Parenting News Compiled by Journalists Who Are Also Parents
#NewsMomNews aggregates relevant “news for parents” from mainstream media outlets.
The “Reporters’ Notebook” features previously published news reports that often include additional reporter commentary, anecdotes or useful information that was left out of the original stories.
Under “Interesting Headlines,” we’ve compiled a variety of other relevant news and information that we’re reading, talking about or reporting on.
#NewsMomNews always links back to the original source, includes attributions and embeds video from the original source when possible.
Got a story you think we should share? Pitch #NewsMomNews for Parents @NewsMomDotCom
Reporters’ Notebook
Investigating UPPAbaby Flame-Retardant-Free Car Seats
Turns out you can make a naturally flame resistant car seat that passes the federal flammability standard without retardants. The first batch of UPPAbaby Flame-Retardant-Free Car Seats shipped to … [Continue...]
The Cost of Baby’s First Year
Quick, $1000, $5000, or $21,000? How much do you think baby's first year will set you back?The answer may surprise you! A recent study by Nerd Wallet found parenthood is pricey and many don't … [Continue...]
Lead In Sippy Cups And The Moms Making A Difference
#ReportersNotebook I began following the blogger Natural Baby Mama a little over a year ago while investigating concerning flame retardants found in a popular green car seat. She and her readers … [Continue...]
Questions About 2016 Ecology Center Car Seat Flame Retardant Report
The Ecology Center has released its semiannual car seat flame retardant report which tests a variety of popular car seats for flame retardants. Each year it is controversial. However, each year it … [Continue...]
Should Your 10-Year-Old Use A Booster Seat?
Odds are, if you watch the news or follow car seat safety, you know that The Insurance Institute's for Highway Safety released its latest booster seat study today. The report is titled "Booster seats … [Continue...]
EpiPen Alternative: The Investigation & Price Check
#ReportersNotebook I’m a Consumer-Investigative reporter who often covers parenting and health issues. Yet, until recently, even I had no idea there was a viable EpiPen alternative!Jump To: … [Continue...]
Ergo Baby “Exiting the Orbit Baby Brand”
Is Orbit Baby Discontinued?Orbit's Facebook page has confirmed to several parents via Facebook messenger that its parent company Ergo Baby is "exiting the Orbit Baby brand" and selling through its … [Continue...]
We DON’T Have Food Allergies, We DO Have A Teal Pumpkin
Updated: 10/26/16 I recently interviewed a mom whose son has a peanut and tree nut allergy. I asked her how she would feel if someday every house had a teal pumpkin on Halloween. She broke down … [Continue...]
Exploding Glow Stick Warning
Glow sticks are a popular purchase this time of year. From Halloween to the Holidays, birthday parties to the 4th of July, they are cheap, fun and often provide a lot of bang for the buck.But, as a … [Continue...]
UPDATE: Girl Who Fed Homeless Vet in Viral Video Needs Your Help!
You've likely seen the viral video of the adorable Northern California 8-year old who gave her dinner (silverware and all) to a homeless man outside a restaurant. It's been viewed more than 100 … [Continue...]
Survive an Underwater Car Accident: Seatbelts, Windows, Out (Children First)
#ReportersNotebook - Seatbelts, Windows, Out (Children First)It is an overused TV cliché: "A parent's worst nightmare." However, an underwater car accident is literally one of my worst … [Continue...]
Peanut-Allergic Boy V. Kellogg’s: Peanut Powder in Cheese Crackers
#ReportersNotebook:When Kellogg's announced it was adding peanut flour to some of its snack crackers, a boy with a passion for activism and an allergy to peanuts decided he needed to help spread the … [Continue...]
Now Our Clek Car Seat Tested Positive for TDCPP
"Which Car Seat Do You Use Now?”That is by far the most common question people ask following our continuing coverage of flame retardants found in kids’ car seats (and potentially in the kids who use … [Continue...]
