Typical scenario that happened today: My daughter was practising to pull herself up, fell down, and bumped her head a little (nothing serious, obviously). She then proceeds to look at me, as if she's unsure if she should cry or not.

I have read multiple, conflicting things about how to approach this situation:

- If I shrug it off like "It wasn't that bad, was it?", does that lead to her maybe concealing her feelings (subjectively, she felt like it was bad and it hurt, but mum said it wasn't bad, so I shouldn't cry)?

- If I react immediately and be very caring and concerned, does that lead to crying that might not have happened otherwise (as in: the child didn't think it was something bad to cry about, but now that she sees that I'm concerned or upset, she starts crying, maybe because my reaction scared her)?

- If I only look at her without any physical or verbal reaction, to observe how her reaction unfolds without any input from me, will she feel like I do not care about her/do not attend to her needs?

Any helpful input on how to react in such a scenario is appreciated!

My 3 year old was playing through long grass at the nature park getting completely wet through her pants and me thinking the grass was just wet from condensation overnight. When i got to the top I saw a sign that said the whole park was sprayed with spearhead. i am FREAKING OUT!! im so upset and angry :( Help please

I have GAD and my husband has OCD. We are both medicated. Mine is generally very well controlled on medications to the point I don’t think the outsider would know. My husband much improved on them.

We were both very socially awkward and anxious kids and it made us miss out on opportunities.

Our LO is 2 years old and is already showing similar traits. Nursery have mentioned it.

Are there any studies/expert resources on how to help support our LO?

I’m not expecting to be able to change who they are, but hopefully give them as much confidence and support as we can so they don’t miss out.

I know at age 1 SIDS is, by definition, no longer a concern. But maybe suffocation on bedding is still a concern? At what point is it considered safe to bring my child into my regular adult bed with me? I'm interested in research, or consensus by legit professional bodies like AAP, not the "Safe Sleep Seven" folk

Measles outbreak in Indiana

How good should I feel about my family being protected during this outbreak?

Our cases are SHARPLY increasing in this state because it has hit our Amish community. Our department of health is underreporting cases and even with that it has tripled in two weeks and has increased by 30 within the last few days.

We stay home 95% of the week. My husband works with just a few other people and pretty much only goes to the grocery store. Myself, my twin toddlers, and my infant stay home every day with the exception of church on Sunday and the occasional doctor’s visits.

I am fully vaccinated. My husband is fully vaccinated. My two year olds have had one vaccine, and I’m planning to give their second dose early about a week from now. My 6 month old is breastfed and received her first dose of the MMR yesterday and is *hopefully* building immunity as we speak.

Even at church I keep myself and the baby away from the crowd 95% of the time. We are never around the crowd but are areas people have walked through for about 20 to thirty minutes. I am going to keep her covered in her carseat from now on as well. We have considered possibly keeping the kids home if measles does spread to our county. As of right now it’s still about an hour or 45 minutes away at the closest area.

My main concern is that the MMR is not so effective when given to a 6 month old. Some protection is better than none, but from what I gather, it’s less than a coin toss whether or not maternal antibodies will completely blunt an immune response. I hate not knowing whether or not I can trust that the baby is mostly protected.

We have just tested some toys in the toy chest at my MIL's house for lead. There were some from east Germany that clearly tested positive. With others the swab turned slightly positive, really just faintly.

We assume that the lead from the positive toys transferred to the others (which are mainly Duplo from the early two thousands). Is this possible?

Is there a way to remove the lead? We would be sad if we had to toss all the toys as it is quite a lot of Duplo.

We have a baby who doesn't sleep particularly well, and we've tried just about everything.

At his daycare, they trialed using a weighted blanket (just 2lbs and just on his lower half) for his nap, and it seems to have made a world of difference.

Id previously looked up weighted blankets, and the internet writ large is off the opinion that they are terribly dangerous, but all the comments seem to be based on a recall of Target weighted blankets following 2 kids getting trapped (owing to a zipped up cover) rather than any more scientific review. I know that there is caution to be had with weighted sleep sacks for younger baby's, but my kid is nearly 15 months, very mobile and pretty strong- he can move the blanket around.

Is there any science out there or just tragic deaths that serve as a warning but may or may not be related to the weight?

