News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms April 28, 2008

News to know:

Diet determines baby's sex?
Mothers-to-be who skip breakfast and eat less are more likely to give birth to girls. Moms who consume more calories and a wider range of nutrients — including, specifically, those from breakfast cereal — are more likely to deliver sons.
That’s according to new research by British scientists that provides what they say is the first-ever evidence that a mother’s diet at conception may determine her baby’s sex.

Cuddling preemies bear pain
Research finds that cuddling up against mother's bare skin can help tiny premature babies recover more quickly from the pain of being stuck with needles and other procedures.

Heart test urged before kids get ADHD drugs
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommended that children be screened for heart problems with an electrocardiogram before getting drugs like Ritalin to treat hyperactivity and attention-deficit disorder.

Virtual reality aids children with autism
A new generation of virtual reality games has been designed to teach basic safety and social skills to children diagnosed with autism. A particularly convincing virtual reality simulation can help an autistic child transfer new skills back to a real situation — a common difficulty among children with autism, who often focus more on details than on context.