Remember ‘That’ Biomonitoring Study? Car Seats Are Just the Beginning…
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 … [Continue...]
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 … [Continue...]
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 … [Continue...]
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 … [Continue...]
Ditch the Piggy Bank – Kids & Money
Why is it so hard for our kids to understand it that money doesn't grow on trees? I don't know about you, but conversations about money are very sporadic at my house:"No, we can't buy that because … [Continue...]
UPDATE: Keep Car Seats in the Middle, A Fatal Seat Flaw Exposed
Did you know your front driver and passenger seats can severely injure your child? Here's the latest in another excellent report from CBS News Transportation Correspondent Kris Van Cleave on the fight … [Continue...]
How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My Child… And In Her ‘Green’ Car Seat
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 … [Continue...]
How to Protect Kids From ID Theft… One Year Later
More than a year after my first NewsMom blog on the topic, we finally aired the TV version of "How I Forced the Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit."The two-part TV news series (below) was followed … [Continue...]
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 … [Continue...]
Child Organ Donation & The “TV Good Luck Charm”
#ReportersNotebook The day after Thanksgiving, I had to work a rare night shift. I was resigned to the fact that I was probably going to be assigned a Black Friday story, and I don't particularly … [Continue...]
Nail Polish: Out of Bottle, Into Your Body
#ReportersNotebook Normally I blog about the stories I cover on CBS San Francisco. But in the case of this report on nail polish chemicals, it was the other way around. The TV story idea actually … [Continue...]
Before You Pay for Credit Monitoring or ID Protection…
#ReportersNotebookEvery other day it seems like there's a new breach. Between the Anthem and Premera insurance hacks alone, it's estimated 1 out of 3 Americans have been compromised.As a result, … [Continue...]
The State Owns Your Newborn Blood Spot DNA
UPDATE: May 2018State Biobank Stores Every Baby’s DNA. Who Else Has Access? The #ReportersNotebook entry below was first published in 2015. Since then, we've identified new concerns. … [Continue...]
Nanny Background Check • A Nanny Nightmare Every Parent Should Hear
#ReportersNotebook As a mom of three, chances are when I am online, I am checking one of the many parenting or motherhood groups I belong to on Facebook. Last year, right after Christmas, I saw a … [Continue...]
Maternity Clothes–Four Ways to Rent, Trade and Save
#ReportersNotebook When I was pregnant, I had about five different maternity outfits… period. Maternity clothes are expensive! Especially the cute stuff, so I rotated though the same few pieces week … [Continue...]
The Power of Moms on Facebook
#ReportersNotebook Like most modern moms, I am a member of several private Facebook parenting pages. While I mostly turn to these forums for advice on everything from potty training to finding a … [Continue...]
What I Learned While Covering a Child Sex Offender
#ReportersNotebook Last week, I did a story on a little girl who was (allegedly) sexually assaulted by a convicted child sex offender while she shopped with her family. What struck me about this … [Continue...]
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 … [Continue...]
A Mother’s ‘Valley Fire’ Nightmare – The Story Behind the News Report
#ReportersNotebook As TV news reporters, we're often assigned to cover a very specific angle of a larger story (in about 1 minute and 30 seconds). As a result, we can be forced to leave out … [Continue...]
Childhood Cancer – A Reporter’s Story of #Hope
Reporters are often touched by the stories we cover. When we become parents, however, the connection we feel to certain stories is often amplified, transformed into a visceral reaction. Hazel's is … [Continue...]
Who’s Hacking Your Baby Monitor?
#ReportersNotebook You've likely heard the horror stories about weirdos hacking into baby monitors and whispering creepy messages to sleeping infants. In one recent case, a little boy tried to warn … [Continue...]
Is Your Cell Phone Use Affecting Your Kid’s Mental Health?
#ReportersNotebook Most of us are guilty of it, some more than others. Well, it turns out that our excessive cell phone use may be affecting our kids more than we realize. A … [Continue...]
