2008-07-23T11:01:12Z tag:blog.washingtonpost.com,2008:/parenting//267 Copyright (c) 2008, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive 2008-07-23T11:01:12Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-23:/parenting/2008/07/the_perfect_water_bottle.html

I'm in search of the perfect kids water bottle. Durable. Spill-proof. Washable. Sippy cups were bad enough. Drop them, bang them -- in general, treat them like toddler boys -- and many would start to leak regularly. Usually, the leak-proof insert had simply dislodged. Um. Didn't they say that thing was leak-proof? Did they actually hand these cups to toddlers for a few weeks for testing? And so, off to the next brand I'd go,...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-22T10:49:10Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-22:/parenting/2008/07/barbie_vs_bratz.html

Business Week and others dubbed the court case the "Battle of the Dolls." And in Round 1, we had Mattel in one corner and MGA in the other. Mattel, otherwise known as Barbie's corporate parent, said MGA Entertainment -- Bratz' corporate parent, stole work that belonged to it. You see, the Bratz doll designer Carter Bryant came up with the idea while he worked at Mattel. The two duked it out in court, and, on...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-21T11:02:45Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-21:/parenting/2008/07/google_day_care.html

Last week, Montgomery County passed into law a bill requiring written contracts for residents who employ nannies, housekeepers or cooks for at least 20 hours a week. The next day, Washington Post blogger Marc Fisher wrote: "I've never employed any domestic worker nor do I generally believe in the idea." Fisher should be thankful he's not an employee of Google, which wanted to charge its workers $57,000 a year for infant day care (for two...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-18T11:15:22Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-18:/parenting/2008/07/game_day.html

"Do you DS?" Several times in the past few months, boys have thrown the question out to 6-year-old. And not only don't we own any video game systems, I'm not sure he even knows what the other kids mean. Clearly, the boys are using it as a conversation starter. It's the "do you like to play the same games I do?" method of finding common interests. DS for video game neophytes like me is a...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-17T13:20:55Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-17:/parenting/2008/07/public_photos_pedophelia_and_c.html

By Rebeldad Brian Reid Yesterday, my inbox lit up after Boing-Boing, one of the biggest blogs in the world, posted an excerpt from a story that ran in the UK's Daily Mail about a father who was harassed for trying to take pictures of his kids on a Sunday afternoon. It seems that, living in an age that has brought us both the Internet and "To Catch a Predator," every guy with a camera may...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Brian Reid 2008-07-16T11:19:28Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-16:/parenting/2008/07/thrifty.html

Meet some families who know how to stretch a dollar. There's the Heinz family in Sarasota, Fla., who appeared in this past weekend's Parade magazine. Their TV came from someone's trash pile. Their laundry is done in fewer, larger loads. Mom buys in bulk with coupons. She only buys items on sale. She stocks up on two-for-one day at the store and uses coupons, helping her save more than she spends on some foods. Then,...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-15T11:03:30Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-15:/parenting/2008/07/overscheduled_kids.html

Down Time. When's the last time your child had some? In today's health section, reporter Sandra G. Boodman explores a problem that isn't going to end anytime soon -- overscheduled kids. "I'm always in a state of anxiety, but it only piles up every few months," Walt Whitman High School senior Jessica Huey told Boodman. "All my friends do this. We're all overscheduled. We live in Bethesda: It's a way of life." Ah, the way...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-14T11:08:20Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-14:/parenting/2008/07/are_you_a_kidsick_parent.html

You and your child finally decided he/she was old enough for sleepaway camp. You packed the bags, maybe even had your child pack with you so he'd know exactly what he was bringing, including home addressed, stamped envelopes, paper and a pen. You dropped the kid off with a kiss and a hug and words of wisdom about having a good time. And off the kid sprinted, excited for the adventure, fun and friends. So,...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-11T11:22:18Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-11:/parenting/2008/07/the_obama_children.html

On July 4th, Barack and Michelle Obama granted "Access Hollywood" video time with 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha. The resulting footage shows a tight-knit family. Talkative Malia tells it how it is in her house. Dad leaves his heavy bag in the doorway for the family to trip on it. He shakes hands with her friends, embarrassing her. If Obama wins the presidency, she's looking forward to decorating her own room in the White House....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-10T11:17:47Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-10:/parenting/2008/07/the_skinnedknee_conundrum.html

By Rebeldad Brian Reid I just returned from vacation, which seems to be an excellent opportunity for the kids to collect all manner of minor injuries. Maybe it was being out of the house and in a weird setting, maybe it was the total boycott on footwear, but we endured a great many scrapes, bumps, bruises and minor sunburns, raising the eternal question of when -- exactly -- parental first aid is needed and when...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Brian Reid 2008-07-09T11:16:59Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-09:/parenting/2008/07/sunscreen.html

Ah, July. The weather in D.C. alternates between hot and sweltering. And about the only relief is to: a) stay indoors or b) swim All that time at pools and playing in water fountains means the kids get lathered with sunscreens, some of which contain ingredients I can't possibly pronounce. So, who else to turn to but a dermatologist for answers on what parents should look for in caring for their kids' skin? Dr. Adelaide...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-08T14:11:23Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-08:/parenting/2008/07/grab_bag.html

The news is filled with lots of tidbits this week. So, for today, put your hand in the grab bag and pull a few out: First, the good news. Baby's first smiles are great for mom. Now, I'm fairly certain that most moms could've told you this without a study, but hey, science confirms it. When a mom sees her baby smile, it prompts a biological pleasure reaction in mom akin to the response derived...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-07T11:20:28Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-07:/parenting/2008/07/lefties.html

Before becoming mom, I made certain, shall we say, presumptions about my future children. They'd need glasses early, just like their dad and mom. They'd be adventurous eaters, not unlike mom and dad. And they'd be right-handed, again like mom and dad. Turns out I couldn't have been more wrong about the offspring. I was zero for three. I didn't really think too much about the kids' handedness until my oldest was about 6 months...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-03T11:03:47Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-03:/parenting/2008/07/salvia.html

Salvia divinorum is not your average herb. But it is easy to grow and dangerous to ingest. And because it is easy and legal in many places to obtain, particularly over the Internet, it has developed a growing market in young adults. The Drug Enforcement Administration has classified the plant -- which goes by the names Maria Pastora, Sage of the Seers, Diviner's Sage, Salvia, Sally-D, Magic Mint -- as a drug of concern. This...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle 2008-07-03T12:37:09Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2008-07-02:/parenting/2008/07/to_leash_or_not_to_leash.html

At first glance, the backpacks that have been popping up on toddlers lately look adorable. Soft monkeys, bears and dogs with straps. But look closer. The tail's attached to a grown-up. They seemed to be haunting me as we explored Sesame Place one day last week. And then a friend sent a bunch of adorable photos of her kids at the San Diego Zoo. Sure enough, on their backs were the animals with leashes. Are...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Stacey Garfinkle