Just take one look at Pinterest – loaded with ideas on going green, eating organic/made from scratch, and opting for homemade/all-natural products – and you can see that moms know: There’s something in the water (and our foods, cleaners, toys, you name it). We all know families affected by autism, asthma, ADHD, early puberty, food allergies… any number of health and development issues that weren’t so common decades ago.

While mothers across the country face those health and development issues and ask "why?" an EPA report with some possible answers (that could spare other mothers down the road) reportedly sits collecting dust on some desks in D.C.

We've all heard about the different theories and smaller studies on chemicals affecting everything from fertility to child development. Now, a large-scale report (America's Children and the Environment, Third Edition) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is available and could possibly bring change to our kids' exposure to chemicals – but it's just bouncing around between bureaus and sitting on the president's desk (as similar reports sat on the desk of presidents before him).

There are parents whose hearts broke on the day their child was diagnosed with ADHD, and who painfully weighed the treatment options for ADHD, taking great pains to avoid putting their child on medication before finally resorting to it. And then, as a new NYTimes article points out, there are parents (and doctors) who are more breezy -- even eager -- about the whole thing: pinning the ADHD label on a child (true or not) to get him or her the meds that will help boost his attention span and grades in school.

It's nothing new for (usually affluent) high schoolers and college kids to pop Aderall to have an academic edge -- which is so obviously not cool. But the trend the Times points out  is a little more complicated, you see, because it involves prescribing ADHD drugs to young, poor children who are generally not thriving in school. In these tough times, schools (and -- if you read between the lines -- parents) are struggling to meet kids' needs, especially in poor, rural areas.

The article focuses on a doctor in rural Georgia who subscribes to that theory: "He calls the disorder 'made up' and 'an excuse' to prescribe the pills to treat what he considers the children’s true ill — poor academic performance in inadequate schools."

So it's socially just to give these kids a leg up, right? To slide them some pills that help D's and F's turn into A's and B's?

There are parents whose hearts broke on the day their child was diagnosed with ADHD, and who painfully weighed the treatment options for ADHD, taking great pains to avoid putting their child on medication before finally resorting to it. And then, as a new NYTimes article points out, there are parents (and doctors) who are more breezy -- even eager -- about the whole thing: pinning the ADHD label on a child (true or not) to get him or her the meds that will help boost his attention span and grades in school.

It's nothing new for (usually affluent) high schoolers and college kids to pop Aderall to have an academic edge -- which is so obviously not cool. But the trend the Times points out  is a little more complicated, you see, because it involves prescribing ADHD drugs to young, poor children who are generally not thriving in school. In these tough times, schools (and -- if you read between the lines -- parents) are struggling to meet kids' needs, especially in poor, rural areas.

The article focuses on a doctor in rural Georgia who subscribes to that theory: "He calls the disorder 'made up' and 'an excuse' to prescribe the pills to treat what he considers the children’s true ill — poor academic performance in inadequate schools."

So it's socially just to give these kids a leg up, right? To slide them some pills that help D's and F's turn into A's and B's?

Does your little one snore? It's far cuter than your hubby sawing logs, so you probably don't think too much of it. But a new study by Cincinnati Children's Hospital shows that children who snore persistently at age 2 and 3 are 3.5 times more likely to have behavioral problems like aggression and hyperactivity. And that's not cute!

The study examined 249 mother-child pairs. Of the children who snored throughout years 2 and 3 of their life, 35 percent showed behavior issues, compared with just 10 percent of non-snorers who displayed a noticeable naughty side. (Moms were interviewed and kids were observed over time for the study.)  

The researchers found that the tots who weren't breastfed were more likely to snore, and being from a lower socioeconomic background also meant a higher likelihood of snoring. Those kids may face more colds and allergies, which contribute to snoring.

Snoring indicates trouble breathing during sleep, therefore low-quality sleep. And, as you know, poor sleep can lead to a grouchy, punchy wild child -- so the study's findings are no surprise. If your youngster persistently snores, discuss the possible causes and sleep solutions with your pediatrician.

Woof! A new study to be published in the journal Pediatrics next month shows that living in a home with a dog or cat can reduce the risk of sniffles, colds, and possibly allergy development in infants' first year of life.

Reasearchers aren't totally certain about why these furry friends (dogs even more so than cats) boost babies' immune systems, but they suspect it has to do with the infants' early exposure to pet dander and the microbes animals bring in from the environment. The tots bodies seem to adapt to and defend against allergens and icky cells rather than developing allergies or poor immune defense to them. How cool is that?!

Tons of other research has shown the positive effects of pets, from lowering blood pressure to boosting mood and exercise levels.