Why My Toddler Has a Credit Card
#ReportersNotebookOver the years, I’ve interviewed both adult and child identity theft victims, security experts and even convicted ID thieves for far too many news stories on the topic. I’ve … [Continue...]
Credit Freeze: The Best Way To Prevent ID Thieves From Opening Credit In Your (Kid’s) Name
#ReportersNotebook This one is near and dear to my heart. A credit freeze is widely believed to be the single best tool for preventing financial ID theft. For the first time, this story reveals … [Continue...]
Make Money in Your Free Time With Gigwalk (and no, it’s not a scam)
#ReportersNotebook We usually warn people not to fall for the “make money at home” scams… so I couldn’t resist alluding to that in the title. But this one is legit. We chose to feature Gigwalk in … [Continue...]
Why You Need To Guard Your House Keys Like You Guard Your Social Security Number
#ReportersNotebook It's supposed to be convenient for homeowners... but it's also convenient for crooks. Check out how I broke into my boss's house with two quick pictures of his "do not duplicate" … [Continue...]
Interesting Headlines
Disney World Adding Fun New Mandatory Fingerprinting Attraction for Kids 3 and Up • Consumerist
You know how three-year-olds can be so untrustworthy, always scamming this that or the other person to get what they want (no naps, cookies, and continuous cartoons)? Walt Disney World…Source: … [Continue...]
Tech Savvy Kids Could Bring Malware Back Home From Public WiFi • CBS San Francisco
Read More on CBSSF.com:SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- What your kids do on their gadgets when they're out of the house can have an effect on your devices at home.As kids head back to school, a … [Continue...]
Too Gross to Talk About? Say It With EmojiMom!
It’s the stuff no one really talks about before you have a baby: Mesh underwear, those squirty bottles you take home from the hospital, baby pee on your “first-day-back-to-work” outfit.Sometimes … [Continue...]
Study: Millennials More Likely to Get Scammed Than Grandparents • CBS San Francisco
When you think scam victim, you may think "grandparents" or tech-challenged baby boomers.Turns out, millennials are now more likely to get scammed!The stereotype of a scam victim often focuses … [Continue...]
Regulations Blamed for Higher Levels of Flame Retardants in Kids • CBS San Francisco
Just weeks after Congress passed a law giving the Environmental Protection Agency more power to ban harmful chemicals, a new study demonstrates just how much chemical regulations can impact the health … [Continue...]
Day Care Deaths Prompt Petition: Paid Time Off for All New Parents
Baby Karl's story in Us Weekly (excerpt below) is a tragic one that seems to be all too common. His mom, Amber Scorah, dropped her sweet boy off at day care and never saw him alive again.In "Wake … [Continue...]
Ladies of The Talk on CBS Talk Flame Retardants in Car Seats
Following a 6-month investigation into harmful flame retardants in car seats, Julie Watts shared her findings with a national audience on CBS's The Talk. … [Continue...]
Little Boy With Severe Allergy Can Only Tolerate 12 Foods|CBS Los Angeles
Imagine only being able to feed your child 12 foods!#NewsMom Kristine Lazar shares the story of one local mom whose son has severe allergies caused by a rare disorder. She's hoping to raise … [Continue...]
Women Call for Ban of Transvaginal Mesh | NBC Bay Area
More fantastic reporting from NBC Bay Area's senior investigative reporter (and mom) Vicky Nguyen. She reports on transvaginal mesh risks. They are a common solution for women, especially after … [Continue...]
Eating Disorders in College Sports Ignored at Major Universities | NBC Bay Area
NBC Bay Area investigative reporter and mom Vicky Nguyen reports on eating disorders in college athletes. This is something that parents of any student athlete should be aware of! Nguyen reports … [Continue...]
U.S. Fish Advice May Expose Babies to Too Much Mercury | EWG Study
To eat fish or not to eat fish, that is the question for many pregnant women. We know the omega 3's are good for us and our babies, but we know that fish contain mercury that could be very harmful to … [Continue...]
