This is for information only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something…
Kids need time outside to play. Just how essential is time in nature? What difference does outdoor play make? Today’s post is a collection of statistics and facts about outdoor play, health, and child development. Please note that some of the studies were quite small or observational, so take some of these statistics with a…
Air pollution doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Sure, it affects the lungs. Inhaling smoke and exhaust isn’t subtle. However, the effects are even more profound in kids. Air pollution affects brain development, lung development, cardiovascular health, and pregnancy outcomes. (Mothers exposed to air pollution are more likely to give birth prematurely, which comes…
Type 1 diabetes is a serious illness, and it is becoming more common among children in the United States. This is especially among non-Hispanic Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians/Pacific Islanders. What if we could tell a child had type 1 diabetes before they actually got sick? For some kids, it might be possible! Today, I’ll review…
More kids today are nearsighted than a generation ago. Is there anything we can do about it? Today, I’ll review some of the more recent research about whether parents can help lower their kids’ risks of nearsightedness. I’ll discuss how spending time outdoors may help, and think about whether changing “near work” habits may make…
If your child is mobile, it’s time to think about making your home as safe as possible. Today, we’ll focus specifically on preventing accidental poisoning at home. In other words, we’ll discuss how to keep dangerous chemicals out of their mouths and bodies. I’ll focus mostly on adults modifying their behavior as well as a…
There’s a lot to say about obesity in children. It’s unquestionably important. For many, it’s also a really emotional and sensitive subject. But we do have to talk about it. Obesity impacts children’s health. Defining and understanding how we measure obesity in kids is a necessary first step. Today, I’ll talk about body mass index…
Sugar substitutes are everywhere! Whether natural or artificial, non-sugar sweeteners are in more foods than ever before. They’re in things many kids eat daily. What’s a parent to do? Avoid them? Or, seek them out to replace sugar? Unfortunately, the research is not crystal clear. But, we do know enough to make a few general…
