Skip to content

Category: children

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Safe

Is Tylenol (acetaminophen) use during pregnancy actually linked or a cause of autism? A large recent study says NO - there is no link between acetaminophen (also called paracetamol) use during pregnancy and autism. Whew..

The long-running well-done study conducted in Hong Kong did NOT find a link with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the children born to women who took paracetamol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy. Dose taken and timing (taken early or late in pregnancy) did not change the results of the study. The study included 708,020 mother-child pairs (of these approximately 43.3% had prenatal paracetamol exposure). and they were studied for many years.

For years Tylenol was considered safe to take during pregnancy for pain and fevers. Apparently it is still safe.

From Medical Xpress: Should pregnant women worry about taking Tylenol? 20-year sibling-matched study finds no link to autism or ADHD

Tylenol (also known as acetaminophen or paracetamol) is one of the most widely used over-the-counter options for easing pain and reducing fever, including during pregnancy. More recently, safety concerns around use during pregnancy have gained attention, with claims of a possible link between prenatal exposure and autism in children increasingly appearing in news headlines and prime-time debates. ...continue reading "Study Finds Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Safe"

Published on Leave a comment on Many Studies Link A Commonly Used Pesticide To Health Harms

It has long been known that the pesticide chlorpyrifos has harmful health effects on humans, especially developing fetuses and children. Unfortunately, it is still in use.

A recent review of nearly 300 studies looking at chlorpyrifos found that the pesticide has harmful effects throughout the body, also causes DNA damage, harms children's brains and nervous systems, causes cancer.and that harmful effects are found at levels that are considered safe by the EPA. Unfortunately, more health harms are found each year.

While the pesticide is no longer allowed to be used for household use in the US (remember cans of Raid cockroach killer?), it is still allowed to be used on farms, in greenhouses, golf courses, and more. Keep in mind that industry-funded studies of chlorpyrifos have been used to shape federal policy and exposure limits for decades.

In other words, federal standards do not protect public health. Why is that not surprising?

Excerpts from the investigative journalism site U.S. Right To Know: Nearly 300 studies link the common pesticide chlorpyrifos to multi-organ damage, DNA disruption, and chronic disease 

Key findings:

    • A review of nearly 300 studies summarizes evidence that chlorpyrifos may harm multiple systems throughout the body, including the brain, hormones, liver, gut microbiome, muscles, reproductive organs, and bones.
    • The review describes DNA damage, chromosome instability, and epigenetic changes that may alter how genes function long after exposure.
    • Some harmful effects appear at exposure levels below those considered safe under current pesticide exposure testing standards.

...continue reading "Many Studies Link A Commonly Used Pesticide To Health Harms"

Published on Leave a comment on Study Finds That A Common Infant Procedure is Unnecessary
Breastfeeding
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Anton Nosik

For a while now mothers having trouble breastfeeding their infants have been blaming it on the infants having "tongue-tie"(upper lip frenulum). This then results in the infant having to go through a procedure of cutting the upper lip frenulum (located in the mouth).

A new study found that the procedure is usually unnecessary, and that the breastfeeding troubles instead seem to stem from the mother's inexperience with breastfeeding.

The researchers studied 264 mother-infant pairs and found no association between the anatomical characteristics of the upper lip frenulum and breastfeeding problems. What was more important was whether the mother had prior breastfeeding experience. Also, the researchers found that true tongue-tie is rare.

Other studies also find that true tongue-tie is rare. Decades ago the problem of tongue-tie was almost unheard of, yet nowadays it seems to be commonly blamed for any and all breastfeeding difficulties. Instead, the researchers suggest that first-time mothers attempting to breast feed their infants should be given support until breast-feeding goes smoothly.

Hopefully there soon will be a reduction in the number of these unnecessary procedures done.

From Medical Xpress: A common newborn procedure faces new scrutiny as evidence undercuts one widely blamed cause of breastfeeding trouble

A joint study by the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital suggests that a newborn's upper lip frenulum is unlikely to be a major cause of breastfeeding difficulties. The study, published in JAMA Network Open, followed 264 mother–infant pairs at Oulu University Hospital between 2023 and 2024. Researchers assessed the anatomy and mobility of the upper lip frenulum in healthy, full-term infants and compared the findings with mothers' reported breastfeeding experiences. ...continue reading "Study Finds That A Common Infant Procedure is Unnecessary"

Published on Leave a comment on Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Increased Risk of Autism

This past year some officials in the US government have been stating that taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of autism in the child. Most researchers disagreed. A recent large Danish study that followed pregnant women adds to the evidence that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen does not increase the risk of autism.

The Danish researchers found that there is no increased risk of autism in children whose mothers took acetaminophen (Tylenoacetamin) during pregnancy. The study looked at more than 1.5 million children who had been exposed to acetaminophen prenatally. The researchers looked at dose-responses to see if there was an increased risk at different doses or if there was an increased risk during different trimesters - nope, there wasn't.

Interestingly, they found that the children not exposed to acetaminophen during prenatally had a slightly higher rate of autism (but not statistically significant): "Of 1.5 million children, 31,098 (2.1%) were exposed to prescription acetaminophen during pregnancy. A total of 554 exposed children (1.8%) were later diagnosed with autism, compared with 44,667 children (3.0%) in the unexposed group."

