The Parenting Journal

Product Guides
Why Does My Baby Keep Opening Cabinet Locks? Toddler-Proof Upgrades

Why Does My Baby Keep Opening Cabinet Locks? Toddler-Proof Upgrades

Every parent has a version of this story. Mine happened on a Tuesday afternoon when my younger daughter, not yet 18 months old, emptied the entire under-sink cabinet in the time it took me to answer the front door. Sponges,...

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Proofing Essentials
Bug Bites Sunscreen and Outdoor Hazard Safety for Babies

Bug Bites Sunscreen and Outdoor Hazard Safety for Babies

The first outdoor trip with a newborn feels like a military operation. Sunscreen? Too young. Bug spray? Which kind? Hat, yes, but how much shade is enough shade? You’re standing in the driveway with a stroller and a diaper bag...

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Age and Stage
Safe Sleep Practices for Newborns: AAP Guidelines Explained Simply

Safe Sleep Practices for Newborns: AAP Guidelines Explained Simply

About 3,500 infants die each year from sleep-related causes in the United States, according to CDC SUID data. That number stopped me cold when I first read it during my older daughter’s newborn weeks, sitting in the dark at 3...

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Parent Life
Baby Registry Must Haves 2026: The Safety-Focused Gift Guide

Baby Registry Must Haves 2026: The Safety-Focused Gift Guide

Every parent building a registry faces the same quiet panic: the lists are infinite, the opinions are loud, and nobody tells you which items matter for your baby’s safety versus which ones are just clever marketing. This guide focuses on...

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Product Guides
How Long Should You Keep Outlet Covers Installed?

How Long Should You Keep Outlet Covers Installed?

Approximately 2,400 children are treated in U.S. emergency rooms each year for electrical outlet injuries (CPSC). That number is small enough that many parents assume the risk doesn’t apply to their family, and large enough that it absolutely might. The...

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Room by Room
Outdoor Play Equipment Safety: Swings Slides and Sandboxes for Toddlers

Outdoor Play Equipment Safety: Swings Slides and Sandboxes for Toddlers

Every summer, I watch parents at the neighborhood park do the same thing: they settle onto a bench, pull out their phones, and assume the equipment is safe because it’s there. It isn’t always. For toddlers specifically, the gap between...

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Proofing Essentials
Small Parts and Choking Hazards: Organizing Toys by Age in the Playroom

Small Parts and Choking Hazards: Organizing Toys by Age in the Playroom

You turn around for thirty seconds and your toddler is sitting happily on the playroom floor, mouthing something that belongs to her older sibling’s building set. No crying, no choking, just a small plastic piece disappearing behind curious lips while...

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Room by Room
How to Baby Proof Electrical Outlets in Older Homes

How to Baby Proof Electrical Outlets in Older Homes

The outlet in my living room was about eight inches off the floor. I didn’t notice until my older daughter started pulling herself up to stand, at which point that little two-slot receptacle was exactly at eye level for a...

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Age and Stage
Car Seat Safety by Age: Rear-Facing Forward-Facing and Booster Guide

Car Seat Safety by Age: Rear-Facing Forward-Facing and Booster Guide

Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States. The car seat your child sits in, and whether it fits them correctly for their age and size, is one of the most consequential safety decisions...

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