I've gotta run and walk my four-legged friend, Sully, now. On that note... ponder the benefits of pets (and which kind to get!):

• Top 10 Kid-Friendly Dog Breeds (our new list, with reviews from real parents!)
• Quiz: What's the Best Dog Breed for Your Family
• Is Your Family Ready for a Dog? (super important to consider this first, for any kind of pet!)
• More Pet Advice for Parents

A new children's book called Vegan Is Love: Having Heart and Taking Action came out today, and it has some pretty gruesome drawings illustrating animal testing and consumption.  

I'm a meat eater (eating organic/free-range as often as possible) and an animal lover (dog owner for life!). I think many people are both, and we shouldn't ignore where our food comes from. There's definitely room for improvement in our food production standards and ethics. But... as child psychologists point out, that's not necessarily for a child who's already a picky eater to worry about.

Vegan Is Love is targeted to 7-year-old+ audience. Images of cowering, wounded animals should not enter our kids' minds when parents are trying to feed them a reasonable, balanced diet.

I can tell you that after reading Charlotte's Web as a child, I asked my parents if I could become a vegetarian, and they said no. I'm glad they did. I had my very own chicken legs and needed plenty of fat and protein to beef them up during my growing years. I'm not saying children can't thrive on a balanced vegan and vegetarian diet, but spreading a message of violence and guilt to draw our youngest eaters to a meat-free diet seems like a flawed approach.

Raise your hand if you love raw cookie dough!! (I'm raising mine.)

If you're like me, when you start to dip your finger into that bowl or pre-made roll of dough (or allow your kids to do it), you have that little devil on one shoulder saying, "Yum! Yum! Salmonella schmalmonella. Dough was made for eating!" and the little angel on the other saying, "No, no! You're going to puke like there's no tomorrow. Just wait 'til it's baked, silly!" ... And the devil usually prevails. 

While I've never had the unfortunate experience of getting food poisoning from eating raw dough, I know others who have. And a new study in the latest journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that a large outbreak of dangerous E. coli in 2009 was caused by store-bought, ready-to-bake chocolate cookie dough. More than 80 people in 30 states were affectted, and 35 were hospitalized.

While Salmonella from contaminated eggs is the main (and very legitimate) concern of those who bake cookies from scratch, it turns out that raw flour was the likely culprit in the 2009 food poisoning outbreak cited in the study. Wait, there's such a thing as raw flour? Yup! The eggs in most pre-made doughs you buy at the grocery store are pasteurized, and most of the other ingredients -- except the flour -- go through "pathogen kill steps," the NYTimes reports.

Experts say it's hard to quantify the risk of eating raw cookie dough, but suffice it to say, there's always a chance that this seemingly innocent and delicious act could land you in the ER. Bummer!

When is the last time you saw a guy on a Gardasil commercial, or heard about a male getting the HPV vaccine? If you answered "never," that may soon change.

Although the HPV vaccine was approved for males in 2009, it has still mainly been marketed to and recommended for women. But just last week, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization practices voted to recommend the routine HPV vaccination of 11- and 12-year-old males.  As with females, males as young as 9 or as old as 26 can be vaccinated.

Don't know much about HPV? Here are some facts:

• HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States, with about 20 million people currently infected.
• HPV can turn into a more serious problem, including genital warts and cancers such as cervical, penile, anal, head, or neck. It is a leading cause of cervical cancer in women.
• HPV is most commonly spread through genital contact, usually during intercourse. It can be contracted even if the infected person does not have any signs or symptoms.

Why vaccinate your child when he or she is still, well, a child? It is recommended that kids get vaccinated in their preteen years before they become sexually active. The vaccine is administered over a six-month period in three doses, each of which costs about $120.

While we can hope our children won't be sexually active too early in life, we can also opt to take action and vaccinate them while they're still in our care. It could help protect them from some serious forms of cancer, which sounds smart to me.

Check out more info from the CDC on the HPV vaccine.  

I know at least a few moms who have sorted out their kids' M&Ms to ditch the red ones because they believe they make their child hyper.

Do you think food dyes affect your child? Apparently there was just recently enough concern about the possible artificial food coloring/hyperactivity link that the FDA decided to hold a panel discussion this week to look into the long-rumored theory.

I know it's Valentine's Day, which should be a day full of hearts, chocolates, and sweets...but we're also in the midst of cold and flu season, so it's only right to be thinking about vaccines and immunizations too, right?

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released their new vaccine schedule, with a few minor (but still note-worthy) changes.

These changes include:

-- expanded protection for children and teens against Hepatitis B, pneumonia, and pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough).