Travel tip: Hotel cribs and play yards

When you're traveling with an infant, a hotel crib or play yard can be a safe haven for your baby. But if you don't know how old the crib or play yard is, it could be outdated and not up to today's safety standards.

To play it safe, you may want to take your play yard from home when you're traveling. When your baby sleeps in a play yard at night, place the play yard next to your bed, within arm's reach. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your baby sleep in the same room with you (but not the same bed) until he is at least 6 months old, whether you're at home or on the road.

Because the bassinet feature in play yards can only be used for sleeping for babies up to 15 pounds, you'll need to go to plan B after that. One option: Put your baby to sleep on the floor of your play yard. It's close to the ground and uses the same mattress/floor pad as the bassinet.

If you can't or don't want to travel with a play yard, use the hotel's crib or play yard, but be sure to do your own assessment. For hotel cribs, check to make sure that the mattress is firm and tight-fitting. You shouldn't be able to fit two fingers between the edge of the mattress and the crib side. You shouldn't be able to fit a soda can between the slats. There also shouldn't be any missing parts, which can make the crib unstable or create dangerous gaps. There should be no protruding parts, screws, or bolts, or corner posts more than 1/16 inch or less than 16 inches high (anything in between can catch clothing, posing a strangulation hazard) or cutouts in the head or footboard, which can trap an infant's head or limbs. (Do the same tests at home and at Grandma's house.) Ask for another crib if the one you're offered doesn't pass muster. (See more safe sleep tips.)

Consumer Reports finds Bisphenol A in canned baby formula, juice, and more

The chemical Bisphenol A, which has been used for years in clear plastic bottles and food-can liners, has been restricted in Canada and some U.S. states and municipalities because of potential health effects. The Food and Drug Administration will soon decide what it considers a safe level of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA), which some studies have linked to reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease. (See our video on BPA in plastic baby bottles.)

Now Consumer Reports’ latest tests of canned foods–including soups, juice, tuna, and green beans–found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods we tested contain some amounts of BPA. The canned organic foods we tested did not always have lower BPA levels than non-organic brands of similar foods analyzed. We even found the chemical in some products in cans that were labeled “BPA-free.”

The debate revolves around just what is a safe level of the chemical to ingest and whether it should be in contact with food. Federal guidelines currently put the daily upper limit of safe exposure at 50 micrograms of BPA per kilogram of body weight. But that level is based on experiments done in the 1980s rather than hundreds of more recent animal and laboratory studies indicating serious health risks could result from much lower doses of BPA.

Health reminder: Hand washing is key for kids

My son started kindergarten this fall, and thus far the three R’s have taken a backseat to the two H’s. Hygiene and Hand-washing have been the subject of several school-day discussions, coloring projects, and videos. And this cleanliness curriculum has made an impression, with my son now lathering up before meals—without any prompting.

Of course, kindergarteners aren't the only ones being schooled in hand-washing and germ-control these days, as public health officials are urging us all to take steps to stem the spread of swine flu. A recent survey suggests such efforts may be making a difference, as more Americans are embracing good hand hygiene this year than last.

As my 5-year-old will tell you, good hand-washing is something everyone should do to stay healthy—and he'd also be happy to demonstrate proper technique. But in case you don't have an eager kindergartener at hand, here's a how-to video as well as some advice from the CDC:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or longer
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve
• Put used tissues in a waste basket
• Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Read the full Health blog post.

Also see Is the swine flu vaccine safe? and Tips for keeping your child healthy at daycare or preschool for related information.

Baby & child news roundup: Toys, outlet covers, family cars, more

Outlet cover choking hazard. A concerned grandfather wrote to us recently to say that the family of his "toddler granddaughter" had been given some animal-shaped outlet covers that he suspected were more of a hazard than an effective childproofing device. The multi-colored plastic plugs "certainly would seem to be attractive to a toddler," he wrote. Read the full Safety blog post.

Fewer toy recalls, more child injuries. The Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission recently hailed the significant reduction in toy recalls this year. But the CPSC's annual report showed that there were 172,700 toy-related injuries that sent children under 15 to the nation's emergency rooms in 2008, the highest injury level since 2001. Read the full Safety blog post.

