How to hang a picture frame in less than 3 minutes (without drilling)
You know that adorable photo of your baby that's been lying around for months just waiting to be properly displayed on your wall? Better hang it now or before you know it your "baby" will be asking why you never hung a picture of her wedding day. And come to think of it, why aren't there any childhood pictures of me hanging in this house, she'll ask. You get the idea.
To check this task off your to-do list, start by buying a package of plastic conical wall anchors at the hardware store. Using this simple anchor is far more secure than just using a nail. The package will come with anchors and screws and is great for hanging light to medium weight items like pictures, mirrors and curtains. You'll use them a lot and you'll be glad you bought them. You'll also need a hammer, a Philips head screwdriver (the one that has a + shape, not a flathead) and tape measurer or ruler.
Figure out where you want to hang your picture. Eye level tends to be a good idea (no, we're not being sarcastic - just reminding you not to hang too high). Use a pencil to make a small mark on the wall at the top, center of the frame. Now measure the frame - from the top edge down to where the hanging hardware is located. Take that measurement and mark the wall accordingly (it's usually an inch or two below your first mark, lower if the picture has a hanging wire). If it's the only picture on the wall, it's a good idea to measure to ensure you've got it centered.
Now that you have the mark where your anchor and screw will go, grab an anchor and bang the pointy end into the wall using your hammer. This usually just takes a few swift taps. The anchor should be flush into the wall, with just the circular outer rim visible. (Note: if you have a drill, before tapping the anchor into the wall drill a 5/64 hole first)
Next insert a screw into the anchor and screw it in so just enough protrudes to hang your picture. You may need to play around with this. Voila! You're done and you didn't even break a sweat! 
Toy Xylophones Recalled by King Import Warehouse Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), King Import Warehouse, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 144 Toy Xylophones. Surface paint on the toy xylophone contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. Read more »
7 out of 10 kids in child safety seats are not properly buckled in
Have your child's safety seat inspected.
When we're assessing a client's home during their Home Safety Survey we recommend securing certain pieces of furniture to the wall. Often the parent's reaction is along these lines:
"That dresser is so heavy, I can't even budge it, do I seriously need to secure that?" or "There's no way my child will be able to tip over that huge armoire, I don't seriously need to secure it, do I?" or "My child is never out of my sight long enough to climb onto that bookcase, do you seriously think I need to secure it?"
Our response: yes, seriously.
And here's why. That heavy dresser that you can't even move to retrieve lost socks can be tipped over by a small, toddling child if she opens up a couple of drawers and pulls on them. Or if she opens the drawers and climbs on them. Suddenly the center of gravity on the dresser shifts, making it extremely easy to tip. Try this yourself on the dresser in your child's room (not the climbing part, the opening of drawers!) and you'll be stunned.
That huge armoire can tip in the same fashion. Plus, if the piece has doors and your child opens them along with the drawers, that can cause a shift too. Additionally, if the armoire is in the corner of the room there may be enough space for your child to sneak behind it. If pulling can cause furniture to tip, pushing has the same effect and is perhaps even easier for a child to do.
If your child is never out of your sight long enough to climb on that bookcase…bravo! We advocate for consistent adult supervision, even in a fully child-proofed home. But consider the fact that you child will be unsupervised in his bedroom once he makes the transition to a bed.
What does it mean to secure furniture to the wall? It simply means installing 2 straps between the piece of furniture and the wall. These straps are hidden behind the furniture so they can't be seen. We like the Safety 1st brand the best. Kidco Furniture Straps work well too but they're often visible from the top of the furniture whereas the Safety 1st straps can generally be concealed from view. Some parents worry about damage to the furniture. No worries, the straps are installed into the back of the furniture - no screws or holes are visible from the front. And besides, the holes are relatively small - about half the size of your pinky fingernail. We find that circumstances allow us to drill into wall studs a great majority of the time. When a stud just isn't available it's important to use appropriate heavy-duty wall anchors (note: not the lightweight anchors we reference in Drill Slingin' Ladies.
