Pediatricians' group reaffirms support for gender-affirming care amid growing state restrictions
The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming medical for children as the treatments face a growing push for bans and restrictions across the U.S. The board for the group unanimously reaffirmed its 2018 position on the treatments.
Struggling to get your kids to sleep? These bedtime routines work!
For many families, bedtime is a challenge. Studies show a nightly routine is one way to help kids catch zzz’s. Research has shown bedtime routines are vital for getting adequate sleep. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants under age 1 get 12 to 16 hours of sleep each in 24 hours. Studies show that kids who don’t get enough sleep may be more likely to develop high blood pressure, obesity, and even depression.
New guidelines address rise in opioid use during pregnancy
Opioid use in pregnancy has prompted new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, aimed at improving care for women and newborns affected by their mothers’ drug use. “While we have been talking about the opioid crisis for years, pregnant women and their newborns seldom make it to the top of the heap. The academy’s report says pregnant women should have access to opioid medication to treat opioid misuse. Two opioids, buprenorphine and methadone, are effective treatments but pregnant women often face stigma in using them and doctors who prescribe them are scarce. Some infants born to women who used opioids during pregnancy develop symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including tremors, fussiness and diarrhea.
American Academy of Pediatrics: Schools need over $200B from feds to reopen safely
A health organization aimed at protecting children is weighing in on what needs to be done to reopen schools. The American Academy of Pediatrics said schools are going to need $200.5 billion to safely reopen. The nonprofit Councils of Chief State School Officers estimates anywhere from $158 billion - $244 billion. The districts simply do not have enough money, but they need this money to keep kids safe and keep employees safe, said Florida Education Association President Fedrick Ingram. Senate Democrats have proposed a $430 billion education stabilization plan.
Pediatrics group: Benefits of going to school in person outweigh COVID-19 risks
The American Academy of Pediatrics has concerns about students learning remotely and are pushing for them to return to the classroom. The group of doctors worry that remote learning could contribute to severe learning loss and increased social isolation. It believes minority communities and vulnerable populations would be affected the most. The group argues that masks are probably not practical for children younger than middle school age, unless they can wear one without touching their face more. The guidelines to not address the health concerns of teachers or their willingness to return to in-person teaching.
Should you relax screen time rules for your kids right now?
The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in with screen time guidelines designed to help families ensure young kids were getting enough time for healthy pursuits like physical activity and sleep. But with families at home during the pandemic, should parents relax those screen time guidelines? Dr. Jenny Radesky wrote the American Academy of Pediatrics 2016 digital media guidelines. I dont want families to feel guilty that theyre not meeting some perfect plan of how to use media," Radesky said. Prior research has found that parent engaged screen time like family video chatting with grandma is beneficial for children.
Why you don't know how much artificial sweetener you're feeding your child
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images(CNN) - Parents don't want to give their children foods with artificial sweeteners, surveys show. She is the lead author on a new AAP policy statement released Monday calling attention to potential long-term safety risks of the use of nonnutritive sweeteners by children. One 2014 study found parents were unable to identify these nonnutritive sweeteners in 77% of the products they were shown. Even if a parent recognizes a name from this alphabet soup of products, Baker-Smith said, it's then impossible to discover how much sweetener is in each serving. "The amount per serving is not listed on product labels, so you don't actually know how much sweetener a child is eating," she said.
Study: Parents should skip tablet when reading to kids
To maximize parent-child bonding, though, a study says parents are better off reading to their children from a print book than from a tablet. Mothers and fathers would read aloud one print book, one tablet book and one interactive tablet book in a 75-minute period to their 2- to 3-year-old children. When parents read digital books, researchers noted that children were much more likely to interrupt the session, obstructing their parents' view of the tablet so they couldn't read it, closing out of the e-book app or grabbing the tablet from their parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends "co-viewing" for parents and young children so tablet use isn't a solitary act. But the social outcomes and language gains of reading on a tablet are far different than snuggling up with a book, researchers said.
Not all screen time causes kids to underperform in school, study says
A new review of 58 studies from 23 countries found only the time spent watching television and playing video games negatively impacted a child's academics. But when each type of screen time was broken down, the study found time spent on television viewing and video games was associated with poorer academic achievement. In this study, playing video games seemed to only impact the academic composite score in teens. Babies and toddlersNo baby under 18 months of age should be exposed to screen media, other than video-chatting with friends and family, the AAP says. Continue co-viewingParents shouldn't stop co-viewing television or playing video games with their children just because they are growing up.