EDITORIAL: Tackling Toxics | Science Magazine
Interested in the history (and future) of flame retardants in consumer products? This editorial from scientist Arlene Blum provides a brief summary. Source: Tackling toxics | Science Blum’s … [Continue...]
Untested Baby Products | FOX23
This story was sent to us by a mom who tragically lost her baby due to "positional asphyxiation" after a childcare provider left him to sleep unbuckled in a car seat. She asked us to share this with … [Continue...]
Picking the Perfect Preschool — KTTV
It's a stressful process for most parents. What questions should I ask? What red flags should I look for? Donna Tetreault breaks down some dos & don'ts on FOX LA. Parenting expert … [Continue...]
Excessive Lead in Nabisco Ginger Snaps — CA A.G. Settlement
What's in your cookies? You might be surprised! California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced Friday that her office has reached a settlement with food industry giant Mondelēz International, … [Continue...]
Grandma’s Brain Benefits From Time With the Little Ones – CBS News
An oldie but a goodie from CBS This Morning. Share this with your folks next time you want them to babysit. Looks like regularly babysitting the grandkids could help prevent Alzheimer's! But, … [Continue...]
Button Battery Danger: A Heartbreaking Warning for Parents
We've all heard it "can" happen. You may have even considered the possibility when changing a button battery in one of your kid's toys. But no parent ever really thinks it "will" happen to … [Continue...]
How To Prevent a Mommy Hangover New Year’s Day
OK, so I just came across this fun hangover infographic via a press release in my inbox and thought I would share. Full Disclosure: This is not a vetted news article. I have not fact checked (but … [Continue...]
“WiFi Assist” Blamed for $2,000 Phone Bill
Consumerist.com features this report from CBS San Francisco #NewsMom Julie Watts. You'll definitely want to check if “WiFi Assist” is enabled on your (or your kid's) iPhone! Here's Julie's Original … [Continue...]
Car Owners Try to Foil Criminals Hacking Key Fob Signals « CBS San Francisco
CBS San Francisco's #NewsMom Julie Watts demonstrates how hackers are breaking into cars without actually "breaking" in. Electronic key fobs that allow you to open your car door and start the … [Continue...]
Early Bedtime May Mean Better Mental Health for Mom: Study – TODAY.com
Parents looking for a simple sanity saver may find it by adjusting their children's bedtimes. Source: Early bedtime may mean better mental health for mom: study - TODAY.com … [Continue...]
Rethinking SIDS: Many Deaths No Longer a Mystery — NPR
A must-read for new moms! This story could save your baby's life. For years, little was known about why babies died suddenly and unexpectedly in their sleep. But now, many of these deaths are … [Continue...]
Making time for kids? Study says quality trumps quantity. – The Washington Post
And working mothers everywhere breathe a sigh of relief... Report says the amount of time parents spend with their children has virtually no link to how kids turn out. Read More: Making time for … [Continue...]
Oakland preschool on wheels seeks to bridge access gap – San Francisco Chronicle
The bus is a rental, a field trip and party vehicle converted three hours a day, three days a week into a preschool classroom. Inside, on bench seats running lengthwise down the bus, kids are … [Continue...]
‘Thank You Target,’ Say Chemical-Conscious Consumers
SaferChemicals.org is commending Target for its barely publicized move to reduce the number of questionable chemicals in the products it sells. The retailer isn't banning the chemicals, rather it … [Continue...]
Panettiere’s Postpartum Has Moms Talking
Actress Hayden Panettiere's announcement that she's seeking treatment for postpartum depression has a lot of moms talking. According to People.com, her Nashville character's postpartum storyline … [Continue...]
General Mills Recalls 1.8 Million Boxes Of Cheerios « CBS San Francisco
In case you missed it... Read More at CBS San Francisco: General Mills is recalling 1.8 million boxes of Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios produced at a plant in Lodi, saying the cereal is … [Continue...]
