In a story that’s just begging to be optioned as a Home Alone movie, a trio of Florida kids, the oldest age 15, managed to pay cash for tickets and fly to Tennessee without getting permission from their parents. The kids were able to make their own way without being any members of Southwest’s staff interceding. [More]
kids
Hot Flash Spray Evamist Causes Boobs On Pets, Kids
By 8.2.10
I like FDA warnings like this new one about Evamist, because I can file the symptoms away and use them to impress someone with my Sherlock Holmes skills. Friend: “How did you know she used Evamist?” Me: “Note the tell-tale breasts on her grandchildren and her terrier.” [More]
Bloomingdale's Diesel Toddler Rain Boots Want You To Die
By 7.27.10
Jennifer writes in with these amazing Diesel toddler’s rain boots that, due to the angle of the photograph, appear to just say “DIE” in purple paint. [More]
Douse Spirit Of Children By Taking Them Back-To-School Shopping
By 7.27.10
As July winds down the retail industrial complex is luring parents into stores with promises of discounts on clothes and supplies to commemorate state-sponsored daycare. Regular Morning Deals contributor Dealio is on top of things, putting together a massive list of back-to-school sales, the annual high season for the protractor industry. [More]
Burger King Kids' Breakfast No Competition For Cini-minis
By 7.22.10
Burger King is launching its first kids’ breakfast next week, a $3.38 package that will include an egg-and-cheese sandwich, fry-shaped apple slices, juice and a toy. While BK may be taking some heat for promoting the 410-calorie meal to kids, only parents are likely to be swayed. Burger King’s real kiddie breakfast has long been the Cini-mini, and no right-thinking child will be swayed by fry-shaped apple slices when that’s on the menu. And parents, you can get four Cini-minis for $1. [More]
Nestlé Agrees To Stop Promising Boost Kiddie Drink Is Anti-Diarrheal, Pro-Studying
By 7.19.10
Nestlé is the latest company to slap some nutrients (or in this case probiotics) in a product, call it “functional food,” and market it to shoppers as a healthy and smart product. Last week, the FTC got the company to agree to stop claiming that its chocolate Boost Kid Essentials–which comes with a straw lined with probiotic bacteria (mmm delicious!)–will do things like protect them from diarrhea and improve school attendance rates. The FTC says the claims aren’t substantiated with adequate scientific research. [More]
Battle Against Unattended Children Escalating In Passive-Aggressive Fashion
By 6.28.10
An LAWeekly reader sent in this photo of a sign at a local cafe. We’ve heard the espresso and a puppy line before, but the addition of a drum and profanity really adds something to the mental picture. Kudos. [More]
Fisher Price Includes Batteries, But Not Ones That Work
By 6.28.10
Dana is annoyed that the Fisher Price toy she bought for her baby promised her that batteries were included. They were in the box all right, but they were dead. In fact the manual Fisher Price enclosed with the toy suggests you immediately replace the included batteries with new ones. [More]
35,000 Bottles Of Scope Recalled For Defective Caps
By 6.28.10
If you have a 1-liter bottle of Scope Original Mint Mouthwash that you bought sometime since January 1st, you might want to test the cap. If it twists off without needing the sides pressed in and it’s a got the number 4 stamped onto the bottom, Procter & Gamble would like to replace it, please. [More]
3D Movie Glasses Maker Realizes Kids Exist, Watch Movies
By 6.23.10
Someone over at 3D glasses manufacturer RealD must have sat next to a child during a 3D movie and grimaced as the little tyke strained to keep the too-big-and-heavy glasses on his nose for half an hour, then finally gave up and suffered through the rest of the film in blurry 2D. The company started making glasses that fit on kids’ faces. [More]
Your Kids Think Food Tastes Better When It Has A Cartoon On The Box
By 6.21.10
Researchers from Yale University announced today that kids think food tastes better when its marketed with a cartoon. They asked 40 kids to try some gummy fruit snacks, graham crackers and baby carrots. [More]
Hallmark Pulls Card With Audio Clip Over Accusations Of Astronomical Racism
By 6.15.10
It’s so hard to understand each other in this life. First there was that unfortunate honey bun mixup, and now Hallmark is trying to prevent a bunch of press conferences from happening (too late!) by pulling a graduation card from shelves. Why? Because either Hoops or Yo-Yo–I don’t know which character is which–spouts shockingly racist insults and threats when you open the card. Well, maybe. [More]
This Subway Meatball Isn't For Kids!
By 6.7.10
It’s great that everyone’s concerned about keeping kids healthy and all, but Jay says the woman working at his local Subway put her foot down on his request for a meatball sandwich for his kid. He says she told him, “You can get ham or turkey but no meatball.” Kids don’t need meatballs! [More]
Save Money On Head Lice Removal
By 6.2.10
You’re a good Consumerist. You make your own kids at home. You grow your own lice in a coffee can you found on the street. You dump the lice on the kids’ heads before you send them off to school. After all that, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on lice removal treatments, right? You’re in luck: the New York Times says you don’t have to spend a lot of money de-lousing your itchy little child. [More]
In The Military? Museum Admission Is Free This Summer
By 5.25.10
Starting Memorial Day, May 31, and lasting until Labor Day, September 6, more than 600 museums around the country are waiving admission fees for active members of the military and members of their immediate family. The Blue Star Museum program is a joint effort that’s being launched by the National Endowment for the Arts and a nonprofit group called Blue Star Families. The NEA has a map showing which museums are participating around the country. [More]
Congress May Consider Banning Drop-Side Cribs
By 5.24.10
Kirsten Gillibrand, a senator from New York, is apparently unsatisfied with the CPSC’s pledge to implement a voluntary ban of drop-side cribs. Gillibrand plans to introduce legislation this week that would outlaw the sale of drop-side cribs and ban them from daycare centers and hotels. Earlier this month, the CPSC said that this crib design has killed at least 32 infants and toddlers since 2000, that over 7 million drop-side cribs have been recalled since 2005. [More]
FDA Announces Widespread Investigation Of McNeil After Tylenol Recalls
By 5.19.10
Remember the recalled liquid Tylenol and other children’s medicines last month? Or the stinky drugs that were recalled back in January? Or the children’s Tylenol that was recalled last September? The FDA remembers, which is probably why it’s “conducting a company-wide investigation of McNeil Consumer Healthcare’s drug manufacturing practices to determine whether similar problems exist throughout the company.” Also, a date has now been set (May 27) for the House Committee hearing where the CEO and chairman of parent company Johnson & Johnson are expected to testify. [More]
Paper Company Plans Campaign To Encourage Kids To Print Things Out
By 5.12.10
If John Williams, the CEO of Domtar Corp., has his way, kids all across North America will be asking for printers this holiday season. Somehow I doubt he’ll have his way, but here’s his plan: his company is about to launch a “Put It On Paper” campaign via print, Facebook and YouTube that will encourage people to print out things like emails and web pages. [More]
