LilSugar

Mommy Alert! EU Attempts to Make Toys Safer

babysugar — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 04:00:21 PST

Since there were so many toy recalls last year, it's no surprise that actions are being taken to try and outlaw unsafe toys. And, The European Union is at the forefront of the mission.

According to a Reuter's report,

"The European Union's industry chief is proposing a crackdown on toys containing lead paint or carcinogens across the bloc and wants to stop toys being used as gifts in food items such as confectionary and cereals. . . While exact levels for each component have yet to be formally agreed, the source said the move would all but eliminate substances such as lead and nickel from toys, much to the annoyance of industry."

To see what the toy industry's reaction was,

read more. Toy Industries Europe (TIE), which represents toy manufacturers like Hasbro, Mattel, and Hornby, claimed that current standards are acceptable and that proposed changes to those standards need to be backed by scientific evidence. The proposal also would place restrictions on toys found in foods. In addition to eliminating lead and nickel, the toys would have to be free of perfume and from substances that promote cancer. The Enterprise Commissioner Guenther Verheugen is said to have his proposals ready for the European Union and their Parliament by January 25. Do you think legislation like this could ever pass in the US?

2006 Toy Injuries Tally

babysugar — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 09:00:10 PST

Consumer Reports recently came out with a 2006 summary report that provides enlightening information about toy injuries and deaths for 2006. While we often hear about lead toy recalls, sometimes we forget about the everyday hazards of regular toys that can be just as dangerous.

Reporting on the 22 toy related deaths that occurred in 2006, the summary states:

"Riding toys, including non-motorized scooters, and toy nails, pegs, and rubber balls were associated with most of the deaths. Incidents involving motor vehicles and airway obstruction from small toys were among the leading scenarios associated with these deaths."

Parents don't think much about tricycle safety since most of us had them, but kids lost their lives after peddling them into swimming pools.

While it's scary and sad to think about these statistics and stories, it's important to stay aware and alert of your child and their surroundings.
Source

7 Money Tips For Couples Starting a Family

Business Insider — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:15:00 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Business Insider story here on Savvy!

Middle-income parents will spend nearly $227,000 in 17 years for children born in 2010, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

But don't let that scare you - saving for a family can actually be fun if you know what you're doing.

"The most important thing to understand is that your priorities are going to change and your spending habits need to change to reflect those changes," says Stuart Ritter, a financial planner at T. Rowe Price.

With Ritter and other financial experts' help, we'll help you prepare.

Invest in a 529 savings plan

Saving for your child's education is crucial to his or her success, and 529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings accounts that are available in all 50 states.

Most are free to set up, while some states require a minimum of $25 to open an account, says Adam Koos, a certified financial planner with Libertas Wealth Management. Anyone can contribute and take advantage of the tax benefits.

Open the plan before your child is born, says Ritter, and name yourself the beneficiary. You can change the name on the account once your child is born.

Read on for more.

6 Tips For Buying Safe Toys This Holiday Season

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:31:58 PST

There's more to picking a tot's holiday gift than meets the eye! Sure, we go into the store armed with lists of toys that will make our lil ones grin ear to ear, but smart mamas know there's still more work to be done. Before putting a toy in your cart and moving on, be sure it is safe for the intended recipient. From what to look for on the box to which toys to avoid, follow our tips to ensure you're bringing the safest gifts into your home!

Thanks, but No Thanks: How to Turn Down Used Items From Friends

Guest Writer — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:15:55 PDT

The following is a guest post by Kimberly Palmer, the author of Generation Earn and creator of The Baby Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Ready For Baby, Without Going Broke!, available on Etsy. She is also the personal finance columnist at US News & World Report. Take it away, Kimberly!

As a relatively frugal person, I’m usually happy to accept hand-me-downs from friends. Got a bread-maker you no longer use or shirt that doesn’t fit? I will take it off your hands! But some items just shouldn’t be shared - and that’s where things can get awkward.

Recently, a friend offered me her used Diaper Genie. For anyone who is unaware, this is a receptacle used for dirty diapers. You can imagine how disgusting it can get. But instead of politely declining her offer, I thanked her for it and brought it home. I didn’t want to be rude. The next day, I put her Diaper Genie outside in the trash, where it belonged.

I’ve also been offered five bags of old clothes at once, car seats that no longer meet safety requirements, and a crib that had been recalled after being deemed dangerous. (It was a beautiful, $600 crib, but still, I’m not putting my baby in anything that the federal government has declared unfit for use.)

