This is a selection of recent popular blogs from Mum Mum, where parents can find information on everything to do with babies and parenting with an emphasis on health and nutrition. University of Oregon Study Finds Good Parenting Raises Kids Mental Skills Although many parents wish they could give their child everything they want, it turns out there are gifts you can give your child that money cannot buy. The post highlights a new study by the University of Oregon, which reveals that a little quality parenting can go a long way. The study discovered even parents living in poverty have an equal opportunity to improve their childs future. Researchers explored a new counseling technique in 28 children enrolled in the federal Head Start Program. Half of the childrens parents underwent parental counseling once a week for 8 weeks while the other half of the families did not. The parent classes focused on teaching parents how to speak to their children while allowing the child to contribute to the conversation. In addition, parents learned the art of positive parenting practices which included keeping consistent routines and providing constructive discipline. All children underwent specialized testing before and after the parental counseling sessions. The study discovered that the children whom had parents in the counseling sessions scored higher on the research tests and even had higher IQs. University of Iowa Study Finds Close Ties Between Parents and Babies Yields Benefits for Preschoolers While everyone may know the importance of bonding with a new baby; Mum Mums reports that the special bond between parent and child may have a long lasting effect. A recent study by the University of Iowa discovered that parental ties can help children control their own behavior. One hundred and two families volunteered for the study; including mother, father and child. Researchers conducted repeated observations of the children from ages 7 months through 4 years in both the childrens home and in the laboratory. Looking at the relationship between parent and child, researchers noted if the parent and child had developed a close, positive and mutually attentive relationship. Children who had formed a close relationship with their mothers during the first 2 years of life had better adherence to their mothers requests not to do something as well as the ability to regulate their own behavior. Results were similar for the father-child relationship; however, the link was less clear. When mother and child had a special relationship, mothers did not need to use force to get a child to listen to their requests. This resulted in preschool aged children with better self-control and compliance. University of Rochester Study Finds Lack of Sleep Can Lead to Increased Injuries among Preschool Children Not getting enough sleep can lead to a cranky toddler. As Mum Mums explains, inadequate sleep for your preschoolers can lead to more than just irritability. A new study by the University of Rochester discovered that toddlers who do not get enough sleep may be more prone to injuries. Published this month in Public Health Nursing, the study discovered that the risk of injury is 2 times higher for children to do not get enough sleep. Researchers gathered sleep and injury data from approximately 300 mothers and their children for 2 and ½ years. The data revealed that the children who slept more had less injuries, while children who did not get adequate sleep had more injuries. Results remained significant even after factoring in confounding data including education, maternal age, and socioeconomic background proving this is a phenomenon that affects all children. Preschool aged children should get about 11 hours of sleep a night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. To help your toddler get a good nights sleep, put a nighttime routine in place and be consistent. If it is a bedtime story, or a bath, these will provide cues for your toddler it is time to settle down for the night. About The Mum-Mum Blog The Baby Mum Mum Blog discusses everything to do with Babies and Parenting with a focus on Health, Nutrition and Infant Development. Baby Mum Mum is a healthy, easy to digest baby rice snack that is enjoyed by babies and moms around the world for its portability, gluten free ingredients and great taste. Baby Mum Mum is a division of Want Want Holdings, a manufacturer of healthy snack foods, beverage and related products since 1962.