If you’ve seen my coverage of chemicals in car seats, you likely know that a biomonitoring study found high levels of a known “cancer-causing flame retardant” in my child; the same flame retardant was in her car seat.ALSO SEE: How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My … [Read more...]
“Chemicals Are in Everything, Why Should I Care?”
One of the most common critiques I get about my reporting on chemical flame retardants in car seats can be summed up with this Facebook comment on one of my posts:Look at how many of us survived... using car seats. Then look at the ones who survived before car seats were a thing. … [Read more...]
Morning Sickness Medicine – New Evidence It May be Safe!
#ReportersNotebook I was lucky enough to have two very normal and uneventful pregnancies. Even with my twins, I never suffered from morning sickness and was able to carry them to term, which is rare for multiples.However, many of my friends experienced the potentially dangerous … [Read more...]
Virtual Kidnapping – A New & Terrifying Threat for Parents
Updated: 9-18-16A chill ran through my body and I immediately felt sick to my stomach when I read this NextDoor post from a local mom. The tale of her child's virtual kidnapping is literally one of the most terrifying things I've ever read.For years, we've covered the … [Read more...]
What’s In Your Cleaning Products?
New parents tend to top the list of people concerned about toxic cleaning products. So, like many, I went out and bought the brands that appeared to be green and had names or slogans that implied they were "natural" or "kid safe."Now, as a consumer reporter, I am well aware that … [Read more...]
Postpartum Depression: What to Learn From Panettiere’s Return
New motherhood is hard. The sleep deprivation, the hormones, the crying, the body changes, the guilt and the worry can team up to leave moms of newborns feeling harried, wondering: “Is it this hard for everyone? Is my child particularly difficult? Am I simply not cut out for … [Read more...]
When to Skip the Organic Produce
Do I Really Need Organic Produce? We'd all love to feed our little angels an all-organic diet... but who can afford it when organic produce can cost almost 50 percent more? I mean, avocados are currently my daughter's favorite food, and one organic avocado can cost more than a gallon … [Read more...]
Frequent Locations – Your iPhone Is Documenting Your Every Move
Most people know that phones (and apps) know your location. You've probably even turned off location tracking for some of your apps under "Location Services." But buried four menus deep is another option called "Frequent Locations." This is where your iPhone is keeping a running … [Read more...]
Politics Stall Child Credit Freeze Law?
After years of reporting on child ID theft and struggling to freeze my own child’s credit, it was rewarding to learn that California Assemblyman Mike Gatto introduced state legislation based on what I’d found.This week, the bill passed its first test, sailing through the California … [Read more...]
Alba’s Honest, Ergo Baby’s Orbit: Why Green Companies Are Found with Concerning Chemicals!
Here we go again. Independent testing found a chemical in a “green” children’s product that the company itself called “toxic”.The Wall Street Journal reports that it found SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) in the Honest Company’s laundry detergent.Similarly, our recent investigation … [Read more...]