Health & Medicine
Toddlers tend to opt for the last thing in a set, so craft your questions carefully
Two-year-olds demonstrate a verbal quirk that makes their answers less reliable.
Growth Curve
The inexact science of raising kids
We summarize the week's scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.
More Stories in Growth Curve
- Health & Medicine
In the third trimester, a pregnant woman’s sense of personal space grows
Women’s sense of personal space grows to accommodate a larger belly during pregnancy, a small study suggests.
- Health & Medicine
Probiotics don’t help puking kids, two large trials suggest
Parents might want to spend their money on ginger ale and Jell-O instead.
- Health & Medicine
Many babies are crummy sleepers, confirming what millions of parents already know
A new survey suggests that lots and lots of babies aren’t sleeping through the night. The results may prompt new parents to lower their expectations.
- Health & Medicine
Don’t spank your kids. Do time-outs and positive talk instead, pediatricians say
A pediatrician group recommends against spanking children — ever — and points instead to positive reinforcement and time-outs to cool off.
- Health & Medicine
Marijuana use among pregnant women is rising, and so are concerns
Pediatricians are urging caution as data show more pregnant women are using marijuana. More research is urgently needed on the drug’s effects during pregnancy.
- Health & Medicine
40 years after the first IVF baby, a look back at the birth of a new era
Like many scientific breakthroughs, IVF took persistence and luck in the lab.
- Health & Medicine
No matter their size, newborn stomachs need frequent filling
Studies on newborn stomach size help explain why the tiny humans need to eat so frequently.
- Health & Medicine
How to help your toddler be helpful (with caveats)
Even very young toddlers like to help, a social skill that’s linked to later success in school and life.
- Health & Medicine
There are benefits to prenatal yoga, but lingering questions remain
Prenatal yoga offers benefits to pregnant women, but a bigger and more rigorous body of research is needed.
