Friday, 13 May 2022

The White House addresses the urgent baby formula crisis. Plus, the questions to ask before you see a therapist. Here's the latest.

May 13, 2022 | VIEW IN BROWSER

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What the White House is doing about the baby formula shortage, how to keep kids safe amid rising cases of severe hepatitis, and Ashley Judd reveals Naomi Judd's cause of death. Plus, the questions you should ask if you're considering seeing a therapist.

THE LATEST

🍼 Parents everywhere are on a frantic hunt for baby formula. The White House announced a plan.

The severe shortage of baby formula is hitting home for millions of parents, as 43% of the nation's formula supply is out of stock. As some stores limit the amount of formula customers can buy, President Biden yesterday met with the heads of major retailers and said the administration will work to increase imports and ask regulators to crack down on price-gouging. Breast milk banks have also seen a surge in calls from desperate parents. Here's what to consider if you feed your baby with formula. Plus, experts tell us why breastfeeding isn't "free."

Reported cases of mystery hepatitis in children doubled in the last week. Here's what to know to keep kids safe.

The number of worldwide cases of acute pediatric hepatitis has risen to at least 450, including 109 cases in 24 states and Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. Adenovirus has been detected in about half the cases in the U.S. and U.K., but investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the severe liver inflammation. The CDC has issued guidance for parents to protect their children, including knowing the symptoms of liver inflammation and making sure kids regularly wash their hands.

Ashley Judd revealed the tragic way her mother, Naomi Judd, died — and why the family is sharing it.

The daughter of the late country music legend shared yesterday that Naomi Judd's death at 76 last month was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ashley and her sister, Wynonna, said last month they lost their mother "to the disease of mental illness." Her death has put a spotlight on depression in older adults and the signs to watch for in loved ones.

📱 Should kids have smartphones? How some parents are making the tough decision to wait.

A recent survey of 5,000 kids found that 37% of 11-year-olds have a smartphone and 91% of 14-year-olds have one. Is that a good or bad thing? Data has been mixed on whether parents are handing their kids a tool that will wreck their mental health or one that will improve their friendships. Or both. Here are some tips for parents whether they choose to let their children have one or ban them from it until they're older.

🧠 The 7 questions you need to ask yourself if you're considering seeing a therapist.

If you are struggling to cope right now and are weighing whether to start seeing a therapist, here are 7 questions to ask yourself, about everything from the cost to the role a therapist might play in your life. Once you start searching, here are questions to ask a new therapist to see if you're a good match. And if you're already seeing a therapist but thinking about making a change, consider these 9 signs it might be time for a clean break.

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST?

Allow us to do the meal-planning for you.

This week, Al Roker went viral for something we do all the time — scrounging around in the fridge looking for something to cook. He came up with this delicious leftover bacon, egg and croissant dish, which made a perfect breakfast for his son, Nick. "I just poured it into a baking dish that I sprayed with some olive oil," Al said. The TODAY weatherman's video of his impromptu recipe — which would make a perfect weekend breakfast — amassed more than 100,000 views in 24 hours.

DAILY DELIGHT

A little pick-me-up before you go.

When it came time to bust this dad for not helping his wife while she lugged a backpack and their 1-year-old daughter at SeaWorld, there were no words necessary. And, theoretically, there were no words allowed. A mime had the crowd laughing when he was shown on a TikTok video transferring the backpack to the dad's shoulders with the universal "C'mon guy, what're we doing here?" look. For the record, Michelle Tzenevrakis wanted us to know her husband, Nick, typically pulls his weight. "He does so much for us," she tells us. "He's just awesome in every way."