Baby gates: 5 tips for choosing and installing them &ltbr> With an active baby on the loose, a gate or two can make your life a little easier and your child a lot safer by keeping him away from potential dangers, such as stairs or a bustling kitchen. You can also use a gate to keep a pet away from a child and vice versa. Child safety gates are intended for children between 6 months and 24 months. All the gates we tested (see baby safety gate Ratings ) can be opened and closed by an adult but have various designs to prevent children from opening them. Child safety gates come in two basic types, based on the method of installation: Hardware-mounted, or permanent, gates and pressure-mounted gates. (Learn more about safety gate types .) Look for JPMA certified. Whether you choose a hardware- or pressure-mounted gate, look for one that's Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certified . Situated on the frame or packaging should be a certification sticker showing that the gate meets the ASTM International voluntary safety standard, and that its manufacturer participates in the certification program administered by the JPMA. Know the standards and check for openings. The ASTM standard addresses issues such as the bottom spacing—the distance between the bottom of the gate and the floor—so a small torso can't pass through and there's minimal risk of head and neck entrapment, gate height (not less than 22 inches), strength of top rails, slats, and framing components, latching mechanism integrity, and upper-edge configuration—any openings more than 2/3 of an inch deep can be no wider than 1 1/2 inches. Install the gate according to the manufacturer's directions. Pick the right type. As you can see in the video (above, right), never use a pressure-mounted gate or the pressure-mount option on a gate that can be installed either way at the top of stairs—no matter how much you want to avoid drilling holes into your woodwork. Choose a gate with a straight top edge and closely spaced, rigid vertical slats or a mesh screen. Avoid accordion-style gates without a top filler bar (with open points at the top) and gates with horizontal slats or similarly tempting footholds. If you choose a model with mesh panels, look for a fine weave—wide-holed mesh may provide a foothold for climbing or could trap fingers. Follow the safety recommendations for installing and using gates and use our baby safety gate Ratings as a buying guideline. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences

Bath tubs for babies: Which type? Not sure what baby bath tub to buy? Baby bathtubs can cost anywhere

Bassinet and cradle safety guidelines The best beds for babies are full-sized cribs , so consider bassinets, cradles, and bedside sleepers with caution. Bassinet and cradle manufacturers can voluntarily comply with the ASTM standard for these products (indicated by a JPMA seal on the package)—and certification can provide a layer of protection—but at present aren’t required to. If you decide to buy or use a bassinet or cradle, you can’t be too careful. Here are more safety considerations to keep in mind when you’re looking at these baby beds: Buy certified and buy new. Although it’s not a complete guarantee of safety, buying a certified product adds a layer of protection. Certified products must meet the ASTM standard requirements such as correct spacing of side slats or bars. In 2008, for example, 900,000 Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible close sleeper/bedside sleeper bassinets (200,000 of which also carried the Graco logo or a Disney Winnie-the-Pooh motif) were recalled because the bassinet has metal bars that can be exposed when the Velcro flap that covers them is not properly secured—and the bar spacing exceeded the maximum 2 3/8 inches allowed under the federal crib standard, forming a strangulation hazard. Beware: Some of those bassinets could still be in circulation online and at tag sales and secondhand shops. (See two more babies die in Simplicity bassinets .)

Backpacks shopping and fitting guide for kids These shopping and fitting tips should help you find the right backpack for your child. One size does not fit all. Ideally, the bottom of the backpack should align with the curve of the lower back, and not more than four inches below the waistline. A backpack's shoulder-strap anchor points should also rest 1 to 2 inches below the top of the shoulders. (Learn how we tested backpacks , and see our backpack Ratings and reviews , which are available to subscribers , for models that performed well.) Inspect before you invest. Things to look for on the inside and outside of a backpack before you buy it include: •

Don’t Buy: Safety Risk – Orbit™ Infant System Consumer Reports has identified a possible safety risk in a high-end infant “travel system” that combines features of an infant carrier, a stroller, and a car seat. The product, the Orbit™ Infant System, was rated “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” after the infant carrier detached from its car seat base in two of six simulated 30-mph frontal crash tests that Consumer Reports commissioned at an outside laboratory. We conducted the tests using the guidelines for speed and impact crash simulations dictated by the federal standard for child restraints. Although the Orbit system, which retails for $900, is not among the overall leaders in terms of sales, it has carved out a niche in the market thanks in part to its popularity with A-list celebrities, some of whom offer testimonials on its Web site. The system consists of an infant carrier that can be snapped into either a car seat base, for use in a vehicle, or a stroller base, for use when on foot. Thus, it offers convenience for parents who want to be able to lift their child out of a stroller into a car, or vice versa, with a minimum of hassle. The Orbit was the only travel system in our tests to show any failures. The other two travel systems we tested, the Graco Stylus and Eddie Bauer Adventurer, stayed attached to their bases during the crash simulations. Of the two failures in Consumer Reports’ tests, one occurred when the car seat base was attached using the Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system that is featured on newer cars. The other failure occurred when the base was installed with the three-point (lap and shoulder) seat belt that is standard on modern cars. Six Orbit seats bought from retail merchants were tested. The other four passed our tests, and all findings were reviewed by an outside child-safety expert who has experience in child-restraint crash testing. Consumer Reports shared its test results with Orbit Baby, and the company ran their own tests at the same laboratory and found no failures. In a statement to Consumer Reports, Joseph Hei, chief executive officer of the Newark, Calif.-based company, says Orbit Baby has never received any report of a child being injured while in an Orbit baby seat. “We do not believe the test results obtained by Consumers Union are indicative of the safety of our Infant Car seats,” Hei wrote in an e-mailed statement. “Our car seats are used by children, including our own, and safety is our top priority. We strongly believe in the quality of our product.” Consumer Reports says it decided to rate the seat “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” so that parents, safety experts and regulators would be aware of the results and of the potential for injury if an Orbit seat were to fail in a real crash, as it did in our laboratory simulations. “We think any failures are a matter of concern,” said Jennifer Stockburger, program manager of vehicle and child safety for Consumer Reports. “We rarely see failures in these tests, which we routinely perform on child seats.” Consumer Reports advises that anyone who already owns an Orbit Infant System should strap the infant carrier directly, without the car seat base, into the back seat of a vehicle. Installed this way, the infant carrier passed our tests when it was secured using either a two-point (lap) belt or a three-point (lap and shoulder) belt. Obviously this makes the product somewhat less convenient to use. But used as a stroller, separate tests have showed the Orbit system to be perfectly safe. Consumer Reports has also shared its findings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which regulates child car restraints, and requested that the agency conduct their own investigation. Orbit Baby’s Hei adds that his company “will work cooperatively with NHTSA on further recommendations they may have.” Hei says anyone with questions may call Orbit Baby at 877-672-2229 or send e-mail to support@orbitbaby.com . When installing a car seat, if you’re having trouble getting it snugly in place, or if you want to check that you’ve done it correctly, you can go to a car seat installation checkpoint. To find the one nearest to you, go NHTSA’s Child Seat Safety Inspection Station Locator .

Q&A: Can I skip a convertible car seat? My 21-pound 11 month old is outgrowing his infant car seat. To save money, can I skip a convertible car seat and just buy a toddler booster? You could—but it’s not the safest idea. That’s because a convertible car seat can be used rear facing and a toddler booster seat can’t. In fact, many convertible models offer the potential to keep babies and toddlers rear facing until they weigh 35 pounds (depending on the model), and the rear-facing mode offers the greatest protection in the event of an accident. “The longer you can keep your baby rear-facing, the better,” says Kisha Price, a health educator and certified child passenger safety technician at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Safety Center in Baltimore. (Learn more about why rear-facing longer is better .) At the 35-pound point, you turn a convertible car seat around and your child faces forward until he reaches the seat’s weight limit in that mode, which is generally up to 40 pounds, though some convertible seats have front-facing weight limits of 65 pounds or more. Models typically have an adjustable five-point harness system, which we recommend based on our tests. (See concerned about rear-facing babies? ) With a toddler booster seat, on the other hand, your child rides front facing with the car seat’s own internal harness from 20 to 40 pounds, though some toddler booster seats go up to up to 65 or even as high as 80 pounds, for kids who are heavier or larger than average for their age. (Learn more about all

