When babies refuse food, it does not raise eyebrows. It is quite a common sight. In fact, some babies are picky eaters, while others take time to transition from milk to solid. However, this is the case of baby Eli, also reported in the Washington Post, who persistently refused weight, started losing weight and was diagnosed with something life threatening.

Jessica Dizon, his mother, as the Washington Post reports knew something was wrong. Eli had always been a good eater when it came to breastfeeding, so his rejection of solid food at four months wasn’t an immediate cause for alarm. However, as months passed, his aversion to food intensified. He gagged at the sight of a spoon, choked when attempting solids, and even refused formula. By the time he turned one, Eli was not just refusing food—he was regressing developmentally, losing weight, and becoming increasingly lethargic.

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A Growing Concern

Eli's pediatrician initially also reassured Jessica that there is nothing to worry about as babies do take a lot of time to adjust to solid food. Jessica was recommended patience and occupational therapy to help with the feeding. However, the therapy didn't work and Eli continued to reject food. He also became increasingly weak and started waking up frequently at night to breastfeed. It felt like he was trying to compensate for a nutritional deficit that he or his mother did not know existed.

Jessica, juggling work and three children during the pandemic, grew increasingly anxious. Her baby wasn’t just a picky eater—he was deteriorating. At 10 months, she took him back to the pediatrician, who finally ordered a blood test. The results were shocking: Eli was severely anemic, with dangerously low vitamin B12 levels.

The Cause Of Deficiency

Vitamin B12 is essential for brain development and the production of red blood cells. While deficiencies are more common in the elderly or in those with strict vegan diets, they are rare in infants—except in specific cases like Eli’s.

Eli’s B12 levels were almost nonexistent, but the bigger mystery was why. Typically, breastfed infants receive enough B12 from their mothers unless the mother herself is deficient. That’s when an essential clue emerged—Jessica’s own medical history. At 14, she had been diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disorder affecting the thyroid. Unbeknownst to her, Hashimoto’s can lead to another autoimmune condition called pernicious anemia, which prevents the body from absorbing B12. Without realizing it, Jessica’s body had been unable to pass the necessary vitamin to her baby through breast milk.

Once the diagnosis was clear, Eli received immediate B12 injections within 24 hours. The way his body reacted was incredible. Just with one injection, he stopped vomiting, regained his energy, and began eating solid food. His developmental milestones, which had been stalled for months, quickly caught up. Jessica, too, started B12 supplements and noticed an improvement in her own health, which had been declining unnoticed for years.

Eli’s case, later documented in a medical journal, highlights a crucial yet often overlooked issue: B12 deficiency in breastfeeding infants. Research suggests that many women with autoimmune thyroid diseases may unknowingly develop pernicious anemia, leading to undiagnosed B12 deficiencies in their babies. Pediatricians, Jessica’s included, admitted they had never encountered such a case before.

Not too long ago, it was parents who sighed at their children’s screen time. Now, increasingly, it’s children who plead for their parents to put the phone down. Whether at the dinner table, playground, or during bedtime stories, the modern family dynamic is shifting — and not always for the better.

From Helicopter to Half-Present Parenting

There’s a name for the phenomenon: “technoference.” Coined by researchers at the University of Wollongong, Australia, the term refers to digital distractions that interfere with family interactions. Their recent review of 21 studies — spanning 10 countries and nearly 15,000 participants — shows how significant this interference has become.

When parents frequently check phones or scroll through social media around young children, the impact can be deep and far-reaching. The review found consistent associations between parental phone use and weaker cognitive skills, more behavior problems, and greater screen dependency in kids. In other words, distracted parenting could be stunting a child’s emotional and intellectual growth.

“When parents frequently engage with screen-based devices in the presence of their children, the children’s efforts to interact or seek attention may be met with delayed, dismissive, shallow, or absent responses,” the researchers noted.

The Numbers Behind the Trend

The data is alarming. According to the University of Wollongong study:

• Over 70% of parents use their devices during meals or playtime.
• 89% check their phones at least once during parent-child interactions every day.

Children with such distracted caregivers are more likely to show anxiety, aggression, withdrawal, and attachment issues.

The issue goes beyond missing out on a moment — it may be shaping a child’s development in subtle but serious ways.

