The science behind the AAP’s safe sleep recommendations
You've probably heard about the AAP's updated safe sleep policy by now, but you might have wondered about the evidence behind it. Here's some science to answer your questions.
Posts tagged ‘AAP’
Oct 28
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Are the Ingredients in the Newborn Vitamin K Shot Safe?
The newborn vitamin K shot prevents rare but potentially devastating vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB). If you're concerned about the ingredients in the shot, I've investigated the science behind each one so that you can understand why it's included in the shot and why it's safe for your baby.
Starting Solids: 4 Months, 6 Months, or Somewhere In Between?
When is the best time to introduce your baby to solid foods? I sort through the research to find out.
What To Do About Babies and Peanuts: New Study Finds Early Exposure Can Prevent Allergy
A recent study found that feeding children small amounts of peanut products in the first 5 years of life can prevent the development of peanut allergy. Here's what you need to know.
Sep 26
Bed-sharing with Young Infants: Is It Safe After All?
A recent study concludes that bed-sharing may be safe, even in young infants, provided the baby sleeps in a bed (rather than a couch or chair) with a non-smoking parent who hasn't had more than 2 alcoholic drinks.
Oct 24
TV, Tots, and Tired Parents: The Backlash to the AAP’s TV Policy
Earlier this week, I wrote a blog post about the American Academy of Pediatrics’ new guidelines for TV use in kids under 2 years old. I intended that piece to be a brief summary of the new guidelines and the research that the AAP used to support them. I didn’t think about these guidelines as being controversial.
However, as the media and the blogosphere got wind of the new guidelines, I found article after article questioning them – calling the AAP out on making a recommendation without solid science and blaming them for creating the next round of unwelcome parenting guilt. Read more
Oct 19
Babies and TV: New Media Use Guidelines from the AAP
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new policy statement on media use by children under 2 this week. The new guidelines are based on more than 50 studies of TV* time in babies and toddlers.
How much TV do infants and toddlers in the U.S. watch these days? The AAP cited several surveys that found that TV is a big part of the daily lives of our youngest children:
- Among kids under 2 years old, 90% of them watch 1-2 hours of TV per day.
- A staggering 19% of babies under 1-year-old have televisions in their bedrooms. This figure rises to 29% for 2 to 3-year-olds.
The AAP “discourages media use by children younger than 2 years.” They recognize that babies and toddlers will be exposed to some TV in today’s world, but they recommend that families try to limit TV time as much as possible – including both TV designed for kids and “background TV.” The policy statement describes the research behind this recommendation and gives some alternatives to TV time. Read more
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