Heading outside with your little one?

Consider these things before you hop on your bike, strap on that soft infant carrier or backpack carrier, and roll out the stroller:

1. Your cycling ability. If you’re in the market for a bicycle trailer or a bicycle-mounted seat, go with a front-mounted seat if you’re a novice cyclist or not in top physical shape. A rear-mounted seat with a child in tow can otherwise be unnerving and exhausting to operate. Keep in mind that we don’t recommend bike seats and trailers for children under age 1.

2. How much walking you’ll do with a backpack or soft infant carrier. If you plan to use a soft infant carrier (generally for babies under 20 pounds) or a backpack carrier (for babies who can sit up independently, usually at least 6 months old) for day hikes and frequent outings, consider models that have better padding and a seriously comfortable fit for both you and your child. Otherwise, go with a lesser-priced model, or, in the case of backpack carriers, consider sharing with a friend. Check for recalls on soft or backpack carriers at www.cpsc.gov.

3. How long your child will be strolling. Umbrella strollers (for babies older than 6 months) are great for travel because they’re lightweight; they typically weigh less than 12 pounds, and fold easily and compactly. But because they lack suspension and seat support, they don’t provide a cushy ride. They’re fine for short trips to the mall, but for meandering through street fairs and day trips to Disney World, consider bringing your traditional stroller, if you have one, especially if it reclines for napping. You’ll have a better time knowing your child is more comfortable.

Tips for buying a bike-mounted seat or trailer

Thinking about buying a bicycle-mounted seat or trailer so your toddler can tool around with you on scenic bike rides? Consider these key features as you shop:

Bicycle-mounted seat:

Cross bars. Some bicycle-mounted seats have a bar that goes across the lap in addition to a five-point harness, which is an added safety feature in case of a fall—and gives children something to hold onto when they ride, which may make them feel more secure.

Seating. Look for a padded seat cushion for a smoother ride. Seats with a reclining backrest and an adjustable foot and headrest are common at the top of the price range.

Seat location. Consider whether you want a seat that mounts in the back or the front. In our tests with an 18-month-old and a 30-month-old, the kids seemed to prefer riding up front, and we found the tested front-mounted seat did not affect the bike’s handling much. However, our parent testers had to bow their knees out slightly to avoid rubbing against the seat or the occupant, which isn’t necessarily a safety issue, but it can be uncomfortable. A front rider can grab the handlebars while using this seat, which could cause an accident.

Harness. A padded, adjustable five-point harness is ideal: two straps over the shoulders, two for the waist, and a crotch strap, much like a car seat’s.

Side protection. Some bicycle-mounted seats offer side protectors, which can help shield a child in the event of a fall.

Reflectors. Some bicycle-mounted seats have side and/or rear reflective strips, which are good even if you’re riding at twilight—although we don’t recommend riding either at twilight or at night.

Bicycle trailer:

Convertibility. Some manufacturers offer conversion kits that allow you to turn a trailer into a jogging stroller or a cargo carrier. That’s an attractive, expense-saving, two-for-one option.

Protection from the elements. Many trailers come with plastic shields, which protect against sun, wind, and rain. A zippered front shield can keep water or mud from splattering your child. But if the shield encloses the entire cabin, make certain there’s ventilation, such as breathable mesh windows. Your kids may appreciate tinted windows, which aren’t available on all models. They protect your child from sun glare, and keep the “cockpit” cool.

Folding mechanism. Some trailers feature quick-release wheels and fold easily for storage (even in a hall closet), which can be an advantage if you don’t have a garage.

Frame. Trailer frames are generally made of steel, but more expensive models may be aluminum alloy, which can be lighter. The frame should be sturdy. Better models offer a roll cage--a perimeter frame--to protect passengers in the event of a rollover. Keep in mind that these roll cages are not strong enough to protect against a collision with a vehicle.

Harness. A padded, adjustable five-point harness is ideal: two straps over the shoulders, two for the waist, and a crotch strap, much like the restraints on a child’s car seat.

Hitching arm. A trailer’s hitching arm should have a backup to prevent the trailer from breaking loose. Check the wheel mounting to be sure that it will hold. Look for a universal hitch, which can be used with almost any bicycle. Some hitching arms are designed to help keep the trailer upright even if your bike goes down.

Safety flag. A safety flag--a high visibility pennant on a whip tall enough (3 and one half to 7 feet) to make it visible to drivers--is a must.

Seating. The interior of a trailer should offer comfortable seating with adequate legroom and good back support. The seat’s protective cavity should be free of protrusions. Roominess is a plus, as are storage pockets for toys and such. At the higher end of the price range, you’ll find seats that recline, cushier padding, and on two-person trailers, a seat divider.

