The results are in line with evidence that the female voice box, or larynx, is under the influence of sex hormones, says Gallup. He says the changes in the female voice during peak fertility support the view that women are "different" at that point in the menstrual cycle - in other words, that they experience oestrus.

The theory of human oestrus remains controversial because its effects are subtle; human females show none of the distinct genital swellings seen in other female mammals "in heat". But there is increasing evidence of more subtle changes. "Other differences include changes in sexual receptivity and odour sensitivity," Gallup says.

Martie Haselton and Greg Bryant at the University of California, Los Angeles, say that vocal pitch plays an important role in judging fertility. "We have found that voices are higher in pitch on high-fertility days of the cycle," says Haselton.

"This is quite concerning. All 19 polycarbonate bottles [investigated in the study] leached BPA when heated. This is clearly showing that BPA is certainly leaching from popular and common consumer products," Judith Robinson, special projects director with the Environmental Health Fund, said at a Thursday teleconference. "We're calling for an immediate moratorium on the use of BPA in all baby bottles, as well as all food and beverage containers. It's not necessary, and we're calling for an end to it immediately."

The call for a ban coincides with publication of a new study, Baby's Toxic Bottle: Bisphenol A Leaching from Popular Brands of Baby Bottles, commissioned by the same group of organizations, showing that BPA leaches from popular brands of plastic baby bottles when the bottles are heated.

This study comes just days after another study found that exposing plastic bottles in general to boiling water can release BPA 55 times faster than normal.

There is concern in many quarters that BPA, an environmental estrogen, may pose some risk to development and reproduction, although it's unclear at what level that harm begins to occur.

The researchers counted more than 91,000 infant victims of abuse and neglect in the period Oct. 1, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006.

The information came from a national data base of cases verified by protective services agencies in 45 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Other studies have looked at national child abuse and neglect cases, but this is believed to be the first to focus on infants, said Leeb, a CDC epidemiologist.

The 91,000 infants were age 1 year or younger. About 30,000 of those cases were infants aged one week or younger. About 68 percent of those cases were attributed to neglect.

Brooklyn may seem like a kooky name for a baby but it's gaining in popularity.

Even international soccer phenom David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham, aka Posh Spice, named one of their boys after the borough - reportedly because Victoria was in town when she learned she was expecting.

It's already stirring controversy as well as criticism from the medical community, which feels maligned by Lake's advocacy of giving birth at home, a course chosen by just 1 percent of American women.

"This movie is not about hospitals versus home," Lake told TODAY's Ann Curry in New York. "I'm raising some really major questions about the medical system and whether it's really servicing mothers and babies as well as it could."

The United States, she said, has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the developed world.

According to "The CIA World Factbook," Singapore led the world with an infant mortality rate of 2.30 per 1,000 live births, followed by Sweden with a rate of 2.76 and Japan at 2.80. The United States' rate of 6.37 ranked just 37th, behind South Korea and Cuba and just ahead of Croatia. The highest mortality rate was in Angola, where the rate is 184.44 deaths for every 1,000 births.

"The fact that we have the second-worst infant mortality rate in the developed world is a statistic that I think people need to know about," she said. "We are the richest country in the world and the technology that we have is amazing today. Women in their 40s and even in their 50s can get pregnant today and carry children and deliver, babies are living at 23 weeks gestation. It's amazing the strides we’ve made. But in that process, we've lost normal birth."

Pregnant pre-humans appeared to have stood the same way. And it may save women from even more back pain than they already have, the researchers report in this week's issue of the journal Nature.

The bodies of women do two things when they are pregnant -- they adjust their stance to move the center of gravity to accommodate the growing fetus, and the lower vertebrae have evolved a distinct shape to allow this shifting to take place without damaging the spine, Katherine Whitcome of Harvard University and colleagues found.

"It was one of these things like, 'Oh my god, no one's ever thought of this,' and it looks so obvious," Liza Shapiro of the University of Texas at Austin, who helped supervise the work, said in a telephone interview.

Whitcome and Shapiro followed 19 women through their pregnancy, using digital cameras and motional analysis equipment to map the changes in stance and movement as the months passed.

"What women do when their pregnancy reaches about half of the expected mass ... they shift backwards," Shapiro said.

Firstly a Google software engineer in Seattle, heavily gravid but officially not yet ready to pop, missed a day in the office. Concerned a colleague called her home, and was told that she was having contractions but that everything was fine and not to worry.

Fifteen minutes later however and everything was not fine. The friend got a call to get over thee fast as everything was happening in a rush. He headed straight for her house and got her in his car but before he could get out the driveway the baby popped into the world. Mother and new son are going fine.

In the second case one of Google's Mountain View office technical writers was driving into work when she was flagged over by a panic stricken dad to be. His wife was giving birth in the front seat of his SUV (think of the upholstery!) with "a grandmotherly sort had a panic-stricken look on her face and her hands out to catch the baby." She stayed and calmed down the dad and within ten minutes Google has witnessed its second premature birth.

