Does Tylenol Cause Autism

Recently, President Trump announced that Autism was caused by maternal ingestion of acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) during pregnancy, and strongly advised pregnant women to avoid Tylenol during their pregnancy. He stated “acetaminophen… which is basically commonly known as Tylenol during pregnancy, can be associated with a very increased risk of autism. So taking Tylenol is not good. All right. I'll say it. It's not good. For this reason, they are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary. ” This announcement has caused a firestorm of controversy in the pediatric scientific community. There is a long history of blaming mothers for causing autism in their children, going back to the 1950’s when “refrigerator mothers” were thought to be the source of their child’s autism. Wrongly blaming maternal behavior for their child’s developmental disability has caused immense psychic injury to parents over the years. What do we actually know about the relationship between Tylenol and autism (ASD)?

Two recent research reviews came to opposite conclusions. One (Prada et al 2025), using a “Navigation Guide”, supported a link between Tylenol during pregnancy and an increased incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders. The other (Damkier et al 2025) found that “in utero exposure to acetaminophen is unlikely to confer a clinically important increased risk of childhood ADHD or ASD”.

A nationwide cohort study was conducted in Sweden (Ahlqvist et al 2024) which has population data on all children born between 1995 and 2019. Of a total of 2,480,797 children, 7.9% (185,909 children) were exposed to acetaminophen during pregnancy. Matched siblings not exposed were used as controls, to remove confounding factors such as genetics. They found that there was NO evidence that acetaminophen use during pregnancy was associated with autism or intellectual disability...continue reading...

Renee Wachtel, MD, FAAP

Chair, Committee on Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and School Health Committee, Area Director, Alameda County, AAP-CA1

President's Column:

We Are Experts, We Have the Power to Influence!

As we continue to navigate confusion and misinformation around vaccines, this is our moment to stay laser-focused and keep our eyes on the prize. We are the “Yodas” of child health—our expertise and influence are powerful tools to guide families and protect children.

Vaccines: While so much attention is currently on how to convince parents, let’s not forget the importance of speaking directly to our patients themselves. With the right words, we can help children and teens feel empowered, informed, and brave, and maybe they can influence their parents!

General Talking Points for All Ages

Vaccines give you superpowers to protect yourself from germs
Getting vaccinated helps keep not just you safe, but also your friends, family, and classmates.
Doctors and scientists made vaccines to keep kids strong, healthy, and able to do the things they love (sports, playdates, school).
It’s a normal part of growing up—millions of kids get vaccines every year!...continue reading...

Neel Patel, MD, FAAP

President, AAP-CA1

BrightLife Kids

As pediatricians, we are on the front lines of caring for our State’s children and seeing more and more kids struggling with mental health issues. That is why I am excited to tell you about BrightLife Kids, a virtual platform that provides behavioral health coaching for all California children ages 0-12.

BrightLife Kids offers free, expert coaching with licensed wellness coaches for parents whose kids are struggling with mental health, social skills or behavioral concerns.

Here are some examples of topics that a BrightLife Kids coach might address with parents and children:

For ages 0-4: Coaches help parents learn about developmental milestones, separation anxiety, strategies for better sleep, and how to get kids to try new things.

For ages 5-8: Coaches help kids learn how to express big feelings of sadness, worry and anger in healthy ways.

For Tweens, ages 9-12: Coaches address topics such as social media, peer pressure, independence, self-esteem, and communication skills.

The BrightLife Kids platform provides a variety of services:

Live, 1:1 video coaching sessions with a licensed wellness coach. Families continue with the same coach over time. The diverse, bilingual coaches have experience working with a wide variety of communities and extended hours to accommodate school and work schedules.
On-demand digital tools to get help with challenges and questions that come up between coaching sessions.
Coach Specialists ensure parents get the right level of support for their child whether that is through BrightLife Kids coaching or by connecting them with community resources. If needed, parents receive expert guidance to navigate community resources for therapy, psychiatry or medication management.

Coaching is done via 30 minute sessions with a goal of helping kids learn to express big feelings in healthy ways, develop day-to-day skills, and understand themselves. The BrightLife Kids coaching has demonstrated benefit with 75% of kids showing significant overall improvement after receiving care through the virtual coaching programs...continue reading...

Lisa Leavitt, MD, FAAP

Mental Health Committee Co-chair, AAP-CA1

RSV Prevention Made Simple: Key Guidance for Pediatricians

Winter is approaching, bringing with it a surge of seasonal illnesses. Pediatricians are on the front lines during this time, caring for children affected by a range of viral infections, including RSV, influenza, COVID-19, and others. Among these, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains one of the most common and serious infections in young children.

RSV spreads easily through respiratory droplets either by direct contact with an infected person or by touching contaminated surfaces. Each RSV season places a substantial burden on the healthcare system, with large numbers of emergency visits, hospitalizations, and even deaths. Infants under 8 months of age and those with underlying conditions such as prematurity, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, or immunodeficiency are especially vulnerable. In the U.S., RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among infants, resulting in an estimated 50,000-80,000 hospitalizations annually in children under 5 years of age. Hospitalization rates are highest during the first few months of life and gradually decrease with age through early childhood.

