U.S. Infant Mortality Increased in 2022 for the First Time in Decades

The infant mortality rate in the United States rose in 2022, the first jump in 20 years, according to data released Thursday by the U.S.

 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 20,500 babies died in 2022 before the age of 1, final records show. Overall, there were 5.6 infant deaths for every 1,000 live births, a 3% increase from the year before.

Infant mortality in the U.S. has been generally trending down since at least 1995 when consistent tracking started, but rates are still much higher in the U.S. than they are in many peer nations. There have been some small upticks over that time, but 2022 was the first time there was a statistically significant increase since 2002, according to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

Experts say that any increase is cause for concern.

Mom’s Type 1 Diabetes Might Shield Her Children From the Disease

U.S. News & World Report reported:

Having a mom with type 1 diabetes might provide long-term protection against the condition in children, a new review finds. This protective effect is suggested by the fact that a child is almost twice as likely to develop type 1 diabetes if their father has the condition than if their mother does, researchers reported Friday.

The findings were presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Madrid.

Exposure to type 1 diabetes in the womb probably is conferring some protection to kids, said lead researcher Dr. Lowri Allen. She’s with the Cardiff University Diabetes Research Group in the U.K.

Surgery Overused for ‘Tongue Tie’ Issue That Stops Babies From Breastfeeding, Experts Say

U.S. News & World Report reported:

Surgery is being overused to correct breastfeeding difficulties in infants, a new report says. A growing number of newborns are being diagnosed with ankyloglossia, also called “tongue-tie.”

Tongue-tie restricts the tongue’s range of motion in a baby. An unusually short or tight band of tissue holds the tip of their tongue close to the bottom of their mouth, making it difficult for them to latch on or suckle during breastfeeding.

The condition can be treated through a simple surgery that snips the band of tissue, a procedure called a frenotomy. But most breastfeeding problems can be managed without resorting to surgery, according to a new clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Kids From Poorer Families Less Likely to Survive Cancer

U.S. News & World Report reported:

Children from poor families are less likely to survive cancer, particularly if they are not white, a new study reports.

A childhood cancer patient’s risk of dying within five years of their diagnosis increases by 4% for every one-point increase in their neighborhood’s Area Deprivation Index (ADI), researchers found.

Results also showed that non-white children had an increased risk of death from cancer.

Screens, Tweens and Sleep: Study Uncovers Tips for Better Rest

U.S. News & World Report reported:

Turning off smartphones is an important step in making sure tweens get the sleep they need, a new study says.

Leaving a phone ringer on is associated with a 25% higher risk of sleep disturbance among tweens ages 11 and 12, according to a new report published July 22 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

“Our research found that leaving notifications on, even in silent mode, leads to less sleep compared to turning the phone off completely or keeping it outside the bedroom,” said lead researcher Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Tweens also can improve their sleep by cutting the internet out of their bedtime habits, results show. Using social media, chatting on the internet, playing video games, browsing the web or streaming video all are associated with less sleep, researchers found.

Kids and Smartphones: How Young Is Too Young? Experts Reveal Important Recommendations

Fox News reported:

Those giving parenting advice often mention setting limits on kids’ screen time. So, what is the appropriate age to give children their own smartphones?

This question isn’t as simple as it seems, according to Dr. Joshua Stein, child and adolescent psychiatrist and clinical director at PrairieCare in Minnesota.

Granting your child a smartphone should be a “thoughtful and considerate decision” based on the child’s “maturity, development and impulsivity,” Stein suggested.

Fox News Digital also spoke with Titania Jordan, chief parenting officer at Bark Technologies in Atlanta — who recommended that parents “wait as long as humanly possible” before introducing smartphones.