I recently learned firsthand that three inches of water can entertain a baby for hours. There’s something in it for mom, too — while Sweet William fights the heat in his new wading pool, I soak my feet. As the summer warmed up, I searched online for a galvanized steel stock tank, only to find [...]
Archive | July, 2011
Sunny Summer Days Indoors
It’s a hot one in New York City, but it’s not the temperature that keeps Sweet William and me indoors. It’s the air quality. Today’s Air Quality Index forecast for New York City is 147, “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.” (Check the Index for your location here.) William’s status as an active young child qualifies him [...]
Safety V. Profit
Let me summarize “After Long Battle, Safer Cribs,” which appeared in the July 15 issue of the New York Times. New crib safety regulations — the first in 30 years — went into effect on June 28. Drop-side cribs are prohibited from being sold, crib slats and mattress supports must be strengthened, and crib hardware [...]
Preparing for a New Baby, Again!
I am happy to announce that Sweet William is going to be a big brother. We are expecting our second baby in early December. As I consider what the new baby will need, I’m re-evaluating the choices I made in anticipation of William’s arrival. I can already name a few things I’ll do differently. GLASS [...]
Lead in Toys
The amount of lead allowed in toys will be reduced from 300 parts per million to 100 parts per million next month. This follows a 3-2 vote by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, split along party lines. Lead poisoning causes “impaired intellect, memory loss, mood swings, infertility, nerve, joint and muscle disorders, cardiovascular, skeletal, kidney [...]
Eating in Madison
Sweet William made his first trip to Madison, Wisconsin, to visit his Uncle Patrick and Aunt Alex before heading north to see his grandparents in Menomonie. Madison is a perfect city to visit with kids. It has a delightful children’s zoo (admission is free), a children’s museum that’s appropriate for all ages, and beautiful parks [...]
About Elizabeth
I'm a writer and the mother of William and Fergus. Before dedicating my work to children's environmental health, I earned an MA in Cultural Reporting and Criticism from New York University and was a photography editor at The New Yorker. My family is preparing to move to New Orleans, where my husband, an architect, is building us a non-toxic home.
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