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Toxins in household dust may be harmful to kids
Most of the dust that coats your furniture and floors comes from outdoors and can pose a health threat, a new study suggests.
BPA in canned foods could harm children, group says
Measurable levels of the chemical additive bisphenol A (BPA) were found in a variety of canned goods, including some that claimed to be BPA-free, according to an analysis released this week by the nonprofit advocacy group Consumers Union.
Toxic toys? Health group finds high lead levels
Children's toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California-based advocacy group — a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday season.
Keys to Keeping Your Baby Safe: Use You Car Seat Correctly
Keys to Keeping Your Baby Safe: Use You Car Seat Correctly

Nearly 90 percent of all child car safety seats are installed incorrectly,which drastically reduces their effectiveness, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). When properly installed, child safety seats reduce the risk of death or serious injury to infants by 71 percent, the NHTSA reports.

The most common error is that the car's safety belt does not hold the seat in tightly enough and the harness straps are not snug enough. Follow these tips to ensure that your child is adequately protected:

  • Restrain your child properly every time you ride in your vehicle. Three-quarters of all accidents occur close to home at low speeds.
     
  • Use only federally approved child-passenger restraints that are appropriate for the age, size and weight of your child.
     
  • Anchor car seats in place by using the car's lap seat belt, a shoulder/lap seat belt or the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system on newer model vehicles. Make sure that the seat belt is tight so that the car seat cannot budge. When using a shoulder/lap belt, use a locking clip to secure the shoulder and lap belts together at the point where they feed through the belt path of the car seat.
     
  • Always position your baby in an infant seat facing the rear of the car (ideally in the center of the backseat), until they are 20 pounds. Convertible infant/toddler seats safeguard older babies and children up to 40 pounds. 
     
  • Make sure your baby is securely harnessed in the car seat before swaddling with additional blankets or wraps.
     
  • Make sure that your caregivers always use the car seat properly.
     
  • Never re-use a car seat after it has been involved in a crash.
     
  • If you have an older car seat and want to use your new car's LATCH system, you can buy a retrofit kit. These kits cost about $25 at stores like Toys 'R' Us and Babies 'R' Us. They're available for seats made by most manufacturers, including Century, Evenflo, Cosco and Graco.
     
  • Be aware of product recalls. Car safety seats are among the most frequently recalled products.
     
  • For information on car seat recalls or to locate a child-safety-seat fitting station near you, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's toll-free number (888-327-4236) or check out www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
     
  • For information about standards and proper product usage, check out SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.'s Web site at www.carseat.org.