A Role Reversal

The generational shift is further emphasized by a Common Sense Media survey that highlights how teenagers are increasingly worried about their parents' screen habits — and are even pulling back themselves. According to the 2023 survey:

• 52% of parents felt they spent too much time on mobile devices (up from 27% in 2016).
• Only 39% of teens felt the same (down from 61%).
• 45% of parents now say they feel “addicted” to their phones.

Interestingly, while mutual concern about screen time has grown, actual arguments about it have declined. Parents and teens are fighting less, even as both silently resent the other’s screen habits. As Michael Robb, senior research director at Common Sense Media, put it, “It’s a really weird finding.”

Why It Matters

Beyond the cognitive and emotional toll on children, parents themselves are affected. Device use before bed, waking up to check phones, and constant alerts are interfering with adult sleep patterns, stress levels, and relationships — leading to a more disconnected home environment.

In experimental settings where researchers interrupted parent-child interactions with phone calls or messages, toddlers responded with visible distress — showing more negative emotions and trying harder to regain attention.

What Can Be Done?

Experts aren’t asking parents to ditch tech altogether — rather, they recommend setting firm boundaries. This includes:

• Device-free dinners
• No phones during bedtime routines
• Co-viewing digital content instead of isolating screen use
• Creating “sacred spaces” (like bedrooms) where phones are off-limits

For families hoping to reconnect, these small steps can make a big difference. In a world of infinite scroll, a few uninterrupted minutes with your child could mean everything.

As tech continues to evolve, so must parenting. The challenge is not just managing our children’s screen time — but also managing our own.

There is a concerning trend among mothers in the United States—a sharp decline in mental health that has escalated as a public health issue. A study released recently in JAMA Internal Medicine shows that since 2016, 64% of American moms say their mental health has taken a serious downturn. Not only is this erosion of their emotional well-being but also of their physical health. Incidentally, fathers have not seen this same precipitous decline, and this reflects a gendered gap in parental health that needs to be addressed immediately.

The long-term study polled a staggering 198,417 mothers between the ages of 17 and their children, monitoring their self-assessment mental and physical health status from 2016 to 2023. They answered on a scale of four—excellent, very good, good, and fair/poor. The findings were dramatic: the proportion of mothers stating "excellent" mental health fell from 38.4% to a mere 25.8%, while the number marking their mental health as "fair/poor" rose from 5.5% to 8.5%. This is equivalent to a 63.6% relative improvement in mothers with the worst mental health status over seven years.

Physical health, though less affected dramatically, was also in decline. The proportion of mothers reporting "excellent" physical health fell from 28% to 23.9%, and while the "fair/poor" physical health category remained fairly stable, incremental declines in well-being were apparent. Importantly, the research identified that minoritized racial groups reported significantly higher levels of poor physical health than non-Hispanic White mothers, highlighting the additive impact of racial inequalities on health.

Who is Most Impacted?

The evidence revealed stark inequalities among the population of mothers. Mothers with lower levels of education, uninsured or publicly insured children, U.S.-born mothers, and single parents reported poorer physical and mental health outcomes compared to their peers. These indicators point towards socioeconomic issues and institutional hindrances being intricately linked with the mental illness epidemic in American mothers.

Single mothers, in particular, shoulder a disproportionate burden, frequently balancing economic pressures, child caregiving responsibilities, and meager social support. The precipitous decline in mental health within this population is staggering, with far-reaching consequences not only for the mothers but also for children and families.

Fathers' Mental and Physical Health

In a marked contrast with mothers, fathers indicated improved overall mental and physical health across the duration of the study. Although there were modest declines among male parents too, their self-ratings of "excellent" health were still significantly higher. For instance, just 4.5% of fathers rated "fair/poor" mental health in 2023, as opposed to 8.5% of mothers. This difference seriously questions the social and cultural expectations put upon mothers and the resources at their disposal.

Why Moms Are Struggling The Most?

Experts say a variety of factors are behind the decline in mental health of mothers. The demands of juggling work, parenting, and domestic duties have grown more onerous in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic especially amplified these stressors, with added childcare demands, home-schooling, and employment insecurity falling most heavily on women.

Additionally, expectations from society continue to put many of the caregiving and emotional labor responsibilities on mothers. Without systemic support in the forms of paid parental leave, affordable childcare, and accessible mental health services, these pressures are exacerbated.

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General through 2023, has characterized parental mental health as "a serious public health concern" and urged concrete assistance for parents who were "pushed to the brink." His words demonstrate increased agreement among health officials that more than awareness is needed to address this crisis—action is demanded.

