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Spankin' New Headlines

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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Spankin' New Headlines

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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Sun-Protective Stroller Blanket

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.

Spankin' New Headlines

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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Spankin' New Headlines

Every mom loves beautiful baby photos, but are fancy ultrasounds of fetuses safe? Chicago Tribune

A good marriage is good for your blood pressure and a bad marriage is—you guessed it—bad for your blood pressure. Yahoo! News

A new California program modeled on America’s Most Wanted is targeting the 10 worst child support evaders. LA Times

Fear of food poisoning: Is washing your veggies in tap water good enough? Newsweek

More celebs contemplate trading in their baby photos for big bucks. New York Daily News

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Parents on TV: Safety Products You Shouldn't Buy

Our Health & Psychology Editor, Diane (who you may know from our podcast!) was on the Today Show this morning to talk about a story from our April issue on safety products that surprisingly aren't so safe. Check it out:

Breaking: Connecticut is the Safest State for Kids!

Our associate publisher Brian Gruseke (that's him on the left!) is in Connecticut today to help Governor M. Jodi Rell announce that Parents has named Connecticut the safest state in the nation for kids.

"I very much appreciate this award, which should be shared with the forward-looking legislators, the dedicated state employees and—certainly—the millions of dedicated parents who have done so much through the years to build Connecticut's reputation for protecting children," the Governor said. "As good as that record is, our goal will be to continue improving."

For our rankings in our April issue, we analyzed rates of injury and crime and used more than 30 criteria—everything from booster seat laws to the electronic tracking of convicted sex offenders. Connecticut came out on top due largely to its history of enacting injury-prevention laws and its commitment to educating families about childhood hazards.

Want to see how your state measured up? Read our whole story here.