Kids with Depressed Moms do Better in Day Care, University of Adelaide Study

Toddlers who have a depressed mom are more likely than other kids to develop behavior problems as they get older, studies show. But a new report finds that the risk of behavior issues, such as being overly aggressive, hyperactive, or withdrawn, can be reduced if toddlers spend just a few hours a day in formal day care. The new study followed 438 Australian mothers and their children from infancy untill the kids were 5 years old. Overall, children raised by mothers who reported recurrent bouts of depression were almost four times as likely to exhibit behavior problems, including depression, anxiety, withdrawn behavior and aggression.