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Music sessions aid bonding and provide respite in NICUs

Playing soothing live music in intensive care units not only helps parents bond with their baby but also provides a moment's respite from an uncertain and stressful situation, says a senior doctor in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2025

Heavy menstrual bleeding linked to iron deficiency in teenage girls

More than half of teenage girls experienced heavy bleeding and 40 per cent had an iron deficiency. The research, led from Lund University in Sweden, also shows that young teenage girls who experience heavy menstrual bleeding – and are therefore at greater risk of iron deficiency – can be identified using a simple questionnaire.

17 Dec 2025

Plant-based omega-3s work better than expected in a year-long diet study

A year-long, diet-controlled intervention shows that flaxseed oil–derived alpha-linolenic acid significantly increases erythrocyte EPA, DPA, and DHA across omnivorous, vegetarian, and vegan diets. The magnitude of improvement is driven mainly by baseline omega-3 status, while absolute EPA and DHA levels in vegans remain lower than in omnivores.

17 Dec 2025

Early exposure to child care tax credits has mixed long-term health effects on children

The US Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), which helps offset a portion of child or dependent care expenses, requires that both parents in married households, or the primary caregiver in single-parent and divorced households, participate in paid employment.

17 Dec 2025

Brief light-intensity exercise improves executive function and mood in children

In modern society, physical inactivity and sedentary behavior have become common issues globally. This trend is also growing among children, raising concerns for their mental and physical health.

17 Dec 2025

One in four children misses care at a pediatric trauma center

Access to pediatric trauma centers in Canada is crucial for improving outcomes; however, significant provincial disparities remain, affecting care quality.

17 Dec 2025

Benefits and drawbacks of grandparental childcare uncovered in new study

Research published in Health Economics indicates that regular childcare provided by grandparents can ease the pressures on parents but may have some negative impacts on children's health.

17 Dec 2025

Early life gut microbiome crucial for immune system development

Antibiotics are powerful treatments that have saved countless lives over the course of decades. New findings from Scripps Research have identified a way to preserve healthy immune development even when infants need antibiotic treatment.

17 Dec 2025

Poor housing conditions harm children’s school attendance and grades

Children living in substandard housing in England miss 15 more school days and achieve worse test scores in English and maths than their peers living in better quality housing, suggests research published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

16 Dec 2025

Combination therapy shows promise to treat a rare, catastrophic pediatric brain cancer

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists identified a promising combination approach to treat a rare, but catastrophic pediatric brain cancer called atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT).

16 Dec 2025

Positive parenting reduces the risk of adolescent self-harm

Self-harm refers to intentionally injuring one's own body as a coping mechanism to emotional distress. It manifests in many forms and has serious consequences not only on physical health but also on mental health. Self-harm among adolescents is becoming a significant public issue.

16 Dec 2025

School canteen meals fall short on nutrition and sustainability

An EHU study reveals that the food served to children in canteens exceeds fat, protein and sodium recommendations.

16 Dec 2025

What Americans eat is driving global nutrition research

WWEIA data, a cornerstone of national dietary surveillance, drives nutrition research and policy, enhancing understanding of dietary trends and health outcomes.

16 Dec 2025

Study reveals significant financial strain on families seeking mental healthcare

Behavioral health care has surged to represent 40 % of all medical expenditures for U.S. children in 2022, nearly doubling from 22 % in 2011, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers found that pediatric behavioral health expenditures totaled $41.8 billion in 2022, with families paying $2.9 billion out-of-pocket.

16 Dec 2025