Reflectors. Some trailers have side and/or rear reflective strips, which are good for twilight and night rides, although, as we mentioned, we don’t recommend riding at these times.

Wheels. Trailer wheels usually are made with steel rims, which can rust, or aluminum ones, which don’t, and can be lighter. The wheels should also have one or more reflectors. Look for high-quality rubber tires. Also, consider wheel size. In our tests, larger wheels rolled over bumps better, but smaller wheels made maneuvering easier.

For more information, see our full report on bike seats and trailers for children.

Infatable pool hazards

With Memorial Day behind us and Independence Day in sight, summer has officially begun. Getting wet on a hot day is a big part of summer fun, but staying safe around the pool is as essential as sunscreen. Check out this post to our Safety blog. As my colleague Don Mays explains in the accompanying video, inflatable pools can be dangerous. Be sure to use all necessary safety precautions to make sure your pool is child-safe so that summer stays fun. Rule #1: never leave children unsupervised in or around any pool, even for a second.

--Desiree Calamari, web associate editor

Baby-swing safety

If you’re like countless parents, you may consider a baby swing a godsend, especially for calming a colicky newborn and de-frazzling your nerves, or occupying your baby for a few minutes while you get things done nearby or grab a bite to eat. A swing provides a gentle rhythmic motion, which babies are accustomed to from their months in the womb. Still, don’t be lulled into thinking you’re off duty when your baby is swinging. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission statistics (PDF download), 1,800 children under age 5 were injured as a result of their baby swing in 2005, and on average, one baby dies annually from swing use. To keep your baby safe while you’re on the swing shift, keep these pointers in mind:

•    Never leave your baby unattended in a swing.

•    Always use the safety harness provided.

•    Never place a portable swing on an elevated surface.

•    Don’t let older children “push” your baby in the swing.

•    Limit the amount of time your baby swings; we recommend no more than 30-minute intervals, even if your baby seems content. More swinging time can make some babies dizzy. If you’re drowsy while your baby’s swinging, turn off the swing before you fall asleep. You don’t want to wake up and find that your baby has been swinging for hours.

•    With multi-speed swings, start with the lowest setting—high settings may be too rough for your baby. Very young babies tend to prefer slower speeds; older babies often like a quicker pace.

•    Always follow the manufacturer’s age and weight specifications and assembly directions exactly.

•    To prevent falls, stop using a traditional swing when your child attempts to climb out. Stop using a cradle swing when your baby can roll over or push up on his hands and knees.

•    Don’t transport your baby in a swing, or use a portable swing as an infant carrier.

Read our report on baby swings for more information. And watch out for baby swing recalls.

Keeping your baby’s food safe

Here’s food (safety) for thought on what you can do to reduce your baby’s risk of foodborne-illness this summer and beyond:

--Wash your hands with soap and water (especially after changing dirty diapers!) before handling baby food or preparing formula. Not only will you be keeping your baby safe, you’ll be less likely to get sick yourself. If you don’t have access to soap and water, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer will do in a pinch.

--Don’t feed your baby from the jar (or yogurt container) and then put the uneaten portion back in the refrigerator. Bacteria from your baby’s mouth can grow and multiply in the jar. If your baby is likely to eat less than a full jar, spoon a portion into a bowl and put the jar in the refrigerator for later. You generally can keep opened jars in the fridge for up to three days for fruits and vegetables, two days for meat and vegetable combos, and one day for meats. A permanent marker can be handy for dating those opened jars so you’ll know what went into the refrigerator when.

--Don’t leave perishable items out of the refrigerator (without a cold pack) for more than two hours. Throw them away if they’ve been sitting out longer than that.

--Watch expiration dates on baby food. Don’t feed your baby anything that has expired and throw out jars with chipped glass or rusty lids.

--When you’re traveling, transport food and filled bottles in an insulated cooler with frozen packs.

--Don’t give your baby honey if she’s less than a year old. It could contain bacteria associated with botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning.

--Don’t serve your baby or older child raw or unpasteurized milk or juice, which may contain harmful bacteria. And no cow’s milk before age 1.

--If you’re making homemade baby food, be diligent in the kitchen--use a brush to clean areas around the blender or food processor blades and parts. Trapped food particles can harbor bacteria.

--To freeze homemade baby food, put the mixture in an ice cube tray. Cover with heavy- duty foil and freeze. Later, you can pop the frozen food cubes into a freezer bag or airtight container and date it. Store vegetables up to three months, and meat, fish, and chicken up to eight weeks.

