New parents are often shocked at how often complete strangers feel free to come right up and touch a tiny baby, without asking if it's OK to do so.

Even the common cold can turn dangerous for a new baby, much less swine flu. That means all the touching can drive a germ-phobic parent right up the wall.

One, a mom named Tara Williamson, decided to make the sign you see on the right, which you can hook right on to a stroller. And now she's selling them, for $7.95 apiece. (There's even one in Spanish.)

Of course, you could make one yourself for free. Or just summon your courage and tell the stranger (or, let's be honest, overly touchy acquaintance/relative/friend) to wash up first.

But something about the official-looking nature of this sign may be the ticket. It's passive-aggressive messaging at its finest, isn't it? Because after reading it, even with clean hands, who would dare to approach the baby?

Posted by Kate Shatzkin at 6:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Six companies have recalled millions of window blinds and shades after three children died from being entangled in their cords,  the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.

The recall includes about 4.2 million roll-up blinds and 600,000 Roman shades imported by Lewis Hyman Inc., of Carson, Calif. The Roman shades were sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com from March 2006 through December 2008. The roll-up blinds were sold at retail stores nationwide from January 1999 through December 2003.

The CPSC said that in November 2007, a 1-year-old boy from Norridgewock, Maine, became entangled and strangled in the loop of a roll-up blind that had fallen into his crib. In October 2008, a 13-month-old boy from Conway, Ark., was found with his head between the inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a Roman shade.

Continue reading "Window blinds and shades recall" »

Posted by Joe Burris at 4:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Child Safety