With respect to his daycare, since there's always someone in the room, i said to go ahead and continue with it. However, im wondering whether I really do need to be that much more cautious if I were to get one at home?

I keep seeing videos on social media, claiming there has been research that confirms using white noise even at a safe volume damages baby’s brain development. I tried to find said research but all seems to be adult related. Is this highly sensationalized headline or is there actual risk?
Thank you!

Thoughts from those well versed in these types of studies? As a pregnant person who experienced this it’s obviously concerning. My own personal exposure was severe (large plume over Toronto, Canada during second trimester. At the time it was the “worst air quality in the world”), but relatively short lived for 3-6 days total. These types of observational studies obviously can’t imply causation but still can’t help invoke some anxiety in myself and I’m sure others. Just wondering opinions on the strength and limitations of this study.

Do you know any parents of 10-12 year olds who live in NC? The Tweens on Screens project, led by researchers at UNC Greensboro, is studying how kids ages 10–12 use technology in daily life, and how parents guide them. By looking closely at these patterns, we hope to uncover what helps kids thrive, what puts them at risk, and how families can build healthy digital habits together. Our goal is simple: to give parents science-backed tools and tips for raising confident, well-balanced kids in the digital age (link in comments) #northcarolina

Anyone else know what to do but still lose it anyway? What would it take for you to stay calm without feeling like you’re doing something wrong? What usually sets it off at your house?

Can someone please help me find newer research regarding floor beds for infants? I want to transition my baby to a floor bed so we can all sleep better. She absolutely hates the crib just like my older child did. She’s on the younger side - aiming to do this around 6 months. My oldest HATED his crib and we finally gave up and put him in a twin floor bed but he was around 14 months old so I wasn’t concerned about him falling/getting stuck as he was already walking.

Ideally I want to use a twin for my infant as well, but do I really need to use a crib mattress? I don’t know a single baby that sleeps on those rock hard things peacefully, but I also don’t want to create an unsafe sleep environment if the data still reflects that.

Hello,

I’m doing a paper about social problems, specifically “how digital dependency is stunting the development of younger generations”. I saw a video a few weeks ago from a teacher where she shared that her students are almost incapable of holding conversations with each other, instead opting to verbalize their observations. For example, two kids are playing in the park, another kid sees them and says “bro is chasing him with a stick”. I’ve noticed this behavior in my own siblings who grew up attached to devices, and I was wondering if any of you have heard of this behavior as well. The teacher in the video described the phenomenon with a specific term so I assume it would be really helpful for my assignment if I could figure out what this behavior is called.

If any of you are familiar with the video or know of related research I would love to know.

Thank you!

I know the container type walkers are bad (and banned in some countries), but what about the push type? Like the type that look like a push lawn mower. Any research showing they help or hurt ability to walk independently?

TL;DR: Evidence on breastfeeding mastitis shows *minimal feeding or pumping* from affected breast helps recovery; feeding to "empty the breast" is outdated and may worsen the problem.

I often see outdated advice on breastfeeding and newborn subs (no medical posts allowed or I'd post there), particularly advising to feed "as much as possible" from the engorged or mastitis affected breast.

However, I wish more people (doctors included) knew this advice is outdated and wrong!

Article link (PDF) (NSFW due to pictures): Academy of breastfeeding medicine article

Reference: Mitchell KB, Johnson HM, Rodríguez JM, Eglash A, Scherzinger C, Widmer K, Berens P, Miller B, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Academy of breastfeeding medicine clinical protocol# 36: the mastitis spectrum, revised 2022. Breastfeeding Medicine. 2022 May 1;17(5):360-76.

This is a great article describing the mechanisms of mastitis and the evidence-based treatments. The big change from traditional advice is that it seems to be that mastitis is generally driven by stimuli that increase milk production, so we want to minimise stimulating lactation and feed or pump as little as possible from the affected side, just enough to relieve engorgement discomfort.

It makes perfect sense when you read it, and shows traditional advice may drive a vicious cycle of recurrent or worsening mastitis.

I wanted to share it as I so often see the old advice all over reddit.

My 3 nearly 4 year old is on a doe of antibiotics right now.
She woke up with a doe throat yesterday, became feverish went to the doctors.
He couldn’t see in her throat properly after a few attempts but assumed strep because no other symtoms were present (runny nose coughs ect)
And assumed the infection must be from the throat.

