Usually, I don't get these science, news, and political stories designed to ruin your parenting weekend together until much later in the day. But given today's freakout roundup, I figured it's never too early to start:
- "A 16-year-old mother who tried to strike a police officer with a baby stroller, with her [2-yo] child inside, was charged with aggravated assault in Lebanon, police say." No stroller brand details were released. [pennlive.com via dt crime correspondent ponch]
- After a couple of decades in decline, teen pregnancy rates began increasing again in 2005, says a new CDC report. [cdc.gov/mmwr]
- We already know living near the freeway causes preeclampsia. Now a study in Pediatrics finds that living near the BQE during pregnancy lowers kids' IQ by 4-5 points. And being born to mothers who didn't graduate from high school has absolutely nothing to do with it, I'm sure. [ap/yahoo via dt sr freakout correspondent sara; abstract; theawl.com]
- Poor black moms who "experienced physical abuse as a child" are 50% more likely to "practice infant spanking (IS)," which is not abuse, just showing those kids who's boss. []
- A population study in Rotterdam found a link between a dad's depressive symptoms during pregnancy and "Excessive infant crying, or infantile colic...which can ultimately result in child abuse." Or as we call it in America, "giving the kid a reason to cry." []
- A Kentucky family's dog dragged their newborn baby out of his crib and took him outside. The dad had to chase the dog for 10 minutes to recover the kid, who is in critical condition, duh. [msnbc/ap via sara]
- "Click for related content: In many states, young kids may hunt alone." Or be hunted. [msnbc.com]
- Buster Brown and the CPSC announced the recall of 1.4 million Cars-, Transformers-, and Barbie-themed Crocs knockoffs because of a choking hazard. Consider the full refund as a "Get out of horrible, played out trend free" card. [cpsc]
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