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Reducing opioid medication during pregnancy may not ease neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome

Pregnant patients receiving medication to treat opioid use disorder should not reduce their medication dose out of fear that it will worsen withdrawal symptoms in their newborns, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM).

30 Oct 2026

Children with intense mood swings face greater risk of emotional overeating in adolescence

Children with large mood swings are at greater risk for comfort eating in their teens.

30 Oct 2026

Permanent daylight saving time means darker morning school commutes

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill this past summer that would make Daylight Saving Time (DST) permanent in the United States - meaning there would be no turning back the clocks each fall.

30 Oct 2026

Holistic family surroundings are essential for raising healthy children

A child's health is shaped by more than inherited genes or the food on the table. Family routines, relationships, cultural practices, and everyday conditions—from early school schedules to long commutes—also influence how children grow and thrive, according to an Ateneo de Manila University medical professor and clinician.

30 Oct 2026

Why do we turn to comfort food? A survey of 1,203 adults offers clues

A cross-sectional study of 1,203 UK adults found that stronger expectations of positive emotions from high-fat, salt and/or sugar foods were weakly associated with poorer diet quality and more frequent comfort eating. Negative emotional expectations about many foods also tracked with comfort eating, but the study did not establish whether eating these foods actually changed mood.

29 Oct 2026

Premature infants show altered cerebellum growth and developmental trajectories

A new study reveals that when a baby is born prematurely, their cerebellum, the part of the brain with a critical role in motor function, language and cognition, grows and develops in a different way than it would if the baby remains in utero full term.

29 Oct 2026

Swimming lessons may boost children's learning and social development

With family budgets stretched ever-tighter, swimming lessons can be one of the first expenses to be cut back – but with research showing swimming helps children not just physically but developmentally, researchers are calling for greater government support.

29 Oct 2026

Ending emergency food benefits linked to higher child maltreatment rates

A new study has found that in US counties that ended COVID-19 pandemic-era Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments, child maltreatment rates went up.

29 Oct 2026

After-school programs double the activity levels of children

Many children go straight home after school, whilst others stay on at the after-school club, known as SFO. In addition, sports clubs, abbreviated to IFO, have become increasingly common. But how does this affect how much children move?

29 Oct 2026

Study highlights the hidden dangers of permanent daylight saving time

In July 2026, the US House passed legislation to make daylight saving time (DST) permanent. But a new analysis of the consequences of the "Sunshine Protection Act," reported in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on October 29, finds that this legislation would come with serious safety consequences for millions of schoolchildren across the US who would have to leave for school before sunrise, when fatal crashes with pedestrians are more likely, for much of the school year.

29 Oct 2026

What parents can expect during a stressful NICU stay

Lyndsay Gardner was enjoying a normal, healthy pregnancy until her water broke at 31 weeks. Due around Christmas in 2023, she gave birth to her son just before Halloween instead.

29 Oct 2026

Mosquito bite prevention helps protect children from West Nile virus

In warm climates like Southern California, multiple species of mosquitoes can bite year-round. While telltale red, itchy bumps are the most common side effect of mosquito bites, these pests can also pass diseases, like West Nile virus, on to humans.

28 Oct 2026

Narrow surgical margins may safely remove childhood soft tissue sarcomas

It's a question that surgeons often face: How much surrounding healthy tissue should they take out when removing a patient's cancer to be sure it is fully eliminated? Removing more can sacrifice nearby nerves, blood vessels, tendons and even joints, with lasting effects on quality of life.

28 Oct 2026

Most teens who used AI for mental health support wanted more help

Researchers surveyed 24,132 students in England and found that 2.7% had used general-purpose AI for mental health support during the previous year. Among users who answered the relevant questions, 55.9% rated the support helpful, yet 63.2% wanted additional assistance, with greater unmet needs reported among adolescents experiencing mental health difficulties and social adversity.

28 Oct 2026