Doctor's rendition of popular '90s rap song hilariously nails car seat safety
Ali Landry demonstrates how to install a car seat during Favord.bys 3rd annual Red CARpet Safety Awareness Event. (Photo by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Evenflo)A passionate pediatric doctor nailed a redo of a popular 90s rap song by adding her own lyrics about car seat safety and the internet is singing along. In its latest published recommendations on car seats, the AAP recommends:Infants and toddlers should ride in a rear-facing car safety seat as long as possible, until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their seat. Most convertible seats have limits that will allow children to ride rear-facing for 2 years or more. Once they are facing forward, children should use a forward-facing car safety seat with a harness for as long as possible, until they reach the height and weight limits for their seats.
Organization calls for investigations of unsolved infant deaths
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants every unsolved infant death investigated to see if it's a result of child abuse. The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System estimates child abuse fatalities are more than triple the number that is officially reported. Researchers found 15% of eighth graders and up to 33% of 12th graders had used cannabis, and 72% used concentrates as well. The research found students who used cannabis concentrate had higher rates of other substance abuse and had risk factors for substance use problems. E-cigarette ads and teen vapingIn-store e-cigarette ads double the likelihood of teen vaping, according to a study by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Researchers say follow 3 C's with kids and screen time
When it comes to media and young kids, the guidelines are not always consistent. Now researchers have compiled some of the top tips for positive media use for children. Will the media allow kids to transfer information from the app to the real world? It seems to be giving company to kids, but at the end of the day, its just distracting them from the real goal of them relating with the real world, Rocha-Hidalgo said. Researchers also suggest parents take screens out of the bedroom since screen time before bed makes it hard for kids to fall asleep.
How to get kids ready for stress of starting school
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Getting kids ready for the first day of school should start now, according to doctors and doing so is less about math and English and more about what your kids are experiencing. There are some new recommendations on what you can do in your home to get kids ready for kindergarten. The American Academy of Pediatrics found too many kids aren't ready for the social, emotional and behavioral demands of school. Fewer than half of kids below the poverty line are ready for school at 5 years old compared to 75% of children from moderate or high-income households. It can help children, who are born into a circumstance they can't control, still achieve the same as their peers who don't have the same challenges from birth.
Pediatricians share migrant children's disturbing drawings of their time in US custody
(CNN) - Pediatricians shared disturbing images drawn by migrant children who were recently separated from their parents while in US Customs and Border Protection custody. The staff at the center asked the children to depict their time in CBP custody. McAleenan, who is now acting secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security, requested the meetings after two children died in CBP custody. A pediatrician caring for migrant children at an El Paso hospital said CBP's screening for children in its custody is "absolutely and unequivocally inadequate." He said other doctors would disagree with the AAP pediatricians about the health conditions for migrant children.
How to prevent drowning -- the No. 1 cause of accidental death in kids
She spent two years going over and over the mistakes she made and finally decided to go public as an advocate for swim safety in her community of Tomball, Texas. The American Academy of Pediatrics says such fences prevent more than half of swimming pool drownings of young children. The group Water Safety USA, a consortium of nonprofits and governmental agencies, recommends that all toys be removed from bodies of water when they're not being played with. Spreading Jackson's legacyBennett has made it her mission to spread the message of water safety. She's created a pamphlet of swim safety tips now given out to families when babies are born at HCA Houston Healthcare, her employer.
Child health experts offer updated drowning prevention recommendations
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in U.S. children between the ages of 1 and 4, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Recently the AAP issued updated guidelines in an effort to prevent more drowning incidents. According to Dr. Eva Love, of Cleveland Clinic Childrens, drowning prevention often comes down to knowing where children are at all times. Research shows young children are at risk for having a drowning incident involved with a household item -- as it only takes 2 inches of water for a child to drown. To prevent unanticipated access to water, pool owners should have barriers in place.
Dad leaps over 4-foot fence to save son from drowning
Albert Passavanti and his family were lounging by the pool in Palm Beach County, Florida on a sunny Sunday when something terrifying happened. As Passavanti's toddler son chased an inflatable ball, he fell into the pool. When Passavanti saw his son was in danger, he jumped to his feet, bolted over a 4-foot fence and dove into the water. There was a fence around one side of the pool, but it wasn't entirely baby proof. The AAP urges parents to be within an arm's length when young children are around or in water.
What parents, doctors can do to dissuade teens from drinking alcohol
Growing evidence shows how alcohol affects teens' brain development and function, the AAP says. The good news is teens are drinking less since the 1990s. Doctors stress that teen years are a critical time for brain growth and alcohol can pave the way for addiction when the brain is still maturing. The AAP wants pediatricians to screen for alcohol use and educate teens and families on the risks, consequences and potential interventions. The AAP also urges parents to talk with their teens about the risks and set firm rules against its use.
Ways young athletes can handle the heat
So, it's important that coaches and parents understand how to prevent heat illness. But he adds, that process needs to start well before the athletes ever take the field. A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control found that football causes the most heat illnesses among young athletes. That same study found that baseball and softball causes the most heat illness in girls 14 and under. So says coaches and parents can look for one particular sign that the heat may be getting to their players.