If biosensor onesies sound absurd, consider the plethora of baby gadgetry that's hit the market in recent years: speakers for babies, tweeting for babies, clothing that changes color to reveal babies' moods.

Then consider a few scenarios: parents concerned about babysitter vigilance; mothers going back to work; that several-month window in which babies are at the highest risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

So while Exmovere Holdings, the maker of Exmobaby - supposedly the first baby garment to remotely monitor vital signs and behavior - may be guilty of preying on parents' worst fears, its rather futuristic onesie could also save lives.

CEO David Bychkov explains how it works:

"Each Exmobaby onesie will come with a baby-safe, rechargeable Zigbee wireless transceiver that snaps into a pouch. From there, the data is transmitted to a nearby PC or cell phone in order to keep parents and other caregivers informed of a baby's status. This continuous monitoring in real time will allow for an 'emotional umbilical cord' between mother and child."

The Zigbee wireless standard uses a wireless local area network (LAN) and is targeted at radio frequency applications requiring lower data rate and battery life. It's also compatible with a wide range of USB and mini SD-slot dongle devices, i.e. cell phones.

Parents or caretakers wanting to check in on a baby via cell phone or computer will see icons that represent the baby's heart rate, as well as "emotional state" and "behavior," categories the company admits are less exact. But Exmovere compares its software to voice recognition software, where accuracy increases over time as person-specific data compiles.

The first 1,000 onesies are scheduled to ship to select buyers from the Exmobaby waiting list in early 2011. Each kit will include an Exmobaby garment set (in, yes, blue or pink), a Zigbee transceiver, PC and cell phone monitoring software, and six months of online service. The company has not yet released pricing details.

Of course, babies aren't the only target market when it comes to wearable sensors. Think of elderly relatives in nursing homes. Suspicious lovers. International spies. Teenagers who just got a license to drive. For better or worse, the ability to monitor one another continues to improve.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Living close to a mobile phone mast does not increase the chance of a pregnant woman's baby developing cancer before he or she reaches the age of five, a study has found.

Researchers from Imperial College London looked at almost 7,000 children and found those who developed cancer aged four or younger were no more likely to have a birth address close to a mast than their peers.

The study included 1,397 British children aged up to four who were registered with leukemia or a tumor in the brain or central nervous system between 1999 and 2001.

The proximity of their birth address to a mast was compared to that of four healthy children of the same gender who were born on the same day, chosen randomly to act as controls.

Professor Paul Elliott, director of the MRC-HPA Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London and the study's lead author, said: "People are worried that living near a mobile phone mast might affect their children's health.

"We looked at this question with respect to risk of cancers in young children. We found no pattern to suggest that the children of mums living near a base station during pregnancy had a greater risk of developing cancer than those who lived elsewhere."

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Teleportation, while a time-saver for the captain on his away mission, violates the laws of quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle.

Teleporters, popularized by Star Trek of course, are neat to watch and fantasize about. Children, while not be expected to fully wrap their heads around it, should understand that this is the most absurd sort of fiction. Teleportation basically is explained away by claiming it breaks down matter into energy, then beams it across space. This would be the same process as obliterating someone with a phaser on kill. The very basic reason it violates all the scientific rules mentioned above, is that position and momentum of particles cannot simultaneously be known.

It’s quite simple really, and takes the core of the word teleportation. Port. Transport. As parents, we are the transporters and our cars are the teleportation devices. We move children from one state of being to the next. To school, a mostly sedentary existence, to the kinetic soccer practice that is a great place to learn about energy distribution. If we think of it that way, while it may be a more manual process to the science, teleportation is not that obtuse of a concept. This line of thinking may foster a greater respect for the effort put into the constant movement and shuttling in their lives, done on their behalf by the parent. It also might just elicit a smart-ass response like “why don’t we just get a transporter like on Star Trek?”

An ultra-fast zoom out of the universe starting from point A on Earth reveals one of the following: the universe is contained in jar on a shelf, the universe is contained inside a necklace on a cat, the universe rests within a lamp shade in a bedroom occupied by Rob Lowe and Adam West, et al.

The universe is a large and mysterious place. We have only discovered a tiny fraction of the known universe and are relative light years away from fully understanding the science of the universe. Yet, it appears as equal a mystery that the universe tends to revolve around a singular child. Similar to early theories about the rotation of the planets, children believe they are the Earth and we are nothing more but hovering planetary objects stuck in their gravitational pull.