What’s the better family car? "I'm trying to decide between buying a Camry or an Accord, which would you recommend for a family or four with two young children in car seats?" Find out our answer in the Cars blog family sedan chat transcript.

School lunch makeover. Having lived through school lunches of chicken fried steak with cream gravy and mashed potatoes, I realize that many school cafeterias have made some strides. But placing a largely ignored bowl of apples at the end of the line does little. Read the full Health blog post.

Despite risks, teens report texting while driving. A new study shows that a quarter of American teens have texted while driving—dangerous behavior for a group that statistically, already carries significant risks when behind the wheel. Read the full Cars blog post.

Holiday guide: Best toys for children 3 to 6 years old

By 3 years old, children start interacting with each other and engaging in pretend play. They enjoy acting out grown-up roles and using props such as costumes to bring their imaginations to life.

Suggested toys
Electronic toys that convert your TV or PC into a learning/interactive play site, nontoxic art supplies, books, videos, musical instruments, and outdoor toys such as a baseball tee, slide, or swing.

For related information, see our other reports: 

• toys buying guide
• best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies
• best toys for babies 4-10 months old
• best toys for babies 9 months to 1 year old
• best toys for babies and children 1 to 3 years old

Holiday guide: Best toys for babies 1 to 3 years old

Playtime can get messy starting at 1 year old, when children begin to take an interest in emptying, transferring, and rearranging their environment. Filling and dumping are organizing skills that help your toddler to experience how things work and relate to each other. Stacking toys, which kids younger than 1 might enjoy, continue to be fun for kids this age. Starting about 12 months, your baby might also begin walking. From 2 to 3 years old, playing actively and testing physical skills by jumping, climbing, and throwing is the name of the game. Toddlers this age also like using their expanding hand-eye coordination to work with basic arts and crafts, blocks, and simple puzzles.

Suggested toys
Those that encourage your child's budding ambulatory skills, including blocks, books, fit-together toys, push-and-pull toys, pounding and shape toys, fill-and-spill sets, and balls. To bath time, add spoons, a plastic pitcher, measuring cups, and plastic cups to encourage filling and dumping skills without a mess. Toddlers and preschoolers also love ride-on toys and starter tricycles. For more information, see our report on Tricycles, ride-on toys, and scooters.

See best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies, best toys for babies 4-10 months old, and best toys for babies 9 months to 1 year old for more buying advice.

Holiday guide: Best toys for babies 9 months-1 year old

Starting at about 9 months, babies play by shaking, banging, throwing, and dropping toys. They enjoy searching for hidden objects, taking objects out of containers, and poking their fingers into holes. Your baby will be able to grasp objects with her fingers and put one object on top of or into another, such as a ball into a box. Stacking and nesting are another way babies develop eye-hand coordination and learn about spatial relationships. Sorting helps babies to understand the relationships among objects—how they fit together and spatially relate to one another and how they differ in size and shape.

Suggested toys
Lightweight balls, nesting and stacking blocks or cups with rounded edges, pop-up toys that require sliding, toggling, pulling, and turning, squeeze and bath toys, soft dolls, puppets, and baby books, musical toys, and toy telephones and push-pull playthings.

See best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies and best toys for babies 4-10 months old for more buying advice.

Stroller hinges: A closer look at the standards

Stroller hinge mechanisms—the joints on the sides that allow the stationary parts of the stroller to pivot and permit the stroller to fold—have been in the news since the November 9, 2009 recall of 1 million Maclaren umbrella strollers. The recall was prompted by 12 reports of children’s fingertips being amputated when their fingers became caught in the strollers’ hinge mechanisms. But like other strollers bearing the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) certification logo, the Maclaren models all meet current voluntary stroller standards. (Read what does the JPMA certification logo really mean?)

So what happened? The standards for stroller hinges apply to the product when it is in a locked, open position—not when it’s actually being opened or closed. According to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall notice, the Maclaren strollers’ hinge mechanism poses a hazard when the stroller is being unfolded or opened.

In general, strollers present risks to young children. In 2008 alone, strollers were responsible for an estimated 12,400 injuries to children under age 5—more than any other baby product—according to the CPSC. The leading cause of all baby product injuries were falls, and the head was most frequently injured. But with the recent Maclaren recall, fingertip safety is now being brought to light.

