The Parenting Journal
Age and Stage
When Do Babies Start Crawling? Milestones and Baby Proofing Timelines
Most parents picture crawling as a distant milestone, something to worry about later. Then one afternoon your baby rolls across the room and disappears behind the couch, and "later" is suddenly right now.The window between "not yet mobile" and "everywhere...
Product Guides
How to Install Cabinet Locks: Step-by-Step for Every Lock Type
Every second counts when a toddler gets curious. In 2024, household cleaning substances topped the list of substances kids under 6 got into, accounting for roughly 1 in 10 (10.1%) of all pediatric poison center cases, according to America’s Poison...
Safety Science
What Temperature Should Your Water Heater Be Set To for Baby Safety?
Most parents spend more time researching a baby monitor than they do checking what temperature their water heater is set to. That’s understandable. The monitor is visible. The water heater is in a closet or basement, and it came with...
Product Guides
How to Remove Adhesive Cabinet Locks Without Damaging Your Cabinets
How to Remove Adhesive Cabinet Locks Without Damaging Your CabinetsAdhesive cabinet locks have a short shelf life in most homes. Your kids get older, your curiosity gets the better of you, or you’re moving out and need to restore the...
Product Guides
Do Magnetic Cabinet Locks Work on Frameless Cabinets?
Do Magnetic Cabinet Locks Work on Frameless Cabinets?Yes. But the install is less forgiving, and if you skip the positioning template step, you’ll spend an afternoon frustrated and wondering why the magnet won’t release the lock.Frameless cabinets, sometimes called European-style...
Room by Room
High Chair Safety in the Dining Room: Straps Placement and Cleaning
Key Takeaways Keep the high chair at least an arm’s length from tables, walls, and any reachable surface. Buckle all five harness points at every meal, no exceptions, and check the fit with one finger. Adjust shoulder strap height every...
Buyer’s Guides
Top Rated Baby Proofing Products: Editor Tested Parent Approved
Key Takeaways Hardware-mounted gates are required at stair tops. Pressure-mounted gates belong only in doorways. Magnetic cabinet locks are the only reliable choice for cabinets holding chemicals or medications. Tamper-resistant outlets are a permanent fix. Plug-in caps are a choking...
Age and Stage
Diaper Changing Safety: Preventing Falls from the Changing Table
Every diaper change is a small, ordinary moment. It is also one of the most common settings for an infant fall.Changing table falls send thousands of children to emergency rooms each year in the United States. Most of those falls...
Product Guides
Is Bubble Wrap a Safe DIY Corner Protector?
Bubble wrap feels satisfying to pop, and it’s free if you just unpacked a delivery. The logic is understandable: it’s soft, it’s padded, it wraps around a corner. But the logic is wrong, and understanding why matters before your toddler’s...