All these recalls make me a bit nervous purchasing things for Pooky. Here’s another one from Mattel which recalls another 9 million toys, including Polly Pocket dolls and Batman action figures:
Toy-making giant Mattel Inc. issued recalls Tuesday for about 9 million Chinese-made toys that contain magnets children can swallow or which could have lead paint.
The […]

The Portland Ikea just opened this past week. I’m planning on dropping in Monday or Tuesday to check out the fuss (and the meatballs).
Check this out: The Oslo, Norway Ikea will be operating a hostel on site to host sleepovers for shoppers!
Later this month, Ikea Norway will let shoppers sleep overnight in one of […]

Okay, so it wasn’t literally Sodor; It was in China at the Thomas the Tank Engine toy manufacturing factory.
As an American journalist based in China, I knew there was a good chance that at some point I’d be detained for pursuing a story. I just never thought I’d be held hostage by a toy factory.
That’s […]

You’ve probably heard about the recall of 1.5 million Thomas the Tank Engine “Thomas & Friends” railway toys, but I wanted to post it here just in case anyone may have missed it since they’re such popular items. They’re being recalled because paints were used on them that contain lead.
Here are other recalls of […]

I’ve written before about products designed to turn your baby into a genius. I was skeptical then, and remain so now. Here’s a new article from USA Today reinforcing the fact that there’s no magic baby product out there that can be shown to increase intelligence. A cynic might wonder if the companies that make […]

As if I wasn’t anxious enough about baby getting older and leaving our sphere of control, I happened upon this blog post from Steven Parker, MD, WebMD’s pediatrics expert. In it, Dr. Parker shares what he’s learned about the new, technology-enhanced bullying. He lists its most common forms:

Someone takes a dorky or compromising picture of […]

It says here that a new baby deprives its parents of two-months worth of sleep in its first year of life. Seems a little low. Pooky is almost a year old now, and I don’t recall sleeping at all since she was born.
A study has found that many parents are wary of letting their kids […]

There’s been a lot of recalls lately, so check carefully through this list to see if you own any of these items:
Infantino Recalls SlingRider Infant Sling Carriers Due to Fall Hazard
Hanna Andersson Recalls Children’s Loungewear Due to Burn Hazard
Children’s Mood Necklaces Recalled Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard
Children’s Necklaces Sold Exclusively at Claire’s Stores Recalled
Children’s Stationery […]

Dr. Harvey Karp, of “The Happiest Baby on the Block” fame, says toddlers are basically miniature Neanderthals. Pooky can grunt like a little caveman, but I can’t picture her hunting a woolly mammoth.
LA Times columnist Joel Stein is happy for you. He just doesn’t want to see your baby pictures (registration required). What a grouch. […]

Discount School Supply Recalls Children’s Elite 5-in-1 Two-Sided Easels
H & M Recalls Boy’s Jackets Due to Choking, Poisoning Hazards
Nordstrom Recalls Children’s Flannel Lounge Pants Due to Burn Hazard
Cobmex Inc. Recalls Youth Jackets with Drawstrings