The problem is that it can be uncomfortable to turn down a friend who has made a kind and generous offer. Just how do you tell someone that you would prefer not to wear her party dress from 2008, even if it carries a designer label? And especially if it has a stain on it?

Read on to find out more about this awkward etiquette situation.

American Standard Fun Baths: Ga Ga or Gag

Rebecca M Gruber — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:31:30 PDT

Bath time should be a breeze. Kids playing around in a tub of water with plenty of bath toys at their disposal sure sounds like fun, but getting lil ones to want to take a bath is often a struggle. American Standards' fun baths may change all of that. Available in two designs, the kits fit directly over standard bath tubs, transforming them into either a shiny red fire truck or a purple princess castle. The kid-friendly designs also have safety in mind with built-in seats, grab bars, and spray showers to keep lil ones comfortable throughout their baths. At $2,200, the temporary tub transformations are quite an investment, but can you imagine doing bath time without an argument?

Bounce Around: Join in the Summer's Hottest Pogo Stick Craze

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 05:46:22 PDT

Violet's about to get her head in the clouds! Jennifer Garner was spotted out running errands over the holiday weekend, where her big purchase was none other than a trusty pogo stick! The classic toy, which had its heyday in the roaring '20s, is making a comeback this Summer with several popular manufacturers producing updated versions of the bouncing stick. Take a look at five of my favorite pogo sticks, including the one mama Garner purchased for her 5-year-old tot (just be sure to buy a safety helmet along with the stick, before giving it to your lil bouncer)!

Link Time - Why Bad Boys Seem So Good

TresSugar — Wed, 25 May 2011 14:55:46 PDT

Why women prefer bad boys - The Frisky
Your brain . . . on porn - Em & Lo
How to have the "I'm no longer attracted to you" convo - YourTango
Ideas for celebrating your man's birthday - Glamour
How to befriend an ex - College Candy
Americans waste $67.5 million worth of vacation days a year - SavvySugar
Five places you might find cute single geeks - GeekSugar
The ins and outs of sex-toy safety - Jezebel

Lil Links: Jon Gosselin Speaks About His Kids' Future

LilSugar — Fri, 13 May 2011 00:15:28 PDT

Jon Gosselin says he wants his kids to have a normal life - Celebrity Baby Scoop
Proof that older kids can still sit in rear-facing car seats - The Stir
Follow these new sun safety rules this Summer – Health
25 top pregnancy apps – Babble
Autumn Reeser delivers a baby boy - Celebrity Baby Blog
Pervasive BPA is risky for moms-to-be - FitPregnancy
A parenting manual for dads - Parenting
Should it be illegal to take photos of someone else's kid? - The Bump
Do you fight in front of your kids? - Momformation
Cool toys for crawlers – Cool Mom Picks
Versace's the latest to announce a kids' collection – Child Mode

25 Ways to Waste Your Money

Kiplinger — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:15:53 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Has your budget sprung a leak?

Nearly everyone has spending holes. And as with other kinds of leaks, you may have hardly noticed them. But those small drips can quickly add up to big bucks. The trick is to find the holes and plug them so you can keep more money in your pocket. That extra cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck.

Here are 25 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, then look for ways to plug your own leaks:

1. Carrying a balance. Debt is a shackle that holds you back. For instance, if you have a $1,000 balance on a credit card that charges an 18% rate, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.

2. Overspending on gas and oil for your car. There’s no need to spring for premium fuel if the manufacturer says regular is just fine. You should also check to make sure your tires are optimally inflated to get the best gas mileage. And are you still paying for an oil change every 3,000 miles? Many models nowadays can last 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes, and some even have built-in sensors to tell you when it’s time to change the oil. Check your manual to find the best time for your car’s routine maintenance.

3. Keeping unhealthy habits. Smoking costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. It significantly increases the cost of life and health insurance. And you'll pay more for homeowners and auto insurance. Add in various other expenses, and the true cost of smoking adds up dramatically over a lifetime - $86,000 for a 24-year-old woman over a lifetime and $183,000 for a 24-year-old man over a lifetime, according to The Price of Smoking (The MIT Press).

Another habit to quit: indoor tanning. There is now a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. As with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning - which the World Health Organization lists among the worst-known carcinogens - is higher than just the price you pay each time you go to the salon.

Read on to find out what other budget leaks you should avoid.