News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms May 5, 2008

News to know:

1 in 3 parents lacks knowledge about babies
Nearly a third of U.S. parents know surprisingly little about typical infant development, according to researchers, and this lack of understanding can rob their babies of much-needed mental stimulation.
Researchers analyzed parenting know-how based on a national sample of parents representing more than 10,000 9-month-old babies.They found that 31.2 percent of the parents had a low level of knowledge about what to expect from their child, and this was strongly correlated with lower parental education level and income.

Breastfeeding rates hit new high in U.S.
The U.S. breast-feeding rate has hit its highest mark in at least 20 years with more than three-quarters of new moms nursing their infants, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Experts attributed the rise to education campaigns emphasizing that breast milk is better than formula at protecting babies against disease and childhood obesity. A changing culture that accommodates nursing mothers may also be a factor.

Quarter of kids don't meet vaccine schedule
More than a quarter of American children are not meeting the U.S. government’s recommendations for childhood vaccinations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Missed doses accounted for about two-thirds of those not in compliance. The rest got them at the wrong age or too soon after a previous dose to be considered completely effective.

Daycare may protect kids from leukemia
Sending children to day-care at an early age could protect them against leukemia, perhaps by exposing them to certain infections, U.S. researchers said. Children who attended daycare or playgroups have a 30 percent lower risk of developing the most common form of childhood leukemia compared to those who do not.

Expert sees peanut allergy solutin within 5 years
A U.S. food allergy expert believes a form of immunotherapy that could get rid of a person's allergy to peanuts is likely within five years--even as the condition appears to grow more and more common.
One possible approach is using engineered peanut proteins as immunotherapy. Other approaches are showing promise,including the use of Chinese herbal medicine in animal research.

News of Interest for Late-in-Life Moms April 14, 2008

News to know:

Postpartum depression common among U.S. women
As many as one in five women in the United States suffers from postpartum depressive symptoms, according to results of a new survey. The findings also indicate that certain groups of women, such as those with lower educational levels, are more prone to postpartum depressive symptoms.

Mumps vaccine good, not perfect
The 2006 eight-state U.S. mumps outbreak was the first ever caused by "two-dose vaccine failure," according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The vaccine is known to be 80% to 90% effective after two doses -- not 100% effective. That means that one or two out of 10 people exposed to the mumps virus will be infected, although they may have less severe disease than unvaccinated people who are infected.

Babies who sleep less at more risk for obesity
Babies who don't get enough sleep may gain too much weight, new research shows.
Babies and toddlers who sleep fewer than 12 hours daily are at greater risk for being overweight in preschool, according to a Harvard study. TV viewing heightened the effect. The children who slept the least and watched the most television had the greatest chance of becoming obese.

Candy can help fight cavities
Children in Venezuela who ate a special cavity-fighting candy had 62 percent fewer cavities than those who brushed their teeth regularly, researchers said.
Children in the study were testing the effectiveness of BasicMints, an experimental fluoride-free treatment designed to mimic a component in human saliva that neutralizes acids in the mouth that can erode tooth enamel.