Articles in the Consumer Reports Category
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
Q&A: What if I can’t afford organic produce? Q: I can’t afford organic produce. What’s the best way to wash produce to reduce pesticides? A: Vigorous washing with water can help minimize your exposure to some types of water-soluble pesticides that are on the surface, but it won’t remove the penetrating residues, says Carolyn Cairns, an environmental scientist on our staff. Buying organic produce is the most reliable way to limit pesticides. And here’s one way to save money: Focus organic purchases on produce items that tend to harbor the most harmful residues. Based on our 2008 analysis, those fruits and veggies include apples, cantaloupes, celery, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, nectarines, peaches, peas, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, and tomatoes. (Learn more ways to save at the supermarket .) Another wallet-friendly tip: Skip produce cleaners. There’s little reliable evidence that they remove more pesticides than water. One more piece of advice: Wash all produce, even if it’s marked “prewashed” or “triple washed.” Our tests have found bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation and fecal contamination in bags of prewashed salad greens . (Learn more shopping tips in ShopSmart magazine .) What are your tips for saving on organics? 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, Recalls »
Family news from the September 2010 Consumer Reports Advice and product tests in the September 2010 issue of Consumer Reports that can help make family life better: Food and drink 10 kids' juice boxes
Baby, Consumer Reports, News, Recalls »
Family news from the September 2010 Consumer Reports Advice and product tests in the September 2010 issue of Consumer Reports that can help make family life better: Food and drink 10 kids' juice boxes
Baby, Consumer Reports, News »
How much room in the third row? Just because a vehicle has a third row of seating doesn’t mean anyone is going to want to sit there. While lots of models now offer a third row, they can vary greatly in comfort and roominess. The third rows in smaller SUVs, crossovers, and wagons, for example, are often tight and hard to access and are best suited for kids. The best seats are usually found in minivans and some large SUVs, such as the Ford Expedition EL and Mercedes-Benz GL. But that’s not always the case. The Chevrolet Tahoe is a large SUV, but it has a very tight third row. That's why it’s important to bring the whole gang—and their car seats —when you’re comparing vehicles. While taking test-drives, have anyone who might end up riding in the third row sit back there. Also gauge how easy it is to access those seats. Try out any child seats you may want to use in the third row, making sure they fit easily and securely and that it’s easy to access LATCH anchors and seat tethers . (See Getting to know your car seat .) Extras, such as cup holders, storage bins, rear climate controls, and audio and video setups, also help third-row passengers pass the miles. Here’s a list of the best and worst third-row seating areas according to our seat-comfort rating. (For specifics on the accessibility of each vehicle's child car seat LATCH connectors,
Baby, Consumer Reports, Moms, News »
Save on school (and work) supplies Notebooks, Post-it notes, pens, pads—it’s that time of year again. Good thing it’s also the season for sales, as stores compete to fill your family’s totes, briefcases, and backpacks. Waiting for those crazy, last-minute, 10-notebooks-for-a-dime specials could slash your spending, but there are lots of other things you can do to save big while you’re shopping for office supplies—and kids’ clothing, too. Sales usually start in August, so get those lists out! Take inventory. Chances are, you already have some of the things you need in your home office. Stick to your list. It makes sense to get a jump on the stuff you know you need (think filler paper and pencils), but wait for the school’s list to do the bulk of your shopping. Consider swapping. If the search of your desk drawer turns up things you no longer have use for, swap them for things you do need. Call other moms or go to Swapmamas.com . Click on School & Office to see listings from people who have stuff and people who need stuff. We found an “almost new” SpongeBob backpack waiting for a good home, plus clothing, crayons, and more. Skip taxes. Many states offer tax-free shopping days in August to encourage spending on clothes. You might find information about your state by searching the Internet with your state and “tax holiday 2010.” Some states extend the discount to supplies, computers, and even clothing. Buy in bulk. Warehouse clubs are great places to load up, but so are online stores like RaymondGeddes.com , where we found a pack of six composition notebooks for $7.50 (they’re $2.49 each when you buy them individually). But you’ll pay for shipping, which is around $8. Also check out DiscountSchoolSupply.com . A recent search turned up a 12-pack of glue sticks for $3.24 (39 percent off). But shipping costs can add up if you don’t order in bulk. Consider refurbs. Whether you need a laptop or your kid needs a fancy graphing calculator, refurbished or opened but unused products can save you hundreds of dollars. Just be sure to stick with retailers you trust. Check