My fever's gone, but now I have autism!
If you somehow missed the news, the Trump administration is planning to release a report later this month that will allegedly show a link between use of acetaminophen (Tylenol) during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder in children.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has confirmed that they're currently working on this, but declined to go into specifics until the final report is released.

So, what does the science say?

The important bits
Acetaminophen is the most widely used medication during pregnancy, with an estimated 62% of mothers taking it. Numerous studies have investigated the potential risks and effects of its use during pregnancy. Earlier this year, we shared findings from a study suggesting the drug might increase the risk of a child developing ADHD. It's likely the HHS report will focus on similar past studies rather than presenting any new evidence.

According to the research currently available, there's no credible scientific evidence that Tylenol causes autism. While a few small studies have suggested a possible link between fetal exposure to acetaminophen and an elevated risk of autism, the largest study to date found no increased risk.

What's it all mean?
The main challenge in studying acetaminophen is separating the effects of the drug from confounding factors, such as the mother's reasons for taking it (e.g., fever or pain) and the child’s genetic predisposition.

For now, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine has stated that the drug is safe and recommended during pregnancy, emphasizing that an untreated fever, particularly during the first trimester, poses a far greater danger to the baby than taking acetaminophen.

☀️ Who needs vaccines when you have sunshine?
Florida's top health official, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, says they're aiming to be the first US state to ban all vaccine mandates. It's not clear when they plan to implement this, but currently, students in Florida are required to be vaccinated against multiple illnesses, including chicken pox, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and polio. It's worth noting that Florida is in the minority, as a recent poll found 8 in 10 U.S. adults believe parents should be required to vaccinate their children against preventable diseases.

🧘 Parents only have 10% of the week to themselves
A recent survey of 2,000 parents with children under 5-years-old found that the average parent gets only 18 hours a week for themselves. The remaining time is split between personal and professional tasks and keeping children “entertained, engaged, and educated.” Despite this, the majority of the parents surveyed say they wouldn't change a thing.

🥪 Packing a school lunch packs a mean financial punch
Kids are going back to school, and your bank account is most likely suffering. According to a new report, groceries today cost 23% more than they did five years ago, which means packing a lunch for your kid is more expensive than ever. The average packed lunch now costs $6.15 a day. But there is a more affordable option that'll only set you back $2.99 a day. More here.

🧱 Toddler towers are dangerous
Consumer Reports found that many toddler towers pose serious safety risks including falls, tip-overs, and entrapment. At least four models have been recalled since 2021, yet no federal safety standards exist for this product category. In CR’s testing, 13 of 16 towers failed stability checks. See which ones passed here.

👂 6 "magic" phrases that make your kids listen to you
Tired of your little rascal not listening to you? This child psychologist says all you need to do is start using these 6 phrases. First on the list? "I believe you."

What are banana melons? And do they taste like bananas or melons?
I don’t know about you, but I tend to fall into food ruts. I know I’m supposed to introduce a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but I still tend to fall back on the same old options!

September is National Fruits and Veggies month, so in honor of that I’ve created this PDF to help us all stretch our F&V comfort zones. Banana melons included.

Two weeks ago, we asked you where you stood on the carnivore diet for babies, and nearly 90% of you said, "Not for my baby!"