Baby Products
Little people, lots of stuff! Navigate your way through the sea of endless baby products with these tips.
AAP Issues New Car Seat Guidelines
AAP Issues New Car Seat GuidelinesIn the April issue of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends toddlers be kept in rear-facing car seats at least until the age of 2, with smaller children remaining that way for even longer. Children should not be turned around to front-facing until they exceed the height and weight limit as recommended by the seat's manufacturer. read more
Baby Hates Crib
Find helpful tips on how to get a child to sleep in his crib. read more
Basics of Car-Seat Safety
Basics of Car-Seat Safety Although there's a lot to know about the proper use of car seats, the most important things to remember are: Safety Savvy To receive free materials on child passenger safety from the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, call 800-441-1888. read more
Best Sun-Safety Practices for Babies
The sun's UV rays can be damaging year round, even when it is cloudy or cold, and your baby's thin skin burns much easier than an adult's does. Follow these sun-safety practices for babies to ensure your little one stays safe in the sun throughout the year. read more
Car Seat and Booster Seat Safety for Kids
New car seat guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend children remain rear-facing until at least the age of 2, maybe longer. Find out how to make car safety a priority, especially if your child is young enough to be in a car seat. read more
Choosing Age-Appropriate Toys for Your Baby
Choosing Age-Appropriate Toys for Your Baby During your baby's first two months, she doesn't need or want any toys. Your baby won't even discover her own hands until she's about two months old. Your baby may instinctively clutch a toy that you put in her hand, but she can't really play with it. She may enjoy looking at a plaything or listening to it, but she'd much rather look at and listen to you. read more
Choosing Appropriate Toys and Games for Your Toddler
Choosing Appropriate Toys and Games for Your Toddler Your child will, of course, not spend all of his time watching television and reading books. If you decide to limit your child's TV time, you will need to engage him with other toys and activities. Here are some ideas: read more
Choosing Appropriate Toys for Your Baby
Choosing Appropriate Toys for Your Baby Today's toy stores offer thousands of products from which to choose, and that's just in the newborn and infant aisles. Unless you want to turn your home into a toy store, you need some criteria to help narrow the field. Here's what to look for: read more
Correctly Installing and Using a Car Seat
Correctly Installing and Using a Car Seat Believe it or not, four out of five car seats are used improperly. This estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is derived from the results of numerous checks conducted by safety experts at supermarkets, shopping malls, and other locations. A 1999 study by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign of 17,500 child seats presented by parents at safety-check events found 85 percent were used incorrectly. read more
Crib and Bed Safety
Crib and Bed Safety Hand-me-down clothes may be okay but second-hand cribs often aren't. More infants die every year in crib mishaps than with any other nursery product. Cribs made before the federal government issued mandatory safety standards in 1973 will likely be unsafe. Additional voluntary standards were adopted by manufacturers in 1992, so it's best to use one made after that time. When you shop, look for a crib with a JPMA certification seal. read more
Drop-Side Cribs Banned Due to Safety Issues
Drop-Side Cribs Banned Due to Safety Issues Amidst numerous recalls, safety concerns, and reports of 37 infant deaths between November 2007 and April 2010, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has voted unanimously to ban drop-side cribs. The new ban will likely take effect by June 2011, and will prohibit any drop-side cribs from being manufactured or sold. read more
Favorite Baby Toys
Favorite Baby Toys In the last half of his first year, your baby will still enjoy many of the toys he enjoyed during the earlier half of the year. The best toys for this age are those that illustrate the principle of cause and effect in fun ways. These toys respond with sound or movement when your baby does something to them. Popular cause-and-effect toys include: read more
Finding Safe Toys
Read toy labels for age and safety recommendations. read more
Infant Car Seats
A conventional infant car seat is recommended over the new, built-in car seats. read more
Infant Doesn't Like His Crib
Read what our expert recommends for a baby who dislikes his crib. read more
Infants in Car Seats
Find out how long a child should be kept in a rear-facing car seat. read more
Is There a General Car Seat Law?
It is a federal law that infants and children must ride buckled in car seats or seatbelts that have been properly installed and are used properly. read more
Pink, Blue... and Green: Keeping Your New Baby Earth-Friendly
You want your baby to grow up in an environmentally secure world. Here are some of the steps you can take to help raise your kids in a green environment. read more
Recent Children's Product Recalls
Children's products are periodically recalled for healthy and safety reasons. When it comes to your kids' safety, the best defense is to stay informed. Here's a look at some of the most recent product recalls, as well as ways you can stay on top of safety issues as they occur. For the most up-to-date recall information, visit our Children's Product and Toy Recalls page. read more
Safe Highchairs
Safe Highchairs The key to safe use of a highchair is to get one with both a waist strap and a strap that runs between the legs—and then to always use both of them. Falls from highchairs often happen when a child stands and topples out. Others slide out under the tray, and some kids have strangled on the waist strap or when their heads were trapped between the tray and the seat. read more
Safe Playpens and Portable Cribs
Safe Playpens and Portable Cribs Watch Out! Even though the typical use of a playpen is to confine the baby while you're busy, don't leave him alone there. Whether he's inside or out, your baby could crawl or roll into the pocket that forms when the side is down and suffocate. read more
Staff Favorites: 20 Essential Products for Baby's 1st Year
The FamilyEducation staff is made up of moms and dads like you, always on the lookout for the best products for our kids. We've come up with a list of the must-have baby products that have been essential to our young families — everything from "miracle" blankets to fun first toys. We're sure you'll like them too! read more
Stroller Basics
Stroller Basics Strollers are the ultimate way to get your baby out and about. This item makes taking your baby out with you easy on you both. From getting exercise to simply strolling through the mall, a stroller can help you get out of the house and enjoy other activities. The key is choosing the right stroller for your lifestyle, or purchasing multiple strollers for different needs. (These video reviews of strollers can help.) read more
Today's Trendiest Strollers
Do you have stroller envy? Browse some of the most popular stroller models on the market and find out why parents can't get enough of them. Also, check out some video reviews of strollers tested out by a real mom. read more
Top 10 Gifts for Baby's First Birthday
Having a hard time deciding on a birthday present for baby's first birthday? We can help. Check out our list of top baby gift ideas for baby's first birthday. Choose from practical suggestions, such as money and personalized clothes, or consider musical and educational toys that encourage development. read more
Top 10 New Outdoor Toys for Summer
It's time to stock up on summer toys for your kids! Check out these fun new summer toys and games that are sure to be a hit for yard and beach playtime. Also, search our Toy Finder for new ride-on toys and bikes for all ages. read more
Top 10 Supermom Essentials
Between carting kids around to soccer practice and piano lessons, to managing work, PTA meetings, and running the household, moms can seem like superheroes. We've come up with the top 10 essentials that every mom-on-the-go should have on hand to make that transformation into Supermom just a little easier. read more
What You Need to Know About Plastic Baby Bottles
It's the controversy that just won't die: How safe is your baby's bottle? Read on to cut through the hype. read more
When Should Child Move to Booster Seat?
Learn at what age, height, and weight you should take your child out of a front-facing safety seat and use a booster seat in the car. read more
