"We are so sorry for your loss." It's a phrase that is so often whispered with sympathy after a tragedy but when a miscarriage occurs—especially in the early stages of pregnancy—those words are too often absent. The sadness is genuine, but hidden. The loss is deep, but commonly minimized. That is set to alter in Britain.

In a major departure towards the support of such families, the government of Britain has reaffirmed that pregnant couples will now be able to claim bereavement leave in case of a miscarriage—an important recognition of the emotional strain pregnancy loss can place on people and families.

This historic move will alter the face of parental leave in Britain. As part of Labour's Employment Rights Bill making its way through its last stages in the House of Lords, parents will be entitled to at least one week of bereavement leave if they suffer a miscarriage prior to 24 weeks of pregnancy. Up to this amendment, bereavement leave was only available to parents who lost a child after 24 weeks or a child below the age of 18. This broadening of rights is a key aspect in developing a more empathetic workplace, giving grieving parents the crucial space they require in order to heal.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner stated the reform will give parents the space and dignity to mourn. It's a small but meaningful step towards a more empathetic workplace—one that recognizes the silent, unspoken suffering that parents bear after a loss which society encourages them to endure alone.

What the New Legislation Promises?

Today, there is up to two weeks' bereavement leave provided by UK law for stillbirths after 24 weeks' pregnancy or the loss of a child under 18. But parents who lose a baby in a miscarriage before reaching that milestone have no automatic legal right to leave.

The new amendment will give parents—mothers and their partners—to a minimum of one week's bereavement leave after a miscarriage before 24 weeks. The precise period and details will be decided after a proper consultation process, but the intent is evident: this sorrow counts, and it is worth acknowledgement.

The measure is due to come into force in 2027 as part of Labour's wider reform of workers' rights in England, Wales, and Scotland. As well as reforms such as widening entitlement to sick pay and a review of the parental leave system, it is a sign of a wider reassessment of how the UK supports working families.

Emotional and Psychological Toll of Miscarriage

To realize why this change in legislation is so important, one needs to recognize the staggering figures around miscarriages in the UK. In excess of 250,000 expectant mothers experience a miscarriage each year, with the rate of confirmed pregnancy loss estimated at between 10%.20% during the first trimester. Miscarriage is still the most prevalent type of pregnancy loss, and yet this subject is usually shrouded in societal stigma, causing feelings of shame and silence for the women who have experienced it.

But the numbers don't reflect the psychological damage. Women say it's shattering. It's not merely losing the pregnancy—it's losing the future. The hope. The self. And with the trauma often comes a paralyzing silence. Women's mental health is frequently compromised as a consequence of miscarriage, and many build enduring emotional issues that can impact their subsequent pregnancies and overall health. The emotional terrain can encompass grief, rage, guilt, and feelings of loss. The value of compassionate workplace policies cannot be overemphasized, providing lifelines in the midst of chaotic bereavement following the loss of a child.

Partners also mourn. Research indicates that fathers and non-gestational partners may also suffer from similar emotional pain, such as anxiety, depression, and feelings of powerlessness. Many must, however, be back to work the following day, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

With bereavement leave laws, the UK is finally acknowledging grief doesn't need a birth certificate to exist.

Labour MP and Women and Equalities Committee Chair Sarah Owen has been a long-time campaigner for this change. In a report in January, the committee made one thing plain: the case for change was "overwhelming."

Vicki Robinson, the chief executive of the Miscarriage Association, also hailed the announcement as "a massively important step" which recognizes not only physical recovery but emotional healing too. "It's not only the individual who's losing the baby. Their partner loses it as well," she told The Times.

Although some enlightened employers already provide miscarriage leave as an in-work benefit, the new law makes it a right for all—not a company fringe benefit.

Stillbirths, Miscarriage, and Global Health Gaps

The shift in Britain is contrary to trends elsewhere. Across the world, miscarriage and stillbirth are taboo. An estimated 2 million babies die each year, the great majority in low- and middle-income nations. But many of these deaths can be avoided through improved prenatal care, treatment for infection, and better conditions at delivery.

