Early Screen Time Linked To Developmental Delays

TOP OF MIND

The screen routine:
Nothing makes a parent brace for impact like the words, "A study finds..." and unfortunately we have a doozy of a study for you today.

Screen time = bad time for your little one.

The important bits:
According to a study of over 7,000 children, 1-4 hours of screen time per day at age 1 is linked with higher risks of development delays in communication, fine motor, and problem-solving skills by age 2.

The study measured how many hours children used screens per day at age 1 and their associated developmental performance at ages 2 and 4.

They found that by age 2, the kids who had 4+ hours of screen time per day were more than twice as likely to experience developmental delays in problem solving and social skills, and were up to 4.78x more likely to have underdeveloped communication skills.

Here's the thing though — the data they used was self-reported by the mothers, and they did not distinguish between screen time that was intended to be educational and screen time more focused on pure entertainment. They have plans to conduct more detailed studies in the future. 🙄

What's it all mean?
Treating an iPad like a pacifier might have consequences. Who knew? The good news is that the study also found that by age 4, most of these delays appeared to dissipate, so you know... c'est la vie?

But if you're interested in cutting down your toddler's screen time, this working mom has some tips on going cold turkey.

DID YOU HEAR

Who hatched this plan?
Been on TikTok lately? Apparently there's a new viral trend of parents filming themselves cracking an egg on their child's head for likes and follows. In some clips, the toddlers laugh at the prank, but in others, they can be seen crying or saying things like, "Ouch, that hurt!"

The hashtag #eggprank has nearly 700 million views on TikTok, while #eggcrack and #eggcrackchallenge have 222 million and 64 million views respectively.

Soon to be trending? #mymomcrackedaneggonmyheadwheniwas3andnowihavetroublefindingjoyinlife.

Bro, your USB drive is smoking!
Authorities around the country are warning parents to be on the lookout for vapes disguised as school supplies, including highlighters, USB drives and ballpoint pens.

A large percentage of the sneaky devices are being sold from China via the internet and black market. Worst of all, they're completely unregulated, which means they may contain dangerous substances.

According to a study conducted in 2022, more than 2.5 million middle and high schoolers reported current or past e-cigarette use.

If you ain't first, you're last
Someone decided to compare paid maternity leave policies around the world, and the U.S. is one of only seven countries that provide no paid time off after birth.

Meanwhile, new mothers in New Zealand get up to six months of paid leave at 48.9% pay. In the United Kingdom? An entire year, but only the first 39 weeks are paid.

Check out the full list here.

There's a bus driver shortage
In major cities across the U.S., kids are having a difficult time catching a ride to school. Why? Because no one wants to be a bus driver anymore.

All 50 states have seen at least one instance of a major driver shortage so far this year, with cities like Chicago and Kansas City being impacted the most.

Is this real life?
The kid from the viral video "David After Dentist" is a senior in college now, and this is what he looks like.

A DOSE OF GOOD

JUST FOR YOU

Bites: Just because you’re short on time doesn’t mean dinners have to be short on flavor. In 30 minutes or less you could have this Honey-Garlic Glazed Salmon, Oven Roasted Asparagus, and a simple Rice Pilaf on the table and ready to eat. You’ll probably even have time to fit in these Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats (trust us, they are worth the extra 5 minutes.)

Reads: How about 17 of them? The EveryMom was nice enough to recommend 17 of their favorite books for first time parents. There's something for everyone on the list, including all you data-driven parents out there.

Deals: Labor Day is next week, which means two things: BBQs and sales! Several brands are already dishing out early Labor Day deals, and this is your guide to all the relevant ones for parents. The list updates daily, so if you don't see anything today, check back in a day or two!

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week we asked which approach you follow regarding traditional gender color palettes for your children. Over 50% of you said you use neutral/muted colors without sticking to traditional gender colors.

RECALLS

Multi-purpose kids bike helmets by Ecnup. Sold exclusively on Amazon.

What happened?
The helmets failed to comply with basic federal safety requirements for head coverage, stability and labeling. Essentially, the company made an oversized cap.

What should you do?
Stop using the helmet immediately. Cut the straps and take a photo as evidence.

To get a refund, email your photo to [email protected] to demonstrate that you've decommissioned the product. (Note: it's worth raising an eyebrow at a company selling safety equipment with a hotmail email address.)

Once you've cut the straps and taken the photo, properly dispose of the helmet. There have only been 215 units sold, so the risk has been limited. Kudos to Amazon for jumping all over this one.

Oh yeah, and another Trader Joe's snack has been recalled.
Last month, beloved grocery store Trader Joe's pulled three items from their shelves because they may have contained rocks. One week later, they had to pull another item because it may have been laced with insects. And now, they're having to pull a fifth item due to a potential metal contamination.

The snack in question? A variety of multigrain crackers. More info here.

We're disappointed.