This Works. 5 million youths are diagnosed with ADHD, which involves hyperactive behavior, inability to pay attention, and impulsivity. A simple diet low in fats and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is one of the best alternatives to drug therapy for ADHD. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements (found in fish) may be beneficial. Avoiding high sugar foods may be an improvement. Some children may benefit from the elimination of additives, preservatives, colorings and certain food types. Diet may also help if: Children suffer medication reactions or treatment failure, Parents or children want to try dietary modifications or Mineral deficiencies are evident.

Pediatric Study: 'Healthy' Diet Best for ADHD Kids

www.medpagetoday.com

Fast foods, sodas, and ice cream may be American kids' favorite menu items, but they are also probably the worst for those with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a new literature review

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Vitamin D may be successful in promoting good fetal brain growth. Children born to mothers with low vitamin D were twice as likely to have significant language problems at ages 5 and 10. Vitamin D has "a signaling role in neuronal differentiation, a regulation role in the metabolism of neurotrophic factors and neurotoxins, and a protective role during brain inflammation." Correct levels of vitamin D may also help and improve the heart and give us many other health benefits. But excessive doses are not advised.

Medical News:Kids' Language Skills Tied to Mom's Vitamin D - in Pediatrics, General Pediatrics from.

www.medpagetoday.com

Pregnant women with low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels may be more likely to have children who develop language difficulties, an Australian study showed.

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Arsenic in the soil accumulates in brown rice. Baby’s Only Organic Dairy Toddler Formula and Baby’s Only Organic Soy Toddler Formula, both made by Nature’s One, provide arsenic levels that are far above the EPA standard for drinking water. Cereal bars containing rice syrup or other forms of rice gave arsenic levels two to 12 times higher than the allowable limit. In infants, these levels could be toxic. Parents may want to avoid infant formula and cereal bars containing brown rice syrup.

Medical News:Arsenic Found in Infant Formula, Energy Bars - in Primary Care, Diet & Nutrition from M

www.medpagetoday.com

Many manufacturers have turned to organic brown rice syrup but in the process may inadvertently have introduced high levels of arsenic into their products.

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Parental age at conception does not affect the child's life expectancy or health. There is no effect of maternal or paternal age on survival for either sons or daughters. There is no link between parental age and subject frailty in old age.

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Doctors are treating foster children’s behavioral problems with the same powerful drugs ( Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa) given to people with schizophrenia and severe bipolar disorder. Children in foster care receive psychiatric medications at about twice the rate of children outside the system. “We simply don’t have evidence to support this kind of use, especially in young children.” “There’s enormous anguish because everyone knows that this is not what we should be doing for these kids."

Antipsychotic Treatment Among Youth in Foster Care

pediatrics.aappublications.org

Objective: Despite national concerns over high rates of antipsychotic medication use among youth in foster care, concomitant antipsychotic use has not been examined. In this study, concomitant antipsychotic use among Medicaid-enrolled youth in foster care was compared ...

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Acupuncture is safe for children. The results seen in children who are treated with acupuncture at U.C.L.A. “are as good as the results we get in adults.” “Most families found acupuncture pleasant and helpful, even for pain that had been very resistant to standard treatment.” The results support those from adult studies, which have found that acupuncture is safe when performed by appropriately trained practitioners.

The Safety of Pediatric Acupuncture: A Systematic Review

pediatrics.aappublications.org

Context: Acupuncture is increasingly used in children; however, the safety of pediatric acupuncture has yet to be reported from systematic review.

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Obese children who manage to get to a healthy weight before they reach adulthood have the same risk for heart disease and other obesity-related diseases as kids who were never overweight. But 80% of obese children become obese adults, and their risk for heart attacks, stroke, and diabetes is much higher than their normal-weight counterparts.

Medical News: Heavy Kids Aren't Doomed to Heart Disease Risks - in Pediatrics, Obesity from MedPage.

www.medpagetoday.com

Being heavy in childhood doesn't guarantee an increased risk of heart disease in the long run, provided children lose weight as adults, researchers found.

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Breastfeeding and immunization protect babies against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) but bumper pads don't. Half of SIDS deaths involved infants placed in nonsupine sleeping positions, and 71% of the deaths involved unsafe sleeping surfaces. Babies should sleep on their backs on a firm crib mattress in the same room as the parents. Side sleeping is unsafe. Supervised awake-time spent on the tummy is recommended.

Medical News: AAP: New SIDS Guideline Says No to Bumper Pads - in Meeting Coverage, AAP from MedPage

www.medpagetoday.com

BOSTON -- Breastfeeding and immunization protect babies against sudden infant death syndrome but bumper pads don't, according to updated guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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Half of children's car booster seats don't fit properly. Booster seats raise kids up so adult-size safety belts fit properly. Children in booster seats are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash than those using only seat belts. "The best protection is not provided by 'a booster' but by 'the right booster'." "Make sure the lap belt lies flat across a child's upper thighs and the shoulder belt crosses snugly over the middle of the shoulder."

31 Booster Seats Recommended In 2011 In USA

www.medicalnewstoday.com

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has included a record 31 booster seats designated Best Bets - these seats position a safety belt on an average 4 to 8 year old child in virtuall

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This works. Adenoidectomy doesn't decrease the number of colds and sinus infections in children. Children don't feel better, have shorter infections, or resolve ear complaints better after surgery. Surgery doesn't cut down on otitis media episodes or related office visits, prescriptions, or days with symptoms. "The incidence of upper respiratory infections (naturally) declines with age."

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Each year 3.3 million babies die in the first four weeks of life - despite the existence of proven, cost-effective interventions that could save these lives. "We know that solutions as simple as keeping newborns warm, clean and properly breastfed can keep them alive." Two thirds of newborn deaths are preventable. America's newborn death rate is equal to that of Croatia or Qatar.