Feb
09
By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Government safety officials Tuesday announced a recall of more than 500,000 drop-side cribs sold at Buy Buy Baby, Kmart, Wal-Mart and other stores after the death of three infants.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says plastic hardware on Generation 2 Worldwide and ChildESIGNS cribs can break and allow the drop side to detach. In addition, the mattress supports can break away from the crib frames. Both defects create gaps where a small child can be trapped and suffocate or strangle.
The agency has received three reports of children who died after getting trapped in gaps between the drop sides of their cribs and their mattresses.
An 8-month-old boy from Newark, Ohio, suffocated in July 2007 after the drop...
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Feb
09
“Back of the Bus” by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Floyd Cooper
c.2010, Philomel Books
$16.99 / $21.00 Canada
32 pages
Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Bookworm Sez
Not very long ago, a couple days after you were born, Mama and Daddy tucked you and buckled you tight for your first ride home. They wanted your little self to be safe, so they put you in the back seat where nothing bad would happen to you.
Since that day not very long ago, you’ve spent plenty of time in all sorts of vehicle seats, mostly in back because that’s where kids like you are out of harm’s way. Being in the front seat, next to Mom or Dad, is a place for big kids and grown-ups. …
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Feb
08
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — By now, it is abundantly clear that Michelle Obama loves french fries.
The first lady talks about this “guilty pleasure” all the time, trying to ward off any notion that she is a nutrition nanny even as she cajoles Americans to eat better.
Now, her conversation with the public about the nation’s health and fitness is about to get a lot more pointed.
After laying the groundwork for nearly a year, she launches a campaign on Tuesday against childhood obesity that she hopes will change the way millions of Americans eat, exercise, look and feel.
To succeed, she will have to take on powerful forces that have left one-third of children overweight:
Feb
08
By Jack Perconte, McClatchy-Tribune
Don’t be fooled by the title of this article because it could easily have been titled, “10 tips to help parents survive their child’s tough season.”
Failure and disappointments for young athletes often affects parents more than kids. Most kids are more resilient than they are given credit for and it is their parents’ reactions to their performances that cause tension in players and families.
Because of the difficulty of all sports, great patience is required by all during a season and from year to year. Disappointment and frustration can easily occur in sports and without understanding and guidance by a player’s parents, their season or career can be ruined when people panic at...
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Feb
07
Birthdays aren’t something I particularly care about these days since I’m fast approaching the point at which I don’t even want to admit my age.
I discovered, however, that my kids care quite a bit which was really touching. After a few seconds of a sappy, “awwww – they do care!” Mom moment, I started to plot how to use it to my advantage.
Mornings are hectic. I’m on my own in the morning with three sleepy, frequently cranky children who are in no way motivated to get to school or daycare quickly.
I usually dread mornings a little bit because I know at least one of them is going to give me trouble – whether with getting dressed or brushing teeth or getting buckled up in the van – one of them will give me trouble.
“Happy birthday, Mommy!”...
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Feb
06
By Colleen Diskin, The Record (Hackensack N.J.)
It’s spaghetti-and-meatball night. But not every plate on the table contains this hearty fare, nor is there a side dish of steamed broccoli at every place setting.
One plate has only pasta mixed with butter and Parmesan cheese. No red sauce, because red sauce has those little green things in it.
It’s OK to put marinara sauce, and even a meatball, on another plate — but only on the side. The bottoms of the broccoli stalks will need to be trimmed, of course, because only the tops will be tolerated and, hopefully, consumed.
On a third plate, you are gratefully allowed to spoon sauce on the pasta, as well as add some intact broccoli florets. But you must not lightly sprinkle on the cheese —...
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Feb
05
nameberry.com
Perhaps you’ve picked out a name you thought was new and different, only to find you were inadvertently following the trends. Or you’ve been “saving” a favorite name so long that, now that you finally have a chance to use it, it’s no longer as fresh as it was when you picked it.
The solution? Tweak that name.
With our very first book, “Beyond Jennifer & Jason,” we began suggesting ways that parents could update, respin, and coolify (yeah, that’s a word we made up) the names they might be considering.
Don’t get us wrong: Many of these names are pretty cool already. Cool and beautiful and interesting and all those good things. But still, there’s sometimes a way to ratchet...
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Feb
05
By Emilie Le Beau, McClatchy-Tribune
Couture diaper bags? Celebrities are regularly photographed toting designer diaper bags that cost thousands. It’s tempting for new parents to invest in an expensive and stylish diaper bag, especially since it will be used almost daily. But before buying into the trend, new parents need to remember the actual purpose of a diaper bag.
Diaper bags hold dirty diapers and wipes. These bags are placed on the ground at restaurants and sink counters at public bathrooms. A quality diaper bag needs to be washable and inexpensive.
The Parent Pod by Bella Tunno is an eight pocket bag that looks a stylish case. It has a hidden metal hook so it doesn’t have to teeter on the sink counter at a public restroom. It has two...
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Feb
04
By Julie Landry Laviolette, McClatchy Newspapers
For some parents, getting a child into the gifted program is akin to winning a gold medal in the academic Olympics. It’s a label parents and some students crave as much for the prestige as the potential for higher learning.
Educators say parents who clamor to get the inside track on gifted testing should consider whether it’s really right for their child.
“This is not a club you’re getting into. It is services by the school system and some gifted kids need them and some gifted kids don’t,” said Cynthia Park, director of Advanced Academics for Broward County Public Schools.
Take a look at your child. Is he or she challenged in school? What behaviors do you...
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Feb
04
By Marla Jo Fisher, The Orange County Register
I moved into a suburban neighborhood three years ago after living in the ‘hood for a long time.
People on this street socialize together. They have block parties. They have progressive dinners every Christmas. Some of them (and I am not making this up) even bought RVs so they could all go camping at the lake together.
I thought I wanted to live in a neighborhood like this, but quickly discovered that it scares the heck out of me.
See, I can’t measure up.
When I first moved in, the people across the street who seem to always party in their front yard used to wave and invite me to come over, to join them at their patio table and have lemonade.
But I was always rushing around...
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