Reality Shot
Only 68% of two-year-olds in NJ have received childhood immunizations. Data provided by Advocates for Children of New Jersey showed there was a 12% decrease in the number of New Jersey children who had been immunized between 2006 and 2010.
Autism's Cry
Can a baby’s cry lead to early diagnosis of autism? Maybe, says a study published in the journal Autism Research. Voice samples collected from 6-month-old babies showed that infants considered at risk for autism had a rougher quality cry that was also higher and extremely varied in pitch. Experts caution parents to not evaluate their own child’s cries.
Healthful Choices
Parents in the US take more responsibility for their children’s nutrition than their own, say representatives from the Food Information Council Foundation. A recent survey conducted by the group found nearly 70% of parents admitting such.
Excuse Me
3 reasons to keep your child home from school, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ healthychildren.org:
• Fever
• Not well enough to participate in class
• Contagious to other children
IronKids App
Worried weight lifting is dangerous for your child? The American Academy of Pediatrics’ IronKids app offers a 45-minute workout to help kids safely build strength and balance while improving overall fitness. Sports medicine physician, Jordan D. Metzl, MD, offers detailed workouts designed to assist budding young athletes build the upper and lower body and core while avoiding injury.
D for Dental Health
Vitamin D can do more than strengthen bones—it can actually prevent tooth decay, according to a recent review of past clinical trials. Researchers analyzed clinical trials from the 1920s to the 1980s that studied the effect of vitamin D on the teeth of children, ages 2–16, and found the vitamin did appear to promote mineralization of teeth.