I try to keep things out of the landfill as much as possible so I love to give thoughtful and practical gifts. I tend to fill my family's stocking with a few surprises but mostly extremely practical things like toothbrushes,lotion, socks, etc. Your family's safety is important so I thought I would share a few simple ideas for safety-related stocking stuffers and gifts. Stocking stuffers Smoke detector with 10-year battery (new law in IL requires all homes to have them) Carbon

I love a practical gift and always fill my family's stocking with extremely practical things like dental floss, socks, etc. As I've been working to get my family's stocking stuffed, I started thinking about easy to pick up items that would enhance your family's safety. Here are some ideas if you like practical gifts, too. -Smoke Detectors for every floor of your family's home and near every bedroom -Carbon Monoxide Detectors for every floor of your family's home -Batteries fo

When other parents find out what I do for a living, they assume that I might insist my two children are wrapped in bubble wrap all the time and that my home is completely free of any chance of injury. While I do insist that my family wear seatbelts EVERY time they ride in a car and always use a bike helmet, I am definitely not perfect when it comes to safety practices in my home and car. That said, each year I make a New Year’s resolution. Some I’ve done a good job with lik

I was at the doctor’s office the other day and happened up on the December issue of O Magazine. Of course, the first section I turned to was Oprah’s Favorite things. Immediately, I started looking up a lot of the great gifts for others and (who am I kidding?) myself. Lots of really good food, clothes, gadgets. That list inspired me to write a blog about some of favorite safety things. While I can’t recommend specific products, maybe you’ll be inspired to buy one for someone o

It's the time of year when we are hosting a lot of parties. Here are some simple tips to keep the holidays safe for our youngest guests. -Keep those choking hazards out of reach of young guests -- hard peppermint candies, nuts, lollipops, popcorn. All are easy to choke on so keep them up high and out of reach. -Half finished alcoholic drinks can look just like something a child might drink. When you see them left somewhere, pour them out before young children can get to them

Online shopping is expected to account for 59% of holiday spending. I know I have spent a lot of time scouring the internet for online deals for presents. Shoppers need to know what to look for whether making retail or second-hand purchases. Many on-line product descriptions may leave out important safety warnings or precautions on the item's description. Some sites are better at listing warnings than others so shoppers should read item descriptions on a few sites to make su

The Holiday Season is upon us and it's time to deck the halls. With the Holidays come lots of decorations. If you have a young child at home, follow these simple tips for decorating safely. - Make sure to keep small ornaments or other small decorations that may be choking hazards up high and out of reach of young children. -Button batteries found in toys, flameless candles and many other items are very dangerous if swallowed. Make sure these batteries are secured . -Do you k

While families, parents, and children across the U.S. are trying to soak up their remaining few weeks or days of summer, grocery stores are quickly preparing for the next season. Not only are the aisles beginning to fill up with back to school supplies, but orange and black, over-sized candy bags are also beginning to reemerge. Furthermore, as pop-up Halloween stores start to reappear in our local shopping centers over the next couple of weeks, kids will begin to plan what Di