BabyCenter – Gwen Dewar, Ph.D.
“What were the biggest science news stories for parents in 2014? Some were sobering, like the results of this U.S. survey suggesting that most babies are sleeping with hazardous bedding. Other stories offered us fascinating insights into the way our children’s minds work. For instance, we learned that babies notice when we’re feeling stressed out by other people. We also learned that young babies – babies who don’t yet know how to talk – are engaged in some very deep thinking when they listen to us speak to them. When we talk back to babbling babies, we help them learn. But when I look back at 2014, there is another group of stories that stand out for their importance to our own health and well-being. There were studies suggesting we should stop feeling defensive about our parenting choices; research revealing the power of money to undermine our satisfaction with family life; and scientific confirmation about our crazy-making sleep schedules. So without further ado, I’d like to review my nominees for the five most empowering parenting science news stories of 2014 – the stories that should inspire us, reassure us, and remind us that we’re normal after all.”(more)