Pediatricians' group reaffirms support for gender-affirming care amid growing state restrictions
The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed its support for gender-affirming medical for children as the treatments face a growing push for bans and restrictions across the U.S. The board for the group unanimously reaffirmed its 2018 position on the treatments.
New childhood obesity guidance raises worries for eating disorder experts
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics 2023 publication on childhood obesity treatment, โthere is compelling evidence that obesity increases the risk for comorbidities and that weight loss interventions can improve comorbidities.โ
Safe sleep guidelines updated for 1st time in 6 years; experts take stance against popular at-home monitors
Approximately 3,500 infants die from sleep-related infant deaths every year in the U.S. Thatโs a substantial decline since the 1990s before parents were instructed to sleep babies on their backs.
Texas State Teachers Association urging Gov. Abbott to allow school districts to mandate masks when students return
The Texas State Teachers Association has called on Gov. Greg Abbott to withdraw the prohibition of masks and to allow school districts to require masks when students return back to school.
New guidelines address rise in opioid use during pregnancy
Opioid use in pregnancy has prompted new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics, aimed at improving care for women and newborns affected by their mothersโ drug use. โWhile we have been talking about the opioid crisis for years, pregnant women and their newborns seldom make it to the top of the heap. The academyโs report says pregnant women should have access to opioid medication to treat opioid misuse. Two opioids, buprenorphine and methadone, are effective treatments but pregnant women often face stigma in using them and doctors who prescribe them are scarce. Some infants born to women who used opioids during pregnancy develop symptoms of opioid withdrawal, including tremors, fussiness and diarrhea.
What to consider before class begins if your child has chronic health problems
HOUSTON โ Parents are asking about the health and safety of children, particularly those with chronic conditions. Charisma Garcia, MD, pediatrician with the Texas Childrenโs Health Plan the Center for Children and Women, said the benefits of in-person school exceeds the risk of COVID in most children. โIt offers a safety net, mental and physical health care screenings, it provides families with meals, time for exercise,โ Garcia said. However, Garcia said parents of children with chronic health conditions should consider if school will be a safe environment for them. So, they are going to be touching the mask and putting more germs on the mask than if it just wasnโt there,โ Garcia said.
More than 300 children in Texas day cares have caught COVID-19, and the numbers are rising
The University of Texas Child Development day care center in Austin on April 6, 2020. Eddie Gaspar/The Texas TribuneAlthough COVID-19 transmission rates nationwide among children have appeared to remain relatively low, more than 300 children at Texas child care centers have tested positive and the numbers are rising quickly. As of June 30, there were 950 reported positive cases of COVID-19 307 children and 643 staff members at 668 child care locations. About 1.1 million Texas children were in state-licensed and registered home day care centers before COVID-19 struck. Several child care centers have closed during the pandemic, with others reporting a drop in the number of children attending.
Academic, mental and physical benefits of in-person school outweigh virus risks, pediatrics group says
The group, which represents and guides pediatricians across the country, updated its back-to-school recommendations to say evidence shows the academic, mental and physical benefits of in-person learning outweigh the risks from the coronavirus. "The AAP strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school," the group said on its website. "The importance of in-person learning is well-documented, and there is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closures in the spring of 2020. The AAP's recommendations come as states nationwide unveil their plans for getting America's 56 million school children back to school in the fall. "In some situations there will be no problem for children to go back to school," Fauci told CNN earlier this month.
Can parents safely relax screen time rules during the pandemic?
BOSTON The World Health Organization and American Academy of Pediatrics weighed in with screen time guidelines. They were designed to help families ensure young kids were getting enough time for healthy pursuits like physical activity and sleep, but with families at home during the pandemic, should parents relax those screen time guidelines? Radesky explained, I dont want families to feel guilty that theyre not meeting some perfect plan of how to use media. Prior research has found that parent engaged screen time like family video chatting with grandma is beneficial for children. If you binge one day and its just what you needed, you can peel back, the next, Radesky explained.
Checklist for first day of school
The first day of school can be an exciting, stressful and chaotic day for parents and students. To help your son or daughter get off to a good start, make sure all of the necessary preparations have been made. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking the following steps before the first day of school: