Health & Safety

This article from the New York Times is an excellent Q&A in regards to the scary situation going on with drug resistant staph infections. 

Although I can control the quality of the foods I’ll be serving at home, I can’t control what will be doled out by the neighbors.  Here are some tips on how you can make your treats a little less

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and they had asked people in Long Island if they were forced to evacuate, what would they grab in ten minutes...One woman was ready in one minute, had all their

The Mayo Clinic has a great primer on superbug infections. The technical term is methicillin-resistant staph infections (MRSA). These are the infections you usually hear about in hospitals but have been recently

This website is sad because it features children who are battling life threatening diseases.  BUT, there are featured kids each month- and you can send a card to brighten up their day. 

This website lists state medical licensing websites with doctor profiles and credential checks.  If you're looking for a new doctor, check it out first.  Information available varies by state. 

Read this article about a bill to fund postpartum depression studies, and maybe contact your congressman to give your opinion.

Autism Speaks just released over 100 web-based video clips of some of the early warning signs of autism. The clips show examples of some behaviors associated with autism. Some clips are paired side-by-side

This article from Parade Magazine clears up the truth about 1o cold and flu myths. Something to check out before Old Man Winter arrives.

Several popular infant and child cold medicines are being taken off the market. See if yours is affected.

Banquet Pot Pies are linked to salmonella in Massachusetts and 30 other states. See article for exactly which pies to avoid.

This has long been an urban legend, and often it's been said to be false, but now Channel 4 News in Boston is reporting that some lipstick has dangerously high levels of lead. L'Oreal and Cover Girl and

I strongly dislike the taste of soymilk, but Vitasoy is delicious!  There are many different flavors and they're all great!  If you go on the website, they have some interesting and healthy recipes! 

Want to get a flu shot but are not sure where to find a quick flu clinic?  Check out the American Lung Association's Flu Shot Locator.  If you can't find anything close by in that database, check

The Federal Department of Health and Human Services maintains this cool website with all kinds of health and wellness information and newsletters. It's like a health magazine, and is very interesting to browse

When my younger daughter is teething, she drools a lot and sometimes gets a slight rash on her bum which also seems to spread to her body (it is not very noticeable, just some light reddish bumps but it is not

Here is a quick and easy to read list of 10 ways to calm down when you feel overwhelmed or anxious. I'm big on lists, since you can pick up a few pointers in a very short time, without reading pages and pages

Body for Life was all the rage several years back but this website is still a great resource if you are looking for some guidance on creating an eating and exercise plan - post pregnancy! The best part of this

We found out about Boo Boo Buddies while at a friend's house.  One of the kids fell down and wanted an ice pack.  My friend brought out a cat Boo Boo Buddy and the tears disappeared instantly

With all the toy recalls due to lead paint, we've been unsure of a bunch of our toys.  So we bought some lead paint testing kits to test the toys ourselves.  Here are some lead paint testing kits

Tooth Tunes are so cool! They are musical toothbrushes which only play when you are actually brushing, encouraging you to brush. The music lasts 2 minutes, the amount of time recommended to brush. Bonus: you have

This is a nice, quick and easy to read article with 10 tips for a fearless life. I often feel afraid, and I remember this quote,:"To fear is one thing, but to let fear grab you by the tail and spin you around

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and the American Psychiatric Association just released the ADHD Parents Medication Guide, following warnings of potential heart risks and other side effects

Finding the printout of the Tylenol dosages in the middle of the night when my son has spike a fever never works out for us!  But this Tylenol Dosage tool from about.com lets you type in your baby's weight

Kolcraft is recalling about 425,000 infant play yards following the death of a ten month old baby. The baby was in a Sesame Beginnings Play Yard, and was strangled on a changing table’s restraint strap that

More recalls of Thomas and Friends Wooden Railway Toys due to lead paint violations.  The recall includes five toys:  the all-black cargo car, toad vehicle, olive green sodor cargo box and all-green maple

