Article
Biology
Samuel Schafer, Felicia Sundling, Anthony Liu, David Raubenheimer, Ralph Nanan
Summary: The study examines the relationships between maternal factors, offspring sex, and prenatal and postnatal weight gain, revealing that maternal ethnicity impacts postnatal weight gain differently in male and female children, and parity and mode of feeding influence weight velocity in female but not male offspring. The findings suggest an increase in maternal resource allocation to consecutive offspring after a male firstborn, potentially mediated by breastfeeding. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of breastfeeding on infant growth and metabolic/cardiovascular diseases, with implications for tailoring infant formula according to sex and birth order.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Oliviero Bruni, Lourdes M. DelRosso, Maria P. Mogavero, Marco Angriman, Raffaele Ferri
Summary: This paper reviews the limitations of current classification of insomnia in early childhood and proposes a new conceptual model to better understand its pathophysiology. The authors hypothesize that chronic insomnia of childhood has different phenotypical expressions associated with different pathophysiological mechanisms. Based on their research and evaluation of a large number of children with specific insomnia symptoms, they describe three phenotypes of insomnia in early childhood, each with different therapeutic implications. This categorization may have important implications for treatment, based on the different hypothetical neuro-transmitter dysfunctions.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2022)
Review
Nursing
Jessica M. Johnson, Ellise D. Adams
Summary: The etiology of infantile colic is still unknown, but disruptions to the microbiome colonization of the gastrointestinal system may play a role. Infants with colic have increased colonization of gas-producing bacteria and lower colonization of anti-inflammatory bacteria. Understanding the natural resolution of colic can help identify better treatment approaches.
MCN-THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MATERNAL-CHILD NURSING
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Miaobing Zheng, Sandrine Lioret, Kylie D. Hesketh, Alison Spence, Rachael Taylor, Karen J. Campbell
Summary: This study identified three trajectory groups of LPs and BMI z scores in early childhood, with maternal prepregnancy BMI, dietary pattern, and TV-viewing time being identified as significant determinants.
Article
Family Studies
Niamh Oeri, Claudia M. Roebers
Summary: This study examined the differential effects of deprivation and threat experiences in infancy on pre-academic skills in early childhood. The results showed that chronic adversity exposure, particularly, posed a potential risk for development across domains of cognition and emotions.
CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Anh N. Nguyen, Astrid W. B. van Langeveld, Jeanne H. M. de Vries, M. Arfan Ikram, Cees de Graaf, Monica Mars, Trudy Voortman
Summary: The study evaluated dietary taste patterns in early childhood and found that at age 2, taste patterns were more varied and intense, similar to patterns observed in Dutch adults. Factors such as maternal socioeconomic characteristics and feeding practices were associated with dietary taste patterns in young children.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Julia Jaekel, Kati Heinonen, Nicole Baumann, Ayten Bilgin, Riikka Pyhala, Christian Sorg, Katri Raikkonen, Dieter Wolke
Summary: Multiple or persistent regulatory problems in early childhood are associated with a higher risk of mood disorders in adulthood. Social support from peers and friends may provide protection from mood disorders, but only for individuals who never had regulatory problems.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Amy Loughman, Thomas Quinn, Monica L. Nation, Amy Reichelt, Robert J. Moore, Thi Thu Hao Van, Valerie Sung, Mimi L. K. Tang
Summary: Infant colic is a condition with unknown cause that can cause distress for caregivers and difficulties in attachment. Recent studies have found a link between gut microbiota and infant colic, with specific probiotics showing potential efficacy in treatment. Research has shown that certain taxa within the gut microbiota are associated with the severity of colic, and that the composition of the microbiota can predict future crying time with up to 65% accuracy.
JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL ORIGINS OF HEALTH AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Ineke de Kruijff, Ellen Tromp, Mijke P. Lambregtse-van den Berg, Arine M. Vlieger, Marc A. Benninga, Yolanda B. de Rijke, Erica L. T. van den Akker
Summary: The study found that parents of excessively crying infants had significantly lower hair cortisol concentrations compared to parents of non-excessively crying infants. Hair cortisol concentrations were not associated with negative feelings in all parents, but showed a positive association with stress and depression in the control group. There were no differences in hair cortisol concentrations between infants in the ECI group and the control group.
Article
Pediatrics
Ineke de Kruijff, Moniek S. Veldhuis, Ellen Tromp, Arine M. Vlieger, Marc. A. Benninga, Mijke P. van den Berg
Summary: This case-control study found that parents of babies with infant colic showed significantly higher levels of stress, depression, anxiety, and bonding problems compared to parents of control infants. These differences were particularly pronounced in fathers, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing paternal feelings in the treatment of infants with colic.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomas A. Auchtung, Christopher J. Stewart, Daniel P. Smith, Eric W. Triplett, Daniel Agardh, William A. Hagopian, Anette G. Ziegler, Marian J. Rewers, Jin-Xiong She, Jorma Toppari, Ake Lernmark, Beena Akolkar, Jeffrey P. Krischer, Kendra Vehik, Jennifer M. Auchtung, Nadim J. Ajami, Joseph F. Petrosino
Summary: By analyzing stool samples of infants and young children, the authors found that there are changes in fungal composition and abundance at weaning, but overall fungal diversity remains relatively constant over time. Fungal composition is influenced by geography, diet, and the use of probiotics. The study also showed subtle fungal differences between children who developed autoimmune diseases and those who did not.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Allergy
Ju Hee Kim, Eun Kyo Ha, Seung Won Lee, Hye Ryeong Cha, Hey-Sung Baek, Man Yong Han
Summary: This study found that low birth weight, high BMI during childhood, and the interaction between BMI during childhood and weight change during infancy are associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Eystein Victor Vapenstad, Brynulf Bakkenget
Summary: This paper discusses the importance of infant participation and communication, calling for a deeper understanding of how pre-linguistic children express their intentions. It emphasizes the concept of intersubjectivity in reframing the idea of children's participation.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Binu S. K. Singh, Marina Danckaerts, Bea R. H. van den Bergh
Summary: Excessive crying and sleep problems can impact up to 30% of infants, and addressing these issues requires a focus on both the infant's regulatory problems as well as the parental self- and co-regulatory responses. The implementation of an infant mental health day-clinic treatment has shown promise in reducing stress for both infants and parents, improving outcomes through interdisciplinary and integrative interventions.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
M. Pia Chaparro, Christopher E. Anderson
Summary: The study found that early childhood dietary patterns were slightly better among children who were fully breastfed as infants compared with children in other infant feeding groups. There is room for improvement in the diets of all children participating in the WIC program.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)