To rate strollers at Consumer Reports, many of our tests are based on the voluntary standards created by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)-International. Among other safety checks, our engineers check hinges and other parts of the strollers—once they’re in an open, locked position—for the following criteria:

Holiday guide: Best toys for babies 4-10 months old

By 4 to 10 months of age, babies can reach for and grasp objects, move them from one hand to the other, and play with their feet. They'll search for the source of sounds.

Suggested toys
A take-off on overhead mobiles, activity gyms feature charming, brightly-colored floor and hanging detachable toys that make sounds, play music, and have tantalizing textures. Some might include unbreakable, embedded mirrors, a definite plus. Like rattles and play keys, activity gyms help babies to explore their environment through their senses of sound, touch, sight, and taste. Their fine-motor skills get a tune-up when they bat, reach, and grab for toys. And if you place your baby in a gym on his tummy ("tummy time"), you'll help develop his posture and neck strength, a prerequisite for crawling and other physical skills.

Babies of this age also tend to enjoy soft balls with sounds inside, musical toys, washable baby books, and toys with flaps or lids that can be opened and closed. They'll still be fascinated by rattles, and the more their pickup skills develop, the more they'll reach for and play with them.

See best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies for more buying advice.

Holiday guide: Best toys for newborn to 3-month-old babies

Babies are born with natural curiosity and gather information about the world through their senses. Babies enjoy looking at the world around them—lights, shapes, patterns, and colors. At about 3 months, they begin to swipe at objects and might try to reach for them.

Suggested toys
Rattles and play keys with high-contrast colors that make interesting noises, and musical crib mobiles with bright, primary-color objects or patterns that stimulate your baby's sense of sight. But keep toys out of the crib. Mobiles can be suspended near or above the crib as long as they're safely mounted. Mobiles are safest near the foot of the bed, where they can't fall on a child. Remove the mobile when your baby can push up on his hands and knees, at about 6 months.

Babies can see bright colors and shapes of rattles and play keys (for babies younger than 4 months, the toy should be any combination of red, black and white—the colors this age group sees best), feel their smooth or nubby texture, hear their rattling or clinking sound, and mouth them, which stimulates brain development.

See best toys for babies 4-10 months old for related information.

Infant car seats: Get the right angle

It’s important to get the right angle when you install your child’s infant seat. Installation procedures vary from model to model, so you’ll need to read and follow the instructions in the manual that came with your particular seat and car. If you are at all unsure about whether you’re installing it correctly, you can have it checked by a certified child-passenger safety seat technician. (To find one in your area, call your local police department or go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Child Safety Seat Inspection Station Locator.)

Your rear-facing infant car seat should be tilted just enough for your baby to lay her head back comfortably, typically around 45 degrees. If she’s sitting too upright, her head could drop forward cutting off her airway. However, if her head is too far back, you’ll create the risk of absorbing the forces of a crash in the head, neck, and shoulders. As your baby develops more neck strength and is able to hold her head up, the seat can be in a more upright position; if her head falls forward, you’ll know the seat is not tilted back enough.

Green dreams: “Natural” claims are no guarantee of a greener mattress

Some mattress manufacturers are pushing pricey models they claim are “green,” “eco-friendly,” or “natural.” But there are no standards for those terms, so companies can define them any way they like. That said, a mattress is made of many parts, and some can be greener than others. Here’s how to decipher green claims you’ll come across when shopping for your baby’s crib mattress—or your own mattress. (See our cribs buying advice for related information.)

