In 2016, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommended that all parents and caregivers share a room with their baby for at least the first six months of life and ideally, the entire first year of life. The recommendation came after the AAP looked at new research and data. According to their research, when parents share a room with their baby for six months to a year, the risk of SIDS goes down by up to 50 percent....
Is your child too young to play in a kid’s sports league? This is a dilemma faced by millions of Americans across the country. What is the right age to get your children started in sports? Kids sports are a ritual played out in millions of households across the States every weekend. Mom, Dad, the kids and maybe a grandparent or an aunt or uncle or two, all pile into the minivan and head on over to the local sporting fields for a fun day of soccer, baseball or another kids’ sport of choice....
Convincing your teen to ditch their phone and come dig in the flowerbeds with you may seem like a long shot, but if you provide the opportunity, the right tools, and encouragement, your teen might find they love gardening. If you’re worried about the time or space needed for gardening, know that a big yard is not necessarily required. Many plants—including fruits and vegetables—can grow in containers, on patios, or in community gardens....
If you have large breasts—whether they started out that way, or they got very big during pregnancy and the first few weeks postpartum—you may have concerns about breastfeeding. Breastfeeding with large breasts can be more difficult for first-time moms. It can be a challenge to find a comfortable position where you can see your baby’s mouth and your nipple, making it harder to get the baby latched on correctly. It can also be awkward and uncomfortable to hold your breasts and your baby, especially if you are in pain from the delivery....
Memory consolidation is the process where our brains convert short-term memories into long-term ones. Short-term memory tends to be quite limited in terms of duration and capacity. The human brain can only store short-term memories for about 30 seconds, so if you are ever going to remember anything, important information has to be moved into long-term memory. Memory Consolidation and Synapses In order to understand how memory consolidation functions, it’s helpful to understand how synapses work in the brain....
Ostraconophobia, or the fear of shellfish, is fairly common. For most people, this simply means a few minor dietary restrictions. In some cases, though, it can become life-limiting. Causes Shellfish phobias can generally, though not always, be broken down into a few common themes. Some people are deeply afraid of food poisoning, others of breaking religious dietary restrictions. In some cases, the fear is of the texture or taste rather than the food itself....
The winter season is in full swing and rates of several illnesses, including COVID-19, RSV, and the flu, have been on the rise. With many people hunkering down indoors, sickness has the opportunity to move around more swiftly, especially because heat causes a dry environment to do so. Key Takeaways A new study from MIT shows humid conditions indoors may help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. While the average humidity percentage is about 30 to 50 percent, researchers suggest increasing it to a 40 to 60 percent “sweet spot” to protect against COVID-19....
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), a yearly interview sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), provides the most accurate estimates of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use in America. According to the 2020 NSDUH findings, illicit drug use rates have increased, particularly due to trends in marijuana use and the abuse of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs. SAMHSA suggests using caution when comparing the results to past years, however, due partly to methodological changes....
If you are looking to keep your kids occupied, without spending any money, consider signing them up for an in-store class near you. Many big retail chains offer classes for kids that teach them how to build things, make crafts, cook food, enjoy storytime, and (in October, at least) carve pumpkins. Best of all, the classes are free and held at locations all across the country. Smaller local businesses likely offer some, too, so don’t forget to check local listings....
Chronic drinkers may appear to be healthy, but if they do become ill or injured, they may find it more difficult to heal. Alcohol consumption places stress on the hormone system and alter’s the body’s immune function. A Salk Institute study of laboratory animals found that long-term alcohol consumption can harm the body’s ability to respond to stressors like illness or injury. Too much alcohol can cause you to get sick by weakening your body’s defenses, the researchers claim....
Depression is a complex condition that affects individuals in a variety of ways, but people who have the condition aren’t the only ones who hurt. Family members are also affected when someone they love has depression. This means most people are close to someone who has experienced depression at some point during their lives. Unlike some other illnesses, depression isn’t always something you can easily spot. Unless they are willing to talk about how they are feeling, you may not even be able to tell that a loved one is depressed unless you are familiar with some of the common symptoms of the condition....
While certain age groups may be less vulnerable to the health effects of COVID-19, no group has zero chance of contracting COVID-19, and the global pandemic affects everyone of all ages and all walks of life. However, reports suggest generational differences in how people respond to this public health crisis. Key Takeaways Reports indicate that they are key differences in how different generations are responding to COVID-19.While older people are more susceptible to the complications from the coronavirus, it’s actually the younger generations that are most worried about someone getting sick....
There are many different types of scientific studies that give researchers information about the way the body ages. Since aging is a long-term process, longitudinal research is often employed to track a group of subjects for a defined period, usually years. These studies can involve observation or intervention. Scientists might use longitudinal research to answer questions about the effect of certain behaviors, like regular exercise or meditation, or foods – like chocolate or a Mediterranean diet, for example – on the long-term health of the participants....
Your child’s school backpack will probably be the hardest-working item in your back-to-school shopping. The backpack will be used every day to take items to and from school. It needs to withstand daily use including traveling to and from school, locker or cubby storage, and the rough treatment that children dish out on their belongings. Because it receives constant, daily use you need to know what to look for in a backpack....
If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), then you likely know that your PTSD symptoms can occur at any time and in any place. PTSD triggers are all around, and it may not take much for a trigger to cause intrusive memories and thoughts about a traumatic event, symptoms of hyperarousal and hypervigilance, or emotional distress. Therefore, given that the occurrence of PTSD symptoms can be unpredictable, it is important to create a safety plan for coping with them when they occur....
Spitting can be one of the most repulsive and frustrating behaviors children exhibit. Whether your child spits at you when you say something they don’t want to hear, or they spit on a friend who refuses to share, it’s important to curb the habit as soon as possible. Why Kids Spit Sometimes, kids just spit for fun. They may simply spit on the ground because they think it’s entertaining. If they get a reaction from anyone, it can make spitting even more fun....
‘Tis the season for runny noses, fevers, and germs everywhere: winter. As parents, we often dread the cold and snowy months. Whether it’s a cold, the flu, RSV, strep throat, or COVID-19, it’s usually the time of year when so many of our kiddos get sick. There are steps you can take to help your kids stay as healthy as possible through the winter. General Winter Health Tips for All Children Some germs will undoubtedly make their way into your home....
Awards Press Mentions For press inquiries, email us at press@verywellfamily.com. To learn more about our brand and recent awards, please visit our about us page. The 2021 MM+M Awards: Verywell Makes The Shortlist for Best Healthcare Consumer Media Brand Medical, Marketing, & Media 40 Under 40: The Next Wave, Featuring Verywell’s Caitlin Fulford Verywell wins Silver Award for Healthcare Consumer Media Brand Medical, Marketing & Media Three Verywell Team Members named Finalists in PM360’s Trailblazer Awards...
Assessing our collective mental health in 2021 can feel like an arduous task, especially when most of us are still processing 2020. After a year that cracked us wide open, many continue to struggle in putting the pieces back together. Key Takeaways Taking a moment to focus on this year’s advancements in the field of mental health can shift the spotlight off the stress and hardship of 2021.From easier open dialogue around anxiety and depression, to greater accessibility, the mindset around mental health is changing....
Infidelity is an obstacle that many couples face, something that has historically been viewed as a “man’s problem.” While men are still more likely to cheat than women, evidence suggest this gap is closing. Key Takeaways Research shows that men and women differ in how they view certain types of infidelity.Women tend to react more strongly to emotional infidelity, while men tend to be more upset by sexual infidelity. Men and women, however, have varying views on infidelity, whether they are the cheater or the one being cheated on....
