Fibbing about your weight on your driver's license? That's practically the norm. Under-reporting how much your kids weigh? Apparently, that's not uncommon, either.

As we enter the first National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, scientists say under-reporting children's weight may be a widespread problem. In fact, estimates of obesity and body mass index (BMI) based on data supplied by parents may actually miss one in five obese children, according to a press release from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Researchers at the organization's annual summer conference compared the height and weight of 1,430 children at an orthopedic clinic with the numbers their parents reported, and found almost half the parents were off on their measurements.

"Parents tend to overestimate boys' height and underestimate girls' height," the study's lead author, Dr. Daniel O'Connor, says in the release, adding that the error was larger when the parent reporting was the opposite sex of the child.

Though hailed as a wonder drug of sorts by devoted parents, Baby Einstein and other educational DVDs may more accurately be, as one mother describes them, "like crack" for your baby.

A study slated to be published online in Psychological Science this month reports that toddlers learn virtually nothing from these educational DVDs -- touted as aides to help boost vocabulary and launch kids on the road to academic superstardom, according to Science News.

Researchers studied the effects of the videos on four groups of toddlers, ages 12-18 months, and determined that those who viewed an educational DVD regularly for one month -- either with or without a parent -- showed no greater understanding of words from the video than kids who never saw it, Science News reports.

"The degree to which babies actually learn from baby videos is negligible," writes psychologist and study director Judy DeLoache of the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Imagine having to rush to your child's school every time he scrapes his knee, or leaving work to apply sunscreen before he heads outside for recess. For parents with kids in the Wichita, Kan., school district, this is a reality.

A long-standing Wichita school district policy forbids school staff -- even nurses -- from administering over-the-counter (OTC) medications to students, including cough drops, pain relievers, antibiotic ointments and sunscreen, without a doctor's written consent and specific instructions, according to The Wichita Eagle.

But one area group, the Peace and Social Justice Center of South Central Kansas, is now pushing for change, alleging that the current policy is outdated and unrealistic, and that it particularly hurts children from poor and working-class families. It's asking that a more lenient policy be enacted -- one that would simply require parents to consent to their child's treatment with OTC medication.

"All children ... should have the right to reasonable treatment and compassionate care during the school day," organization spokesperson Diane Wahto tells the Eagle.

"Ain't no chaperones, this could be the night of your dreams ... We're rocking back and forth under the disco ball, we're the only ones on the floor ... Girl I promise I'll be gentle, I know we gotta do it slowly ... I'm gonna' cherish every moment, cause it only happens once, once in a lifetime."

Recognize these lyrics? No, they're not from some racy hardcore rap song; they're straight out of "First Dance," performed by tween and teen heartthrob Justin Bieber, 16, who's known for causing hysteria in devoted fans as young as 3.

Bieber's lyrics are pretty tame compared to those from performers such as Lady Gaga or Britney Spears, in an industry that continues to come under fire for its role in "sexualizing" youngsters. But it's not just music that influences kids and teens these days.

In a recent policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) warns pediatricians, parents and the media about the danger of sexual messages U.S. teens and children are getting from television, music, the Internet and other forms of media.

"Sexuality, Contraception and the Media," offers findings about teens and sex, including the fact that 46 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse, 14 percent have had four partners or more and, for the first time in 15 years, the teen pregnancy rate increased -- by 3 percent -- from 2005 to 2006.

As if parents weren't stressed enough about their kids not getting enough sleep at night, now there's a whole new reason to worry.

Babies and preschoolers who don't get at least 10 hours of sleep at night may be significantly more at risk for developing childhood obesity, according to a new study. Think your kid makes up for it with an afternoon snooze? The researchers found daytime napping doesn't seem to be an adequate substitute for nighttime sleep when it comes to preventing obesity.

These findings are significant in light of alarming childhood obesity statistics: During the last three decades, obesity has doubled among children ages 2 to 5 and among adolescents ages 12 to 19, and has tripled among 6- to 11-year-olds, the researchers report.

