Pediatrics: Discovering more about how watching TV hurts preschoolers’ sleep Three-to-5-year-old kids who watch violent or scary media content, or who watch more TV during evening hours, are increasingly likely to have sleep problems, according to research published Monday in the journal Pediatrics. (LA Times)
Doctors Urge Ban on Junk Food Ads During Kids’ Shows The nation’s leading group of pediatricians is calling for a ban on all junk food and fast food ads during children’s television shows as a means of slowing the rising tide of obesity among young people. (USA News)
Birth mothers track down adopted kids on Facebook Adoptions, once private and tightly controlled by agencies, are now far more transparent because of Facebook. Some birth mothers are reaching out to contact the children they gave up, in some cases finding minors who haven’t been told yet they are adopted. (MSNBC)
Are tablets the smartphone killer? - This very new dilemma begs the question: Are we at the dawn of an age in which tablets will become the jewel in your gadget crown, eclipsing the mighty smartphone only a few years into its reign? [CNN]
Gay benefit shapes debate about HPV vaccine for boys – From the start, arguments about whether to inoculate males against HPV have centered mainly on the benefits for women — and the desire to stop men from transmitting the most common sexually spread infection. The vaccine is approved, but not recommended, to prevent genital warts in males. But now, growing evidence shows that the vaccine also may prevent anal cancer, particularly in the high-risk groups of homosexual and bisexual men, who are about 20 times more likely than heterosexuals to develop the disease. [MSNBC]
1 in 10 kids in U.S. has ADHD, new study says – Nearly 1 in 10 U.S. children has ADHD, a sizable increase from a few years earlier that government scientists think might be explained by growing awareness and better screening. [MSNBC]
6 things to consider for your baby’s nursery – Preparing for a baby can be an overwhelming process. Before you enter the later stages of your pregnancy (when it might be difficult for you to move around), start putting together your newborn’s nursery. From paint colors to furniture, there is a lot to consider. We highlighted six important factors. [Fox News]
Even though kids’ meals (or “happy meals”) have started including healthier options such as fruit, juice, yogurt, and milk, most meal options are still unhealthy. The proposed ban wants to remove all toys from kids’ meal options with over 600 calories so kids are less likely to be drawn to the food because of the slick toys. Given the recent discovery that food from a McDonalds Happy Meal doesn’t change even after six months, the proposed ban may not be such a bad idea after all. As a parent, what is your opinion?
Since 2002, Nestlé — the world’s largest food company and not-so-coincidental manufacturer of Gerber products — has led studies in infant-feeding practices. The goal of this research? To find out if we’re feeding our infants, babies, and toddlers the stuff they need to grow and develop into healthy kids.
Well, the latest results are in, and although things are looking up for infants (“33% of mothers are breastfeeding nine- to 11-month-old children compared to 21% in 2002”), it appears that many of our toddlers are still eating junk food a little too often. The Atlantic listed these surprising statistics:
One-third of toddlers and 50% of preschoolers eat fast food at least once a week.
One-quarter of families eat dinner together four or fewer nights each week.
25% of older infants, toddlers, and preschoolers do not eat even one serving of fruit on a given day, and 30% do not eat a single serving of vegetables.
French fries are still the most popular vegetable among toddlers and preschoolers.
We want to know – what do you think about these findings? Are you okay with feeding your kids junk, or do you always put the food pyramid first? Share your thoughts and advice for healthy eating in the comments!
See more coverage of kids’ nutrition at Parents.com:
Pediatrics: Discovering more about how watching TV hurts preschoolers’ sleep
Are tablets the smartphone killer?
