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Low uptake limits benefits of maternal RSV vaccination

Vaccination against a common respiratory virus during pregnancy lowers the risk of severe disease in babies by 74 per cent, but uptake in many countries remains low, a new review suggests.

8 Oct 2026

Hydroxyurea does not increase infection risk in children with sickle cell anemia

Children living with sickle cell anemia have no higher incidence of clinically diagnosed infections when treated with hydroxyurea.

8 Oct 2026

REUP technique expands access to pediatric heart transplants

A groundbreaking donor heart recovery technique developed at Vanderbilt Health has been successfully adapted for children by pediatric heart transplant surgeons at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, potentially expanding access to lifesaving heart transplants for children.

7 Oct 2026

Babies use saliva sharing to map out close relationships

Imagine you're an infant. Just a few months in the world, trying to gather your faculties, testing gravity - you're pretty helpless and fully reliant on the people around you.

7 Oct 2026

Researchers find gene expression patterns linked to severe pediatric COVID-19

Researchers have identified patterns of gene activity associated with severe COVID-19 in children that are shared with other serious respiratory infections.

7 Oct 2026

Metformin in pregnancy does not raise developmental risk in children

Metformin use during pregnancy shows no link to developmental problems at school entry.

7 Oct 2026

UK first as frozen testicular tissue transplanted to help restore fertility

Doctors in Edinburgh have performed a pioneering procedure to transplant a young man's testicular tissue that was frozen before he underwent chemotherapy, in a potential breakthrough for male fertility preservation.

7 Oct 2026

Study reveals lasting brain changes linked to childhood maltreatment

Childhood abuse leaves a scar on the brain, a new neuroimaging study led by UCLA psychologists has shown.

6 Oct 2026

Scientists discover a novel strategy to unmask cancer cells in high-risk neuroblastoma

High-risk neuroblastoma is one of the most aggressive forms of solid tumors affecting children, originating in the nervous system.

6 Oct 2026

New global definition changes how childhood obesity is identified

A new global definition of clinical obesity classifies far fewer children as obese than the widely used body mass index (BMI), according to a large international study. And the findings could lead to changes to how childhood obesity is identified and managed.

6 Oct 2026

New insights into fetal DNA could improve prenatal testing

Understanding how fetal DNA travels in a pregnant woman’s blood could unlock the next generation of prenatal screening, according to a new paper published in Science Advances today.

6 Oct 2026

Before the first bite: A missing gut protein may set the stage for peanut allergy

For most people, a peanut butter sandwich poses no threat. But for the roughly 1.6 million children in the United States with peanut allergy, exposure can trigger a life-threatening reaction.

6 Oct 2026

Early nutrition should be central to measuring human development

Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life should be a core measurement of development progress, argues former Ethiopian deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonnen following a week of debate on development issues at the United Nations General Assembly.

5 Oct 2026

AAP issues guidance for safe and equitable pediatric use of generative AI

The American Academy of Pediatrics has published guidance for pediatricians on the safe, equitable, and effective use of generative artificial intelligence (AI), acknowledging that the rapidly emerging tools offer both promise and risk.

5 Oct 2026

New model predicts growth hormone therapy response in children with short stature

Idiopathic short stature (ISS) describes children whose height is substantially below the expected range for their age and sex without any identifiable medical cause.

5 Oct 2026

Aston University partners with Globe Biomedical to test smart myopia-monitoring eyewear

Aston University School of Optometry and Globe Biomedical have announced a research collaboration for Blink Frames, Globe Biomedical's smart eyewear platform, which continually monitors a patient's eyes via normal-looking spectacle frames.

5 Oct 2026

Updated AAP guidance warns raw dairy poses severe health risks

Unpasteurized milk, cheese and other "raw" dairy products are unsafe to drink or eat, especially for young children and those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to updated guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

5 Oct 2026

Study urges parents to take sibling aggression more seriously

Sibling aggression takes many forms, like hitting, shoving, threatening or calling names. Although sibling aggression is widespread and can shape people for years, it hasn't been studied well by psychological researchers.

5 Oct 2026

Genetic links to ADHD, autism and depression changed with age

The study examines genetic liability for neurodevelopmental disorders, revealing its impact on social functioning and educational attainment across life stages.

5 Oct 2026

Youth e-bike and e-scooter injuries rise nearly four-fold, study finds

Electronic bikes and electronic scooter injuries among children and teens increased nearly four-fold at one California hospital between 2019 and 2025, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

5 Oct 2026