The Parenting Journal

Every summer, I walk out to our backyard and feel the same split-second of relief when I see the gate latch is still in place. It takes about three seconds to check. It takes far less time than that for...

Key Takeaways Hardware-mounted gates are the only CPSC and AAP-recommended choice at the bottom of stairs. Pressure mounts can shift over time, changing latch alignment and swing geometry. Wall damage from pressure pads is often worse and harder to fix...

Every fireplace in a family home is a heat source, a fall hazard, and a chemical risk compressed into one architectural feature. Most parents think about the flames. Fewer think about the glass.Glass-front gas fireplace surfaces can reach 500°F minimum...

About 93,000 children under 5 are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year for stair-related injuries, according to a Nationwide Children’s Hospital analysis of CPSC NEISS data. That’s roughly one child every six minutes. If you have a mobile baby...

About 93,000 children under 5 are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year for stair-related injuries, according to a Nationwide Children’s Hospital analysis of CPSC NEISS data. That number stops most parents cold. And yet the gate question I get...

Most modern homes have lever-style door handles. Most child safety products were designed for round knobs. That mismatch leaves a gap that a determined toddler will find, usually on the door you least want them opening. 87,000+ — Children under...

Key Takeaways Mesh gates are safe for flat doorways, never for the top of stairs. Look for explicit ASTM F1004 compliance before buying any gate. Adhesive mounts need 24–72 hours to cure and monthly integrity checks. Retractable gates suit high-traffic...

About 93,000 children under 5 are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year for stair-related injuries, according to a Nationwide Children’s Hospital analysis of CPSC NEISS data. That works out to roughly one child every six minutes. If you have...

Every year, an average of 17,800 people visit emergency rooms for injuries caused by furniture and TV tip-overs, per the CPSC 2023 Annual Tip-Over Report. Children bear the worst of it. CPSC reports one child death every two weeks from...