Even in wealthy nations, stillbirths are more often caused by inadequate care. And even though the size of the issue is substantial, most countries don't routinely track early pregnancy loss, hiding the real burden.

Cultural stigma also pushes mourning parents further into isolation. Miscarriage, in some societies, is viewed as a consequence of bad behavior, bad fortune, or even demonic intervention. The outcome? Silence. Isolation. And no support when it's needed most.

How Miscarriage Affects Beyond Physical Pain?

Emotional impact of miscarriage can be multifaceted and unpredictable. Grief, guilt, emptiness, anger, anxiety, and depression are the usual reactions. For most, these emotions do not subside soon—and for some, they never do.

Individuals who have had a miscarriage frequently report:

1. Grief over what might have been
2. Shock at the suddenness of the loss
3. Guilt or blaming oneself, even when unjustified
4. A feeling of failure or betrayal by their body
5. Isolation, particularly when very few others were aware of the pregnancy
6. Fear of becoming pregnant again in the future
7. Jealousy or resentment when other women make a pregnancy announcement

These feelings impact not only the woman who birthed the baby, but their partners as well—who might feel helpless and not know how to provide support.

Importance of Paid Bereavement Leave for Parents?

Granting dedicated leave following a miscarriage is not only a sympathetic policy—it's also a mental health protector. Leave allows grieving parents to express their feelings, receive support, and start to heal without needing to suppress their emotions in the workplace.

It shatters the culture of silence. In placing miscarriage into official law, the UK is sending a strong message: this loss is real, and you are not alone.

And the policy shift could set in motion a wider change. In the United States, for instance, there is no federal law mandating any bereavement leave—never mind after a miscarriage. As international scrutiny grows on family well-being and the mental health of employees, Britain's action can lead to similar changes elsewhere.

The miscarriage bereavement leave is an extension of Labour's wider agenda to update the UK's family support infrastructure. Ministers have already recognised that the parental leave system doesn't cut it for modern families.

Reform plans include considering an overhaul of maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave systems. There is also an emphasis on supporting mental health after pregnancy loss more comprehensively through NHS and work policies.

With the consultations looming, campaigners are optimistic that the end result will be legislation which captures the varied experiences of bereavement—multiple miscarriages, IVF experiences, and non-conventional family arrangements.

It's more than a week off. It's about validation, dignity and creating a society in which humans are permitted to grieve freely, without shame or guilt.

In today's time, screens are nearly impossible to avoid. From smartphones and tablets to televisions and laptops, they all have become an important part of our lives. For many families, especially with young children, screens are a regular part of daily life. However, a new study is sounding the alarm on what too much screen time during the early years might cost: a child’s language development.

Researchers have found that excessive exposure to digital screens can hamper the way children learn to speak and understand language. Sarah Kucker, a developmental psychologist at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, explains that children learn best through hands-on, sensory-rich experiences — something screens simply can’t replicate, as reported in HealthDay News.

Also Read: Inner Child: Being Left Out And Rejected In Childhood Becomes A Social Seed For Deeper Connections

Screen Time For Kids: Real-World Play Matters

“When learning a new word like ‘banana,’ for instance, it is important that a child can feel its texture and see it from all angles to understand that it’s 3D and has a distinct smell,” said Kucker. “Just seeing a picture of a banana or a quick cartoon video doesn’t give the same information.”

In other words, children need to touch, explore, and play with real objects to understand the world around them. That interaction is a key driver of early language and cognitive development. When screen time replaces these experiences, it can dull the richness of their learning environment.

How Much Screen Time For Kids?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screens altogether for children under 18 months, except for video chatting. For toddlers aged 18 to 24 months, high-quality programming with a caregiver present is encouraged. Children aged 2 to 5 should be limited to one hour of screen time per day.

Also Read: 1 In 8 Babies Born Premature In India, 17% Having Low Birth Weight— Health Survey Blames Air Pollution

Why Is Screen Time Bad For Kids?