Could Probiotics Be a ‘Vaccine’ for Childhood Asthma?
Could probiotics prevent childhood asthma? OK, that’s a leap, but it is one of the hypotheses researchers will test following the results of a new study published in the journal Science … [Continue...]
Is Pottery Barn Kids Perpetuating Gender Stereotypes?
Can a little girl grow up to be an astronaut? Should she be allowed to love skateboarding? According to Pottery Barn Kids, rocket ships and skateboards are are designated only for boys—or at least for … [Continue...]
David Beckham’s #DummyGate Sheds Light on Mommy Shaming
If you're not a huge David Beckham fan or don't follow UK tabloid talk, you may have missed this one. However, this photo of 4-year-old Harper Beckham with a pacifier (or "dummy" as they're called in … [Continue...]
Are All ‘Compare At’ Prices Bogus?
CBS San Francisco ConsumerWatch Reporter Julie Watts put those 'compare at' prices to the test. Off-price retailers like T.J. Maxx admit they're just a theoretical "estimate," and Watts goes … [Continue...]
7 Meaningless Food Labels to Ignore
Some labels, like “organic,” “low-fat” or “sugar-free” have real nutritional value because they are regulated by federal law. Others are just empty and purposely vague. Here are seven meaningless … [Continue...]
Study: Skinny Jeans Cause Nerve, Muscle Damage, Other Health Risks
Those skinny jeans in your closet might make you feel fashion forward, but doctors warn they could turn you into a fashion victim. Source: Study: Skinny Jeans Cause Nerve, Muscle Damage, Other Health … [Continue...]
Do I Always Need a Seatbelt in the Backseat?
Experts say not wearing a seatbelt is a mind-boggling mistake—one that killed 55 percent of the rear-seat passengers who died in crashes in 2013. CBS News' Kris Van Cleave reports. Source: … [Continue...]
Are Wi-Fi Signals Making You Sick?
CBS 2's Marissa Bailey talks with a woman who suffers from something called electromagnetic hypersensitivity. Source: Are Wi-Fi Signals Making You Sick? … [Continue...]
Where’s the Beef? Greek Yogurt is the New “Meat” in School Lunches!
Don’t be surprised if the meat in your child’s school lunch looks more like Greek yogurt. The USDA selected Chobani to provide its thick, protein-rich, strained yogurt to public schools nationwide, as … [Continue...]
Why You Might Want to Store Your Car Keys in the Microwave
Do you store your keys in the microwave? You may want to after seeing this report. The story below explains how your wireless key fob could make you a target for crooks—and how your microwave can … [Continue...]
ShotSpotter Technology Installed in First U.S. High School
ShotSpotter technology is often used in "bad neighborhoods" to help police detect and respond to gunfire as quickly as possible. Now it's making its way into the classroom. As CBS News' Kris Van … [Continue...]
Rabbit Meat at Whole Foods–It’s What’s for Dinner?
Whole foods is a trendsetter, but bunny rabbits for dinner? The high-end food chain says it's not starting a trend, rather it began selling rabbit meat last year in response to consumer … [Continue...]
Apps That Drain Your Battery & Data
You may not realize it, but those apps you never use could be running in the background, draining your battery and your data. AVG Technology's latest quarterly analysis found weather apps, dating … [Continue...]
Apps to Keep Kids Busy During Break (Via Jennifer Jolly, Tech’s Appeal)
OK, we all know screen time will ruin our kids, right? But many of us "less than perfect" moms allow our kids some tech from time to time. Whether it's a long flight, a road trip, or simply 15 … [Continue...]
A New Debate Over Too Much Tuna While Pregnant (& for kids)
You've likely heard that you're not supposed to eat too much tuna while pregnant. You're also supposed to limit how much tuna you feed your kids. Tuna is known to have a high mercury content, and … [Continue...]
You May Be Accidentally Connecting to Xfinity Public Wi-Fi at Home!
