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Babies & Kids

Teaching teen drivers at Street Survival school
May 24, 2013 12:00 PM

On a recent Saturday, over 30 teenage drivers (most accompanied by their parents) made their way to Consumer Reports Auto Test Center in rural Connecticut for an experience that could one day save their lives.

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Two good sunscreens for kids and pregnant women
May 24, 2013 9:00 AM

Of the sunscreens in our new Ratings, two may be better choices for children and pregnant women. One is a Coppertone lotion, the other an Equate sunscreen sold in Walmart. Here's why they make good options.

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Risk of sudden death rises when infants sleep with parents
May 23, 2013 8:00 AM

Newborns who sleep in the same bed as their parents are five times more likely to die suddenly than those who sleep in a separate crib, according to a new study published in a British medical journal. The study, which looked at 1,472 cases of sudden infant death syndrome in the United Kingdom, reinforces a recommendation that the American Academy of Pediatrics has made for the past 20 years that infants are safest sleeping in their own bed.

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Xbox One versus PlayStation 4: How the new consoles stack up so far
May 22, 2013 2:30 PM

The next generation of video-game consoles is almost upon us. Since some details on the upcoming Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One have been revealed, we wanted to speculate how the two stack up against each other so far.

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Video: Toyota Tacoma is a fine workhorse but lousy family vehicle
May 22, 2013 2:00 PM

Serving as an alternative to full-sized pickup trucks, the Toyota Tacoma is well suited to handling cargo hauling and fairly challenging off-roading. But as we were reminded with our recent crew-cab test truck, the Tacoma makes for a lousy family vehicle.

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Superhero car seat doesn't leap to the top of our ratings
May 22, 2013 1:30 PM

Even kids who usually squirm in their car seats might jump at the chance to sit in the lap of a superhero such as Batman or Dora the Explorer. And thanks to a company called KidsEmbrace they now can. For $160 you can buy toddler booster seats imprinted with those characters as well as race car driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and SpongeBob SquarePants. But when the testers at Consumer Reports tried to install the fanciful KidsEmbrace seats, they were not amused.

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Guide to the best small SUVs
May 22, 2013 9:00 AM

Small SUVs are one of the hottest vehicle categories. Their good fuel economy, easy access, all-weather traction, and plenty of passenger and cargo space make them an appealing choice for many car buyers. In this crowded segment, it can be challenging for consumers to determine which one is best to buy. That's where we come in.

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7 great geeky gifts for grads
May 22, 2013 8:00 AM

Know someone who's collecting a degree this year? All graduates deserve a reward for making it through school (and before they have to face the rather scary job market that awaits them). Here are some electronics suggestions that should put a smile on any grad's face.

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Microsoft Xbox One: An 'all in one' entertainment system for TV, video, and of course, games
May 21, 2013 3:30 PM

At an event today called, appropriately, Xbox Reveal, Microsoft announced the next generation of the Xbox, the first new version in eight years: It's an "all-in-one" entertainment system called the Xbox One. Not only has the console's architecture changed both inside and out, but improvements have been made to the Kinect and the remote control, and new entertainment options abound, says the company.

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5 good reasons to buy a full-size camcorder
May 21, 2013 8:00 AM

Lots of digital devices can capture video, including basic cameras, smart phones, and tablets. But when it comes to shooting important events, it's crucial your videos are clear, sharp and in focus. For those, here's why you'll do better with a full-size camcorder:

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Road-trip friendly cars that can go the distance
May 20, 2013 9:00 AM

Memorial Day is fast approaching and that means millions of Americans will be hitting the road for a family trip. The roads will be crowded and you should expect lines at gas stations. A car bred for long-haul driving, with bladder-bursting range, can give a distinct advantage, especially on cross-country journeys. To aid travelers, we have compiled a list of the best road-trip friendly cars that can go the distance.

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Tesla Model S third-row seats are suitable only for kids
May 14, 2013 11:00 AM

Beyond the fact that it's an all-electric luxury car, one of the surprising things about the Tesla Model S, is that it can seat seven.

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Three thoughtful Mother's Day gifts for first-time Moms
May 9, 2013 1:30 PM

Freshly minted Moms covet the basics—sleep, a hot shower and a decent meal. For Mother's Day, a box of chocolates, bottle of wine, or bouquet of flowers would certainly be appreciated. But as any seasoned parent will tell you, presents that make Mom and baby safe and comfortable can improve the whole family's quality of life. If you have a brand-new Mom in your life, consider these sanity-saving gifts.

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Pregnant? Watch out for unnecessary c-sections and other questionable medical procedures
May 8, 2013 9:30 AM

Pregnant women often undergo medical procedures and invasive interventions, including induced labors and cesarean sections, without fully understanding the risks or being involved in making decisions about their care. Those are some of the findings of a major new survey to be released on Thursday of 2,400 women who recently had babies.

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Five infant car seats that balance price and performance
May 2, 2013 2:30 PM

You can safely bring a newborn home from the hospital in any one of the 29 infant car seats from Consumer Reports' tests. Some of the seats we tested cost $200 or more but others are half that price. Spending less can still buy you a seat that performs well in a crash as we discovered in our tough tests but you may need to work harder to get a secure installation or to make adjustments as your baby grows as some lower-cost seats don't include as many ease-of-use features.

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