--Use dishwashing detergent, hot water, and a clean dishrag to wash and rinse all utensils that come in contact with your baby’s food, including the can opener. Just wiping them with a paper towel isn’t enough. Soap, water, and friction do the trick.

--Don’t keep bottles or food in the same bag as dirty diapers unless the food is in its own separate, insulated container or sealed plastic bag.

--When your baby gets to the finger-food stage, which can start as early as 7 months, you’ll want to cut food into bite-size pieces. But don’t offer your baby nuts, raisins, grapes, or hot dogs; they’re a choking hazard and not appropriate for infants or toddlers.

See our complete reports on preventing food poisoning and baby food for more information.

11,000 swing sets recalled

The CPSC has recalled 11,000 outdoor wooden play sets after receiving more than 100 reports of the glider hangers breaking, which caused children to fall. The Adventure and Create-N-Adventure wooden play sets were sold at Wal-Mart and Toys 'R' Us stores nationwide. See our Safety blog for complete information, including model numbers, links to photographs, and a useful safety checklist for preventing accidents when installing a home playground.

4 easy ways to save bucks on baby gear

A new baby can take a surprisingly big bite out of your budget. Here are four easy ways to save:

Take advantage of freebies and coupons. If you don’t mind getting your name on mailing lists, call the toll-free customer-service lines or register at the Web sites of formula, baby-food, and disposable diaper companies for their parenting newsletter and new-parent programs, including coupons and free samples. Even if you don’t register, you may get them anyway. Somehow, when you have a new baby, word gets out.

Consider a discount club membership. At places like Costco or Sam’s Club, you’ll reap discounts on everyday items you’ll use a lot of such as disposable diapers, baby wipes, and laundry detergent. Also, sign on for the loyalty savings card program at your drugstore and supermarket and you’ll receive coupons that can rack up savings.

Watch for sales. Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, and Buy Buy Baby stores, for example, routinely put out newspaper inserts and in-store fliers with savings of up to 20 percent or more for brand-name baby items.

Go online. If you shop online, compare prices on bassinets, cribs, changing tables, and hundreds of other baby products quickly by logging onto a shopping Web site such as www.bizrate.com, www.nextag.com, www.shopping.com or www.epinions.com, which also offers product advice from fellow parents. For even more savings online, log onto sites such as www.couponcabin.com for a wide selection of the latest online coupons from major e-tailers and printable coupons for in-store purchases. But keep tabs on your shipping costs and handling charges when buying online. They can sometimes negate any savings—and then some.

Ca-Ching: Attention, Savers!
Are you a coupon king or a discount diva? We’d love to hear about what you do to save money on baby gear. Send us your money-saving secrets so you can share them with others.

Bug magnet: Petting zoos

Let’s face it: Kids and germs just go together. Babies put dropped pacifiers in their mouths. Toddlers share sippy cups and juice boxes with each other. Preschoolers use their hands instead of a Kleenex and cough with their mouths wide open. And children of all ages seem to attract bad bugs everywhere they go. Petting zoos are no exception. They’ve been responsible for major outbreaks of E. coli 0157. The microbes invade when traces of animal feces from a pet’s fur or saliva innocently get on your child’s hands and into her mouth. Farm animals have been known to lie in their own droppings or ingest their own poop.

Germ defense: When you’re visiting a petting zoo, a farm or a farm exhibit, remind your child not to put his hand in his mouth after petting the animals. To play it safe, though, don’t bring a child younger than 3. “They’re more likely to suck their thumb or automatically put their hands in their mouths, no matter how much you warn them not to. Warn older children not to touch the animals and then their mouths,” says Andrew Nowalk, M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

Tempted to use hand sanitizer or disinfecting hand wipes each time your child touches a pet? “That’s overkill,” Dr. Nowalk says. If do you bring your toddler, keep her pacifier or sippy cup in the car; using either have been associated with petting-zoo-instigated illness. Before you leave, make sure your child washes her hands at the petting zoo’s hand-washing station with soap and water or with hand sanitizer for the recommended 20 seconds. For more information, see the CDC's "Stay healthy at animal exhibits this summer."

Crib mattresses recalled

Simmons has recalled 20,000 crib mattresses sold under its brand name and the Pottery Barn Kids name because some are too narrow and could entrap a baby between the mattress and the crib's frame. Visit our Safety Blog for complete details.

Getting the right return on baby products

If you’ve got a baby, you’ll probably get gear that needs returning sooner or later. Maybe it’s all those hooded towels you receive at your baby shower, the baby monitor that turns out to be static-ridden, or the stroller with the bum wheels. What to do? Take it back and exchange it for something else or get a refund. Here’s how to get the job done with less hassle.

