Communication Skills May be Somewhat Genetic
Razi Berry From inside the womb and as soon as they enter the world, babies absorb information from their environment and the adults around them, quickly learning after birth how to start communicating through cries, sounds, giggles, and other kinds of baby talk. But are a child’s long-term language skills shaped by how their brain […]
Giving C-Section Babies Healthy Bacteria
Razi Berry Babies born by cesarean section don’t have the same healthy bacteria as those born vaginally, but a Rutgers-led study for the first time finds that these natural bacteria can be restored. The study appears in the journal Med. The human microbiota consists of trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms — some […]
Babies Can Differentiate Between Musical Notes at 6 Months
Razi Berry There’s a common belief that musicians are born with a natural ability to play music, while most of us have to work twice as hard to hear the difference between musical notes. Now, new research from neuroscientists at York University suggests the capacity to hear the highs and lows, also known as the […]
Babies Know Grammar at 8 Months
Razi Berry Even before uttering their first words, babies master the grammar basics of their mother tongue. Thus, eight-month-old French infants can distinguish function words, or functors — e.g. articles (the), personal pronouns (she), or prepositions (on) — from content words — e.g. nouns (rainbow), verbs (to drive), or adjectives (green). Functors are frequently encountered […]
You Really Are on the ‘Same Wavelength’ as Your Baby
Razi Berry New research suggests that you might quite literally be “on the same wavelength,” experiencing similar brain activity in the same brain regions. Have you ever played with a baby and felt a sense of connection, even though they couldn’t yet talk to you? A team of Princeton researchers has conducted the first study […]
Antibodies in Breastmilk Important to Prevent Disease in Premies
Razi Berry A new study from the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh finds that an antibody in breastmilk is necessary to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)- an often-deadly bacterial disease of the intestine- in preterm infants. Antibody in breastmilk necessary to prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies bind to bacteria […]
Feeding Premature Babies Breast Milk Improves Brain Development
Razi Berry A recent research study on premature babies underlines the importance of breastfeeding, even in neonatal intensive care scenarios.1 Premature babies were shown to have better brain development when fed breast milk rather than formula during their hospital stays. Helping facilitate mothers to provide breast milk in subsequent weeks after birth could improve long-term […]
Common Household Cleaners Could be Altering Children’s Microbiome
Razi Berry The chemicals we use to clean our home may be detrimental to our children’s microbiome. Because of the known links to weight gain, as well as metabolic changes and the gut microbiome, it is possible that these chemicals are contributing to the obesity epidemic seen in children. A recent study published in the […]
Violence Experienced in Utero May Increase Toddlers’ Aggressive Behavior
Razi Berry Reprinted from Penn State Babies whose mothers experience interpersonal violence during pregnancy are more likely to exhibit aggression and defiance toward their mothers in toddlerhood, according to new research by Laura Miller-Graff, assistant professor of psychology and peace studies, and Jennifer Burke Lefever, managing director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children […]
HPV Vaccine May Cause Sterility in 25%
Razi Berry A recent research study has suggested that girls who have received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine have a 25% chance of becoming sterile.1 ‘A lowered probability of pregnancy’ This information comes from a study published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health in June 2018. The study is titled, “A lowered probability […]