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 But if you don't know how old the crib or play yard is, it could be outdated and not up to today's safety standards.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.

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.

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.

Children’s art easels recalled due to high levels of lead

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission yesterday announced a voluntary recall of about 10,000 Young Artist Easels manufactured by MacPherson’s of Emeryville, Calif. The recall notice claims that high levels of lead are contained in the chalkboard’s surface coating, which violates the federal lead paint standard. Although no incidents or injuries have been reported, the CPSC encourages consumers to stop using the easels immediately. The easels were manufactured in China.

The easels have a chalkboard surface on one side and a whiteboard surface on the other side. The item number is AA13301 and the UPC number is 082435133010, which can be found on the original packaging.

What you can do. Consumers should immediately take these easels away from children and contact MacPherson’s to receive a free replacement chalkboard panel. Reach MacPherson’s at 866-319-5335 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday through Friday, or via e-mail at recall@macphersonart.com. You can also visit the firm’s Web site at www.art-alternatives.com/recall.

Learn more about toys for children of all ages.

Recall: Ground beef

Two deaths have been linked to the recall of 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The beef was produced by Fairbank Farms in western New York, which recalled the meat on Saturday. The meat was packaged between September 14 and 16 and may have been labeled with a sell-by date from Sept. 19 through Sept. 28. Because those dates have passed, the meat is no longer on store shelves but health officials fear it may still be in people's freezers. Each package bears the establishment number "EST. 492" inside the USDA mark of inspection or on the nutrition label.

Learn the states where the meat was distributed to retailers, the stores that received the meat, and what to do, in the full post on our Safety blog.

Soft infant carrier safety tips

Two infant deaths this year in Infantino slings raise concerns about the product. Participants at a recent ASTM-International meeting on sling carriers discussed the design of the Infantino “bag-style” sling and how it could contribute to suffocation and obstructed airways. That can happen for two reasons—either the baby’s face turns inward and becomes covered by the mother’s clothing or breasts, or the baby is placed in a position where the infant's head falls so far forward that the airway is closed off. Read the rest of the post on our Safety blog.

We think there are better ways to transport infants, including strollers, handheld infant carrier/car seats, and strap-on carriers.

Here are some strap-on front and hip carrier safety tips:

• Read the instruction manual and the warnings on the product before you first wear it to make sure you’re using it properly.
• Before using a carrier at any time, take time to put it on properly. Check that the straps are fitted and adjusted correctly, and the buckles, snaps, straps, and adjustments are safely fastened into position and secure.
• Sit down when placing your baby in the carrier and when taking him out.
• After your child is seated in a carrier, with her legs securely in the leg openings, adjust leg openings to the smallest size possible without cutting into her thighs or seat.
• Make sure your baby can breathe easily when in the carrier. His nose and mouth shouldn’t be obstructed in any way, and his chin should not be pressed against his chest, which carries a risk of asphyxiation.
• Don’t transport your child in a carrier on your back unless it’s made to be worn that way. Note that infants who can’t hold their heads up should never be carried on an adult’s back under any circumstances.
• Use the carrier according to the manufacturer’s weight recommendations. To avoid back and neck strain, stop using a front carrier when your baby reaches 20 pounds, or anytime you feel uncomfortable.
• Until your child can hold her head upright (around 6 months old), she should ride facing toward you with head support.
• Be careful when bending, leaning forward, or going through doorways when wearing a carrier. If you have to reach down, bend at your knees to make sure your baby stays upright. Don’t bend over at your waist.
• Use a carrier only for standing or walking. Don’t use it for sporting activities like running or bicycling or when cooking, cleaning, carrying a load, or driving.
• Don’t use a carrier to hold your baby in a car instead of a car seat.
• Don’t leave a baby in the carrier while putting it on or taking it off.
• Don’t put your baby in a carrier that’s not attached to you or another caregiver.
• Stop using a carrier if any parts or components are damaged, missing, or broken.
• Consider his and hers carriers of you and your partner want to use a strap-on or hip carrier frequently and you’re not roughly the same size. To wear a strap-on or hip carrier safely, adjust the straps exactly right. If you have a separate carrier for each parent, you won’t have to continually adjust the carrier to trade back and forth or be tempted to make a too-quick adjustment.
• If you want to use your strap-on carrier outside in cooler months, consider getting a carrier cover (we have not tested these). It slips over most brands of strap-on soft infant carriers so you don’t have to stuff your bundled-up baby into a carrier or zip your coat around him.