While some days we may feel like helpless asteroids wondering listlessly among the stars, it’s not a hopeless effort to explain to children that they are not in fact the center of the known universe. Not to mention, there is more in the universe in relation to their little lives that is left to be explored. When these cliche moments present themselves in sci-fi, a correlation to real life can quickly be made.

The point of all this is breaking down the singular view of the world that occupies children’s brains. By pointing out the mysteries in life, teaching them to expect the unexpected and find the mysteries of life, they may start to expand their little universes to encompass more than just them.

The plucky sidekick super genius kid or the droid with the questionably protruding interface can pretty much override any security system in any secure facility if you give them covering fire, not only being able to comprehend a system they’ve never interacted with, but doing it quicker than humanly possible.

This cliche is especially present in sci-fi and adventure aimed at children. There always seems to be the one smart kid in the group that can either hack anything with little or no apparent effort. Either that, or some droid plugging into a foreign computer system with relative ease and disarming the security. The quick lesson learned here is that this kind of stuff is easy. Need to break into an ATM or the school’s computer – no problem. How about starting World War III by simply hacking into a military installation?

The deeper lesson here is how easy the hackers make the task appear. Yes, the reality is skewed but if the hacker is human, the assumption can be made that these skills were not intuitively learned by some sort of strange osmosis. Instead, a learning opportunity can easily take place. With any skill in life, practice and education are equally as important as intuition. Chances are, that really smart kid hacking into a military mainframe spends a great deal of time working with computers.

While this can make a great segue into the importance of going to college or learning a craft, it’s probably better not to push it too much with their young minds. Instead, focus on more tangible things, like playing with LEGO leading to architectural design, or how HTML is used to build web pages. Most kids with a willingness to learn will be able to make these connections in life. They’ll be able to see the building blocks of higher learning and will be electronically changing their grades in no time, saying to you “there’s an app for that. I wrote it.”

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Got morning sickness? There's an app for that! A British company claims their iPhone application can significantly reduce the nausea that is often associated with early pregnancy. Nevasic ($1) helps stabilize inner ear balance receptors by working specially engineered audio pulses into music. According to a small study conducted by the British National Health Service, nine out of 10 women saw the symptoms decline after listening to the tunes.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Studies linking environmental substances to disease are coming fast and furious. Chemicals in plastics and common household goods have been associated with serious developmental problems, while a long inventory of other hazards are contributing to rising rates of modern ills: heart disease, obesity, diabetes, autism.

Add attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to the list. A new study in the journal Pediatrics associates exposure to pesticides with cases of ADHD in the U.S. and Canada. In the U.S. alone, an estimated 4.5 million children ages 5 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and rates of diagnosis have risen 3% a year between 1997 and 2006. Increasingly, research suggests that chemical influences, perhaps in combination with other environmental factors — like video games, hyperkinetically edited TV shows and flashing images in educational DVDs aimed at infants — may be contributing to the increase in attention problems.

Led by Maryse Bouchard in Montreal, researchers based at the University of Montreal and Harvard University examined the potential relationship between ADHD and exposure to certain toxic pesticides called organophosphates. The team analyzed the levels of pesticide residue in the urine of more than 1,100 children ages 8 to 15 and found that those with the highest levels of dialkyl phosphates, which are the breakdown products of organophosphate pesticides, had the highest incidence of ADHD. Overall, they found a 35% increase in the odds of developing ADHD with every tenfold increase in urinary concentration of the pesticide residue. The effect was seen even at the low end of exposure: kids who had any detectable, above-average level of the most common pesticide metabolite in their urine were twice as likely as those with undetectable levels to record symptoms of the learning disorder.

"I was quite surprised to see an effect at lower levels of exposure," says Bouchard, who used data on ADHD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a long-term study of health parameters of a representative sample of U.S. citizens.

Bouchard's analysis is the first to home in on organophosphate pesticides as a potential contributor to ADHD in young children. But the author stresses that her study uncovers only an association, not a direct causal link between pesticide exposure and the developmental condition. There is evidence, however, that the mechanism of the link may be worth studying further: organophosphates are known to cause damage to the nerve connections in the brain — that's how they kill agricultural pests, after all. The chemical works by disrupting a specific neurotransmitter, acetylcholinesterase, a defect that has been implicated in children diagnosed with ADHD. In animal models, exposure to the pesticides has resulted in hyperactivity and cognitive deficits as well.

