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Spankin' New Headlines

As grandparents pitch in to help their kids in a tough economy, there’s often a cost: Drama. Wall Street Journal

Your beloved dog or cat could be carrying a deadly MRSA infection, finds a new study—but don’t panic, transmission is rare. ABC News

Your love for your kids may not be as unconditional as you had thought: Moms are more likely than dads to reject photos of less than cute babies, according to a new study. Time

A simple self-control test predicts whether kindergartners will see success in math skills. New York Times

Why you should go old-school and bring back some games from your childhood. USA Today

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Spankin' New Headlines

Check your medicine cabinets: You might want to hold off on this popular cold remedy—and read up on homeopathic solutions. Yahoo! News

Families are spending less time together, a new poll finds, and it looks like technology may be partly to blame. Chicago Sun-Times

The challenge: Getting girls to sign up for sports. New York Times

Are you scaling back on your kids’ summer plans? Many families are. CNN

Lice! What camps are doing to keep them at bay. USA Today

Heading to the pool this weekend? You’ll want to read these water-safety tips. Health Day

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Your Kids and Media Questions, Answered

If you've ever wondered at what age it's a good idea to get your child a cell phone, how to deal with inappropriate TV commercials, or how much video game playing is just too much, you might want to check in with Parents advisor and peditrician Michael Rich, M.D., a.k.a. "The Mediatrician^SM." Dr. Rich, a former Hollywood filmmaker who's now Director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Children's Hospital, Boston, is planning to answer all of your questions related to new media on his new website askthemediatrician.org. So go ahead and get out your concerns! As Dr. Rich says, "We recognize that kids love media and there are positive as well as negative effects on them." It's a matter of figuring how much and what sorts are appropriate, and that's where most parents need help.

Calling (Some) Moms of Kids with Autism

If you have a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), plan to have another child at some point, and you live in Southeast Pennsylvania, Northeast Maryland, or Northern California, you may be eligible to participate in a brand-new study that's one of the largest ever to investigate early risk factors for the disorder. The EARLI (short for Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation) study will follow up to 1,200 pregnant women who already have one child with autism and will look into possible causes, both genetic and environmental (think pesticides, household cleansers, plastics, flame retardants, etc.). Researchers plan to focus on the prenatal period and to follow children through 36 months to track their exposures. The research sites—Drexel University School of Public Health and the Center for Autism Research, University of California at Davis/MIND Institute, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Kennedy Krieger Institute, and the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA—are just starting to recruit moms. Go here to find out more.

Spankin' New Headlines

Want to watch me give birth? Why some moms post videos of their delivery on YouTube. New York Times

It’s surprisingly common for new dads to feel blasé about their babies. ABC News

The World Health Organization has raised the swine flu alert level to pandemic. CNN

Keeping the tradition alive: Why so many home-schooled parents choose the same education for their own children. The Philadelphia Inquirer

Missouri family shocked to find their Christmas card photo featured in a Czech advertisement. Yahoo! News

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Spankin' New Headlines

Whooping cough makes a comeback as parents skip vaccines. USA Today

As Sesame Street turns 40, a look back at the show that changed the face of children’s programming. Newsweek

If you’re pregnant and obese, you should only be gaining between 11 and 20 pounds, according to updated guidelines from the Institute of Medicine. ABC News

Mike Tyson's tragic loss highlights the need for parents to watch out for these hidden dangers in their homes. CNN

You probably know your baby’s Apgar store, but do you know anything about the doctor behind it?  Wall Street Journal

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Spankin' New Headlines

The strange forces behind your baby name decisions. Wired

Is it legal for parents to turn to religion rather than medicine for their sick kids? Mother Jones

Taking folic acid for a year before pregnancy can greatly reduce your risk of premature delivery, finds a new study. Los Angeles Times

Chicago takes a stance on BPA, becoming the first city to ban the questionable plastic in baby bottles. Chicago Tribune

Four in ten babies are born to single moms, finds new research from the National Center for Health Statistics. Washington Post

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Spankin' New Headlines

Temporary parents relieve mothers who need a hand to get their lives back on track.The New York Times

What hidden ingredients are lurking in supposedly healthy foods in your kitchen? The Wall Street Journal

The newborn brain: Why your baby is more aware of the world than you are. The Boston Globe

Some schools are thinking of cutting back to a 4-day week to deal with budget crunches. The Los Angeles Times

A bad economy breeds good neighbors: Experts are seeing an uptick in community activities and caring. The Washington Post

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Spankin' New Headlines

Baby-food lessons from chefs? Some parents skip the jarred stuff and get to work in the kitchen. Washington Post

How stressed you are might depend on what state you live in. CNN

10-years post-Columbine: What are schools doing about security? Wall Street Journal

Cash-strapped parents see value in investing in straight teeth for their kids. New York Times

Dealing with kids’ health decisions, no matter how small, can get tricky when parents are divorced. Washington Post

Bedbugs are on the rise and the Environmental Protection Agency is trying to figure out how to stop the pesky biting insects. AP

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Spankin' New Headlines

American kids need six days of school a week, 11 months a year, to compete with students in other countries, says U.S. Schools Chief. Salon

Teachers use pretend play and lessons in self-control to help preschoolers learn to behave. Wall Street Journal

Despite the economy, parents are making summer camp a priority. Chicago Tribune

Weight report card: Massachusetts schools are sending kids home with BMI readings to alert parents if they’re too skinny or fat. Boston Globe

Need a nanny? The pool is bigger this year, allowing parents to be super selective. Forbes

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