My County Paper

Bringing Home the Easter Bunny - Should Your Child Have a Rabbit as a Pet?
With Easter right around the corner, pet stores are stocking up on bunnies for sale. Doesn't everyone at one time or another think about buying a bunny for their children at Easter? Many of...

iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com
Chocolate Milk in the Sippy Cup - Does Flavored Milk Affect a Child's Weight?
Giving a toddler or small child flavored milk, such as chocolate or strawberry, has always been rather frowned upon by the mommy set. But a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic...

iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com
Bye, Bye Pacifier - Breaking the Binky Habit
Some call it a "pacee," a "binky, a "ninny" and even a "dummy." No matter its moniker, the pacifier means comfort to babies and peacefulness for parents. And like all creatures of comfort, babies...

iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com
Is Your 2-Year-Old Too Young for School? - Knowing Your Tiny Scholar
When Devin Woodrow started preschool at the age of 2, she barely talked. Within 30 days, her vocabulary increased. Her parents initially enrolled her for only three days a week, but within 60 days,...

iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com
Crafts With Ice - Fun Activities Using Ice
What child isn't fascinated with ice? After you delight your toddler by showing him how water turns into this cold cube that keeps his apple juice cold, try these fun activities! ( Adult...

iParenting.com network has more than 40 community sites covering preconception, pregnancy, parents and families. Research baby names, start a parenting blog, post a question on our extensive message boards or read expert advice in our articles, expert Q&A and news sections. No other parenting site has gathered more wisdom than iParenting.com ? Join the community! http://www.iparenting.com

Infant furniture outlook improves
It’s hard to imagine that business in 2010 will be anything but an improvement over last year’s disappointing figures. “Like everyone, business has been tough for us,” said Kevin Walker, Young America vice president of product sales and management. “But I’m confident we’ve seen the bottom.
Toy Fair panel addresses social media
NEW YORK—Smart companies know that if they want to market to moms today, a social media presence is essential. Blogs, Twitter and Facebook are ideal communication channels for toy manufacturers and retailers looking to target moms for holiday shopping. At Toy Fair 2010, join leaders in social media and the companies that market to them for a timely panel presentation.
Lone Star Baby & Kids to open closeout store
FRISCO, Texas—Retailer Lone Star Baby & Kids plans to open its first off-price baby gear, infant and teen furniture showroom in the Dallas area later this year. This new no-frills retail concept will have a warehouse feel and initially be open only Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The Kloseout Kloset will focus on providing consumers with brand-name merchandise at discount prices due ...
CR Kids makes debut in Las Vegas
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—With styles reflecting the sophisticated tastes of today’s young consumers, CR Kids and Beyond, a new Chromcraft Revington, Inc. brand from its CR International subsidiary, targets the fast-growing 'tween market and kids up to age 18 and beyond. The new line of bedroom furnishings debuted at the Las Vegas Market, with collections covering a wide breadth of styl...
Chicco launches front-to-back double stroller
LANCASTER, Pa.—Gear and toy designer, Chicco has introduced the Cortina Together double stroller, which accommodates one or two KeyFit infant car seats. Unlike other front-to-back strollers that require extra components to add a second car seat, the Cortina Together features a unique and convenient one-hand activation system.

BCI Recalls Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard
Name of Product: Single Post Swing Sets
Mattel apologizes to China over recent recalls
U.S.-based toy giant Mattel Inc. issued an extraordinary apology to China on Friday over the recall of Chinese-made toys, taking the blame for design flaws and saying it had recalled more lead-tainted toys than justified.
Simplicity voluntarily recalls cribs
Simplicity has voluntarily recalled approximately 1 million cribs with older drop-side hardware. Owners of these cribs are asked to contact the company so that they may receive a retrofit package that will address the safety concerns that led to this recall.
About 1 Million Simplicity Cribs Recalled Due To Failures Resulting in Infant Deaths
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today a voluntary recall with Simplicity Inc., of Reading, Pa., of about 1 million cribs. The drop-side can detach from the crib, which can create a dangerous gap and lead to the entrapment and suffocation of infants.
REI Recalls Children’s Trailer Bicycles; Can Detach from Adult Bicycle and Injure Children
Name of Product: Novara Afterburner Trailer Bicycles

SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS: Whales may round up squid for dinner
Tracking sperm whale movements suggests groups herd to hunt.
SCIENCE SNAPSHOTS: Charged cars that would charge
Electric vehicles could give power to the grid.

Infant Deaths Prompt CPSC Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. In researching incident reports from the past 20 years, CPSC identified and is investigating at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age.
CPSC Issues Warning on Children's Winter and Holiday-Themed Charm Bracelets with High Levels of Cadmium
The bracelets contain high levels of cadmium. Laboratory analysis determined that in certain tests, over 20,000 micrograms of cadmium were released from the snowman alone. Cadmium can be toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
Byer California Recalls Girl's Jackets with Drawstrings Due to Strangulation Hazard
The drawstrings on the neck and waist of the jacket can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children.
Girl's Hooded Jackets with Drawstrings Recalled by Regaliti Due to Strangulation Hazard; Sold Exclusively at Burlington Coat Factory
The jackets have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to young children.
Boys' Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Brand Evolution Due to Strangulation Hazard
The hoodies have drawstrings through the hoods that pose a strangulation hazard to children.

St. Patrick's Day Projects to Make With Your Kids
Check out our roundup of cute, easy St. Patrick's Day crafts from around the web!
When Did I Become THAT Mom? (And when did you?)
Erin @ the Parenting Post: When I was childless I'd often see frazzled moms out with their misbehaving kids and think, OMG, that will never be me...
Why I Am Eating Cookie Dough With a Spoon
Mighty Maggie: "...Which is how my son ended up with one completely unexpected snort of H1N1 virus up his nose and one scary flu shot in his leg, and how my daughter had so many 'pokes' I couldn't bear to look. She gave me a look that said, 'E TU, MAMA?' and I tried not to cry."