"When a newborn is welcomed into the family, parents want to make sure every precious memory is captured and preserved," said Yuichi Ishizuka, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer Imaging Group, Canon U.S.A. "By entering this photo contest, parents will be able to share these joyous and once-in-a-lifetime moments with others, while also having the opportunity to win prizes that can allow them to capture more milestone events."

To kick-off the contest, Canon is teaming with renowned baby products brand, Enfamil, to include brochures and a photo book with Enfamil's diaper bag, given for free to new mothers at participating hospitals. The brochure will have more information about the contest, and even a special offer for moms who receive the diaper bag. Approximately one million of these diaper bags are expected to be distributed by April 2008.

New mothers who did not receive an Enfamil diaper bag can also enter the Canon "New Baby Photo Contest" from December 1, 2007 until May 30, 2008 by visiting www.canonestore.com/babyphoto with the ability to upload up to six eligible photos. The finalists will be announced on July 1, 2008 and the public will be able to vote for their favorite photos from among the finalists. The winner will be awarded a grand prize of $10,000, which would be applied toward the winning child's future education.

"Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" is set for release May 11, which is Mother's Day, said Curt Harding, a spokesman for Thomas Nelson Inc., a Christian book publisher.

"That is all we're releasing at this time," Harding told The Associated Press on Friday. "I have not seen a manuscript so I cannot comment on the content."

Spears, 25, continued to make headlines Friday when she arrived in a white Mercedes convertible for a court hearing in Los Angeles to work out custody arrangements of her sons, Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1, with ex-husband Kevin Federline.

Do not use cough and cold products in children under 2 years of age UNLESS given specific directions to do so by a healthcare provider.

The Consumer Healthcare Products Association announced Thursday that manufacturers were voluntarily ending sales of over-the-counter oral cough and cold products aimed at infants. The list includes infant drops sold under the leading brand names Dimetapp, Pediacare, Robitussin, Triaminic, Little Colds, and versions of Tylenol that contain cough and cold ingredients.

CVS Caremark Corp. added that it would also end sales of CVS-brand equivalents.

"It's important to point out that these medicines are safe and effective when used as directed, and most parents are using them appropriately," said Linda Suydam, president of the industry trade group.

Plenty of fluids and rest.

Suction bulbs to gently clear infants' clogged noses. Saline nose drops loosen thick secretions so noses drain more easily.

A cool-mist humidifier in the child's bedroom.

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as recommended by your doctor, to alleviate pain or discomfort - but check that they don't contain extra ingredients.

Some chest creams can ease stuffiness with menthol or other fragrances, but check labels for age restrictions.

Verity, 41, is shown recommending that infants be left to sleep in a separate room from their mother. She also recommends that parents feed babies at strict four-hour intervals and ignore the child no matter how much it cries.

Childcare professionals, including Mary MacLeod, the chief executive of the Family and Parenting Institute, say they are alarmed Channel 4 is broadcasting "such an exploitative parenting series as Bringing Up Baby".

They warn: "Many techniques in these programmes fly in the face of scientific knowledge about brain development in very young babies. That anyone should be billed as an expert and allowed to promote ideas such as not making eye contact with babies and not comforting them in distress is at best irresponsible and at worst dangerous."

MacLeod said that she would be writing to the watchdog Ofcom, urging it to force broadcasters and programme makers to be more responsible. She said: "Bringing Up Baby may masquerade as a very serious programme but it is not. It is using outmoded techniques on babies that after all cannot give their consent."

"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time," said Clinton, "so when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to put that down payment on their first home, or go into business."

Clinton's Friday remarks to the Congressional Black Caucus were not the first time that she has voiced her support for the concept of using the power of compound interest to close the country's asset gap.

While speaking to the centrist Democratic Leadership Council in 2006, she discussed the idea of giving every child born in America $500.

Today was, however, the first time that she has floated the idea of giving every child born in America the larger sum of $5,000.

The first storm hit the metro area on Dec. 21, and the second moved through on Dec. 29. Many people were stuck at home for quite a few days.

Sky Ridge Medical Center said it is looking at a 20 percent increase in deliveries for the month of October. Dr. Steve Grover thinks the boom comes in response to the 61 days of consecutive snow on the ground.

"The snow stayed on the ground throughout December, January and into February. My theory is that the cabin fever didn't set in until a little bit later," said Grover.

Several other hospitals are reporting similar baby booms. Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville has printed blizzard baby T-shirts for all the newborns.

While some couples say they snuggled as the snow piled up, one researcher has found that baby booms after such events don't always occur as expected. S. Philip Morgan of Duke University said papers reported a baby boom after a 1977 blackout in New York but research showed otherwise.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants. CPSC is aware of two deaths in Simplicity manufactured cribs with older style hardware, including a 9-month-old child and a 6-month-old child, where the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is also aware of seven infant entrapments and 55 incidents in these cribs.

CPSC is also investigating the death of a 1-year-old child in a Simplicity crib with newer style hardware, in which the drop-side was installed upside down. CPSC is warning parents and caregivers to check all Simplicity cribs to make sure the drop-side is installed right side up.

