Sleep loss is linked with weight gain, but why? Experiments suggest that sleep restriction prompts kids to seek out sugary snacks and drinks. Does sleep loss make kids crave sweets, gain weight? - PARENTING SCIENCE parentingscience.com/does-sleep-los…

Mothers and young children are at elevated risk for iron deficiency. Learn about iron absorption, and how to improve your iron status by making smarter dietary choices. Boosting iron absorption: A guide to for the science-minded parentingscience.com/iron-absorptio…

Research confirms that we experience more stress the day after a poor night's sleep. The effects might be especially noticeable for parents struggling to care for multiple children while holding down a job. parentingscience.com/poor-sleep-int…

Recent studies reveal how toxic stress “gets under the skin” — disregulating hormones, turning genes “on” and “off,” and altering a child’s brain: parentingscience.com/how-toxic-stre…

Adverse childhood experiences ("ACEs"): What are they, and how much harm do they cause? - PARENTING SCIENCE parentingscience.com/adverse-childh…

Many children experience insomnia symptoms, and new research suggests that most kids are at risk for long-term sleep troubles. How do experts define insomnia? Who is at higher risk? And what can we do to prevent lasting sleep problems? parentingscience.com/do-kids-grow-o…

An evidence-based guide to common potty training problems, including child anxieties, resistance, refusals to defecate, accidents, and more. parentingscience.com/potty-training…

Flavors in breast milk? From the food that mothers ingest? Yes, it really happens, and babies can taste the difference. It might even affect their food preferences later in life. parentingscience.com/flavors-in-bre…

These preschool dinosaur activities foster learning, observation, imagination, pretend play, and problem-solving. parentingscience.com/preschool-dino…

Do kids tell prosocial lies -- falsehoods motivated by politeness or compassion? Yes, but it depends on a child's cognitive development, emotional savvy, cultural training, and "agreeableness." parentingscience.com/children-tell-…

Young dinosaur enthusiasts can learn surprisingly sophisticated concepts about biology and natural selection. Use your child’s interest in dinosaurs to teach lasting lessons about science. parentingscience.com/dinosaurs-for-…

Can babies sense stress in the people who care for them? Yes, they can. And babies don’t just detect our tension. They are negatively affected by it. parentingscience.com/can-babies-sen…

Can babies tell when parents are fighting? Studies suggest they can. parentingscience.com/can-babies-tel…

When one family member is stressed, it can disrupt the entire family. How is stress transmitted, what are the effects of family stress, and what can we do to cope? parentingscience.com/family-stress/

Could prenatal learning prompt babies to develop a liking for carrots? Or junk food? Or the flavor of alcohol? Experimental studies suggest that it's possible. parentingscience.com/prenatal-learn…

There are facts about gun violence that everyone should be able to accept. If we can find this common ground, we can make the world safer. Stopping gun violence: What can we do to protect our children? parentingscience.com/gun-violence/

When do babies say their first words? Most babies can say at least one or two words by the end of their first year, but the timing may vary considerably from individual to individual.parentingscience.com/when-do-babies…

Research suggests that playful, age-appropriate musical training can help babies learn language-related skills. PARENTING SCIENCE parentingscience.com/can-musical-tr…

Babies possess amazing learning abilities. But to master language, they need our help. We can support language development by engaging babies in conversation, and by providing them with a variety of special cues and communicative experiences. parentingscience.com/how-to-support…

Science suggests we can soothe a crying baby to sleep with a few minutes of walking…and waiting. How does it work, and why?parentingscience.com/how-to-soothe-…