NewsMom Features

In-Depth Original Editorials, Blogs & Reviews, Written By Journalists Who Are Also Parents

NewsMom Features include a combination of original editorials, blogs and reviews that are intended to help parents better investigate the topics and products that are important to them.

NewsMom Editorials are in-depth original reports that may include opinions and personal anecdotes in addition to investigative research. Contributors often share how their professional research and reporting has impacted their parenting.

NewsMom Blogs & Reviews generally include personal anecdotes about real-life experiences with popular products, apps and services. They are not endorsements (paid or otherwise) and they are never “sponsored.” These features may also include parenting tips, tricks, mom hacks and fun ideas.

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NOTE: The views and opinions of #NewsMom contributors are not necessarily those of the news organizations they work for or those of NewsMom.com.

#NewsMom Editorials

A Step-by-Step Guide to Freeze Your Child’s Credit

NOTE: This page was originally published in 2015 & was last updated in October 2018. When I set out to create this guide for parents, I never imagined it could be so difficult.  Several years, … [Continue...]

EpiPen Is Not the Only Choice: My Switch to an Off-Brand

NOTE: This is in no way intended as a product endorsement, but rather one mom’s experience. Please consult your doctor and insurance provider about any changes in medication --The first time I … [Continue...]

“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... … [Continue...]

Investigating Car Seat Chemicals

What began as a NewsMom editorial, expanded into a six month KPIX-CBS investigation exposing alleged false advertising, apparent legal loopholes and outdated federal regulations that … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

NewsMom Blog Prompts Child Credit Freeze Legislation

UPDATE 9/23/16: The governor has signed California's Child Credit Freeze Legislation AB 1580. California parents can now freeze their child's credit!My first-ever NewsMom blog was titled “Why My … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

Why My Toddler Has a Credit Card

SEE FEB 2016 UPDATE: How to Protect Kids From ID Theft… One Year Later Over the years, I've covered far too many news stories about identity theft. I’ve interviewed adult identity theft … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

Chicken Label Myths

The Truth Behind "No Added Hormones" and Other Claims Have you seen the new Foster Farms "skateboarding chicken" commercial that boasts "no added hormones"? It's cute. The two wannabe Foster Farms … [Continue...]

The Sunscreen Debate

Cancer If You Do, Cancer If You Don’t—The Sunscreen Debate Continues. First the Environmental Working Group released its annual sunscreen safety guide, then Consumer Reports published its buying … [Continue...]

Child Identity Theft – Have You Checked Your Kid’s Credit?

Child identity theft is more common than most parents realize. Research shows that our kids could be 50 times more likely to have their identities stolen than we are. The fact is, kids’ pristine … [Continue...]

Is There Arsenic in That Rice Cereal You’re Feeding Your Baby?

Generations of moms in my family have sworn by mixing a tablespoon of rice cereal into a baby’s bottle before bed. My mom, aunt and cousins swear it fills up their tummies and helps them sleep through … [Continue...]

‘Ditch The Laundry Detergent Pods’ – Consumer Reports

Source: The Problem With Laundry Detergent Pods - Consumer Reports We often hear about freak accidents where a child is seriously injured or killed due to a seemingly benign product. The first … [Continue...]

You Need My Social Security Number But You Won’t Give Me Your Employee ID?

By now, most people know that their Social Security number is the key to their identity, so they need to be very judicious about who they share it with. Most security experts agree you should even … [Continue...]

How I Forced the Credit Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit

When I first began covering credit freezes, I was shocked that the bureaus would not let me freeze my child’s credit.As I've mentioned in several blog posts and broadcast news stories, a credit … [Continue...]

Are There Toxic Chemicals in Your Kids’ Sunscreen? Check Here!

So there I am, standing in front of the sunscreen aisle at a baby superstore with my 6-month old in the stroller, my dog-child in the basket underneath and my face buried in my iPhone. I must have … [Continue...]

Car Seat Safety Standards Leading to More Child Deaths

Car seat safety standards may contribute to kids forgotten in hot cars. It seems every summer we hear shocking stories of children left to die in hot cars. In most cases, it's a heart wrenching … [Continue...]

A Wireless-Free Bedroom – What About Baby Monitors?

A Follow-Up to "Why I Declared Our Bedroom a Wireless-Free Zone." A couple of weeks ago while covering a story, I interviewed one of the foremost experts on (and critics of) electromagnetic … [Continue...]

Why I Chose to Ban Cell Phones From the Bedroom

Surveys find most people don't realize that, according to manufacturer recommendations, their cell phones should be kept between .3" and 1" inch away from their body at all times. I'm not "most … [Continue...]

10 Must-Haves for Travel With Toddlers

Travel with Toddlers Isn't Easy—But These Can Help! We travel... A lot.  At 21 months old, my toddler had logged over 60 flight hours, and she continues to sleep in her travel crib an average … [Continue...]