The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers to unintentionally install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and cause the drop-side to detach from the crib. When the drop-side detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped.

CPSC is also aware of two incidents that occurred when the drop-side was correctly installed with older style hardware, though the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure.

The recalled Simplicity crib models include: Aspen 3 in 1, Aspen 4 in 1, Nursery-in-a-Box, Crib N Changer Combo, Chelsea and Pooh 4 in 1. The recall also involves the following Simplicity cribs that used the Graco logo: Aspen 3 in 1, Ultra 3 in 1, Ultra 4 in1, Ultra 5 in 1, Whitney and the Trio.

The recalled cribs have one of the following model numbers, which can be found on the envelope attached to the mattress support and on the label attached to the headboard: 4600, 4605, 4705, 5000, 8000, 8324, 8800, 8740, 8910, 8994, 8050, 8750, 8760, and 8996.

The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to entrapment and suffocation of infants. The drop-side failures result from both the hardware and crib design, which allow consumers unintentionally to install the drop-side upside down. This, in turn, can weaken the hardware and lead to the drop-side separating from the crib. When the drop-side separates or detaches, it creates a gap in which infants can become entrapped. While CPSC is aware of two separation incidents that occurred when the drop side was correctly installed, the upside down installation greatly increases the risk of failure.

A million cribs with a design flaw so serious, the Consumer Products Safety Commission said children should not be allowed to sleep in them for another night.

But, for the past two-and-a-half years, the CPSC allowed children to sleep in those same Simplicity cribs - even though it knew that incorrectly installed drop rails had led to three infant deaths.

Chad and Nicola Johns' son Liam was just 9 months old when he died in a Simplicity-manufactured crib, back in April 2005. His mother went into his room in the morning, and found him hanging in a gap between the drop rail and the mattress. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"That was the worst day ever," said Nicola. "There's nothing that can describe how we were feeling that day."

The Johns sued Simplicity. But, while the CPSC investigated the matter, they didn't inspect the crib, and the investigator's report failed to identify the crib's manufacturer or model.

Certain vinyl baby bibs sold at Toys "R" Us stores appear to be contaminated with lead, laboratory tests have shown, making the inexpensive bibs another example of a made-in-China product that may be a health hazard to children.

The vinyl bibs, which feature illustrations of baseball bats and soccer balls and Disney's Winnie the Pooh characters, are sold for less than $5 each under store brand labels, including Especially for Baby and Koala Baby.

Tests this summer, financed by the Center for Environmental Health of Oakland, Calif., found lead as high as three times the level allowed in paint in several styles of the bibs purchased from both Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores in California.

A separate test by a laboratory hired by The New York Times of the same Toys "R" Us bibs, purchased in Maryland, found a similar level of contamination.

"These bibs are exposing children to lead in an unnecessary way," said Caroline Cox, research director at the Center for Environmental Health, a nonprofit agency that for the last decade has been testing consumer products for lead, in an effort to remove them from the market.

The study, which included more than 1,000 families with infants or toddlers, was published Tuesday in the Journal of Pediatrics.

"The most important fact to come from this study is, there is no clear evidence of a benefit coming from baby DVDs and videos, and there is some suggestion of harm," lead author Frederick Zimmerman, an associate professor of health services at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Research Institute, said in a prepared statement. "The bottom line is, the more a child watches baby DVDs and videos, the bigger the effect. The amount of viewing does matter."

"The results surprised us, but they make sense," added study co-author Andrew Meltzoff, co-director of the University of Washington's Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences, in a prepared statement.

"There are only a fixed number of hours that young babies are awake and alert. If the 'alert time' is spent in front of DVDs and TV instead of with people speaking in 'parentese' -- that melodic speech we use with little ones -- the babies are not getting the same linguistic experience," Meltzoff said.

Newborns generally have irregular sleep rhythms, and most parenting or pediatric sleep books, including Weissbluth's, describe how patterns emerge over the next few months and years, including times of day and night the child tends to get sleepy and when he or she usually starts sleeping through the night.

The failure to recognize a little one's natural rhythms lays the foundation for future problems, including bedtime battles, difficulty falling asleep, night wakings, and early morning wake-ups, say pediatric sleep experts.

"Chaotic family schedules interfere with the stabilization of a child's circadian rhythms," says Richard Ferber, director of the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children's Hospital Boston. "The lack of a sleep routine, unenforced bedtimes, and no limit-setting leave a child feeling unwell in a manner analogous to jet lag," Ferber says.

Even babies and toddlers can suffer from lack of sleep or poor sleep, says Michael Twery, director of the National Center for Sleep Disorders Research at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

According to the survey, infants (3 to 11 months) sleep 12.7 hours, even though up to 16 hours are suggested. Toddlers (1 to 3) slumber 11.7 hours, when 12-14 are advised. And preschoolers get 10.4 hours, even though 11-13 hours are recommended.