• Natural. You’ll find this claim on mattresses that are covered or filled with natural materials, such as cotton, wool, or Tencel, which is made from wood fiber. The term is also commonly used when the mattress filling is made from natural rubber latex, soy, or other plant-derived materials. But “natural” materials aren’t necessarily easier on the environment and might be blended with synthetic ones or can be grown or treated with harsh chemicals.
• USDA Organic. Just like food, natural materials such as cotton can be produced organically without most synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. But organic certification only applies to how the specific materials of the filling or the outside fabric were grown, not to the whole mattress. What’s more, toxic chemicals like formaldehyde or certain synthetic dyes are not restricted when certified organic materials are processed into fabric.
• Hypoallergenic. This term might be used when a mattress contains natural rubber latex, implying that the latex will not trigger allergic reactions in susceptible people. But there’s no standard definition or verification for “hypoallergenic,” so it’s not necessarily a meaningful claim. If you have any allergies, always read the label.
• Chemical-free. This claim implies that a mattress doesn’t contain or emit potentially harmful synthetic chemicals, such as flame retardants known as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Some products use flame-retardant compounds that the Environmental Protection Agency says might be less harmful than other PBDEs. A chemical-free claim might imply that a mattress doesn’t contain certain volatile organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, but without standards or verification the meaning of such a claim can vary widely. An increasingly common independent European certification that’s popping up on mattresses and other textiles here, “Oeko-Tek Standard 100,” is worth looking for. It provides some assurance that chemicals, including certain PBDE flame retardants, VOCs, and heavy metals, are restricted in the final product.
• Label alert! New mattresses must meet federal flammability standards, so look for a permanent label on a mattress that says it does.

This content was originally published in the October 2009 issue of ShopSmart magazine.

Kellogg Co. removes immunity claim from Rice and Cocoa Krispies

If you’ve seen the claim on your box of Rice Krispies or Cocoa Krispies–“Now helps support your child’s immunity”–you might think serving these cereals to your family would arm them with one more layer of protection this cold and flu season. But claims such as these have come under scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Last Wednesday, Kellogg Co., the cereals’ manufacturer, decided to remove the immunity statements from those packages.

In a press release issued November 4, 2009, Kellogg’s noted that the company began adding antioxidants to their cereal in 2008 in response to parents’ desire for more nutrition in kids’ cereal. Though antioxidants can help support the immune system, parents need to do more than feed their children cereal to build their immunity.

Some ways to help protect your child’s immunity include helping your child maintain a heathy weight, making sure your child’s immunizations are up to date, keeping the germs in your home under control, checking that their daycare or pre-school maintains good preventive hygiene, and staying in-the-know about swine flu.

--Artemis DiBenedetto, Web associate editor

Smart habits to prevent changing-table falls

If you have the space, a well-stocked changing station will help make diaper duty go more smoothly by giving you a place to keep diapers and other essentials close at hand. But because your baby is off the floor, it has its hazards.

Each year an estimated 3,000 babies, on average, are injured in changing table accidents. Some injuries are fatal. In no more time than it takes to turn for a diaper or wipe, an active baby can roll over and tumble to the ground. For a child, a fall from a changing table is like an adult plunging from several stories and could be fatal.

While changing tables with barriers on the two opposing long sides of the top comply with the ASTM International standard if they have a contoured changing pad, we recommend using a table with barriers on all four sides. Whether you use a table with barriers on two, three, or four sides, or you use a contoured pad on top of a dresser, prevent accidents by always using the safety straps on your changing table or pad. Never leave your baby unattended—even for a moment, even if you’re using the safety straps, and even if you’re sure your baby is secure. (See more changing table features.)

In fact, make it a practice to keep one hand on your baby. When you are shopping for a changing table, make sure that the drawers and shelves are easily accessible so you won’t have to let go of your baby to reach something.

Before changing your baby’s diaper, be sure that any products you need—diapers, wipes, or the wipe warmer—are within arm’s reach but not within your baby’s range, and place the diaper pail adjacent to the table. If you run out of diapers or forget your little one’s outfit, carry her with you while you get what you need. If you wheel your changing table from room to room, be sure to lock the wheels on a stable, flat surface. Park your changing table away from small objects your baby can grasp and hot objects, such as a radiator. Never wheel the table with your baby on it, strapped on or not.

Recall: One million Maclaren strollers

After getting reports of 12 fingertip amputations, Maclaren USA is recalling one million strollers, which includes every umbrella stroller of that brand sold in the U.S. for the past 10 years. The amputations occurred when the children got their fingers caught in the stroller’s hinge mechanism. According to Maclaren, at the time of the incidents the children were outside the stroller and a parent or caregiver was either opening it or folding it up. 
 
The strollers were sold at Babies 'R' Us, Target, and other juvenile product and mass merchandise retailers from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. The recall involves all Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers including Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller. See the full Safety blog post for more information.

Also see 7 common stroller mistakes for safety measures you should take when using a stroller.