"This study is important because we have an obesity epidemic at the moment, with rates of obesity in children increasing steadily at least since the 1970s," lead researcher Janice Bell of the University of Washington, Seattle tells ParentDish. "There have been a lot of efforts to mitigate this trend, but they haven't been that successful."

Help celebrate lovable, red-headed Raggedy Ann's 95th birthday today with a new edition of exclusive, vintage-inspired Raggedy Ann and Andy Anniversary dolls created by Applause by Russ.

Unlike more contemporary versions, these Anniversary dolls bring to mind illustrations of the original characters from the earliest Raggedy Ann books by author Johnny Gruelle, who created the character for his daughter, Marcella, in 1915.

But fear not -- though she may look a little differently than she did when we were young, Raggedy Ann still rocks those features we love most about her: Button eyes, yarn hair, triangle nose, rosy cheeks and -- most importantly -- a heart that says "I Love You" embroidered onto her chest.

Available at Amazon for $24.17.

We didn't need a research study to tell us being a parent can be overwhelming at times, but we were surprised to learn just how many people suffer from depression after their babies are born.

Thirty-nine percent of mothers and 21 percent of fathers in the United Kingdom reportedly experience an episode of depression by the time their child is 12, with the highest rates of depression seen during their baby's first year, according to a new study.

This is notable, since depression in parents of young children is associated with "adverse behavioral and developmental outcomes" in the children, lead author Irwin Nazareth, a professor of primary care at University College London, tells ParentDish in an e-mail.

The study, which will appear in the November issue of "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine," looked for evidence of parental depression in 86,957 U.K. families seen in primary care physicians' offices between 1993 and 2007.

Over the course of the study period, more than seven out of every 100 mothers and nearly three out of every 100 fathers were found to be depressed per year. Those figures increased dramatically the first year after a child's birth -- with nearly 14 mothers and four fathers out of 100 experiencing depression during that period.

Say no to PVC, phthalates and any other nasty toxins that may be lurking in your child's vinyl or polyester nap mat.

SewnNatural carries a full line of eco-friendly nap mats that are perfect for preschool, day care or anywhere you'd like a clean and safe place for kids to rest or play on.

Designer cotton fabric tops cotton batting inside, and a sturdy hemp/organic cotton underside means these mats look great while feeling soft and comfy. And don't forget to ask to have your child's name embroidered on her mat, so she can feel extra special.

The best part: Your kids will rest easier, and so will you.

Available at SewnNatural for $85.

Related: The Cutest New Eco-Friendly Toy for Kids

If you're still on the fence about how you feel about attachment parenting, new research findings about early puberty in girls may send you over the edge.

In a study published this week in Psychological Science, researchers suggest that babies who do not form a secure attachment to their mothers will be more likely to enter puberty early.

These findings are notable in light of growing evidence that girls in the United States are starting to mature at earlier ages than ever before -- even as young as 7 -- and both early puberty and poor infant attachment raise concerns, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Girls who enter puberty earlier are at higher risk for certain cancers, including breast cancer, and are likely to engage in sexual activity earlier, which increases the risk of sexually transmitted disease and early pregnancy. Poor attachment in infants has been linked to a higher risk of anxiety, depression and other psychological problems later in life.

It's not unusual for parents to escort their kids to college. After all, there's so much stuff to haul, that bedbug cover really is a pain to pull on over the mattress and what if they forget to bring something critical to their safety or well-being -- like flip flops for the shower?

The college drop-off is a rite of passage that's existed for decades and it's a good thing, according to adolescent development expert Nancy Darling, a professor at Oberlin College and author of Psychology Today's Thinking About Kids blog. But, she says, it isn't just the kids who need help adjusting.

These transitions are especially hard for the person that's left behind -- the parent. Parents feel like there's a hole in their life when their child leaves the nest, Darling tells ParentDish, but the child is so excited that he or she may not feel the same way. And that can make things bad, because they're both in different places.