Have you seen someone or felt like you have become sandwiched between two different responsibilities? You must have seen people who take care of their children and also their ageing parents? This is what we will be discussing today and how the burden of responsibility leads to a decline in their mental well-being.

What are Sandwich Carers?

The term "sandwich carers" refers to those who care for both their dependent children and elderly parents or relatives. They are "sandwiched" between two generations, managing the responsibilities of parenting and elder care. This condition is growing more common as people's life expectancy increases and they opt to have children later in life.

As per a UCL study supported by the UK Economic and Social Research Council, in UK alone it is estimated that around 1.3 million people are sandwich carers. While their role is vital for family well-being, the toll on their mental and physical health is significant. This new study by UCL researchers sheds light on the impact of this caregiving burden.

What the study says?

In order to understand how becoming a sandwich carer affects health, researchers analysed data from approximately 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 non-sandwich carers. They also used the information from the UK Household Longitudinal Study collected between 2009 to 2020.

The study analysed an average age of sandwich carers at 36.8 years, with the majority being adults between 30 to 49. This group was most likely to bear this dual caregiving responsibility, found the study.

Researchers monitored the participants’ mental and physical health during three phases: before, during, and after they became sandwich carers.

They used two primary tools for health assessment:

General Health Questionnaire (GHQ): This measured mental health by asking participants about issues like sleep disturbances, concentration problems, and stress.

Physical Component Summary (PCS): This evaluated physical health, including general health, mobility, and limitations caused by physical health problems.

What were the key findings?

The study found that their was a noticeable decline in mental health, impact on physical health, as well as the gender impacted on the caregiving hours.

Mental Health and its decline in sandwich carers: The study noted that people who were switching between taking care of their children and ageing parents, especially those who devote more than 20 hours each week to care saw a more severe impact. This degradation lasted several years, emphasizing the long-term mental burden of juggling two caregiving responsibilities.

Physical Health: Caregivers who worked more than 20 hours each week reported having lower physical health. This resulted in increasing physical discomfort, reduced mobility, and difficulty doing everyday duties.

Gender and Hour: The study found that, while both men and women were hurt, those who provided intense care suffered the most health issues.

Dr. Baowen Xue, who is the lead author of this study emphasized on the urgent need for societal recognition of the challenges faced by sandwich carers. “Our study highlights the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich carers. It's crucial that we recognise and support the unique needs of this growing group to ensure their health and resilience,” Dr. Xue stated.

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.

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.

Why Early Years Are Critical

Kucker stressed that the first few years of life are particularly important for building the brain’s language and social foundations. “This is a time when kiddos are forming meaningful brain and language connections that are best built through hands-on experiences,” she said.

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.

Not All Screen Time is Harmful

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.

Tips for Smarter Screen Use

To help parents navigate the digital world, Kucker offered four tips to make screen time more effective:

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.

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.