Added Sugars Intake among US Infants and Toddlers 

Herrick, K.A., Fryar, C.D., Hamner, H.C., Park, S., and Ogden, C.L. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (January 2020). 

Background: Eating and drinking foods with added sugars has been associated with several health conditions including asthma, obesity, dental cavities and high blood pressure in children. The current national guidelines for nutrition only provide recommendations for people over the age of 2. This study looks at added sugar consumption rates among infants and toddlers by race, age, sex and family education and income level. 

Introduction 

Caring for infants and toddlers is a big responsibility under "normal" conditions. However, when something unforeseen happens, such as a natural disaster or emergency event, caring for children becomes an even greater responsibility. 

Throughout the year, CCAoA monitors the latest, most important research findings about child care. The information deserves a wide audience, so we’re launching Child Care Research: Year in Review to share some of the most significant studies from the past year.

This is a free online course from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on managing infectious diseases in group care settings. The course is approved for 1.0 contact hours of training credit.  As described by AAP, the topic is important because millions of children attend early care and education settings every day. During the first 2 years of attendance, children enrolled in group settings experience a higher incidence of illnesses. When children are sick and excluded from an early care setting, it causes significant public health and economic impact. It is essential for child care settings to provide healthy and safe environments to ensure appropriate child development and learning.  

I'm Tricia Howland, the Director of Family & Community Engagement at Brightside Up, Inc. I’ve been at the agency for 20 years helping parents find child care, engaging in community events and facilitating family workshops. Vroom has been an exciting addition to the work we do at the Brightside Up, Inc. The Brightside Up agency was one of the first ten Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&R) to become an ambassador in a pilot project of the Child Care Aware^® of America Vroom Partnership initiative.

By bringing Vroom to the Capital District area of Albany, New York, we were able to share the brain building benefits of play with the community we serve. It has allowed us to boost family engagement and provide information on the importance of relationship building, all while supporting the early years of a child’s development.

Brain development is a complex process involving chemical and electrical interactions. We now have decades of research describing how learning occurs and how brains develop. We have equipment that allows us to watch the brain in action and we now know about synaptic pruning.

None of that really matters to a mom who just wants to do the best she can to help her child thrive.
None of that really matters to a dad who lives for the moments that he sees his child’s eyes light up in wonder. What matters to them is that they can do something to help their child learn, grow and prosper – to fulfill the promise that exists between parent and child from the moment of birth.    

That’s where Vroom comes in.