Prevention tools are now stronger than ever

Nirsevimab (Beyfortus) is a long-acting monoclonal antibody given as a single dose to protect infants during their first RSV season.
In the 2024-25 season, the first with widespread use of both maternal RSV vaccination and nirsevimab for infants aged 0-7 months data from RSV-NET showed hospitalization rates dropped by ~43% compared with pre-pandemic seasons. The New Vaccine Surveillance Network recorded a similar 28% decline in the same age group.

The AAP strongly recommends administration of the RSV preventive shot to all infants <8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season (typically starting October 1 through March 31 in most of the continental US). See the image below to guide your decision...continue reading...

Vaishali Benaka Hebbar, MD, FAAP, CLC

Obesity Prevention Committee Vice Chair, AAP-CA1

The Ultra-Processed Food Crisis in Children: A Modifiable Risk Factor

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now make up 67% of calories in U.S. children’s diets, displacing nutrient-dense options with items high in added sugars, unhealthy fats, and sodium. Early exposure locks children into unhealthy eating patterns that extend into adulthood. Our team recently reviewed this topic in Obesity Pillars — read the full article here: The Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods on Pediatric Health.

The Hidden Costs

High intake of UPFs is strongly linked to childhood obesity, which in turn increases the risk of cardiometabolic complications such as insulin resistance and MASLD, mental health concerns, including anxiety and ADHD. Research further connects frequent UPF consumption to impaired cognitive development, gut health disruption, systemic inflammation, and oral health disparities.

Local Perspective

In California’s Central Valley, childhood obesity rates already exceed national averages, compounding UPF-related risks. Food insecurity further drives families toward cheaper, calorie-dense UPFs, widening health disparities. This makes pediatric screening and family-centered counseling especially urgent in our region...continue reading...

Sushma Chamarthi, MD, FAAP, DABOM

Obesity Prevention Committee Chair, AAP-CA1

Chapter Events

Podcasting 101 for Pediatricians

Podcasting is a powerful way for pediatricians to share expertise, connect with families, and extend education beyond the exam room. This chapter chat will introduce participants to the basics of podcasting — from choosing topics and engaging an audience, to selecting equipment and publishing episodes. Whether you’re looking to start your own podcast or engage as a guest, this chapter chat will provide the tools to amplify your pediatric voice.

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15

Time: 12:00 p.m. – 01:00 p.m. PDT

Location: via Zoom

Events Page

Committee Meeting: Mental Health Committee

We would like to invite you to join our next Mental Health Committee meeting virtually on Tuesday, October 21 from 6:30-7:30 P.M! AAPCA1’s Mental Health Committee invites you to a virtual meeting focused on sharing mental health resources and strategies for both patients and providers. We'll discuss ways to better support individuals facing mental health challenges, highlight available community resources, and explore opportunities to strengthen care in your practice.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 21

Time: 06:30 p.m. – 07:30 p.m. PDT

Location: via Zoom

RSVP Here

Events Page

Life After Residency Series: Finding Your First Job and Negotiating Like a Boss

Employment contracts and negotiation are essential skills for pediatricians starting clinical practice, they determine compensation, schedule, and long-term career flexibility. Join us on Thursday, October 23 from 6-7 PM! This chapter chat will introduce participants to reading and interpreting employment agreements, understanding compensation models, spotting restrictive covenants and other red flags, interpreting termination and benefits language, and practical negotiation strategies you can use from day one.

Date: Thursday, October 23

Time: 06:00 p.m. – 07:00 p.m. PDT

Location: via Zoom

Stay tuned for regional in-person sessions planned in Oakland, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Fresno and Sacramento in November!

Events Page

Committee Meeting: Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and the School Health Committee

AAP-CA1 invites you to join the joint committee meeting with the Committee on Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics and the School Health Committee, held virtually on Tuesday, October 28, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Don’t miss this important discussion on developmental, behavioral, and school health topics!

Date: Tuesday, October 28

Time: 07:00 p.m. – 08:30 p.m. PDT

Location: via Zoom

RSVP Here

Events Page

Cal-MAP Presents Primary Care Project ECHO Series & School-Based Project ECHO Series!

The California Child and Adolescent Mental Health Access Portal (Cal-MAP) offers live interprofessional tele-mentoring and consultation with school-based teachers, administrators & staff and school-based health center staff focuses on on topics including bullying, disruptive behaviors, anxiety, autism and suicidality and mental and behavioral health presentations common in school-based settings.

Upcoming Primary Care Project ECHO Series:

All events in this series are from 12:00 pm – 01:00 pm PDT

October 10 – Diagnosing and Treating Anxiety in Children: The Foundations
November 14 –Diagnosing and Treating Depression in Children and Youth

Upcoming School-Based Project ECHO Series:

All events in this series are from 09:00 am – 10:00 am PDT

October 20 – Addressing Student Attention, Learning, and Rule-Following Concerns with School Behavior Plans
November 17 – Grief in School Communities
December 12 – Using SSRI's in Children and Youth
December 15 – Identifying and Promoting Success for Neurodiverse Students

Monthly Cal-MAP Webinar Series: Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5 – Register Here!