Amazon.com , Crutchfield.com , Dell.com/outlet , and SonyStyle.com/outlet . Automate savings. Sign up at ShopItToMe.com to get an alert sent to you when there’s a sale on those expensive sneakers your son just has to have or those shoes you need for work. Be strategic. Shopping the sales at a lot of stores could save you big bucks, but it’s a huge waste of time. Instead, search circulars online at YahooCircularCentral.shoplocal.com and SundaySaver.com . Then shop at stores with price-matching policies, such as Staples, Target, and Walmart. Go to school. Ask whether your child’s school has a supply program where you buy one box with everything your kid needs for the year. Staples claims its SchoolKidz program offers savings of 20 to 50 percent. This article also appeared in the September 2010 issue of ShopSmart magazine . Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences
Baby, Consumer Reports, Moms, News »
Save on school (and work) supplies Notebooks, Post-it notes, pens, pads—it’s that time of year again. Good thing it’s also the season for sales, as stores compete to fill your family’s totes, briefcases, and backpacks. Waiting for those crazy, last-minute, 10-notebooks-for-a-dime specials could slash your spending, but there are lots of other things you can do to save big while you’re shopping for office supplies—and kids’ clothing, too. Sales usually start in August, so get those lists out! Take inventory. Chances are, you already have some of the things you need in your home office. Stick to your list. It makes sense to get a jump on the stuff you know you need (think filler paper and pencils), but wait for the school’s list to do the bulk of your shopping. Consider swapping. If the search of your desk drawer turns up things you no longer have use for, swap them for things you do need. Call other moms or go to Swapmamas.com . Click on School & Office to see listings from people who have stuff and people who need stuff. We found an “almost new” SpongeBob backpack waiting for a good home, plus clothing, crayons, and more. Skip taxes. Many states offer tax-free shopping days in August to encourage spending on clothes. You might find information about your state by searching the Internet with your state and “tax holiday 2010.” Some states extend the discount to supplies, computers, and even clothing. Buy in bulk. Warehouse clubs are great places to load up, but so are online stores like RaymondGeddes.com , where we found a pack of six composition notebooks for $7.50 (they’re $2.49 each when you buy them individually). But you’ll pay for shipping, which is around $8. Also check out DiscountSchoolSupply.com . A recent search turned up a 12-pack of glue sticks for $3.24 (39 percent off). But shipping costs can add up if you don’t order in bulk. Consider refurbs. Whether you need a laptop or your kid needs a fancy graphing calculator, refurbished or opened but unused products can save you hundreds of dollars. Just be sure to stick with retailers you trust. Check Amazon.com , Crutchfield.com , Dell.com/outlet , and SonyStyle.com/outlet . Automate savings. Sign up at ShopItToMe.com to get an alert sent to you when there’s a sale on those expensive sneakers your son just has to have or those shoes you need for work. Be strategic. Shopping the sales at a lot of stores could save you big bucks, but it’s a huge waste of time. Instead, search circulars online at YahooCircularCentral.shoplocal.com and SundaySaver.com . Then shop at stores with price-matching policies, such as Staples, Target, and Walmart. Go to school. Ask whether your child’s school has a supply program where you buy one box with everything your kid needs for the year. Staples claims its SchoolKidz program offers savings of 20 to 50 percent. This article also appeared in the September 2010 issue of ShopSmart magazine . 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 »
How much room in the third row? Just because a vehicle has a third row of seating doesn’t mean anyone is going to want to sit there. While lots of models now offer a third row, they can vary greatly in comfort and roominess. The third rows in smaller SUVs, crossovers, and wagons, for example, are often tight and hard to access and are best suited for kids. The best seats are usually found in minivans and some large SUVs, such as the Ford Expedition EL and Mercedes-Benz GL. But that’s not always the case. The Chevrolet Tahoe is a large SUV, but it has a very tight third row. That's why it’s important to bring the whole gang—and their car seats —when you’re comparing vehicles. While taking test-drives, have anyone who might end up riding in the third row sit back there. Also gauge how easy it is to access those seats. Try out any child seats you may want to use in the third row, making sure they fit easily and securely and that it’s easy to access LATCH anchors and seat tethers . (See Getting to know your car seat .) Extras, such as cup holders, storage bins, rear climate controls, and audio and video setups, also help third-row passengers pass the miles. Here’s a list of the best and worst third-row seating areas according to our seat-comfort rating. (For specifics on the accessibility of each vehicle's child car seat LATCH connectors,
Baby, Consumer Reports, News, Reviews »
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, Reviews »
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