Overall, items that should be secured to the wall include any piece of furniture with drawers or shelves, any piece of furniture that is taller than it is wide, any piece of furniture that has space between it and the wall, any piece of furniture that is inherently unstable due to age or design. Even if your furniture is secured to the wall, deter little climbers by not placing desirable toys or other items within view but out of reach.
Assess the televisions in your home too, as they may need to be secured using heavy-duty straps that adhere to the tv. Even if your tv is so heavy that it took your husband and 3 of his friends to get it onto the stand, your small child can topple it easily from behind. Or, if he's reaching for a DVD case on top of the tv, for example, the pushing and rocking motion could be enough to tip the tv. Lightweight plasma tv's can topple very easily and most come with hardware to secure them to a wall. A tv inside an entertainment center is a good bet, but you still may need a basic tv strap if the furniture's finish has a sheen that allows the tv to slide if pushed or pulled. Also, if the entertainment center has a lazy susan or a sliding platform allows you to pull the tv out of the entertainment center, do not use those features as they can cause a tv to topple.
While parents' reaction to the idea of securing furniture tends to be one of surprise and sometimes resistance, consider Kimberly Beck of Sterling, MA. She tragically lost her 3 year old daughter Meghan Agnes Beck when her dresser/changing table combo tipped over onto her sometime between 6-8am while the rest of the family slept unaware of Meghan's fate. In the midst of her grieving Kim found the strength to begin an awareness campaign called Meghan's Hope to increase the public's awareness about the dangers of furniture tip-overs and how to prevent them, as well as to hopefully pass legislation requiring warning labels on furniture, and requiring furniture manufacturer's to include appropriate hardware to secure the furniture to the wall.
Once you've made the decision to transition your child from a crib to a bed you may be nervous about the fact that she'll be uncontained and unsupervised in her room for long periods of time during naps and at nighttime. While there is no shortage of information on how and when to make the change to a bed, our focus is on keeping your child safe once you do. Her crib has always been a safe haven so before you let it go, take some time to ensure that her bedroom is just as safe.
First, consider the bed you'll be choosing. You can start with a toddler bed before moving onto a regular twin bed. Most every toddler bed has some type of railing to prevent falls. When making the purchase be sure that you're comfortable with the design of the toddler bed in terms of how long the safety railing is. Remember, you won't be able to purchase separate bedrails and add them to the toddler bed after the fact. Bedrails require a box spring for installation and most toddler beds don't include a box spring.
Another option is to go straight to a twin bed and if this is the route you plan to go, be sure to purchase a bedrail. Many clients have asked which brand is the safest and our advice is to go with the bedrail that has the features and appearance you like the best. In terms of safety, they're all comparable. Some bedrails fold down for easy entry, which is a feature you might want to consider. If there is a gap between the bed and the wall, or the bed isn't against a wall, you'll need two bedrails.
Also, remember that your child will be unattended at night and during naps so safety in her room is of the utmost importance. Even if the room has been babyproofed, take another good look because chances are some elements of the room have changed since your child was a baby. Be sure to check the following:
While we cross our fingers and hope our child will go to bed and stay there until morning, chances are slim of this being the case every night. Consider a gate in the doorway of your child's room. That way you can have the door opened or closed, but your child won't be able to wander around if he wakes up. This is important for both your child's safety and your sanity!
Note to parents of babies: To avoid making the transition to a bed sooner than you'd like, discourage your baby from attempting to climb out of his crib. You can do this by keeping the crib clear of toys and crib bumpers. They can give a climbing child leverage. If you have any toys strapped onto the side of the crib, make sure they're on the side that's against a wall. Put the crib mattress in the lowest possible setting once your baby is attempting to pull himself up to a sitting position. Also, when you're getting your baby or toddler out of his crib, be sure to lower the crib siding first. Doing so sends a message to your toddler that he can't come out of his crib until the side is lowered. This bit of psychology may deter a future climber. (Note: the side can't be lowered on most 2-in-1 crib to toddler bed combos)
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Heart & Home Baby Safety, Inc.
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