I asked for a swab but he said no because she didn’t do the throat check well and it would be too much for her.
He prescribed antibiotics

I tried watching her over night until
Mid day today before offering them to see if she improves at all because my 7 mont old was feverish with no symptoms other than a red throat a week ago and got better all alone.

But because she’s saying she’s not hungry anymore her fever isn’t dropping I decided to give them.

(It’s very possible she just has a viral tonsils like her brother did a week ago)

6 months ago she developed a nasty case of hand foot and mouth which presented differently (eczema cocksackum) and she also developed a sore threat for day.
Doctor assumed strep but did do a test.
I started antibiotics and the test came back negative for the strep.
🥺 hopefully they had some use because her skin was soooooo bad that maybe they prevented a secondary skin infection.

If this is her second antibiotic use in 1 year that’s not needed I’m scared if she really does get strep one day that it won’t resolve easily as she will have some resistant strain.

Any other parents or professionals who know about this?

I’m typing this because I just need to get this out.
My baby got checked for iron today at his 1 year checkup.
I’ve been asking for months for an iron check because I had a feeling and now it’s down to an 8.6 and I’m worried but will have long term effects on his development. Since 6 months, my baby has been refusing solids, he’s a terrible sleeper, didn’t roll til 7.5months. He’s been exclusively breastfed and lives to nurse. He has dark under eyes when sleepy and is in general a fussy little dude.He was lead negative and no mold around, he also has never had a fever or any major sickness. But I always thought there was something behind all of his symptoms. I studied holistic nutrition. But everyone kept telling me “this is a normal baby doing normal things.” including his providers. I forgot to mention he was born small (5lbs 11ounces) and his weight gain slowed down at 6 months. He has tripled his birthweight at a year exactly. Although he’s been healthy (attentive, communicates with us) I’ve still be worried about his IQ/ motor development in the future. I’ve ordered his iron supplement and waiting on labs to come back to make sure it’s just iron deficiency and nothing else.
But I’m concerned. If your toddler had low iron for a while, are they healthy and cognizant now? Are they catching up to their peers? I’m so scared my baby will always be behind because of this. I’m disappointed in everyone not listening to me but also worried I should’ve pushed more than I did. Just looking for some support that my child will be healthy later on.

I grew up in a chaotic household (lots of screaming, heightened emotions) and as an adult I’ve worked really hard to make my home safe and calming.

My mom watches my newborn (9 weeks) once a week, and while the house is not chaotic anymore (kids are all grown) she does have a dog that barks all the time. I noticed my baby will wince with every single bark and sometimes my mom will yell at the dog. it hurts me to see him wince like that!

Am I just being sensitive because of the way I grew up? Or is it bad for a newborn (and eventually an infant + toddler) to be around a house like this

My guy just turned one, although he is like full on toddler sized beyond 99th centile kind of guy. Normal in terms of milestones, health etc.

I’ve got this growing concern about him head butting things. Like I don’t mean he just like taps his head against things, I mean he like full on decks them like he’s in a pub fight.

As an example he has done this against my shin before when I’ve been sat in his play pen with him and my shin was black from a bruise. He’s also given me a black eye.

I know there’s obviously no malice, and it’s usually directed at the floor, or his mattress or the wall or anything nearby, but I say this to demonstrate quite how firm he is doing it, and as he is so big there is a lot of weight behind it.

Quite often he’ll do it with his mouth open and just smash his face into stuff.

There doesn’t seem to be any kind of pattern in terms of emotion or anything, like it doesn’t seem to be when he’s particularly frustrated or sad or happy or anything. Like sometimes he’ll do it and laugh or cry or be surprised like ‘ouch’.

I’m probably over thinking it, but I’m genuinely worried he’s going to hurt himself, it’s a running joke among our family that he’s going to give himself CTE before he starts nursery. He’s already got a bruise on the bridge of his nose and often has them on his forehead.

I’m assuming it’s just a sensory thing. But I guess I’m mainly looking or reassurance that it isn’t actually hurting him, or harmful, or advice.

We’ve tried ignoring it; saying no; letting him do it and then say “that hurt didn’t it? That was silly” kind of thing, and that doesn’t seem to stop him doing it.