Bouncy seats for babies–features to look for When shopping for a bouncer or “bouncy” seat , here are some comfort and safety features to look for. Seat belts. Most models have a soft fabric three-point crotch strap as a restraint; others have a five-point harness, which is ideal for newborns because they tend to list to the side or slide to the end of the seat. Check all fasteners on models with three-point or five-point harnesses to see that they’re strong, secure, and easy for you to work, and that they won’t poke your baby. They should be stiff enough to be safe without being so rigid that they pinch or are difficult for you to operate. Head support. Seats with an adjustable, removable cushioned head support are ideal for newborns. Seat positioning. Some bouncer seats recline more than others. At least two seatback positions—upright and recline—are a definite plus. The recline feature is necessary for infants, since they don’t have the head control that sitting, even on a slight incline, requires. Canopy. Some models have a canopy to block light. The canopy can be a sunshade if your baby spends time in it outdoors, but be sure to position the bouncer in the shade so your baby won’t become overheated or get sunburned. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that infants under 6 months old not be exposed to direct sunlight. Even with a canopy, keep the bouncer in complete shade and dress your baby in clothes that cover her arms and legs as well as a hat with a brim. Cushiness. Seat padding can vary from basic to extra-thick. Because wet diapers are bound to come in contact with the fabric covering, upholstery should be removable and machine washable (check the label). There also shouldn’t be any loose threads or gaps in the seams. Frame. When you’re in the store, give the various display models a “bounce,” if possible. Bring your own batteries, in case the display models don’t have them. A bouncer seat should have a wide, stable base and be springy. If it seems stiff, it probably won’t bounce with your baby in it. Seat fabric. Fabric patterns range from kiddy prints and colors to sophisticated solid and patterned color combos like gray and mandarin (orange), chili (red), or wasabi (lime green). A cloth seat cover is the norm; make sure it’s removable and machine washable. Toy bar. Besides watching you and your family from the sidelines, your baby may enjoy the sensory stimulation of toys, sounds, and lights that many bouncer seats come with. A toy bar isn’t necessary in the early months, since your baby may not want to play with the toys all the time or even know what to do with them. Toy bars come into play around 4 months of age, though music and vibration features will likely be appreciated well before then. Toys usually are suspended from a removable play bar. Some models have toys that are pastel colored, which won’t make as dramatic an impact on your baby as brighter colors will. If your baby can’t reach the toy bar, position it so she can kick at it. Most bouncers allow you to take the play bar off and use just the seat for snoozing and quiet time. Not all models have toy bars, though many parents believe they’re a must-have, especially starting at around the 4-month mark. Don’t use the toy bar as a carrying handle. Learn more about how to save money on bouncer seats for babies . Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences

Quick shopping tip: Baby’s first thermometer For your baby’s first thermometer, go with an inexpensive digital model. Look for an LCD display that’s easy to read and a start button that’s easy to press. But don’t be swayed by digital thermometers that claim to take a reading in an instant. A reading in 20 to 60 seconds is quick enough. Get more quick shopping tips in the 10th edition of the Consumer Reports Guide to Baby Products , and learn more about baby thermometers and taking baby's temperature in our full report. Subscribe now! Subscribe to ConsumerReports.org for expert Ratings, buying advice and reliability on hundreds of products. Update your feed preferences

As your baby grows and begins to progress through stages of development, one of the hardest tasks as a parent and perhaps source of costliest mistakes is deciding which activity centers and playsets to purchase for your child.

Fisher price now offers the Precious Planets line of baby products. Actress Maggie Gyllenhaal teamed up today with Fisher-Price Inc., a subsidiary of Mattel, Inc. (NYSE:MAT), to unveil the company’s new Precious Planet™ Collection of baby gear and newborn toys and to announce the company’s $250,000 donation benefiting the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The event, held at the Central Park Zoo, launched the adorable Fisher-Price Precious Planet line of must-have baby gear for new parents and their little ones.