From Medical Xpress: A major pregnancy scare collapses: Tylenol shows no autism risk in more than 1.5 million children

Acetaminophen, which also goes by names like paracetamol or Tylenol, is a common over-the-counter pain reliever and fever reducer. It is often prescribed during pregnancy to help with mild to moderate pain. Recently, there has been a lot of discourse about its safety. Claims have been made suggesting that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of autism in children. ...continue reading "Tylenol Use During Pregnancy Not Linked to Increased Risk of Autism"

Published on Leave a comment on Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth

Pregnancy is a time when the developing baby is exposed to whatever the mother is exposed to. It turns out that this means pesticides (whether on food or in the yard or home) and "forever chemicals". Recent research found that newborns are born already exposed to many more "forever chemicals" (PFAS or per- and polyfluorinated substances) than previously believed.

In the study, the researchers identified 42 different PFAS in cord blood from 120 babies. So far other research has found some long-term effects from PFAS exposure before birth, such as lower birth weight, preterm birth, altered immune responses to vaccines, and metabolic changes.

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are commonly known as "forever chemicals" due to their buildup and persistence in people and the environment. They are of great concern because they are endocrine disruptors, have harmful health effects (e.g., cancer, kidney disease, fertility problems), and unfortunately are found in many products that people use daily.

There are thousands of these chemicals in use today. For example, they are found in any product using Teflon, in nonstick pots and pans, nonstick finishes, anti-stain finishes (e.g., in rugs and fabrics), some make-up (waterproof products), some dental floss, food packaging, fir-fighting foam, etc.

Bottom line: We can't avoid all exposures to environmental toxins, but we can lower our exposures, for example, by avoiding nonstick cookware (use stainless steel cookware or glass instead). [More tips on avoiding harmful chemicals.] This is especially important during pregnancy.

From Medical Xpress: Babies are exposed to more 'forever chemicals' before birth than previously known, new study finds

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 were exposed to many more "forever chemicals" before birth than scientists previously understood, according to new research published in Environmental Science & Technology. ...continue reading "Babies Are Exposed to Forever Chemicals Before Birth"

Published on Leave a comment on Children’s Clothing Can Contain Harmful Levels of Lead

Did you know that many items of children's clothing can contain lead? This surprising finding was presented by researchers at the spring 2026 meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Researchers tested 11 shirts from four retailers, including fast fashion and discount retailers. They found that every sample contained lead that exceeded US safety (federal regulatory) limits - which is 100 ppm. Brightly colored fabrics, especially red and yellow, had particularly high levels.

The researchers than analyzed how much lead would be transferred if chewed, sucked, or held by a child. They found that such exposure would exceed the daily lead ingestion limit for children. This means young children may be exposed to especially high and dangerous levels if they briefly chew or suck on their clothes - which many children do.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission currently has a 100-parts-per-million (ppm) lead limit for children’s products like toys and clothing. Apparently some manufacturers use lead acetate as an inexpensive way to help dyes stick to the materials and produce bright, long-lasting color. And yes, there are safe alternatives to lead acetate that fix dyes to fabrics and keep them vibrant.

By the way, there is no safe level for lead. It is always dangerous and can cause nervous system damage, including lower IQs.

From Science Daily: Study finds dangerous lead levels in children’s clothing

Fast fashion offers an affordable way to keep up with kids who quickly outgrow their clothes. But new early research suggests that some of these garments may contain a dangerous substance: lead. After analyzing shirts from several retailers, undergraduate researchers found that every item tested exceeded U.S. federal safety limits for lead. Their findings also suggest that even brief chewing on these fabrics (which young children often do) could expose kids to unsafe levels. ...continue reading "Children’s Clothing Can Contain Harmful Levels of Lead"

Published on Leave a comment on Measles Can Be Deadly
Child with measles rash Credit: CDC

In the year 2000 the United States had a "measles elimination status" meaning measles had been eliminated in the US, but that's now over. So far in 2026 there have been 1671 measles infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In this past week alone there were almost 100 new cases, almost all in Utah.

Measles infections (which are bad enough) can have very serious complications, including death. According to the CDC these include severe ear infections (leading to hearing loss), severe diarrhea, pneumonia (can cause death), encephalitis (brain swelling) resulting in permanent brain damage, complications during pregnancy, and even the rare fatal condition subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that can occur years later (typically 4 to 8 years later).

Scary facts about measles (from the CDC): about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the US who get measles is hospitalized, about 1 child out of every 1000 who get measles will develop encephalitis (brain swelling), and nearly 1 to 3 of every 1000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.