Despite the warnings, Kucker doesn’t suggest banning screens entirely. In fact, certain kinds of screen time can support learning — especially when used socially.

“Video chatting with a grandparent, for example, helps kids learn back-and-forth conversations,” she said. “Two-person games like puzzles on a tablet can also promote listening, turn-taking, and language development.”

The key is how the screen is used. Passive watching — where children are just staring at a screen without engagement — offers little educational benefit. But interactive and social media can have positive outcomes when paired with real-life communication.

Recommended Screen Time For Kids

Know the why: Ask yourself why your child is using a screen. If it’s just to keep them quiet, try alternatives like sensory toys or calming techniques such as deep breathing.

Be social with screens: Engage in video calls or interactive games that require conversation and participation. Shared screen time encourages communication.

Also Read: New 'Frankenstein' Covid Variant Spreads Across 38 Countries: Unique Covid Symptom Surfaces In UK Outbreak

Choose interactive media: Look for apps and videos that ask questions or prompt your child to relate what they see to their real world.

Balance with real talk: Make sure your child hears a lot of words from real people. Even talking aloud while cooking, cleaning, or running errands can help build vocabulary and understanding.

As digital technology continues to shape our lives, it’s important for parents and caregivers to make mindful choices. While screens can’t be eliminated altogether, striking a balance is essential.

Children need more than passive visuals. They need conversations, textures, sounds, smells, and experiences to understand the world — and language — around them. And that kind of learning still happens best in the real world, not on a screen.

The first few months of a baby's development is a very important and stressful period of time for the parents. Having a newborn and tackling unfamiliar situations and problems while also worrying about the child’s well-being is a herculean task, too much to handle for a single person. That is why both mother and father must step up and support each other through this time and hence many parents take paternity leaves. These leaves allow parents to only focus on childcare and not work obligations.

Taking time off work when a baby arrives benefits both fathers and their newborns. However, a new study reveals that most dads still don't take much parental leave, often because they simply can't afford to. The research, published in Pediatrics, found that only 36% of new fathers took more than two weeks of leave, while a significant 64% took two weeks or less.

Financial Hurdles Prevent Longer Stays

This study, which tracked the health and behavior of fathers, surveyed 261 men in Georgia who had children in 2018 or 2019. Of the 240 employed fathers, roughly 73% took some parental leave. However, only about half of those had at least some paid time off, and 20% relied solely on unpaid leave. Nearly 43% of working fathers expressed a desire for more time off but couldn't take it, primarily due to financial concerns. Many cited the inability to afford unpaid leave, insufficient accrued time off, or the fear of losing their jobs.

Why Paternity Leave Matters

Experts agree that when fathers take time off after a baby is born, it's linked to better health for the infant and improved parenting skills for the dad. It's crucial for fathers to experience both the challenges and joys of being a parent. The best way for them to do this is to step away from work and spend time with their new baby without facing money worries or the stress of potentially losing their job. Supporting fathers in taking leave can have a significant positive impact on families.

Paternity Leaves Helps Father Adapt

According to Harvard Business Review, research confirms it helps fathers bond with their babies, aids in the baby's development, and strengthens the parents' relationship. But there's a powerful, lesser-known benefit emerging from new studies: it provides a unique form of brain training for fathers.

Paternal Brain Training

Parenting isn't simply an innate ability. While we've long known about the amazing changes a mother's brain undergoes to prepare her for caring for a newborn, new research shows that fathers' brains also transform. These changes happen even without the physical experiences of pregnancy and childbirth or the associated hormonal shifts. This "parental instinct brain training" is possible for all parents.

Over the past ten years, scientists have learned a lot about neuroplasticity, which is the brain's incredible ability to change its structure and how it works based on new experiences. Becoming a parent is a major time for the brain to adapt. Experts studying this shift emphasize that "fathers are made, not born," meaning spending time with infants is crucial for developing the fathering brain.

For dads, changes in their brains, triggered by their babies' cues, are directly linked to their connection with the infant. This suggests these brain changes actually prepare them for fatherhood. A key finding is that the most impactful brain changes come from active, engaged experience. No one is naturally perfect at being a parent from day one. It's the effort of fully engaging with the baby that drives these brain changes, giving dads the necessary tools to grow into their role over time.

