I'll take a glass of fluoride, please!
You’ve probably seen some pretty heated debates about what’s coming out of your kitchen tap. Over the last year, several cities have stopped adding fluoride to their water, citing concerns that it could affect children’s brain development and IQ, but what it actually impacted was their dental health.

Still though, some people believe the potential dental negatives are worth it due to the concerns around brain development.

But a massive new study published this week is challenging that narrative. Researchers tracked over 10,000 people for decades, following them from high school in 1957 all the way through later life, and found no evidence that fluoridated water was linked to lower IQ or diminished mental abilities.

Read all about it here.

🎯 Dump those car seats!
It’s time to clear out the garage! From now through May 5, you can bring your old, expired, or even juice-stained car seats to Target for their bi-annual trade-in event. In exchange, you’ll get a 20% off coupon to use on a new car seat, stroller, high chair, or rocker. The coupon can be redeemed twice and is valid through May 16.

💸 Can I get 20% off on parenting?
Raising a child just hit a staggering new milestone: $303,418. According to LendingTree, the cost from birth to age 18 has jumped 28% since 2023. Daycare remains the biggest budget-buster, averaging over $17,000 a year. Hawaii is by far the most expensive state, where it'll set you back over $400,000 to raise a child. See where your state lands.

🤖 Meet my super agreeable girlfriend, Alexa!
A new report shows that 20% of boys aged 12–16 know someone "dating" an AI chatbot. While bots offer "maximum control and zero rejection," experts worry about the long-term cost. Skipping the "messy" parts of real relationships, like compromise and handling rejections, could leave kids without the vital social skills needed to succeed in life. 

🧺 Does cold water remove stains as well as hot?
It depends on the mess you're trying to remove. For protein-based stains like baby food, dairy, or blood, stick to cold water as hot water can actually "cook" these into the fabric, making them permanent. Cold is also best for keeping colors bright. Save the hot water for greasy food stains, oils, or when you need to sanitize items like cloth diapers and bedding. When in doubt, start cold to avoid setting a stain forever! More laundry tips.

🧑‍⚖️ The preschool funding debate is heating up
Should public preschool funds go to schools with exclusive admission policies? The Supreme Court is taking up a case from Colorado after Catholic preschools were barred from the state’s universal program. The schools were excluded because they won’t admit children from LGBTQ+ families, which the state says violates nondiscrimination laws. The schools argue their religious rights are being sidelined. The ruling, expected this fall, could have a huge impact on how taxpayer dollars are used for early childhood education across the country.

Last week, we asked you how rising costs at the grocery store have changed your shopping, and there was a tie for first place between, "Stopped spending extra on snacks" and "Still shopping the same, I just cry when I see the receipts." In second place was, "Only buy generic/store brand items now."