No dusty sons here

The latest in parenting news, tips, and trends:

How the gov funds that helped keep 8 in 10 childcare centers open during the pandemic are expiring on Sept. 30, potentially leaving 3 million kids without options.

These viral trends: Not raising a “dusty son” and #eggprank (which doctors say could be harmful). Can’t make this stuff up.

How the FDA approved the first-ever RSV vaccine for pregnant women to protect infants. Next step: An official rec from the CDC. 

New research that shows screen time for babies is linked to developmental delays when they’re older. Moderation is key.

Why babies are showing up in spaces typically reserved for adults (like bars and waxing salons). Blame surging childcare costs.

Last week, we asked you to vote on a question to answer. The winner was:

How long should my kid stay rear-facing in the car seat?

FEATURED EXPERT:

Michelle Pratt

Founder of Safe in the Seat, and a certified child passenger safety technician

“We want to keep kids rear-facing until they max out one of the limits of their car seat: height, weight, or head height. When a car seat is in the rear-facing position, it’s designed to absorb the impact of a crash so your child’s body doesn’t. 

“A young child's head, brain, neck, and spine simply aren’t developed enough to withstand crash forces. When you combine an underdeveloped spine with an oversized head, and decide to face your child forward anyway, you are setting them up to be injured. I know that’s blunt, but it's true. 

“The more time you give your child's body to strengthen and bones to fuse, the less risk of fatal injury in a car crash. I like parents to have a goal of age 4+ [to face forward]. 

“[Your child’s] legs are never a reason or concern when in a rear-facing car seat. During a crash, a rear-facing child’s knees come to their chest in a cannonball-like position, and there is a low risk of legs hitting anything that can cause injury. But for a forward-facing kiddo, their legs can be thrown forward against the back of the front seat, potentially causing injury.”

Which question should an expert answer in the future?

P.S. The question with the most votes will be answered in an upcoming newsletter, so stay tuned. You can also ask an anonymous question for our parenting experts here.

How to Have Fun While Splitting Tasks With Your Partner

The Fair Play Deck introduces a new way to split parenting and household responsibilities with your partner. Based on Eve Rodsky’s popular book “Fair Play,” the deck comes with 100 cards split into tasks (e.g. laundry or school drop off) or “unicorn spaces” (time for activities you enjoy). 

To play, choose the cards with tasks that apply to your family, then determine which you’ll be in charge of — your partner does the same. Rodsky says no player should hold any cards by default, and responsibilities should be transparent and explicitly defined. 

“Owning [a task] includes not just responding to ‘how can I help?’ but also the cognitive and emotional labor that each task requires — the forethought, the planning, the remembering when, where, and how to get the job done — and without excessive oversight or input from the other partner,” Rodsky says.

Latino Kids’ Health Worse in States with Anti-Immigrant Laws and Policies

A new study found that Latino kids — a quarter of all children in the US — living in states with harsh immigrant laws and systemic prejudice are more likely to experience physical and mental health conditions.

Researchers analyzed health data from nearly 18,000 Latino kids ages 3 to 17 and compared it against state immigration policies and local attitudes toward Latino communities. They found state policies and prejudices were associated with increased odds of chronic physical health conditions (like asthma, blood disorders, and diabetes) and mental health conditions (like depression, anxiety, and ADHD).

Alabama, Alaska, and Nebraska scored the highest for inequity, while California, New Mexico, and New Jersey scored among the lowest. A state’s discrimination level was based on data that included its policies on health services, employment, and access to rental housing, driver’s licenses, and higher education. 

The research shows how laws and policies can directly impact the health of kids, and the study’s authors called for pediatricians to educate communities about systemic racism and advocate for changes.