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.

A common flame-retardant used in homes and automobiles has been associated with low birth weight in babies, according to a study, “ Association of Prenatal Exposure to Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Infant Birth Weight”, published recently in the American Journal of Epidemiology. PBDEs, a class of chemical compounds (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) are found in textiles, plastic electronics housings, as well as foam furniture and carpet padding.

Parents may have suspected this before, but a new study reveals that what your children watch on television matters as much as how long they’re glued to the tube.

With the relentless stream of social media, television shows, articles, school and community events focused on the upcoming 10th anniversary of 9/11, parents may wonder how to best discuss these observances with their children and teenagers.

The fifth annual Toys “R” Us “Great Trade-In” event is currently underway, running through Sunday September 18. The event is at Toys “R” Us and Babies “R” Us stores nationwide. Customers can bring in used baby equipment from any manufacturer that could potentially be unsafe and receive a 25 percent discount on new merchandise, from select manufacturers, in the following categories:

Consider it your offspring’s revenge for your attempts to hide vegetables in their mac and cheese or chocolate cake. A new study examines the techniques and manipulations that children use to persuade, cajole, or simply wear down their parents to buy commercially advertised products such as junk food.

Despite an on-going educational campaign by pediatricians to alert parents to the dangers of soft bedding in cribs—meaning pillows, blankets, and crib bumpers—a recent study has found that the message hasn’t quite gotten through to some parents. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents avoid placing their babies on soft sleep surfaces, as a way of reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

You may want to think twice about offering foods like whole hot dogs, hard candy grapes and nuts to children younger than 5. For these young children, who don’t always chew their food properly or completely, choking remains an intractable hazard leading to injury and in some tragic cases, to death. Besides those foods, other choking risks include coins, small flat button batteries, un-inflated or broken latex balloons and other types of toys.

Don’t think deception—think tweaking, suggests Maureen K. Spill, lead author of recent study focusing on ways to hide vegetables in your kids’ diet. “People tweak recipes all the time. By adding vegetables you’re increasing fiber and vitamins and reducing calories. We see it as a recipe modification," she said.