News About Babies..

A summary of news stories appearing in the media about babies.

We update this section most days (when we have time!), and we'll be keeping an archive of old news stories.

 

The Latest Christmas Gift - Stem Cells.
Grandparents and parents are buying gift certificates to store new born babies' stem cells for 25 years. Blood from the baby's umbilical cord is taken at the time of birth and frozen so that stem cells can be used later in life should the child become ill. Stem cells can be used to treat leukaemia and anaemia now and it is hoped in the future to add other serious illnesses to this list. The cost is about £1,250.

 

Hope For Vaccine For Strep B
 Scientists at Bradford University believe they are close to developing a vaccine for Group B Streptococcus (GBS), a bacteria that kills about 100 babies each year in the UK. You'll find more information on GBS here.

 

Weaning Too Early.
 A new study has found that 88 per cent of Australian mothers are weaning their babies before age 6 months, and 13 per cent before 3 months. A baby's digestive system can not cope with solids at that age and recent research shows that early weaning can lead to obesity in later life, and an increased risk of several chronic illnesses. If baby is showing signs of wanting more, seek advice before reaching for solid food.

 

Sex Is Good For You!
 According to research in the US, sex in the last 8 weeks of pregnancy can mean you're less likely to have problems during labour, and it can even stop you going into premature labour. Go on, force yourself!!

 

Mothers Who Breastfeed..
 ..are less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis in later life. So say US doctors who found that mums who breastfeed for a total of 12-23 months during their lifetime have a 30% reduced risk of developing the condition.

 

Let There Be Light..
 Researchers at Liverpool's John Moores University have discovered that babies who are subjected to twice the normal amount of light between midday and 4pm become better sleepers. This is probably because the immature brain relies on light to establish day and night patterns of behaviour.

 

Talk To Your Child..
 Research in Wales has found that more and more children are starting school without the necessary communication skills because busy parents' interaction with their children consist of 'a daily grunt'. Many parents just don't know how to talk and play with their children in a way that will develop their speaking and listening skills.

 

Babies learn to communicate through playing and interacting with parents and older siblings. Singing, nursery rhymes and playing games help to develop language skills which in turn literacy.

A TV campaign and newspaper advertisements will encourage parents to spend time talking and playing with their children.

Mums and Dads are without doubt the most important teachers any child will have during their lifetime.

 

Cot Death Professor Honoured
 Professor Terry Dwyer is the guy who lead the team of researchers in Tasmania, Australia in the 1990s that studied Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). He and his team found that babies who slept on their stomachs (the recommended position in those days) were more likely to be victims of SIDS. By recommending that babies should instead sleep on their backs, Terry Dwyer and his team are responsible for saving countless lives.

 

Professor Dwyer has been made an Officer in the Order of Australia, a high honour in that country. Well deserved. Thank you Terry Dwyer.

 

World of Babies Exhibition
 A new interactive exhibition is to tour the country. Large, scaled-up furniture is supposed to enable adults to see what the world looks like from a baby's point of view.

Sorry, can't really see the point.