Navigating TSA With Your Traveling Toddler

From baby food to breast milk, navigating TSA with your traveling toddler can be a challenge. In exchange for a little extra testing/searching, TSA allows parents traveling with small children to … [Continue...]

The “Other” Vaccination Debate – Alternative Vaccine Schedules

As a #NewsMom, you'd better bet I bought the book and even took classes on Alternative Vaccine Schedules. I wanted to be as educated as possible about every option and risk. Apparently, I'm not … [Continue...]

About NewsMom.com

Journalists tend to ask questions that others might not. We also have an ethical obligation to investigate both sides of any story. So, when I found out I was pregnant, I prepared for my baby in the … [Continue...]

NewsMom Blogs & Reviews

A Different Kind of Resolution: Choosing Joy

I smiled to myself as I clicked "buy" on something that seemed so out of character: A pair of leggings with a space invaders inspired pattern on them. Yep, a grown woman with space invader leggings. … [Continue...]

A Tale of Two Carriers: Tula Vs. LÍLLÉbaby

If you've decided to "wear" your baby, chances are you've scoured the internet searching for the right option that'll leave your hands free while carrying your little one. The problem? An overwhelming … [Continue...]

The Carryon Overnight Kit: A Must for Airplane Travel With Kids

Of course we couldn't have known our 20 hour trip would lengthen into 48. So of course we didn't pack a carryon overnight kit.It began as we loaded up the hired car in the dark, installing the car … [Continue...]

EpiPen Is Not the Only Choice: My Switch to an Off-Brand

NOTE: This is in no way intended as a product endorsement, but rather one mom’s experience. Please consult your doctor and insurance provider about any changes in medication --The first time I … [Continue...]

Car Seats in Taxis: Difficult But Doable

In the few months since I committed to stop baby wearing in taxis, my little guy officially outgrew his infant bucket car seat. I’ve opted for public transportation and avoided cabs when possible, but … [Continue...]

Adventures in Baby Travel: Useful Products for Jet-Setting Families

For those who procreate and yet still insist on feeding their wanderlust, many baby travel products promise to make adventure a breeze. Below is a rundown of a few I've found helpful in our travels … [Continue...]

Baby Gear: If I Could Go Back, Instead I’d Buy…

When I was newly pregnant for the first time, I went into baby gear research hyperdrive. Overwhelmed by the vast options—how do I choose something for someone I've never met??—I dropped by a baby … [Continue...]

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 … [Continue...]

Instagram-Filter Baby Names & Other Millennial Trends

Ok, so you may have a favorite Instagram filter, but do you really love it enough to name your kid after it? Well, apparently Instagram-filter baby names are gaining popularity among Millennial … [Continue...]

Parenting VineDeas

Vine videos with random ideas, info and tips for parents... in 6 seconds or less. Q: What is vine? A: It's like Twitter for video. Looping video clips - 6 seconds max. Scroll down to check out a … [Continue...]

Small Space Nursery #ApartmentLife

Creating A Small Space Nursery In 4 Simple Steps   #ApartmentLiving with a little one can require some "out of the box" ideas. As a first-time mom-to-be, I had to figure out how to fit … [Continue...]

10 Must-Haves for Travel With Toddlers

Travel with Toddlers Isn't Easy—But These Can Help! We travel... A lot.  At 21 months old, my toddler had logged over 60 flight hours, and she continues to sleep in her travel crib an average … [Continue...]

5-in-1 Convertible Car Seat Stroller

Thanks to veteran KPIX ‪#‎NewsMom‬ Kate Kelly for this recommendation! She used one of these for her (now college-aged) boys. Based on her recommendation, we purchased the convertible car seat … [Continue...]

Baby Flight Vest

#NewsMomReview The Baby Flight Vest is intended to keep lap children 'in' mom's lap during turbulence. As a reporter, I've heard far too many horror stories about lap children getting … [Continue...]

NewsMom Must-Haves for Parents

From products for infants to toddlers, we've probably purchased and tried them all. Here's a collection of must-haves for parents, from parents who report on products for a living. Follow … [Continue...]

PLEASE NOTE: What’s right for each #NewsMom contributor may not be right for your family. 

 This content is not meant to offer “advice” on any aspect of parenting. It is simply meant to provide information and research so that each parent can make better-educated decisions for his or her family.

Reviews are not endorsements (paid or otherwise)–they are simply anecdotes about real-life experiences.

NewsMom contributors are asked to disclose any connection that they may have to any product or company that they mention, including, but not limited to, whether they use the products or have received free samples/discounts.  

The views and opinions of #NewsMom contributors are not necessarily those of the news organizations that they work for or those of NewsMom.com.