dangers

Checking items off your to-do list can be challenging, especially when you've got kids in tow. On my day off last week, it was my mission to change my address, register to vote and obtain a parking pass for my new neighborhood — big city dwellers feel my pain.

My nearly two-year-old and I bolted out the door and waited in line at the DMV for the doors to open. In less than an hour, my first and second goals were accomplished. Not wanting to push my daughter too far, I went home to let her rest. It wasn't until 4:30 that I went for the finale.

To see what happened, read more

If your dog has a Four Paws Pimple Ball in his possession, you might want to take note: the product has been recalled after news of a severe injury was caused from playing with the toy.

I came across the cringe worthy story the other day and haven't been able to get it out of my head! Chai, a 10 year-old Lab mix, was chewing on the toy when his tongue got stuck in the hole of the ball, leading to the amputation of his tongue! How did this happen? Chai's owner, who had been pleading for a recall, wrote a letter to Four Paws explaining the details:

While chewing on the toy, a vacuum was created and it effectively sucked his tongue into the hole in the ball. From speaking with my vet, this likely occurred because there is not a second hole in the ball
preventing the vacuum effect from happening.

Poor Chai! To find out what happened next, read more

Have you seen Brooke Burke's scary-looking posh cribs? Although they were just for "show," it makes me nervous to think that people over decorate their cribs when less is more.

Most nursery bedding sets are sold with sheets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, and matching bedskirts. In reality, the only thing that baby needs is a good fitted sheet – one that fits perfectly around the mattress. Many doctors, including mine, recommend removing the bumper once the baby starts to turn over, if not sooner. The rest of the decorative items have no place in the crib – pillows, blankets, and other toys should be left out.

Just yesterday, MSNBC reported:

From 2002 to 2004, 241 children under age 5 died in incidents involving nursery products. About 40 percent of the deaths involved cribs, with soft bedding cited as the leading contributing factor. Many of the children suffocated when lying face down on pillows or other bedding, the agency (Consumer Product Safety Commission) said.

So even though it looks adorable, save it a few years until your wee one can handle it. All the decor in the world isn't worth the worry.
Source

When decorating your nursery, one of the first things you learn is to be careful where you put the crib — keep it away from windows, especially ones with drapes and curtain strings as they pose choking and strangling hazards.

When I saw Brooke Burke's newly decorated nursery, I was surprised at her choice to adorn the tot's crib with flowing ribbons. It may look pretty, but I have a feeling those strips of fabric won't last long. And to be frank, they probably shouldn't be there in the first place. In this photo, her daughter Heaven Rain already has the ribbons wrapped around her neck.

Tell us, what do you think of the crib decor?

Flynet

If you're lucky enough to have a doggie and a kitty in your furry family, you may run into problems with pets trying to make sneaky snacks out of the other one's yums. North has never sniffed cat food, but I wouldn't be surprised if he tried to take a nibble. Many cats are more discerning than that, but there is a necessary ingredient in their food that they cannot get in dog food – and kitties fed a steady diet of dog food may develop retinal degeneration and go blind. If you're curious what the missing nutrient is, read more

Detoxing is hot right now. I am not really sure how this trend came to pass, but somehow forcefully purifying the body of harmful (or even worse, toxic) substances by running to the restroom every other minute seems to be the "thing" to do right now.

The thing is, our bodies (ones without major medical conditions) do a darn good job of getting rid of any toxins all by themselves. Remember your liver, kidneys and lungs? Yeah, detoxing the body is one of their jobs and those organs are good at it. MSNBC is backing this claim further in a recent report on detoxing. The report also says that headaches, fatigue, irritability, aches and pains, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, muscle breakdown, loss of 'good' bacteria and blood-sugar problems — not to mention frequent bowel movements — are just some of the lovely side effects to these detox plans. Sounds fun, eh?

I know a good detox sounds tempting, [insert sarcasm] especially after hearing the side effects, but if you want to lose a few pounds or rid your body from the toxins you've built up, then think about trying this 'health detox'. This means eating a low-fat, high fruit and veggie, high fiber diet. No funky concoctions or frequent pit stops, and the best part, you get to eat solid foods. As with anything, moderation is key and there is no silver bullet, albeit full of lemonade.