I'm not a particularly green mom. Though, as a consumer reporter I've covered enough studies over the years to know I should try to reduce my child's exposure to concerning chemicals (especially those "known to cause cancer"). It certainly never occurred to me that there might be a … [Read more...]
A Car Seat Conversion: Why I’m Changing My Taxi-With-Kids Habits
I have a confession to make: I've let my kids ride in taxis without car seats. It seemed mostly justified at the time, but a recent bump on my chin forced me to reconsider.The United States is the bastion for children’s automotive safety—laws in some states specify how long kids … [Read more...]
Want to Test Your Home for Lead, Concerning Chemicals and Flame Retardants? Here’s How.
A new friend recently asked me about testing her child's room for formaldehyde. She noticed that the newly-installed closet in her nursery had a strange order, and she wanted to make sure it was safe. She sent me a link to a formaldehyde test she found on Amazon and asked for my … [Read more...]
Wake The Baby! Don’t Use Car Seats as Stroller Seats
All together now… “That’s unrealistic!”If this was a TV news story, I’d be starting off with a montage of moms rolling their eyes and replying “that’s unrealistic” when I tell them that “the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Green Science … [Read more...]
Q & A: Can Cell Phone Cases Reduce Radiation Exposure?
We recently received the following question in the comment section of "Why I Chose to Ban Cell Phones From the Bedroom." For some insight, I reached out to one of the foremost experts on (and critics of) electromagnetic radiation, Joel M. Moskowitz, Ph.D., who is the Director of the … [Read more...]
Orbit Baby Responds to Flame Retardants in Car Seats
The day before publishing "Concerning Chemicals in Orbit Baby and Other Car Seats", I reached out to Orbit for a response to the Ecology Center-Duke University study. Orbit's website claimed its products were “Free Of Brominated Flame Retardants” and other concerning chemicals … [Read more...]
Concerning Chemicals Found in Orbit Baby & Other Car Seats
While picking out car seats two-and-a-half years ago, my husband and I spent a fortune on the Orbit Baby car seat and stroller system solely because we were led to believe there were no concerning chemicals in Orbit Baby.While researching the product (both professionally and … [Read more...]
Nail Polish Chemicals “In” Your Body
Don't you hate it when you realize your dad was right? Here's a quote from mine last night when I sent him a press release titled "Study Finds Toxic Nail Polish Chemical In Women’s Bodies". I have been telling every woman I have known for the last 30 years, but they didn’t … [Read more...]
Will Your Cell Phone Cause Cancer?
Will your cell phone cause cancer? That's the question Consumer Reports recently attempted to answer. The magazine points out that the medical community is divided, but public opinion is pretty clear. Most people are not concerned about cell phone radiation or limiting their … [Read more...]
No More Parenting Screen Time Guilt? AAP’s New Recommendation
#ReportersNotebook The only emotion that rivals my love for my children is the guilt I experience on a daily basis. I feel guilty for being a working mom. I feel guilty that my attention is always divided among three children. I feel guilty for losing my patience, for not being … [Read more...]