Articles in the Baby Category
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How to choose a diaper pail Changing diapers, of course, is the least glamorous aspect of taking care of a baby. But it must be done many times a day, and the right diaper pail can make the job easier. That’s especially true if you have more than one baby at a time in diapers—twins or triplets, or children close in age. The type of diaper pail you’ll want depends on whether you’re using cloth diapers or disposables. Cloth-diaper users may favor a “dry” pail, a lined plastic pail you put rinsed diapers in until wash time. “Wet” pails—a plastic pail for soaking diapers before laundering—were once the standard, but are not used much anymore. The typical disposable-diaper pail is also plastic, and it may be rigged with special liners or devices that dispel diaper odors, or for use with regular garbage bags. The right diaper pail can make diaper duty less of a chore. Pails that use their own liners typically contain odors better than those that use garbage bags, but refills do cost more, though some products that take garbage bags may claim to control odors. If you use cloth diapers, dump solid waste into the toilet before depositing a soiled diaper into the pail. It’s a good idea to dump waste from disposables, too; that added step helps cut down on the odor. (See cloth vs. disposable diapers .) Look for a secure lid; any diaper pail can be a danger to a young child. Plastic liners in a disposable or dry pail are a suffocation hazard; water in a soaking pail is a drowning peril. And a child who lifts a diaper pail lid and falls in may not be able to get out. Capacity counts too, although we have found in previous testing that manufacturers may claim a pail holds more than it actually does. But as diaper size increases, any pail holds fewer diapers. And besides, whether you go with cloth or disposables, you will want to regularly empty the pail anyway to minimize odor. A pedal- or motion detector-opening mechanism makes disposal faster and easier. A taller pail means you won’t have to bend as far. When you’re changing diapers all day, every day, anything that helps you out is a plus. Related: Seventh Generation diapers and other products to be sold at Walmart Take the stress out of potty training Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
Get your picky eater to try corn Maintaining healthy eating habits is beneficial to you and your kids. Although introducing nutritious food to children can be a battle, the increase of childhood obesity should entice parents to help their kids eat right. The correct approach and consistent effort will surely lead to success. (See
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
If your child gets locked in the car If you ever find yourself in any perilous situation involving your car, knowing what to expect and being prepared can provide peace of mind, and maybe even save a life. Rule No. 1 is to keep your cool and help your passengers remain calm. Panic won't benefit anyone. If your child (or pet) gets locked in the car, don't hesitate to pry open or break a window. Make sure it's the one farthest from the trapped passenger. Use whatever's handy, such as a jack tool from another car, a screwdriver, or some other sharp tool. If you're not successful after just a few minutes, call 911. See the survival strategies that we recommend for other
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
If your child gets locked in the car If you ever find yourself in any perilous situation involving your car, knowing what to expect and being prepared can provide peace of mind, and maybe even save a life. Rule No. 1 is to keep your cool and help your passengers remain calm. Panic won't benefit anyone. If your child (or pet) gets locked in the car, don't hesitate to pry open or break a window. Make sure it's the one farthest from the trapped passenger. Use whatever's handy, such as a jack tool from another car, a screwdriver, or some other sharp tool. If you're not successful after just a few minutes, call 911. See the survival strategies that we recommend for other
Baby, Consumer Reports, Headline, News, Parenting, Pregnancy »
Baby, child, and parent news headlines Recent news headlines about safer school supplies, new parents and sleep deprivation, and more. Child health and wellness A new report from the Royal Horticultural Society has found that when children work in school gardens they develop increased life skills, greater literacy and numeracy and are more responsive to the challenges of adult life.— Treehugger A new study finds that girls are more likely today than in the past to start developing breasts by age 7 or 8. The issue is of concern for both medical and psychosocial reasons.— The New York Times (free registration required) According to a study from the Urban Institute…49% of American babies born into poor families will be poor for at least half their childhoods. Those poor at birth are more likely to be poor between ages 25 and 30, drop out of high school, have a teen nonmarital birth, and have patchy employment records than those not poor at birth.— Center for Media Research The Apps for Healthy Kids competition is part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. The competition calls on software developers, game designers, students, and other innovators to develop fun and engaging interactive tools and games that help communicate healthy lifestyle choices.— Supermarket Guru Back-to-school The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has released a free Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies. In addition to phthalates, PVC can also contain lead, cadmium and organotins, all of which can have adverse health effects and have been linked to asthma, obesity and learning disabilities.