Bassinet and cradle safety guidelines

The best beds for babies are full-sized cribs, so consider bassinets, cradles, and bedside sleepers with caution. Bassinet and cradle manufacturers can voluntarily comply with the ASTM standard for these products (indicated by a JPMA seal on the package)—and certification can provide a layer of protection—but at present aren’t required to.

If you decide to buy or use a bassinet or cradle, you can’t be too careful. Here are more safety considerations to keep in mind when you’re looking at these baby beds:

Buy certified and buy new. Although it’s not a complete guarantee of safety, buying a certified product adds a layer of protection. Certified products must meet the ASTM standard requirements such as correct spacing of side slats or bars. In 2008, for example, 900,000 Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible close sleeper/bedside sleeper bassinets (200,000 of which also carried the Graco logo or a Disney Winnie-the-Pooh motif) were recalled because the bassinet has metal bars that can be exposed when the Velcro flap that covers them is not properly secured—and the bar spacing exceeded the maximum 2 3/8 inches allowed under the federal crib standard, forming a strangulation hazard. Beware: Some of those bassinets could still be in circulation online and at tag sales and secondhand shops. (See two more babies die in Simplicity bassinets.) Always buy new—the maker is required to put the date of manufacture on the product. Send in the registration so you can be notified of a recall. (See our Guide to a safe, healthy pregnancy and infancy.)

Say no to an heirloom cradle or bassinet. It’s a quaint idea to use one that’s been in the family for generations, but chances are it isn’t up to today’s safety standards. Some possible hazards are an overly thick mattress or puffy sides, both suffocation risks, and legs with an old-style latching mechanism that can unexpectedly release.

Don’t leave your baby unattended in a rocking cradle. Use the hardware to stop the rocking motion before your baby’s bed- and naptime if you’re going to leave the room, and around pets and toddlers.

Don’t use a bassinet or cradle with wheels unlocked around stairs or other children. Lock the wheels as soon as you finish moving the bassinet from one room to another–and keep them locked.

Don’t carry or move a bassinet or cradle with your child in it.

Use only the mattress/pad provided by the manufacturer and only the fitted sheet made for the bassinet, or one specifically designed to fit the dimensions of the mattress/pad. Buy at least three fitted sheets so you have one to use, one for the wash, and one as a backup. Don’t use a pillowcase or different sized sheet as a substitute.

Don’t add stuffed animals or any bedding, such as a pillow, comforter, or blanket, or extra padding like an additional mattress/pad, or a sleep positioner to your baby’s bassinet or cradle; they’re suffocation hazards. Put your baby to sleep in a wearable blanket (swaddle sack) instead of covering her with a blanket. (See more safe sleep tips.)

Don’t let strings, toys suspended from a mobile, or window blind or curtain cords hang into the bassinet. Don’t place a cradle or bassinet near window blind or drape cords (a strangulation hazard). Shorten window blind cords by cutting the looped cords in half and keep them out of your baby’s reach. Position the mobile so your baby can’t reach it. And don’t add any suspended toys on your own. Use only those provided with the mobile.

Place your baby on his back in a cradle or bassinet, just as you would in a full-sized crib. Ninety percent of SIDS cases occur during the first six months of a baby’s life, which is prime bassinet time.

For more information, see our cribs buying guide and crib Ratings and reviews (available to subscribers), and sign up for our free school safety alert program.

Have you used a bassinet or cradle? Why or why not? Tell us about your experiences in comments.