Yeah, the measles vaccine works, but only if you get vaccinated. By the way, a measles infection is especially deadly to babies because they are still too young to get vaccinated - which normally occurs at 12 to 15 months of age,

Excerpts from rom CIDRAP (Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy): US nears 1,700 measles cases, with 73 new infections in Utah

US measles cases climbed by almost 100 in the past week, reaching 1,671 infections, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its weekly update. The vast majority of the 96 new cases are in Utah. ...continue reading "Measles Can Be Deadly"

Published on Leave a comment on Many Baby and Toddler Foods Are Ultra-Processed
Yogurt with ultra-processed ingredients Credit: Wikipedia

There is concern in the United States about the increasing rates of colon cancer in young persons. Currently it is the leading cause of cancer in persons under 50 years. Some possible causes being examined are ultra-processed foods (over 50% of calories eaten daily by Americans), low fiber intake, and microplastics.

This is why the results of a recent study are especially concerning: about 71% of baby and toddler foods sold in the United States are ultra-processed. Snack sized packages and pouches were especially likely to having ultra-processed ingredients, as well as high levels of sugar and sodium (salt).

How to recognize ultra-processed foods? Read ingredient labels and if there is something that normally is not found in a person's kitchen, then it is ultra-processed. [Good book about this topic: Ultra-Processed People]

Examples of ingredients found in ultra-processed foods: emulsifiers, carrageenan, mono- and diglycerides, soy lecithin, polysorbate, cellulose, colors, titanium dioxide, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, dextrose, whey protein, nitrates, artificial flavors, natural flavors, colors, etc. Natural flavors are laboratory concoctions, even if they are "organic".

Excerpts from Food and Wine: Nearly 3 in 4 Packaged Baby-Food Products Sold in the US Are Ultra-Processed, Study Finds

  • A new study by The George Institute for Global Health found that 71% of baby and toddler foods sold in major U.S. grocery stores are ultra-processed.
  • Researchers identified more than 100 different additives in these products, with general additives, flavor enhancers, and thickeners among the most common.

...continue reading "Many Baby and Toddler Foods Are Ultra-Processed"

Published on Leave a comment on Breast Milk Transmits Important Bacteria to the Infant Gut Microbiome
Breastfeeding
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Anton Nosik

It has long been known that breast milk contains hundreds of microbial species (the milk microbiome), which help seed the infant's gut microbiome. Over the weeks and months of breast feeding, the microbial species in the milk change. All this is normal and good.

A recent study of human breast milk examined the species in breast milk and found that that the species could be viewed as a microbial ecosystem - one that is important in helping seed the infant's gut. The milk contained species that are considered beneficial (e.g., Bifidobacterium), but also some that can be viewed as not beneficial (e.g., E.coli). The milk was from healthy mother-infant pairs, so it was clear that this variety was normal.

Researchers analyzed 507 breast milk and infant stool samples from 195 healthy mother-infant pairs at one, three, and six months postpartum. They found characteristic mixes of bacteria dominated by Bifidobacteria (especially B. longum, B. breve, and B. bifidum). More than half of the milk samples contained B. longum, and that same species was abundant in over 98% of the infants' gut microbiomes.

The paper mentioned that numerous times they found the exact same bacterial strain in both the mother and infant pairs - thus evidence that the mothers transmitted that bacteria to the babies in the breast milk (this is referred to as vertical transmission).

From Medical Xpress: Breast milk microbes help shape infants' gut microbiomes, study finds

Most conversations about breast milk tend to focus on topics like nutrients, antibodies and bonding time rather than bacteria. But it turns out that human milk carries its own tiny community of microbes, and those passengers may help shape a baby's developing gut microbiome—which in turn can impact nutrient absorption, metabolic regulation, immune system development, and more. ...continue reading "Breast Milk Transmits Important Bacteria to the Infant Gut Microbiome"

Published on Leave a comment on Breast Milk Can Contain Traces of Pesticides and Other Chemicals
Breastfeeding
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Anton Nosik

Breast milk is considered the best food for infants, but it can be contaminated with chemicals the mother is exposed to in daily life.

A group of scientists analyzed samples of breast milk from nursing mothers in Canada and South Africa for contaminants and found low levels of pesticides, parabens (endocrine disruptors in plastics), and bisphenols, including bisphenol A and S (endocrine disruptor) in many of the samples.

They published several research papers with their findings. They found contaminants, but at different levels, in the 594 breast milk samples of Canadians and South African women. Unfortunately, all breast milk samples showed some contamination - which can occur from personal care products, the packaging used in foods, in medications, household cleaning products, or even as a food additive.

For example, methyl paraben was detected in 96% of the Canadian human milk samples, followed by ethyl paraben (57%) and propyl paraben (37%). The pesticide propanil (an herbicide) was detected exclusively in South African breast milk samples, as was the antiretroviral drug Efavirenz used in HIV treatment.

BOTTOM LINE: The researchers stress that breast milk is the best food (the gold standard) for infants, but women should realize that chemicals they are exposed to do get into breastmilk. Therefore, try to avoid pesticides, read ingredient labels, and try to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals.

From Newsweek: Scientists Discover Pesticide Traces in Breast Milk

Researchers at McGill University have identified several unexpected chemical contaminants in human milk, finding traces of pesticides, antimicrobials and additives used in plastics and personal‑care products.

The team said the data, drawn from Canadian and South African samples, could help strengthen chemical safety regulations and improve protections for infants and parents. ...continue reading "Breast Milk Can Contain Traces of Pesticides and Other Chemicals"