What's wrong, honey? You haven't touched your bone broth popsicles!
The Wall Street Journal recently profiled parents raising carnivore babies. These meat-obsessed mommas have even started Facebook groups like "Carnivore Motherhood" where they share recipes for rib-eye, bone broth popsicles and raw egg yolks. This movement has been spreading since last year when a mom went viral on TikTok for sharing her carnivore diet for her toddler.

"We chose to do carnivore to ensure our baby got a strong taste for animal products since they are the most important," she told Newsweek.

But are they really?

The important bits
Well, it depends on who you ask, but the consensus among medical professionals is that babies (and adults) need more than meat to thrive. Humans are omnivores after all, which essentially means we eat everything.

While a meat-forward diet ensures your baby gets the protein and iron they need, it does not provide them with a number of essential nutrients, including fiber, vitamin C and plant-based antioxidants.

Fiber is especially important these days, as more evidence has linked increasing colon cancer rates to diets low in fiber (and high in processed meats).

In fact, some experts have found that nearly everyone in the US gets more than enough protein in their diet without even trying. You don't need to suck on bone-broth popsicles to achieve this.

What's it all mean?
Excess does not equal success. The best approach? Variety!

P.S. This is how much protein your kids actually need.

🗣️ Baby care advice is ever-changing
As parents, we often think back to our own childhoods and how different things were. There were probably things your parents did that you'd NEVER do as a parent today, and there's a good reason for that. Baby care advice is constantly changing. Here are the 5 biggest changes throughout the years, including safe sleeping guidelines and food allergy strategies.

📵 Cellphone bans spread as kids return to school
35 states now have laws or rules limiting phones and other electronic devices in school. These laws are being passed quickly. Some of you may remember that Florida was the first state to implement such a rule in 2023. In two short years, over 30 states have joined in. Here’s a helpful map to show which states have bans in place.

🧑‍🏫 6 habits teachers wish families would pick up
School is back in session, and teachers across the country joined together to create a list detailing the most important things kids and parents should be doing during the first month of school. First on the list? Letting your kids do homework on their own. Read the rest here.

🚨 Corporal punishment is a serious risk to children
The WHO says corporal punishment is a global public health issue that can seriously harm kids’ physical and mental health, and even increase the risk of criminal behavior later on. Globally, an estimated 1.2 billion children are subjected to corporal punishment each year. Perhaps even more surprising, 18 states in the US still allow corporal punishment in schools. See if your state is on the list.

🍤 Radioactive shrimp from Walmart
If you recently purchased frozen shrimp from Walmart, you need to immediately  remove it from your freezer because it might be contaminated with radioactive material. Yes, seriously.

Are we really making our children healthy again?
Food policy usually feels like background noise, until it lands in your grocery cart. The recently leaked “Make Our Children Healthy Again” plan highlights how proposals on paper don’t always translate into meaningful changes for families. The plan emphasizes short-term measures but doesn’t fully address deeper issues such as the affordability of nutritious food and access to reliable healthcare. You can read more of my thoughts here.

If you or someone you know is struggling to make ends meet, food banks can help. Find one near you here.

Last week, we asked if you thought fussy babies "belong in restaurants" and the results were somewhat mixed! 63% of you said, "Of course! That's life!" while nearly 40% said, "No, ever heard of Uber Eats?"

This week, Kiyah sits down with Dr. Robyn Fivush, professor emeritus of psychology at Emory University, to explore the power of family stories.

In this episode: From everyday updates (“You’ll never guess what happened at school today!”) to funny memories (“Remember when Dad tripped on his shoelaces during vacation?”) to meaningful reflections (“I was so nervous at my first school dance”), we explore how these stories help shape how children see themselves and build their sense of self-worth.

Give it a listen!

Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube