Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, February 26th, 2009

Why that nightly glass of wine might not be such a good idea. Washington Post

Pregnant women and new moms with diabetes have nearly double the risk of developing postpartum depression, finds a new study. Boston Globe

The octuplet case causes some to question the wisdom of large families in today’s world. Philadelphia Inquirer

Want to do Disney? Now may be a good time, since the resort is slashing prices. New York Times

Check your prenatal vitamins: If they don’t contain enough iodine, it may affect your baby’s brain development, according to new research. Yahoo! News

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, February 19th, 2009

Picky eating is a problem for chefs’ kids too. New York Times

How will growing up in a recession affect your kids’ future? Wall Street Journal

All fifty states now require newborn screening tests, allowing doctors to catch health problems early, before they cause potentially permanent damage. Yahoo! News

Getting lenient about lice: Schools are increasingly permitting kids with lice to stay in class. MSNBC

A family of five takes in seven housemates to get through the economic downturn. CNN

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

Why using a humidifier may help you stave off the flu. Yahoo! News

A new study confirms what pediatricians have long been telling parents: Sleeping with your baby is not safe. Slate

How photography can help some parents deal with the devastation of stillbirth. Newsweek

A nasty effect of the recession: Kids with developmental delays are missing the services they need. NPR

Traveling with pumped breastmilk can still be a huge hassle for moms. New York Times

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Why your child might not actually be allergic to the foods your doctor told you to avoid. New York Times

President Obama signed the State Children’s Health Insurance Program bill into law, which will guarantee insurance for an additional 3.5 million kids. Yahoo! News

Potential use of your smartphone—putting your baby to sleep. Washington Post

Forget waiting to develop a career—women are having babies younger, according to new data. Wall Street Journal

Why do 85 to 90 percent of Americans fail to pay taxes on nannies and other household help? New York Daily News

Tweens are a hot target for retailers and marketers, and now they may be even bigger, thanks to Malia and Sasha. USA Today

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Friday, January 16th, 2009

More parents, cashed-strapped and out of jobs, are applying for government-assisted insurance for their kids. Washington Post

Expecting and haven’t yet decided where to get your gear? The Wall Street Journal reviews baby registries. Wall Street Journal

The National Children’s Study, a long-term government-funded study that will examine environmental influences on children’s health and development, is starting to recruit volunteers. Yahoo! News

When schools need to cut costs, buses are often the first thing to go. But parents worry about students’ safety. CNN

Thanks to the Prevnar vaccine, which was introduced in 2000, 64 percent fewer kids under age 2 now get meningitis. USA Today

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Friday, January 9th, 2009

Seeing ghosts? Kids of deployed parents may soon be, according to a new U.S. Department of Defense plan. Slate

The American family has turned frugal—a smart way of weathering the recession, but not such good news for the economy. Wall Street Journal

Moms who schedule a repeat c-section just a little early double their baby’s risk for serious complications, says a new study. New York Times

Salmonella strikes again—nearly 400 people have fallen ill in 42 states, but the CDC hasn’t yet pinpointed the offending food.  Yahoo! News

Mississippi has supplanted Texas and New Mexico and clinched the dubious title of state with the highest teen birth rate. Washington Post

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Spankin’ New Headlines

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

Grocery shocker: Some foods on store shelves are mislabeled, neglecting to mention potential allergens. Chicago Tribune

Injuries make up almost half of all childhood deaths in the U.S., and plenty of those are preventable, finds a new CDC report. Washington Post

Why it’s not such a good idea to schedule your delivery around the holidays. Wall Street Journal

Having fast food restaurants in walking distance from schools is a recipe for obesity, a new study says. Yahoo! News

Judge in Saudi Arabia rules that an 8-year-old girl must remain married to a 47-year-old man. CNN

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The Handmade Toy Question

Wednesday, December 17th, 2008

I'm a huge fan of Etsy (at this point, who isn't?) so when they asked to me to contribute to the Etsy Finds section of their blog, I couldn't say no. My assignment was to "shop" for great gifts for a baby's first holiday, so I dove into hundreds of pages of gorgeous, well-considered toys for little ones.

The article was published today, and a conversation began in the comment section about the CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act) legislation that will go into effect February 10, 2009, requiring testing on all toys brought to market. While this legislation is enormously important to keep our little ones safe (Parents reported on this in the October issue), it will effectively put a number of independent toy makers out of business due to the steep charge of each toy test. Amber Dusick of Woodmouse Toys commented: “I'd be more than happy to have each of my toys tested, if it wasn't so
cost prohibitive. It is the COST involved in testing that will shut us
down, it isn't that anyone refuses to have their work tested."

Etsy points out that these toys are "…made with love, care, the human touch and—often—all-natural materials. These items bring the consumer marketplace back to a personal level
where customers can chat with toy makers and even create custom items
for specific needs."

For more information, you can check out the US Consumer product Safety Commission site, the Handmade Toy Alliance's website or Etsy's call to action.

What are your thoughts on this issue? Are you a buyer of handmade toys for children? Do you think that handmade toys should fall under the same testing guidelines as toys made in China, for example?