"I am very confident in the correlation in this study, because we controlled for quite a few things that we thought could play a role," says Bouchard. "Adjusting for those things did not change the results very much. Which indicates that there is very little potential for confounding in this association between pesticides and ADHD."

The results call for additional studies to determine exactly which foods and which residential uses of pesticides may be most likely to lead to harm in children. Although Bouchard's study did not determine the exact method of exposure in the participants, youngsters are most likely to ingest the chemicals through their diet — by eating fruits and vegetables that have been sprayed while growing — according to the National Academy of Sciences. The study also raises the possibility of setting a national threshold for safe levels of exposure; the study authors note that according to the U.S. Pesticide Residue Program report, organophosphates were detected in 28% of frozen blueberries and in 19% of celery samples tested for pesticides. It is not clear whether those levels pose a threat to cognitive function in children, but the current study's findings suggest it may be wise to figure that out.

In the meantime, Bouchard suggests that concerned parents try to avoid using bug sprays in the home and to feed their children organically grown fruits and vegetables, if possible. (Otherwise, parents should be careful to scrub all produce to reduce residue.) While pesticide-free fruits and greens may be more costly, Bouchard says they may be worth the price in terms of future health.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

More than 30 years after the world greeted its first "test-tube" baby with a mixture of awe, elation and concern, researchers say they are finding only a few medical differences between these children and kids conceived in the traditional way.

More than 3 million children have been born worldwide as a result of what is called assisted reproductive technology, and injecting sperm into the egg outside the human body now accounts for about 4 percent of live births, researchers reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The majority of assisted reproduction children are healthy and normal, according to researchers who have studied them. Some of these children do face an increased risk of birth defects, such as neural tube defects, and of low birth weight, which is associated with obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes later in life, the researchers said.

Carmen Sapienza, a geneticist at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, noted that few of these test tube children are older than 30, so it's not known if they will be obese or have hypertension or other health problems at age 50 or older.

Sapienza said researchers found differences in 5 percent to 10 percent of chromosomes between assisted reproduction children and other kids.

What's not clear is whether these differences result in some way from assisted reproduction techniques or if they stem from other factors, perhaps ones that caused the couple's infertility in the first place.

One factor in low birth weight may be that in many cases assisted fertility results in multiple births, which tend to be early and of lower weight.

Sapienza noted that women seeking assisted reproduction tend to be older than those who conceive naturally, but said that had been controlled for in the studies comparing the two groups of children.

Dolores J. Lamb of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston urged more testing of males for the reason for infertility.

"There are correctable causes of male infertility and a couple can then have children the natural way," she said. Also, infertility can be the first symptom of diseases such as testicular cancer, Lamb said.

As of 2008, the most recent data available, the United States reported that 361 clinics did 140,795 treatment cycles leading to the birth of 56,790 babies.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

More than 30 years after the world greeted its first "test-tube" baby with a mixture of awe, elation and concern, researchers say they are finding only a few medical differences between these children and kids conceived in the traditional way.

More than 3 million children have been born worldwide as a result of what is called assisted reproductive technology, and injecting sperm into the egg outside the human body now accounts for about 4 percent of live births, researchers reported Sunday at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The majority of assisted reproduction children are healthy and normal, according to researchers who have studied them. Some of these children do face an increased risk of birth defects, such as neural tube defects, and of low birth weight, which is associated with obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes later in life, the researchers said.

Carmen Sapienza, a geneticist at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, noted that few of these test tube children are older than 30, so it's not known if they will be obese or have hypertension or other health problems at age 50 or older.

Sapienza said researchers found differences in 5 percent to 10 percent of chromosomes between assisted reproduction children and other kids.

What's not clear is whether these differences result in some way from assisted reproduction techniques or if they stem from other factors, perhaps ones that caused the couple's infertility in the first place.

One factor in low birth weight may be that in many cases assisted fertility results in multiple births, which tend to be early and of lower weight.

Sapienza noted that women seeking assisted reproduction tend to be older than those who conceive naturally, but said that had been controlled for in the studies comparing the two groups of children.

Dolores J. Lamb of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston urged more testing of males for the reason for infertility.

"There are correctable causes of male infertility and a couple can then have children the natural way," she said. Also, infertility can be the first symptom of diseases such as testicular cancer, Lamb said.