CME, APA, ACE, and ASWB credits available

Some sessions may also qualify for MOC Part 2 and AAFP CME credits.

📌 Visit Cal-MAP to access program details and session recordings.

Visit Cal-MAP for More Information

28th Annual San Diego Pediatric School Health Virtual Conference

Join AAP-CA3 for two evenings of virtual learning on the latest issues in school health. This year’s conference will cover a wide range of pediatric topics including sleep disorders, adolescent health, autism and school services, diabetes, sports medicine, immunization updates, and more.

Date: October 8 & 15 via Zoom

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Medical/BSN Nursing Students, Residents, Speakers, AAP Staff - Free

General Ticket (9/20-10/15) - $60

Pre-registration is required to attend! Your purchase includes both nights of the conference.

Webinar - Center for Family Health: Helping Pediatricians Keep Kids Healthy

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Center for Family Health (CFH), is excited to present this inaugural webinar—designed specifically for AAP-CA members. This session will provide an introduction to the various programs within the CFH, with a focus on how pediatricians can utilize these resources to support their patients and families.

Date: Tuesday, Oct. 21

Time: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. PT

Location: via Zoom

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 4, designated this live educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

CME Lecture - Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Mental Health

Join us for this collaborative continuing education event, presented by the AAP-CA3, Smart Care BHCS, SD County HHSA, and SDACAP. Dr. Niranjan Karnik, MD, Ph.D will present on AI in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. He is the Director, Institute for Juvenile Research, Department of Psychiatry, and Interim Director, AI.Health4All Center for Health Equity using ML/AI, at the University of Illinois Chicago, College of Medicine.

Date: Monday, Nov. 3

Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PT

Location: via Zoom

AAP-CA's 46th Annual Las Vegas Seminars

We personally invite you to attend this year’s Annual Las Vegas Seminars at the beautiful Caesars Palace Las Vegas! This meeting is the largest regional Pediatric Conference in the country, thanks to the continued support and participation of individuals like you.

Date: November 14-16

Location: Caesars Palace, Las Vegas

Up to 16 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ available

Chapter Members receive a $75 discount!

KP Webinar Series on Firearm Violence Research

The Kaiser Permanente Center is launching a bimonthly webinar series designed to build the capacity, confidence, and visibility of those navigating the complexities of firearm violence research and prevention.

Each webinar will offer an opportunity to learn from a community of leading researchers and practitioners, receive expert guidance, and engage with peers in the field.

October 2025 | From Problem to Purpose: Choosing Research Questions That Drive Change in Firearm Violence Prevention
December 2025 | Navigating IRBs in Firearm Violence Research: What You Need to Know
February 2026 | Built on Trust: Community Partnerships for Firearm Violence Prevention Research
April 2026 | It’s Not Just What You Do – It’s How You Do It: Implementation Science for Firearm Violence Prevention
June 2026 | Not Just a Report: Disseminating Firearm Violence Research for Impact

Pediatric Careers in California!

Explore our job board for exciting career opportunities or share one of your own. Visit aapca1.org/jobs/.

Chapter Members: Enjoy a discounted rate of $50 for a 90-day job posting and promotion.
Non-Members/Corporate Entities: Post for 30 days at $100.

Take the next step in your pediatric career today!

Pediatric Jobs Available!

Full-Time Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician - Yakima, WA

Division of General Pediatrics Adjunct, Clinical X, HS Clinical, and In Residence Faculty Series - San Francisco, CA

Pediatrician – Tamalpais Pediatrics - Marin County, CA

Job Board

Resources

Caring for Children with ADHD Resource Toolkit

Most children with ADHD have their first encounter for care within their primary clinician’s practice, their “medical home.”

These tools help you prepare for that encounter and beyond: readying your staff, screening, diagnosis, treatment, ongoing follow-up, and negotiating insurance payments for every step your patients need...

Recommended by AAP

Learn More

AAP: Fluoride is a Powerful Tool for Preventing Tooth Decay

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in almost all sources of water. Since 1945, communities have adjusted fluoride in public water supplies to the optimal amount to strengthen tooth enamel and reduce tooth decay...

Recommended by AAP

Learn More

Halloween Health and Safety Tips

Halloween is a time for spooky thrills and imagination. But the holiday also brings some extra risks for children and teens.

Did you know that child pedestrian injuries are more likely on Halloween than on any other night of the year, for example? Help keep Halloween fun and safe for your family with these tips...

Recommended by Healthy Children

Learn More

Cal-MAP: Mental Health Support Resources

Cal-MAP’s team of mental health specialists supports primary care providers (PCPs) treating youth with mental health needs through education, consultation, and resource navigation.

Phone:

800-253-2103

Email: info@cal-map.org

Request a Consultation