The story so far
Timeline - Children of the 90s
1991
The Story Begins
More than 14,000 pregnant women enrol their babies in a new research project - Children of the 90s
1992
Back to sleep
The project contributes to research that shows that laying babies to sleep on their backs has no harmful effects and can reduce the risk of cot death. Parents are informed through the Back to Sleep campaign, and cot death rates fall rapidly from around 1,200 to 300 a year in the UK.
1993
Boys and Girls
We discover that boys are more prone to almost every minor illness than girls
1994
Smoking is bad news
Mothers who smoke take longer to get pregnant in the first place, they are more likely to miscarry, and their babies are more likely to wheeze.
1996
Questions, questions
Up to now mums and dads have filled out the questionnaires. But now the children, aged 5, start filling out their own.
1997
Grime is good!
We discover that children who wash too much are more likely to get asthma and allergies
1998
In Focus
All the children are invited to come to Focus sessions every year for various health tests and assessments.
2000
Better Vision
If a mother eats oily fish like salmon and sardines when she is pregnant, her child may have better eye-sight.
2002
Caesarian danger
Women who give birth by caesarian section may find it difficult to conceive another child later.
2003
New Labs
State of the art laboratories are opened to immortalise cell lines form the blood samples families give us. This puts children of the 90s in the forefront of genetic research.
2004
Not so fresh
Using too many air fresheners and aerosols like deodorants and hairspray can make mothers and babies ill. Babies get more vomiting and earache, and mothers have more headaches and depression.
2005
Let's Party!
Thousands of Children of the 90s and their families gather at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta for the biggest party we've ever had.
2006
A new leader
Professor Jean Golding, who founded Children of the 90s, retires from leadership of the project, in order to concentrate on her research. Professor George Davey Smith takes over as scientific director.
Funding for the future
The vital importance of Children of the 90s is recognised. It was awarded £9 million to fund the project well into the future.
Teens take control
Twenty children of the 90s form a Teenage Advisory Panel to help guide the project into the future.
2007
Weighty Issues
Children of the 90s contributes to the discovery of a gene associated with a tendency to gain weight. But obesity is not inevitable. A separate study shows that just 5 minutes of moderately vigorous exercise a day can be enough to stop you becoming overweight.
2008
New home
Children of the 90s moved to a spacious new building in Oakfield Grove, Clifton. Opening the new Focus Centre, Sir Mark Walport, Director of the Wellcome Trust, said that Children of the 90s "is now world-famous... it's the name on everyone's lips." He praised all the young people and families involved, and said they were making "a major contribution to health research".
2009
Focus on mothers
A pioneering new study began into women's health, including heart disease osteoporosis and breast cancer. All the mothers involved in Children of the 90s are being invited to come to their own focus session, and they get useful feedback to help them safeguard their future health, including a valuable DXA bone scan.
2010
Out on the road
We spent the summer of 2010 taking Children of the 90s out on the road, it was great to meet so many of you at the festivals and events in and around Bristol and Weston. Keep an eye out for the Children of the 90s bike in 2011.
2011
Playing your part
Thousands of participants consent to let us access data from their official records.
2012
Coming of age
Twenty-first anniversary celebrations — including a conference, a one-day Researchfest, and a book — attract a great deal of media coverage. The Children of the Children of the 90s (COCO90s) project begins, recruiting a new generation.
Twenty-one Years: Our Journey
To thank all the participants who have given their time and dedication over the last 21 years, we have produced a book entitled Twenty One Years: Our Journey which can be read online.
Children of the 90s Beach Party on ITV West
In August 2007, ITV weather broadcast from the Children of the 90s Hawaiian beach party on Uphill beach, Western-super-Mare. Participants, dressed in Hawaiian outfits enjoyed games including limbo, sumo wrestling and gladiator jousting. One of the founders of Children of the 90s, Jennie Cross, explains in the video that the party is a way of thanking the participants and their families for taking part in the research so far, and is a great chance to see all of the teenagers together.