As of 2008, the most recent data available, the United States reported that 361 clinics did 140,795 treatment cycles leading to the birth of 56,790 babies.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Tap into the collective wisdom of over 30 parenting experts in this insightful and accessible iPhone app.

Dealing with a toddler tantrum? Struggling with teen angst? Or maybe you've got a few quiet moments to focus on empowering yourself as a parent. Turn to the Parenting the Future iPhone app. Wyatt-MacKenzie has gathered well-known authors, leading parenting coaches, and world-renowned luminaries in parenting education.

The easiest way to get the free download is to search for "Parenting the Future" in your Apps store. You can also access it using this link and downloading through iTunes.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

A 10-year study examining 4.9 million births in the 1990s has found more evidence that there's a link between autism and the mother's age at conception.

The link between the parents' age and children's health is not entirely new. Prior studies have indicated that babies born to older women have higher risks of birth defects, low birth weight and certain chromosome problems, such as Down syndrome.

A 2007 Kaiser Permanente study conducted in California reported that autism risk increased with both the mother's and father's age. An Israeli study based in statistics from 1980s had isolated only paternal age as being linked with increased risk for autism.

Dr. Max Wiznitzer, a pediatric neurologist at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, said the latest research had a far larger sample size.

In the latest study, researchers found that mothers over the age of 40 had 51 percent higher odds of having children with autism compared with mothers between the ages 25 and 29.

The father's age also played a factor, but only when he had a child with a woman under 30.

"When the mom has minimal age risk of an autistic child, we do see increased risks as dads get older," said lead author Janie Shelton, a graduate student researcher at UC-Davis.

It's unclear why the mother's age has more bearing in autism risk than the father's.

The study authors emphasize that while autism rates have risen 600 percent in the past two decades, older women having children contributed to only 5 percent more cases of autism.

As more women delay childbearing, it's important to keep the study in perspective, said Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer of Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization.

"I don't think a mom blaming herself is going to help us understand what's causing autism or help prevent further cases," she said. "I would urge parents not to blame themselves, regardless of what age they are."

Shelton and the co-authors obtained all birth records in California from 1990 to 1999 and then collected data from the state's Department of Developmental Services to count the number of autism diagnoses from children born during that decade.

How parental age increases autism risks remains unknown, but several hypotheses exist. Some suggest that the cumulative effects of the environment, changes to the autoimmune system, stress and reproductive technology may affect autism risk.

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PregnancyWeekly.com

Expectant mothers are getting a new tool to help keep themselves and their babies healthy: pregnancy tips sent directly to their cell phones.

The so-called text4baby campaign is the first free, health education program in the U.S. to harness the reach of mobile phones, according to its sponsors, which include Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, WellPoint and CareFirst BlueCross and Blue Shield. Wireless carriers including AT&T, Verizon and Sprint have agreed to waive all fees for receiving the texts.

Organizers say texting is an effective means of delivering wellness tips because 90 percent of people in the U.S. have cell phones.

"Especially if you start talking about low-income people, cell phones are the indispensable tool for reaching them and engaging them about their health," said Paul Meyer, president of Voxiva, a company which operates health texting programs in Africa, Latin America and India.

Studies in those countries have shown that periodic texts can reduce smoking and other unhealthy behaviors in pregnant mothers.

Meyer said the U.S. program, run by Voxiva, will be the largest health-related texting program ever undertaken.

Under the new service, mothers-to-be who text "BABY" to 511411 will receive weekly text messages, timed to their due date or their baby's birth date. The messages, which have been vetted by government and nonprofit health experts, deal with nutrition, immunization and birth defect prevention, among other topics. The messages will continue through the baby's first birthday.

Text4baby is expected to be announced Thursday morning by officials from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy. Government officials will be publicizing the campaign in speeches and promotional materials.

Organizers hope the effort can curb premature births, which can be caused by poor nutrition, excessive stress, smoking and drinking alcohol. About 500,000 babies are born prematurely in the U.S. each year, and 28,000 infants die before their first birthday, according to the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. The nonprofit is among the sponsors of the campaign.

"The real scary thing is that we're an industrialized nation and we're not doing very well on infant mortality, and we know prematurity is a big part of that," said the group's director, Judy Meehan.

Currently the U.S. ranks 30th worldwide for infant mortality, according to Meehan, behind most Western European nations.

Researchers at the George Washington University have agreed to evaluate the effectiveness of text4baby by measuring health trends for mothers and newborns.

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PregnancyWeekly.com