·    Before you buy, make sure the store or online vendor will let you return or exchange an item if there’s a problem or you’ve gotten a duplicate as a gift. Return policies are often spelled out on a sign near the register, on the merchant’s Web site, and on store receipts. You’ll need to return the item before the retailer’s return period runs out (usually 30 to 45 days from the date of purchase). But if the return clock has run out, don’t feel defeated. Persistence and politeness will often get you into overtime.

·    Save your receipt, gift receipt, or packing slip. Some retailers won’t let your return an item or make an exchange without one. Online retailers may let you return an item at their retail stores, unless the packing slip states: “Not returnable in stores.” Check the store's return policy before making a purchase. When returning a product through the mail, send it back in its original package by certified mail so the item can be tracked if it gets lost.

·    If the baby product you buy is defective or damaged, contact the customer service department at the retailer before returning it or contacting the manufacturer. If you are denied a refund by the first representative you speak with, ask to speak with the manager. By selling you an item, a store gives an implied warranty of merchantability. That means that if the product you bought doesn’t do what it’s supposed to, or if it malfunctions or fails within an unreasonably short time for that type of product and the price, the retailer is obligated to correct the problem, no matter what its return policy says. If you’re told that you’ll have to take your complaint to the manufacturer, stand firm. Tell the manager you’re prepared to keep going—to the company’s head office, the local Better Business Bureau and, if necessary, your state’s attorney general. Keep records of all conversations and the original paperwork; make copies if you need to send them.

·    If all else fails, contact the manufacturer. Many baby products are also under manufacturer warranty. Send in the registration card and hold onto warranty information so you can refer to it. That small step can also help the manufacturer contact you in the event of a recall.

Chicco recalls 18,000 car seat bases

Chicco has recalled 18,000 bases used with three of its popular infant car seats. Visit our Safety Blog for the complete details, including how to tell if your Chicco seat base is part of this recall.

Crocs on escalators: No urban myth

Crocs (and cheaper knockoffs) are a popular warm-weather shoe choice; my two kids adore them and I like the fact that they can put these shoes on so easily. But if your children wear Crocs, you’ll want to be extra-careful when riding escalators. Check out this recent post to our Safety Blog for the full story.

-–Desiree Calamari, associate Web editor
 

When buying organic pays (and doesn't)

Wondering if you should spend the extra money for organic? Food products babies and kids eat that are worth purchasing organic are listed below, along with why and how much more you’ll likely pay.

What: Apples, bell peppers, celery, cherries, imported grapes, nectarines, peaches, pears, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

Why: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s own lab testing reveals that even after washing, some fruits and vegetables consistently carry much higher levels of pesticide residue than others. Based on an analysis of more than 100,000 U.S. government pesticide test results, researchers at the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a research and advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C., have developed the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables, above, that they say you should always buy organic if possible because their conventionally grown counterparts tend to be laden with pesticides. Among fruits, nectarines had the highest percentage testing positive for pesticide residue. Peaches and red raspberries had the most pesticides (nine) on a single sample. Among vegetables, celery and spinach most often carried pesticides, with spinach having the highest number (10) on a single sample. (For more information on pesticide levels for other types of produce, go to www.foodnews.org.)

What you’ll pay: About 50 percent more on average for organic produce, but prices vary based on the item and the time of year. A Consumer Reports price survey conducted in the New York City area in October 2005 found a premium of 24 percent on organic strawberries and 33 percent on grapes and spinach. Organic Idaho potatoes cost 101 percent more than conventional. When you buy organic produce in season at a farmer’s market or directly from local providers, however, you might avoid paying a premium at all.

What: Meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy.

Why: You greatly reduce the risk of exposure to the agent believed to cause mad cow disease and minimize exposure to other potential toxins in nonorganic feed. You also avoid the results of production methods that use daily supplemental hormones and antibiotics, which have been linked to increased antibacterial resistance in humans.

What you’ll pay: Often double the price of nonorganic, though you might save money by buying direct from local farms. For instance, in December 2005 the Organic Trade Association reported that in Iowa, organic ground beef was available for $4.25 a pound and beef tenderloin for $16 a pound.

What: Baby food.

Why: Children’s developing bodies are especially vulnerable to toxins and they may be at risk of higher exposure. Baby food is often made up of condensed fruits or vegetables, potentially concentrating pesticide residues. Michelle Faist, a spokeswoman for Del Monte, says that even though its baby foods are not organic, pesticides and heavy metals are kept below government-recommended levels.

What you’ll pay: Varies widely by store. See our thrifty tips for buying organic baby food.