— inhabitots Parent wellness Women who gain a lot of weight during pregnancy are more likely to have high-birth-weight babies, which may increase the children's risk of becoming obese later in life, a new study suggests.— USA Today A recent sleep survey in the UK found that parents lose an average of six months’ sleep during the first 24 months of their child’s life. According to the Silentnight survey, about 10 percent of parents only managed to get 2.5 hours of continuous sleep each night.— inhabitots The Good Men Project was launched in June and is one of a crop of new magazines…that cater to men with features about parenting, relationships, and mental health as opposed to articles about sex and sports common in some traditional men’s publications.— Boston Globe (via boston.com) Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
Baby, Consumer Reports, Headline, News, Parenting, Pregnancy »
Baby, child, and parent news headlines Recent news headlines about safer school supplies, new parents and sleep deprivation, and more. Child health and wellness A new report from the Royal Horticultural Society has found that when children work in school gardens they develop increased life skills, greater literacy and numeracy and are more responsive to the challenges of adult life.— Treehugger A new study finds that girls are more likely today than in the past to start developing breasts by age 7 or 8. The issue is of concern for both medical and psychosocial reasons.— The New York Times (free registration required) According to a study from the Urban Institute…49% of American babies born into poor families will be poor for at least half their childhoods. Those poor at birth are more likely to be poor between ages 25 and 30, drop out of high school, have a teen nonmarital birth, and have patchy employment records than those not poor at birth.— Center for Media Research The Apps for Healthy Kids competition is part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign. The competition calls on software developers, game designers, students, and other innovators to develop fun and engaging interactive tools and games that help communicate healthy lifestyle choices.— Supermarket Guru Back-to-school The Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ) has released a free Back-to-School Guide to PVC-Free School Supplies. In addition to phthalates, PVC can also contain lead, cadmium and organotins, all of which can have adverse health effects and have been linked to asthma, obesity and learning disabilities.— inhabitots Parent wellness Women who gain a lot of weight during pregnancy are more likely to have high-birth-weight babies, which may increase the children's risk of becoming obese later in life, a new study suggests.— USA Today A recent sleep survey in the UK found that parents lose an average of six months’ sleep during the first 24 months of their child’s life. According to the Silentnight survey, about 10 percent of parents only managed to get 2.5 hours of continuous sleep each night.— inhabitots The Good Men Project was launched in June and is one of a crop of new magazines…that cater to men with features about parenting, relationships, and mental health as opposed to articles about sex and sports common in some traditional men’s publications.— Boston Globe (via boston.com) Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
Back to school: Help for kids with diabetes An estimated 24 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes—that’s about 8 percent of the population, up from 2.5 percent in 1980. Anyone with this chronic condition who receives proper and consistent care can live a good quality life, and can work and function normally. But if your child has diabetes, you may be anxious about how consistently he takes care of his condition during the day, once he heads off to school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently released guide, Helping your child manage diabetes at school , offers parents and kids tips to help them manage their diabetes during the school day and at extracurricular activities. Since a person with diabetes must manage this chronic illness constantly, the help of school staff such as nurses, teachers, and coaches can prove essential. They may help your child take medications, check blood-sugar levels, choose healthy foods in the cafeteria, and be physically active. (See One in five children have risk factors for heart disease .) The CDC suggests you: Create a diabetes management plan with the school. Work with your child’s doctor and school staff to manage diabetes throughout the day, and to learn how the school handles any diabetes-related emergencies. Check for necessary diabetes supplies. A child with diabetes should carry a blood glucose meter, testing strips, lancets, extra batteries and glucose tablets, as well as other essentials in their backpack every day. Make sure your child can manage diabetes at a level appropriate for his or her age. If a trained school employee helps your child monitor their blood sugar, make sure your child knows the symptoms of low blood sugar and where and when to go for testing. If carrying their supplies presents a problem, arrange for supplies to be left with a responsible adult at the school. Encourage your child to eat healthy foods. Prepare a healthy breakfast, and pack a healthy lunch . Make sure your child gets one hour of physical activity every day. Being active can help your child improve his or her blood-sugar control. Also, limit TV and computer screen time to ensure adequate time for physical activity. Help prevent sick days. Children with diabetes can take longer to recover than those without the condition. Make sure your child has all the recommended vaccinations , including the flu shot, and washes her hands regularly. About 1.5 to 2 million people in the U.S. have a form of the disease called type 1 diabetes. In this condition—usually diagnosed in childhood or the early teen years—the pancreas stops producing insulin altogether. People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin every day. