Health & Parenting News & Features

Parents who take refuge in their smartphones when their kids throw a tantrum may, in the long run, make matters worse, a new study suggests.

While the researchers only found an association, rather than a cause-and-effect link, they determined that 2-year-olds exposed to this kind of parenting ended up less able to regulate their own emotions and behavior by age 5. That upped the risk for emotional problems at age 10.

The survey revealed that 74 percent of respondents did not approve of spanking, and 78 percent said spanking never or rarely leads to better behavior.

While most parents said they would report a ride operator who appeared impaired by alcohol or drugs, less than half said they would report a ride operator who used a cellphone while operating a ride.

Among parents who smoke cigarettes, pot use increased from 11 percent in 2002 to over 17 percent in 2015, the researchers found.

In general, parents were more lenient about letting their own kids see that kind of violence, versus "unjustified," random violence.

The annual rate of exposures skyrocketed by nearly 1,400 percent from 2012 to 2015, then fell by 20 percent from 2015 to 2016, the researchers said.

The new review looks back at more than 40 investigations conducted worldwide between 1991 and 2016. It concludes that -- like other types of addiction -- internet gaming disorder is a complex condition that arises when fun morphs into a loss of control, turning into an obsession.

The study found that 2-year-olds who engaged in a physical activity -- like crawling through a tunnel or playing ball -- did better on a test of mental flexibility than did toddlers who were left to play video games on their own.

When the children in the program were evaluated a year and a half after the program ended, they maintained the behavior and attention skills they gained during the program, Mendelsohn said.

In their crash tests with several rear-facing seats, all of the seats were effective when used correctly, the investigators found.

The study is the first to link newborn heart defects to heart disease in moms. And experts said the reasons for the findings are unclear.

Graco is recalling a highchair exclusively sold at Walmart for a potential fall hazard.

Sexting between teenagers is increasing with the widespread use of camera-equipped smartphones and computers, said Sheri Madigan, lead researcher of the new report.

Access to firearms in a home triples suicide risk among family members and doubles their risk of being murdered, according to a 2014 evidence review that combined data from 16 previous studies.

Facebook should scrap its Messenger Kids app because it could pose health and development risks, 19 groups say in a letter to be sent Tuesday to Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

A description of the survey methodology for the WebMD/Medscape survey "Preparing for College: The Mental Health Gap."

Teens are more stressed and anxious than in the past, yet their parents will send many off to college with little thought about the mental health issues they might face while there, according to a new WebMD/Medscape survey.

There have been 39 reported cases of teens intentionally ingesting laundry pods during the first 15 days of 2018, poison control center statistics show.

Analyzing data from the states, the CDC found that parents continue to practice unsafe habits that have been associated with sleep-related infant deaths, including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Middle school is when many kids start using smartphones, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Before your child leaves for college, make sure he knows how to make appointments, who to talk to when he's struggling, and who can access his medical history.

When your child leaves for college, your role changes. Here are some things to watch for as your teen starts a new chapter.

A good communication plan between you and your teen can be key in easing their college adjustment. Discuss how often and for how long you'll talk going forward.

Preparing your child for life on their own is about much more than just book smarts. Here are the things you should focus on to get them ready for their new life.