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NPR Topics: Children's Health

NPR reports on children's health and medical news including health insurance, new treatments for diseases, and child product safety recalls. Subscribe to the RSS feed.

As Kids Grow Older, Egalitarianism Honed A study in Nature shows that egalitarianism begins to appear in most kids between ages 3 and 8. Scientists who studied 229 Swiss children found that at age 3, 9 percent were willing to share candy with another person. But by age 8, that number rose to 45 percent. Treating Iraqi Children For PTSD The war in Iraq has had a severe impact on the country's children. More than 650 children were reported killed there last year. Iraq's children also have been the victims of kidnapping, torture and rape. A clinic for children suffering post-traumatic stress disorder is opening this month in Baghdad. Should Babies Get Own Plane Section? 10,000 people voted to create a separate section for parents with babies and small children on the bargain fare Web site, Airfare Watchdog.com. The Web site's creator discusses the feasibility of such an idea. When Adoptees Know Their Biological Mother More families are undergoing "open adoptions," meaning children remain in contact with their birth mothers after joining their new families. Findings published in the Journal of Family Psychology confirm that these adoptions are changing the definition of "family." Municipalities Struggle To Adequately Train Social Workers In light of the Danieal Kelly case, Tammy Linseisen, a professor at the University of Texas in Austin, and Debra Schilling Wolfe, of the Field Center for Children's Policy at the University of Pennsylvania, talk about training and supporting social workers, and other staff charged with keeping vulnerable children safe from harm. The Risks Of Early Gymnastics Michael Sokolove discusses his new book, Warrior Girls: Protecting Our Daughters Against the Injury Epidemic in Women's Sports. Sokolove believes pushing young girls to train and compete for sports, including gymnastics, can have serious health effects. Should You Teach Baby To Sign? Baby sign language is appealing to some new parents. Books, Web sites, DVD's teaching babies to sign all claim to encourage language development and strengthen the parent-child bond. Dr. Sydney Spiesel says, don't believe the hype. In Ohio, Inmate Mothers Care For Babies In Prison Women are currently the fastest growing segment of the prison population in the United States. The Ohio Reformatory for Women meets this expanding population's unique set of demands with an in-house nursery. High Temps On Turf Fields Spark Safety Concerns Schools and coaches love artificial turf because it's easy to maintain, and the field stays in great shape all year. But the air around synthetic turf can reach 160 degrees on a 90-degree day. New York City has canceled contracts for turf that contains recycled tires, because of concerns that the rubber adds to the heat-absorbing effect. What's The Best Remedy For A Bad Sunburn? Though your first instinct may be to apply aloe vera, dermatologist Paula Moskowitz has another suggestion, and it's something you're likely to have around the house. Weigh Prostate Screening Recommendations A federal task force says doctors should stop routine prostate cancer screening of men over age 75 because there is more evidence of harm than benefit. Talk to your doctor about these recommendations and pick your screening tests wisely. Is It Safe To Fly With Babies? It's long been thought that it's not healthy for babies to fly on airplanes. The risks come from the cabin pressure and lack of oxygen. New research suggests that most babies would be just fine in the sky. Banking Umbilical Cord Blood The latest in high-end purchases for new parents: paying a company to save and store your newborn's umbilical cord blood. The blood could save the child's life in the event of some kinds of cancer and other illnesses. Some companies charge up to $2,000 plus annual maintenance fees for this service. What Is All The Fuss About Chemicals In Toys? House and Senate lawmakers have said they took a step toward banning some types of phthalates, a family of chemicals found in many soft children's toys. So what are they, and why should (or shouldn't) parents be worried? Why Do Sick People Go To Work? Unhealthy Fear In a survey of people in Florida and Ohio, about half of the people polled reported they'd gone to work while sick during the past year because they feared the financial consequences of staying home.