About 183,000 toilet locks and 685,000 cabinet locks from Safety 1st are being recalled, warned two government agencies, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada. The locks fail to keep children out of toilet bowls and prevent drowning nor do they secure household cabinets which may contain harmful home cleaners and other chemicals.

Most parents routinely strap their young school-aged kids into boosters, even for a 1-mile trip to the supermarket. But when it comes to carpooling, parents are a lot less consistent in their use of booster seats, according to a study published online in January 2012 by the journal Pediatrics.

Arsenic has been found in some foods that use organic brown rice syrup as a sweetener, including infant formula and cereal bars, according to a new study by researchers at Dartmouth College. The majority of the detected arsenic, a contaminant often found in rice, was the type that is known to be a human carcinogen.

As part of on-going efforts to deal with potential safety hazards in children’s toys, ASTM-International has recently sent revised specifications to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for adoption. These revisions primarily deal with heavy metals and how to measure those quantities; the stability of ride-on toys; strangulation concerns in squeeze toys, cords, straps, elastics, and strings, and rigid projections on bath toys that could potentially puncture a child’s skin or cause other impalement injuries if he were to fall on it.

Welcome to winter. For much of the country, ‘tis the season of snowstorms, icy road conditions and power outages. It’s a good idea to be prepared, especially if you have a baby or toddler.

Winter months in cold climates are a time of dry skin and itchy eyes as we retreat into the dry air of our heated homes. For babies and young children, especially those who are too young to know how to blow their nose, dry indoor air may make them feel even more uncomfortable. Having a good humidifier can provide some relief.

A recent study abstract reveals that fewer than half of children who suffered injuries from car crashes were restrained, with the lowest rate found among blacks, Hispanics, and native Americans.

Visiting relatives for the winter holidays is a treasured and time-honored tradition for many families. Few experiences, after all, can compare to the shared delight of grandparents and grandchildren celebrating each other, along with seasonal festivities. To be sure that your little ones are as safe away from home as they are under your own roof, here are some steps you can take:

An in-depth look at our tests that found arsenic in apple and grape juice, health tips for the New Year, and more family news and consumer updates from the January 2012 Consumer Reports.

We all love to see a child's face light up when they receive a toy they really want. Without being a Grinch, though, it’s sensible to be sure that well-meaning and doting relatives select toys that are age appropriate for your little ones.

The tragedy of young children drowning in swimming pools is alarmingly common. What are the situations that lead to these drownings? A recent study, “Patterns of Drowning Among Young Children examined Orange County, CA, coroner data between 2000 and 2007 to find out exactly what happened prior to these events in the hope of creating advice on preventing future drownings.

One of the simplest and most important ways to protect your child from dangerous or defective products is to register your purchases with the manufacturer. By having your contact information, manufacturers can alert you if the product is recalled.

Finding the right person to look after your children isn’t easy (think of how much mileage Hollywood has gotten out of that predicament, from “Baby Boom” to “Mrs. Doubtfire”). For families that aren’t choosing day care, entrusting their children to a reliable, responsible sitter is the kind of challenge that keeps parents up nights. Here’s one alternative: Rent-a-Grandma, a franchised employment agency that matches older women to families seeking caregivers.

If you want to capture photos on your digital camera of your kids in all their Halloween glory—or should I say gory?—check out these photography tips to makes your shots memorable ones.

Fall’s cooler temperatures and vibrant seasonal foliage in many places around the country make the prospects of a bike ride with your child especially tempting. Sharing the ride with a young child who isn’t yet ready to pedal under his own power is easy with the prevalence of bicycle trailers available to transport your child safely.