Mommy Alert

Before you take your kids out to take a dip next Spring, check to make sure the (public, private or residential) pool has safe drain covers. Children have been terribly injured, paralyzed and died after the suction of a pool's drain has trapped them underwater. In one incident, it took two adults to pull a young girl from a hot tub. Despite their efforts, she passed away. Though a federal law went into effect in December, not all states are properly enforcing it so parents should take precautions.

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You miss your bus so you hop in the car. Not a big deal...except if you are six! A Virginia boy put the pedal to the metal in his family's Ford Taurus after he missed his ride on Monday. While his mom slept, he grabbed the keys and got going, running off the road multiple times before he hit an embankment and utility pole. Luckily, he suffered only minor injuries despite not having buckled up and even made it to class after a trip to the hospital. What is going on in the world these days? One kid takes the wheel and a couple of others tried to get hitched?
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I've never bought into the whole concept that candy makes kids hyperactive so I've never denied my children sweets when it came to holiday festivities. But, now there's reason for the moms who do attribute their tykes' energetic behavior to treats to relax. This Christmas, let your lil one have a candy cane. Guess what myth topped the list of holiday myths? To find out, read more

This latest clip is just too close for comfort. Similar to the story we told you about in May, another lil girl was molested in plain site at a big name bookstore. The first incident happened in the children's section of an Arcadia Borders and the most recent occurred at a Corte Madera Barnes & Noble, also in California.

This time, a five-year-old stepped just feet away from her mother who was at the counter paying for goods. But, the short distance and those split seconds provided a predator, who was silent during the attack, enough time to take the child's hand and put it inside his pants. Another incident happened at the same store this past Summer. While holiday shopping, you may be tempted to let your tots peruse the next toy aisle or stray a bit while you're in the checkout line, but in light of these reports, you should think twice about doing so.

Moms in the making think and even worry about the expenses offspring will bring — the price of diapers, wipes and formula adds up, but most parents-to-be focus more on the college fund, than one for the hospital. When my daughter was born, we joked that she was a bargain because my co-payment was something like $10 for her birth. A few years later when my son made his debut, our insurance had changed and he set us back a few more Benjamins — to the tune of $3,500. But, we still felt lucky when we saw the grand tally that came in the mail and was offset by our coverage.

In light of the economy and unemployment rates, a recent New York Times article reported on the realities uninsured mothers face. When a very pregnant Starla Darling, 27, found out she was going to lose her job and health insurance, she had her labor induced and ended up with an emergency c-section and a hefty $17,000 bill that the company won't cover.

Were you surprised by the amount of your baby's bill — what portion did you have to pay?
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She packed her bags and hoped to make it to the hospital on time, but expectant mama Jennifer Davis was soon sidelined by an unexpected situation. While en route to a Cambridge hospital, the mom to be and her husband, John, were told by two state troopers that they could use the breakdown lane as traffic was heavy, but a third officer pulled them over and gave them a $100 ticket. Before he issued it, he made the couple that were in an obvious rush, wait while he handed out another citation then had Jennifer prove she was pregnant. After the incident, the couple welcomed a baby girl named Charlotte.

A three-year-old born with cerebral palsy was gifted a miniature pony from his grandfather. A form of equestrian therapy, Sam Spliteri's daily rides help him with simple tasks like feeding himself and improving his speech. Though he has ridden his pet that lives at his home since he was a baby, the town of Caledon recently received a complaint from a neighbor.

Since the property is not zoned for livestock, the family may be forced to give up the pony and the child would have to say good-bye to his best friend. Sam has seizures so it is almost impossible for him to commute to other horseback riding facilities.

You are what you eat and so the saying goes, but a group of parents believe that the food coloring their children digest affects their behavior. Commonly found in processed foods like Twizzlers, Doritos and Twinkies as well as baked goods, red dye no. 40 is to blame for aggressive outbursts in kids according to some moms and dads. The FDA maintains that the dye is safe for consumption. What's your opinion?

Black Friday gets many of us red in the face, but whether you choose to brave the stores today or shop from the comfort of your own home, here are some deals you may want to check out this holiday weekend.

• 1 in the Oven is offering 15 percent off all merchandise (that includes sale items) through today. Just use coupon code BELLY at checkout to save.
• A favorite among expectant mamas, Isabella Oliver, is having its Thanksgiving Sale. Save 25 percent off today, 20 percent off on Saturday, 15 percent off on Sunday, and 10 percent off on Monday. To get the discount, enter the code FESTIVE at checkout.
• Get free gift wrapping at Vera Plum now through Dec. 7.
• Get 30 percent off all purchases at BabyStyle until Dec. 1 by entering the code GOBBLE30 at checkout.

There are a lot more deals to be had, so read more