The research results struck a chord on social media platforms such as Reddit, where several mothers recounted their own experiences. One of the commenters bemoaned the absence of care from society for the mental health of women, providing examples of strict policy measures that affect reproductive choices and healthcare provision. Another noted the glaring correlation between the lack of mother support in a nation and the consequent deterioration in mental health.

These responses underscore a shared sense of frustration and draw attention to the urgent need for policy reforms and systems of support within communities that acknowledge and reduce the singular burdens of mothers.

5 Ways To Enhance Mental Health Among Mothers

While systematic change is necessary, personal methods to enhance mental health can provide momentary relief for numerous mothers. Evidence-based practices include:

1. Prioritize Sleep

Sufficient, quality sleep—preferably 7-9 hours per night—is essential for mood stabilization, cognitive functioning, and stress reduction. Consistent sleep habits should be prioritized by mothers even in hectic lifestyles.

2. Establish Strong Social Connections

Friend and family support decreases isolation and promotes emotional resilience. Peer groups or parenting networks can be a vital source of experience-sharing coping.

3. Practice Mindfulness and Stress Reduction

Mindfulness strategies, such as meditation, slow breathing, and physical journals, keep mothers centered and calm by concentrating on the here and now instead of anxious thoughts about their future.

4. Be Active Routinely

Exercise increases endorphins, which enhance mood and minimize symptoms of depression and anxiety. Even just moderate daily movement can be beneficial.

5. Get Professional Help

Therapy, counseling, or psychiatric treatment can provide individualized interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or medication when necessary, to stabilize mental health.

The study’s authors emphasize the urgent need for targeted investments to identify and tackle the root causes of mental health decline among U.S. mothers, especially those in low socioeconomic groups. Policies promoting paid parental leave, expanded childcare services, affordable healthcare, and mental health coverage are critical steps toward reversing this trend.

Additionally, workplace flexibility, stigma reduction, and community-based support programs can create environments where mothers feel supported rather than overwhelmed. The mental health crisis for U.S. mothers is not a short-term problem, it is an enduring public health crisis with far-reaching consequences that cascade through families and society.

As a kid, the first day at school could be really anxiety-inducing, an emotional rollercoaster, of course. From saying goodbye to a parent to navigating the unfamiliar sights and sounds, it could altogether be an overwhelming experience. However, could something as subtle as a ceiling design help?

A recent study suggests that improving acoustics in preschool classrooms—specifically by reducing noise—can have a calming effect on children and improve their ability to speak and listen.

The Impact of Sound on Preschoolers

The study, led by Ikuri Matsuoka, a master’s student at Kumamoto University in Japan, focused on how sound-absorbing ceilings influenced young children during indoor activities. The research was presented at a meeting of the Acoustical Society of America held in New Orleans.

According to Matsuoka, most classrooms in Japan lack any kind of sound-absorbing materials. “My motivation was to make people aware of the importance of acoustics in classrooms,” Matsuoka said. “In Japan, there are no standards or guidelines for acoustic design of preschool and school classrooms.”

This lack of attention to classroom acoustics can have a significant impact. Many preschoolers are still developing their language skills, and noisy or echo-filled environments can make it difficult for them to communicate effectively. Such conditions can also increase stress levels, leading to more frequent crying or even louder talking as children try to be heard.

A Sound Experiment

To explore the impact of soundproofing, Matsuoka and the research team installed polyester fiberboard—a sound-absorbing material—on the ceiling of one preschool classroom. They then compared this classroom with another that had no such acoustic enhancements.

Over six months, the team used video and audio recordings to track how loudly children spoke and how often they cried. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning tools helped analyze the data without the need for constant manual observation.

The results were clear: children in the classroom without soundproofing were significantly louder. Teachers were also interviewed four times during the study. Three out of four noted a noticeable difference in sound quality. One veteran teacher with 25 years of experience even remarked that she felt more comfortable talking to children in the treated classroom.

A Call to Action

“Our research shows that reduced reverberation can mitigate noisy environments and promote clearer communication for children,” Matsuoka said.

The study offers a compelling case for educators, architects, and policymakers to consider acoustic design when planning learning environments for young children. While findings presented at conferences are considered preliminary until published in peer-reviewed journals, the research highlights an often-overlooked factor that could significantly improve preschool experiences.

In a world where early learning is increasingly emphasized, something as simple as a quieter classroom may play a key role in helping children thrive.