When should you have babies? The widening gap between culture and biology. NPR
Some schools are implementing single-sex classes to help boys catch up. Boston Globe
Is your child addicted to video games? U.S. News & World Report
An Arkansas woman, Michelle Duggar, is pregnant with her 18th child! (She wrote an article for us back when she had only 14…) Yahoo! News
Facebook is making changes to protect its younger users. New York Times
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Your kids may breathe easier if you live on a tree-lined street, according to new research. BBC News
More U.S. mothers are at least trying to breastfeed, says a CDC survey. New York Times
Why your child may be dyslexic in English, but not in Chinese. Wall Street Journal
Immunization rates for American children are lower than experts thought. ABC News
You probably really are tougher on your firstborn, a new study finds. Newsweek
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Some parents who've had it with all the baby gear decided to make a profit. Los Angeles Times
A new study finds that (in most ways) things are better for American children than they were a decade ago. Washington Post
Peanut allergies and bullying can be a dangerous combination. ABC News
Should an NYC 4th grader be allowed to take the subway alone? A debate over parenting styles. Newsweek
Biking sends kids to the hospital more than any other sport, according to a new study. Chicago Tribune
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Nature's Gate made its mark in the natural beauty business more than 30 years ago when the company's founders hand-collected rainwater and blended it with natural herbs to create their bestselling Rainwater shampoo. Now, in recognition of the importance of rainwater to the earth and its desire to give back, the company is partnering with WaterAid America to fund the building of sustainable water systems in underdeveloped countries like Africa and Asia. It's a sad, sad fact, but the lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 5,000 children per day. Through this partnership, Nature's Gate is donating $100,000 in addition to 5% of the sales of its holiday gift sets (on shelves in November). To find out how you can get involved in the cause now, click here.
Just in time for Earth Day, drugstore.com has slashed up to 40% off the price of tons of their earth-friendly goods—and you'll even get a 10% credit back on every green or natural product you buy. Our pick from the baby & kids section: Seventh Generation's unscented baby wipes with aloe vera and vitamin E. This refill pack of 80 wipes is just $3.84. (I'm also loving the typo in the product description: "Unlike many traditional baby wipes, ours are not bleached with chlorine and do not contain alcohol or synthetic ingredients that can irate baby's skin." Well, I guess you would have an irate baby if his skin was irritated.) The sale ends on April 25th.
A new picture book helps kids understand why mommy is getting plastic surgery. Newsweek
A chemical in certain plastics may pose a risk to babies, children, and fetuses, a government report states. LA Times
Canceled flight? How to deal. Yahoo! News
Is it a good idea to be BFF with your daughter? Reuters
The rising cost of ingredients is causing some school systems to scale back on lunch options and consider price increases. Washington Post
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I'm a sucker for clever packaging, and here's the latest example: Help Remedies (found via Cool Hunting). The company sells eco-friendly packages of Help: I Have a Headache (12 acetaminophen pills) and Help: I've Cut Myself (8 clear bandages with hydrocolloid—the material they use in hospitals to help wounds heal faster and reduce scarring). For moms, you'd obviously want to be careful with the headache package and keep it far out of reach of your kids, but the bandaids are perfect for your purse. Plus, I really love their slogan: Everyone needs a little help from time to time. Their site is as simple and pared down as their products, but make sure you check out the Bored? section for a quick giggle.
Before you and your kids head outside to enjoy the warm weather this spring, you might want to get your hands on some sun-protective gear - like the Eclipse Solarveil from Secure2Me. This stroller blanket is made from a lightweight, breathable material that blocks 95% of the sun's harmful UV rays, which makes it a great extra layer of sun-protection (remember to always use sunscreen as the first layer!) for your child while you're out on your stroll. And what's even better is that the Eclipse is designed to clip directly onto strollers (not to mention baby carriers, car seats, slings and more) so you don't have to worry about droopy blankets getting caught in stroller wheels or falling along the roadside. Get your own here.
I smiled when I saw these Retro Ice Bags from Gal Pal (the same company that makes those awesome deodorant mark remover pads). They're just so adorably...retro. You can fill the bag up with ice and cold water to soothe tension headaches, muscle aches and swelling, or pour hot water into it to calm an upset stomach or relax away sinus and joint pain. And like this picture shows, I'm betting the playful patterns (hugs and kisses, teddy bears, ducks) would be a big help when trying to ease the pain your little one feels from a playground bruise.
As the recession looms, families are relying more on food banks, which are struggling to keep up with the need. Washington Post
Mind your manners! Do your kids need etiquette lessons? Boston Globe
What it's like to be a successful mommy blogger. Wall Street Journal
How to get your infant started on good sleep habits. Time
One out of 15 hospitalized kids is affected by medication errors, new research finds. Yahoo! News
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