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Behind the Autism Statistics, an essay in the Atlantic Monthly, asks a provocative question: given that children with autism can qualify for free, state-funded therapy, is it possible that children with autism-like symptoms (but not autism itself) are being deliberately misdiagnosed? And that such misdiagnoses are partially to blame for the precipitous rise in autism rates (up to 1 in 100 kids, says the CDC)?

“Ableism!” charges Sarah, an autistic woman who advocates for autism rights on her blog Cat in a Dog’s World. “The article is correct in pointing out the potential for misdiagnosis, and the fact that a lot of diagnostic gerry-mandering goes on because families want services,” writes Sarah, “Becker draws an artificial line between those she, parents, and/or the medical establishment consider to be ‘really autistic’ and those ‘normal’ children who just have a few quirky developmental issues. She’s fine with stigmatizing the ‘really autistic’ ones as broken and in need of repair, but foisting the label on a ‘normal’ child is apparently a great travesty.”

As Sarah points out, Becker’s conclusions seem to be drawn from the experiences of just one family: By a strange coincidence that family is the family profiled in Becker’s new film, Autistic-Like: Graham’s Story.

A Swedish research study which looked at 13,376 women born between 1952 and 1989 has found that the more educated a girl’s family is, the more likely she is to develop an eating disorder.

The study, reported in the American Journal of Epidemiology’s September 1 issue, tracked hospitalization for eating disorders with the level of education of her forebears, as well as the girl’s own performance at school. Researchers found that girls whose parents attended college were about twice as likely to be treated for an eating disorder. Girls whose maternal grandmothers had a college education were six times as likely. And girls with the highest grades at age 15 had double the risk of developing an eating disorder when compared to the group of girls with the lowest grades.

What does all this mean? Lead researcher Jennie Ahren-Moonga speculates that high-performing families create pressure to succeed and conform; this might play into the obsessiveness that fuels many eating disorders. In addition, girls who grew up in a competitive environment and succeed (as evidenced by higher grades) may themselves have qualities such as drive and perfectionism, that are often twinned with dysfunctional eating.

We’ve all been there in the store when your child throws a tantrum and refuses to leave. “Come with me now or I’ll drag you out,” you might say. Gaylesville, Alabama mom Melissa Catherine Smith-Means actually did it. And three months after her felony arrest for first-degree cruelty for children, the blog world found footage of her dragging her small child through a Verizon store. And everyone has something to say about it.

“This woman wasn’t A. watching what happened with her child (did you see near the end, where she almost slammed his head into the wall as she rounded the corner) and B. a frustrated mom at the end of her rope desperately to avoid a scene in a busy store,” writes Jeanne Sager on Strollerderby, Babble’s house blog. She admits she’s not a fan of leashes, writing “leashes beg for abuse - the parents who think they no longer have to watch what their child is doing because the leash acts as a babysitter. Parents who would drag their child around a store.” Guess Jeanne has a non-darting kid.

“Dear kid of abusive mom: yes, this is what it feels like for us when we deal with cell phone retailers, too,” writes Chris Walters at the Consumerist, while Tom Henderson of AOL’s ParentDish had more sympathy for Smith-Means: “We have a court system to determine what was really happening in that store — and in Smith-Means’ head. I can well imagine a mother who ran out of options. Perhaps she told a difficult child that he would either come peacefully or she would drag him out.”

Is Smith-Means a monster or just a mom at the end of her rope?

Baby fever has made you axe any name you’ve ever heard, even if it’s the child of your cousin’s neighbor’s nanny’s nephew.

Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby will help you navigate the world of baby naming. With humor and a refreshing take on the trends, the book is organized by style, image, sex and tradition. Plus you’ll have a few laughs reading lists like Millennial Names (Maverick, Riley) or Music and Dance (Etta, Gershwin). The authors, experts Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran, will not lead you astray.

Better yet, maybe they can name the kid for you.

Available at amazon.com.

You’ve seen him once or twice at the playground — the totally involved and evolved stay-at-home dad. Who is this thoroughly modern man, and what makes him tick?

The Daddy Shift: How Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared Parenting Are Transforming the American Family, offers a look into the changing world of fatherhood today. Inspired by author Jeremy Smith’s year spent at home with his young son, this book investigates the stories of a diverse group of dads who have embraced care giving and egalitarian marriages, from both a social and economic standpoint.

How 2009.

Available at beacon.org.

Cloth or disposable? Do you even need to ask? Even the greenest of them all cannot convince herself to wash diapers when the trashcan is so convenient.

Think again: Bambino Mio has come up with a simple diapering system that gives you the best of both. This popular European brand (big in the U.K.) has revolutionized the idea of “reusable nappies” with a biodegradable liner (to flush), cotton diaper and waterproof cover (to wash and wear again) that extends through the potty training years. Not only will you do the environment a favor, but you will save some money in the long run after the initial investment of a starter set.

Don’t knock it ’till you try it.

Available at giggle.com.

No more ties this Father’s Day — you’re looking for something a little more intellectual.

Humor, insight and truth — any new dad wants to hear the real deal from those who have been there, done that. That’s why The Book of Dads gathered top writers like Neal Pollack, Nick Flynn and Darin Strauss to share their advice, insights, ruminations and anecdotes about the world of fatherhood. Edited by Ben George (of the literary journal Ecotone), this anthology includes poignant stories like “The Night Shift,” a lyrical recounting of the first few years author Ben Fountain spent in the dark with his young children.

No matter what the experience, he’s not alone.

Available at amazon.com.

This Father’s Day, you want to initiate your favorite dad-to-be into the club — too bad he’s a nervous wreck about holding a newborn.

Comic and filmmaker Chris Mancini explores impending fatherhood in his new book Pacify Me: A Handbook for the Freaked-Out New Dad. The Los Angeles-based pop presents a modern take on what to expect from a male perspective (Mr. Spock vs. Dr. Spock). This play-by-play for dads, from pregnancy and delivery to the adjustment period and the infant years, includes anecdotes from the author’s time in the trenches that will quell the nerves of many fathers-to-be.

Available at amazon.com.

Now that you’re pregnant you know what you should not eat — but what are the best foods for the next 9 months?

Feed the Belly by new mom and nutrition expert Frances Largeman-Roth features nearly 70 easy-to-make recipes smartly categorized by craving (salty, sweet, spicy). This healthy eating guide for pregnant women shares easy-to-follow tips, like what should and should not be on your shopping list, how to choose the healthiest fish and what to eat to boost fertility. Kick off your new and improved diet with the book’s simple seven-day eating plan that will boost your bump and your pre-baby bod.

Available at amazon.com.

Lately it’s all about truth in parenting, but the only place you feel truly honest is on the UB message boards.

Read a relatable dose of reality. Afterbirth: Stories You Won’t Read in a Parenting Magazine is a collection of essays based on Dani Klein Modisett’s popular live show of the same name. Hollywood types, from Sex and the City writer Cindy Chupack to Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner, contribute personal takes on parenting. First family vacations, fertility, fear and father-daughter bonding are just a few of the topics tackled in this collection of personal stories.

Available at stmartins.com.