Why Time with Baby Matters

Quality one-on-one time with your baby is crucial. More time spent alone with an infant leads to bigger brain changes, helping dads become better, more natural caregivers. A study comparing dads in California and Spain showed differences. Spanish dads, who often have more generous paternity leave, showed more brain changes related to focused attention. This suggests dedicated time acts like a "brain workout," preparing dads for parenting. Paternity leave essentially gives you a free brain-training program. The more you engage, the more your brain adapts, making you a more responsive parent over time.

Many people mistake picky eaters for kids who are just being difficult and do not wish to eat certain foods. While that could be the case, many kids who are picky eaters have sensory issues that cause them to physically dislike certain textures or tastes.

Many parents try to force their children to eat foods they do not like, thinking that by being strict they can ensure their child gets the proper nutrition they need. However, not only does this not work, but it can also discourage the kid from eating as they will quickly associate eating as an unpleasant experience. So, how does a parent ensure their kid gets the proper nutrition they need, while also making sure they feel safe?

There are many ways to help your child expand their food preferences, but one must know the causes and different ways you can encourage them to eat better.

What Causes Picky Eating In Kids?

According to a 2018 study published in the Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, picky eating is a very common challenge many parents face during their child's early years. There isn't one clear way to define or pinpoint it, and experts don't fully agree on the best method to identify a picky eater.

Early Feeding Problems

If a child experienced significant difficulties with feeding during their infancy, such as trouble latching or swallowing, it can sometimes set the stage for picky eating habits later in childhood. These early struggles can create negative associations with food.

Late Introduction of Lumpy Foods

Delaying the introduction of chunky or textured solid foods during the weaning period, when infants transition from milk to solids, can hinder their acceptance of different food consistencies. This might lead to a preference for smoother purees only.

Pressure to Eat

When parents try to force or excessively coax a child to eat, it often backfires. This pressure can make mealtime stressful and create resistance in the child, turning eating into a power struggle rather than an enjoyable experience.

Early Pickiness

If a child displays early signs of being particular about food choices, especially if their mother expresses worry or anxiety about these behaviors, it can sometimes escalate. Parental concern can inadvertently reinforce the picky eating.

What Can Help Prevent Picky Eating?

The study also gave some simple strategies can help in preventing or reducing picky eating behaviors:

Fresh Foods

Regularly offering a wide variety of fresh, wholesome foods exposes children to diverse tastes and textures from an early age. This consistent exposure helps them develop a broader palate and acceptance of different ingredients over time.

Family Meals

Eating the same meal as your child encourages them to try new foods by seeing you enjoy them. It creates a positive and shared mealtime experience, fostering a sense of belonging and making food exploration feel more natural and inviting.

Tips To Help Kids Overcome Their Picky Eating

Try it First

Children are great imitators! When you visibly enjoy a new food yourself, showing them how much you like it, your child is far more likely to feel curious and brave enough to give it a taste. Lead by example.

Make Food Fun

Transform mealtime into a playful experience by arranging fruits and vegetables into silly shapes or funny faces on their plate. This simple trick makes eating an engaging game, shifting focus from "having to eat" to enjoyable discovery.

Let Them Choose

Empower your child by offering a limited selection of healthy food options and letting them make the final decision. This sense of control often reduces resistance and increases their willingness to explore and try what they've picked.

Serve with Favorites

Always pair a new or less-preferred food with a comforting dish your child already adores. This familiar favorite acts as a safety net, making the new food seem less intimidating and more approachable when presented together.

Don't Waste Food

When you have small amounts of uneaten healthy food, instead of discarding them, freeze tiny portions. This clever strategy allows you to reintroduce the food later, reducing waste and providing more opportunities for exposure.

Be Patient

Remember that acceptance takes time; it's completely normal for a child to reject a new food multiple times before liking it, sometimes over ten attempts. Simply reintroduce it after a few days without pressure.