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious medical conditions affecting our nation today. In this type, the body’s cells become resistant or insensitive to insulin, which is then produced in less-than-optimal amounts by the pancreas. It was once referred to as “adult onset” diabetes, but no longer. In recent years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents has exploded. A good part of that surge is due to the dramatic increase in the number of young people who are physically inactive and overweight or obese over the last 20 years. (See 4 ways to keep your child at a healthy weight .) Studies conclusively show that diabetes more than doubles the risk of developing and dying of heart disease and other problems. Indeed, the condition is as potent a predictor and risk factor for heart disease and heart attack as are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and uncontrolled high cholesterol. As the CDC notes, parents and schools want all students to be safe and to learn in a supportive environment. By taking these steps, parents can get their children on the right track. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
Back to school: Help for kids with diabetes An estimated 24 million people in the United States have type 2 diabetes—that’s about 8 percent of the population, up from 2.5 percent in 1980. Anyone with this chronic condition who receives proper and consistent care can live a good quality life, and can work and function normally. But if your child has diabetes, you may be anxious about how consistently he takes care of his condition during the day, once he heads off to school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recently released guide, Helping your child manage diabetes at school , offers parents and kids tips to help them manage their diabetes during the school day and at extracurricular activities. Since a person with diabetes must manage this chronic illness constantly, the help of school staff such as nurses, teachers, and coaches can prove essential. They may help your child take medications, check blood-sugar levels, choose healthy foods in the cafeteria, and be physically active. (See One in five children have risk factors for heart disease .) The CDC suggests you: Create a diabetes management plan with the school. Work with your child’s doctor and school staff to manage diabetes throughout the day, and to learn how the school handles any diabetes-related emergencies. Check for necessary diabetes supplies. A child with diabetes should carry a blood glucose meter, testing strips, lancets, extra batteries and glucose tablets, as well as other essentials in their backpack every day. Make sure your child can manage diabetes at a level appropriate for his or her age. If a trained school employee helps your child monitor their blood sugar, make sure your child knows the symptoms of low blood sugar and where and when to go for testing. If carrying their supplies presents a problem, arrange for supplies to be left with a responsible adult at the school. Encourage your child to eat healthy foods. Prepare a healthy breakfast, and pack a healthy lunch . Make sure your child gets one hour of physical activity every day. Being active can help your child improve his or her blood-sugar control. Also, limit TV and computer screen time to ensure adequate time for physical activity. Help prevent sick days. Children with diabetes can take longer to recover than those without the condition. Make sure your child has all the recommended vaccinations , including the flu shot, and washes her hands regularly. About 1.5 to 2 million people in the U.S. have a form of the disease called type 1 diabetes. In this condition—usually diagnosed in childhood or the early teen years—the pancreas stops producing insulin altogether. People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin every day. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most serious medical conditions affecting our nation today. In this type, the body’s cells become resistant or insensitive to insulin, which is then produced in less-than-optimal amounts by the pancreas. It was once referred to as “adult onset” diabetes, but no longer. In recent years, the incidence of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents has exploded. A good part of that surge is due to the dramatic increase in the number of young people who are physically inactive and overweight or obese over the last 20 years. (See 4 ways to keep your child at a healthy weight .) Studies conclusively show that diabetes more than doubles the risk of developing and dying of heart disease and other problems. Indeed, the condition is as potent a predictor and risk factor for heart disease and heart attack as are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and uncontrolled high cholesterol. As the CDC notes, parents and schools want all students to be safe and to learn in a supportive environment. By taking these steps, parents can get their children on the right track. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences