After years of reporting on child identity theft and credit freezes, I set out to freeze my own toddler’s credit. What I discovered led to a year-long series of editorial blogs that … Read More...
Featured Investigation
Preventing Child ID Theft: Child Credit Freeze How-To
In Depth: NewsMom Original Editorials
“Chemicals Are in Everything, Why Should I Care?”
One of the most common critiques I get about my reporting on chemical flame retardants in car seats can be summed up with this Facebook comment on one of my posts:Look at how many of us survived... using car seats. Then look at the ones who survived before car seats were a thing. Does your child really … [Continue...]
Investigating Car Seat Chemicals
What began as a NewsMom editorial, expanded into a six month KPIX-CBS investigation exposing alleged false advertising, apparent legal loopholes and outdated federal regulations that systematically expose millions of children to concerning car seat chemicals.First, we established that even the greenest … [Continue...]
Virtual Kidnapping – A New & Terrifying Threat for Parents
Updated: 9-18-16A chill ran through my body and I immediately felt sick to my stomach when I read this NextDoor post from a local mom. The tale of her child's virtual kidnapping is literally one of the most terrifying things I've ever read.For years, we've covered the "grandparent" scam: Con artists call … [Continue...]
Featured Investigation
Car Seat Flame Retardants: Continuing Coverage
A child’s car seat is the only consumer product that is required by law in all 50 states. Yet, at a time when both the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental … Read More...
The Lighter Side
Car Seats in Taxis: Difficult But Doable
In the few months since I committed to stop baby wearing in taxis, my little guy officially outgrew his infant bucket car seat. I’ve opted for public transportation and … [Continue...]
Adventures in Baby Travel: Useful Products for Jet-Setting Families
For those who procreate and yet still insist on feeding their wanderlust, many baby travel products promise to make adventure a breeze. Below is a rundown of a few I've found … [Continue...]
Baby Gear: If I Could Go Back, Instead I’d Buy…
When I was newly pregnant for the first time, I went into baby gear research hyperdrive. Overwhelmed by the vast options—how do I choose something for someone I've never … [Continue...]
Featured News, Reviews & Editorials
Dad Records Daughter’s Act of Kindness, Facebook Falls In Love!
When this Northern California father allowed his daughter to follow her instincts and give her dinner to an apparently-homeless man, he likely had no idea … [Continue...]
When to Skip the Organic Produce
Do I Really Need Organic Produce? We'd all love to feed our little angels an all-organic diet... but who can afford it when organic produce can cost almost 50 … [Continue...]
Alba’s Honest, Ergo Baby’s Orbit: Why Green Companies Are Found with Concerning Chemicals!
Here we go again. Independent testing found a chemical in a “green” children’s product that the company itself called “toxic”.The Wall Street Journal reports … [Continue...]
UPDATE: Keep Car Seats in the Middle, A Fatal Seat Flaw Exposed
Did you know your front driver and passenger seats can severely injure your child? Here's the latest in another excellent report from CBS News Transportation … [Continue...]
How I Found “Cancer-Causing” Flame Retardants In My Child And Car Seat
I'm not a particularly green mom. Though, as a consumer reporter I've covered enough studies over the years to know I should try to reduce my child's exposure … [Continue...]
How to Protect Kids From ID Theft… One Year Later
More than a year after my first NewsMom blog on the topic, we finally aired the TV version of "How I Forced the Bureaus to Freeze My Child’s Credit."The … [Continue...]
A Car Seat Conversion: Why I’m Changing My Taxi-With-Kids Habits
I have a confession to make: I've let my kids ride in taxis without car seats. It seemed mostly justified at the time, but a recent bump on my chin forced me to … [Continue...]