This recent article recounts people's stories of getting "caught" in an a escalator while wearing Crocs.  The reason...the flexible foam gets caught in the teeth of the escalator.  Their

A few years ago, I saw on Oprah to always use the first stall in a public restroom, because most people don't choose it. Therefore, it is the least germy and dirty. Over the years, I've noticed that it's

Here is a nice article from Parade Magazine, Sept. 23, 2007, on how to choose the right healthcare plan for your family. If you don't get the Sunday newspaper, you can read the article online at the website

About 1 million Simplicity and Graco cribs have been recalled after three children became entrapped and suffocated. The recall was announced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission on Friday, more than two years

Both my toddler daughter and myself suffer from eczema from time to time, throughout the year.  What I found that woks best for her is Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream.  Of all the things I tried (Eucerin

The CEO of ToysRUs just announced a new safety microsite at to help find all product safety and recall information.  Should make things a little easier to track this stuff.  Seems like there is a

The Blue Day Book for Kids is an amazing book that tells a simple little story of why you might feel blue and how to cheer yourself up. There is only a sentence or two per page, plus an awesome, usually amazing

Here is a library of seasonal tips for keeping your kids safe and healthy from the American Academy of Pediatrics. This website has some other nice features as well, from a trusted source. Read the back to school

The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued five recalls today of Mattel magnetic toys and cars.  Four of the toys contain magnets that can come loose and cause serious injury to kids if they are swallowed. 

I've been having a hard time keeping my youngest daughter adequately hydrated this summer and ran into some painful constipation issues.  I found giving her plenty of clear fluid has helped and Yummi Bears

The FDA has just released a nice summary page for new parents on infant formula and how the agency regulates it. It also gives you a contact number if you have concerns or complaints.

Right now I'm wondering if my child has an ear infection from a cold (no symptoms) or just ear pain from swimming like a fish lately.  I found this great article about ear pain entitled; Don't Fear

I've worn orthodontic braces twice, as a teenager and as an adult, so I know the importance of wearing a retainer. A few years ago, after I had strep, I figured I should boil my retainer because the doctors

Today the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a list of the Top Five Hidden Home Hazards to alert families about products that they may be using everyday, but that have hidden dangers. The top five home

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish have introduced Fishful Thinking-the concept optimism is a skill that can be taught. They have an email newsletter which includes coupons and parenting advice on how to get yourself and

Are you thinking about putting in a play structure or swing set in your backyard?  Take a look at this guide from the CPSC before you go shopping: The Outdoor Home Playground Safety Handbook.  Includes

Ever wonder which produce is best to buy organic? The non-profit Environmental Working Group has a list of the fruits and vegetables that have the most and least pesticides, based on studies by the FDA and Department

My youngest daughter has eczema and after seeing a dermatologist last summer, he recommended bathing her with good old Cetaphil.  This isn't a remedy b/c she also uses a prescription ointment

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall today of Hasbro’s Easy-Bake Ovens, because children can insert their hands inside the oven’s opening and get their hands or fingers caught

Today's Wall Street Journal article on Lice ("A Head Scratcher: How To Get Rid of a Pesky Parasite" page D1), reminded me of a bunch of websites and services our school nurse told us about during

Did you know that the FDA doesn’t regulate all chemicals in bath products?  The Environmental Working Group released a report on children’s shampoos and body washes and found that some contained

I am a fan of Spiffies Tooth Wipes.  They are basically a "Wet Nap" for teeth.  They come in a box of 24 and are individually wrapped.  Great for travel.  They come in different flavors

In case you didn't see this segment on Good Morning America this morning...here is a link http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Consumer/Story?id=3369894&page=1 A recent study found high lead levels in ordinary garden

This is an adorable Boo Boo Rescue and Bravery Kit, which distracts younger children from their boo boo so you can use the first aid materials in the kit to treat them. There is a toy, animal shaped bandages and