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In this episode, Greg Dickens and I discuss recent news on risk factors for food allergies in babies and children and on the cost of raising children in the US. We then talk about bellies – what they are, how they shape our health, and why we need to avoid sucking them in. Finally, we talk about sunscreen – does sunscreen increase the risk of cancer more than sunlight does? And what other risks might we want to consider?

* For more information on setting children up for better belly health, see this article: https://guenbradbury.substack.com/p/should-kids-suck-their-bellies-in

* For more information on setting children’s guts up for better long-term health, see this article: https://guenbradbury.substack.com/p/gut-feelings

* Interested in why children need enough sunlight? https://guenbradbury.substack.com/p/throwing-shade

My veterinary degree taught me about mammalian body systems.

My career in health research taught me about Western health and Western bodies.

Spending 18 months living with my three children in remote African and South American communities taught me about human health and human bodies in other cultural environments.

I share what I’ve learned about child physical health and development in weekly articles and podcast episodes.

Everything is free, but if you find my work useful and would like to show your support, you can now upgrade – completely optional, always appreciated.

Topics covered

* What factors in a child’s early life increase their risk of food allergy?

* How much does it cost to raise a child in the US, and at what point do parents spend that money?

* What are bellies and why should we care about their size?

* How can we set children up for better relationships with their bellies?

* Does sunscreen increase the risk of skin cancer more than sunlight does?

Recent episodes

Notes

“In this meta-analysis, the most credible risk factors associated with development of childhood food allergy are a combination of major and minor risk factors, including early allergic conditions (atopic march/diathesis), delayed allergen introduction, genetics, antibiotic exposure, demographic factors, and birth-related variables.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41661638/

“Average per-child investments from birth to age 18 total $502,152 (2024 USD), with overall disparities by household income and race/ethnicity of 6% to 15%. Early childhood shows the largest gaps—often over 50%—driven mainly by housing and child care.” https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-70316-3

Possible Explanations for Rising Melanoma Rates Despite Increased Sunscreen Use over the Past Several Decades: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/24/5868

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