CBS ConsumerWatch reporter Julie Watts discovered that Xfinity public Wi-Fi may automatically connect you to its public network without your knowledge, even at home. Source: Xfinity Public Wi-Fi « … [Continue...]
Do You Have the Right To a Free Breast Pump?
Your Rights to Insurance Coverage for a Breast Pump and Lactation Services An oldie but a goodie—KPIX Consumer Reporter Julie Watts reports on your rights to insurance coverage for your breast pump … [Continue...]
Parents Shocked by Videos on YouTube Kids App
But Many Parents Agree: YouTube Kids Isn't Really Responsible for What Your Kids See We've been told that screen time is bad for our kids, but sometimes even the best parents give in. Enter the … [Continue...]
Umbilical Cord Blood: Donate or Save?
Is Umbilical Cord Blood Banking Worth the Cost? It's a common question facing moms-to-be who are already overwhelmed with labor and delivery costs. Umbilical cord storage is often advertised as an … [Continue...]
Spray Tan Concerns–Tanning While Pregnant or Nursing
Is Tanning While Pregnant or Nursing Safe? Most people feel better with a bit of a tan. As a result, there's no shortage of mommy message boards that claim it is safe to continue spray tanning while … [Continue...]
Amazon Home Services–Add a Handyman to Your Cart
First books, then movies, then products and groceries. Now, Amazon Home Services lets you click and pay for real live people (to provide home services). So, should you buy your TV on Amazon and add … [Continue...]
Seller Beware! Before You Sell Your Phone/Computer…
Before upgrading an iPhone, many consider selling their old phones for cash to one of the hundreds of companies offering to buy them. Seller beware. CBS ConsumerWatch Reporter Julie Watts … [Continue...]
Talking Barbie Spies on Your Kids for You
It's like Siri for kids... but this next-gen talking Barbie records everything they say and lets parents log in to listen (and delete). What to you think? Creepy or cool? As KPIX Consumer … [Continue...]
AAA Warning! AAA Won’t Cover Vehicle Totaled During Tow
If you have AAA, you might want to watch the KPIX ConsumerWatch Report. A young family stranded on the side of the road turned to AAA for help. Instead of coming to the rescue, AAA sent an uninsured … [Continue...]
A Pet Insurance ‘Gotcha’ Revealed
If you pay for pet insurance for your "fur child," you'd expect it to pay out when you need it. But KPIX Consumer Reporter Julie Watts reveals a surprise loophole that could cost you even more … [Continue...]
Uber, Lyft or Cab During Storm #SurgePricing
If you’ve ever wondered which to call, this may make you say: Huh. KPIX Consumer Reporter Julie Watts put all three to the (nonscientific) test during storm surge pricing. Can you guess which is … [Continue...]
Why Your Child May Be a More Likely ID Theft Victim Than You!
Your kids could be 50 times more likely to have their identities stolen than you are. Check out this story from KPIX Consumer Reporter Julie Watts for details! Read More at CBS San … [Continue...]
Why The DO NOT CALL LIST Isn’t Working (or at least it seems that way)
One of the most common questions viewers ask is: "Why do I keep getting calls from telemarketers when my number is on the Do Not Call List?" Here's your answer. So to sum it up, the list only … [Continue...]
Credit Card App Lets You Control When and Where Someone Else Can Use Your Card
#NewsDad and KPIX Reporter Kiet Do reports on an app in development from Ondot that allows you to prevent credit card fraud by locking and unlocking your credit card. But parents—it also has some … [Continue...]
Student Debt Following Some Into Retirement
An estimated 2 million Americans age 60 and older are still carrying student debt—and learning too late that their Social Security benefits could be in jeopardy. ConsumerWatch Reporter Julie Watts … [Continue...]
Dentists Worry About Effects Of Microbeads In Toothpaste
Dental professionals across the nation are sounding the alarm about microbeads in a popular brand of toothpaste, saying the beads could remain in a person’s gums and could lead to gum disease. Julie … [Continue...]
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