all but non-existent. In the US, employers aren’t required to offer paid maternity leave, paid vacation time, or paid sick leave. That’s largely why the US ranks dead last in parent support policies among 20 industrialized countries, according to a new study.
It may seem impossible to both financially support your kids and find time to spend with them. Now there’s data to back up that this worry isn’t all in your head. (Fatherly)
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Just for fun: Toddler denies eating cupcakes despite sweet evidence
Guaranteed to make you smile...
Tyrell Fulwood, a father from North Carolina, posted a cute video asking his 2-year-old son if he touched the cupcakes on the kitchen counter.
The hilarious moment shows the toddler denying with confidence, despite the evidence being overwhelming against him. (ABC7)
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CHILD CARE & EARLY EDUCATION
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'I hardly sleep': Why child care strains Latino families more than most during COVID |
The pandemic has disrupted the lives and routines of millions of California parents. But child care and poverty experts say it especially strained low-income Latino workers with young children.
Latinos, who are “less likely than other workers to have jobs that can be done remotely,” account for 38% of the state’s workforce.
More than 3 million children in California under age 12 are Latino, about half of the state’s population in that age group. (SacBee)
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Toddlers use of screens leads to behavioral problems in the classroom
The longer toddlers play on tablets, phones, or game consoles, the more likely they are to develop behavioral issues when they get into a classroom setting, a study by Finnish researchers says.
Scientists say preschoolers who frequently play with tablets or other electronic media have a greater chance of being hyperactive. A short attention span and an inability to concentrate are also more common, and the e-toddlers will have difficulty relating to other children when they’re old enough to go to school. (RT)
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Many kids aren't ready for kindergarten, warns a child development researcher
A Seattle doctor said many preschoolers won't be ready for Kindergarten in the fall because children missed out on important social-emotional developments during school closures.
While schools have been closed, he said many low-income families might not have the capacity to help teach their children at home or provide other enrichment opportunities. (K5)
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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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