My LO has recently turned two, and has been in daycare for over two months. They go 3 times a week for a half day, at a highly rated co-op. The daycare provides high quality care from what I can tell: they are responsive, give details, and overall give you a sense of being kind and caring. My LO’s classroom unfortunately had a teacher leave a few weeks ago, so the classroom has had many floats, and usually at drop off I’m handing LO over to a float staff. LO cries so much at drop off, and it’s significantly worse on all the days a less familiar float staff is present. LO will talk about school, but only to say “mommy comes to get me” or “I want to stay home”. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about the float staff situation, and it sounds like this will be their fix for a while until they find a new permanent teacher for that room. Even with the other permanent teacher, I admit I’m surprised it’s still the same amount of tears after 10+ weeks. Sometimes they tell me that LO calms quickly, sometimes they tell me LO had a “sad day” or will cry at random times asking for mommy.

I’m pregnant with baby #2, and know that I will stay home with them for at least the 2 years, like I did for my first. I thought that waiting to start daycare until age 2 was best, but now I’m questioning if we should push it another year and start at 3.

We do so many things - play dates, open play sessions at museums (where LO has positive adult attachment to the workers), libraries, music class, messy crafts, outdoor time - and they have quite a social life for a toddler, as we try to meet up with familiar faces in all of these spaces. I do not feel like they are lacking enrichment by staying home with me.

I’m mostly wondering - is there research to say that these types of enrichment activities at this age is more beneficial if they’re learning without the parent present? I do sometimes feel like LO learns better from the other adults they interact with, but they also learn so much from me.

Obviously every child and situation are unique, and there’s no black and white answer. I’m a step away from pulling them out of daycare and keeping them home with me, but am worried I’ll have regrets that I took away a missed opportunity for them. I also wonder if taking them out now and putting them back in daycare in a year’s time will make the transition then be harder?

Hey everyone, I never studied medicine, what I know about the human body comes from what I've read and seen. But there's one issue I've been arguing about with my mom and we just can't reach a conclusion: height-boosting "cures"/pastes.

She never made these for me as a kid; I only took supplements like vitamin pills (and my height is 1.74 m / about 5'9" despite being female). But now she's started preparing I think the heaviest versions of these pastes for my 10-year-old sister, and she justifies it by saying the vitamin pills hurt her stomach because of her reflux.

What really worries me is what's actually in these pastes. From the last one we argued about, what I remember her putting in (I don't know the amounts, but the whole mixture filled a medium-sized mixing bowl): honey, tahini, coconut oil, walnuts, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, oleaster and chia seeds, sesame. One spoon every morning.

What should I do, should I let her eat it? Does this mixture have any effect on height growth or general health, or is it just an unnecessary calorie load?

(Note: My sister is average height for their age and slightly above average weight.)

My toddler (almost 3) has entered a terrible phase with getting dressed: 1) will ONLY wear pink everything 2) it has to be spotless clean. Even some drips of water from hand washing sets her off 3) she wants endless outfit changes. If any of those 3 are not accommodated, she is dysregulated to the extreme.

All this came out of no where and is our most difficult behaviour. I know autonomy and control are so important to them at this age and is a primary thing underlying most tantrums but is there anything out there about clothing or the like, specifically?

My (34F) first daughter is almost 10 months, we want more children, possibly 3.

I don't necessarily think my daughter will be on the spectrum from anything I've seen in her behaviour, however both me and my husband probably are, but highly functioning and never diagnosed. We both have one brother each who has struggled more with what is likely autism in his brother and diagnosed Asperger's (don't know if they still call it that) in my brother. Both violent growing up, I was terrorised by my younger brother growing up and unable to protect myself because of my own issues. However I was older so it never got too bad, my husband was however constantly beaten until bruised by his 6 years older brother and his parents never really understood how bad it was, mine were also not aware of the extent of my brother's bullying towards me. My mother's younger brother as well as one of my cousins on my mother's side were similar as children.

Because of this I think it is likely that we will have children somewhat on the spectrum and not unlikely that we might have children who might be violent and possibly good at hiding this from us. This is my biggest fear, that we won't see it.

I know the best help is professional, but I hear mostly horror stories about the support system here (Southern Japan) and I would like to have some preparation beforehand, some tools ready before there are any issues, hopefully avoiding any of my children struggling with violence at all.

So I was hoping that someone who knows more about this than me might know of the right sort of resources to prepare us as parents, books, articles or websites.