All the top Parenting news.

Peltor Kid Noise Reducing Ear Muffs; $16.50 Nothing says Fourth of July like fireworks, but you might have to skip the show this year if your tot is still too young. Many toddlers are terrified of fireworks, or as rsgmom's son calls them, "boom and lights." Other moms have to bring their toddlers because they are taking their older children to the show, or they live so close to the event that their toddlers will hear the action from inside the house. That's our deal. I just tell my daughter that it's thunder, put on her fan to drown out the booms, and that seems to do the trick. Other Toddler…

Swine flu party, anyone? R.S.V.P here. I've heard of chicken pox parties, but my husband just told me that some people are having swine flu parties.Parenting Web sites in the U.S. and Britain have been buzzing with the idea—some parents are considering bringing their kids to one of these parties in the hopes that they'll catch the disease now and build up their immunity. Doctors say it's not a good idea. Yes, parents have been exposing their kids to playmates to chicken pox for years, but doctors say that's a different story because chickenpox is a one-time only disease. The H1N1 virus, on…

My son is a big ham-and-cheese-sandwich kind of guy, so I appreciated finding this new twist on an old favorite in the Recipes Kids Love group. This one makes for a fast and easy lunch or a light dinner for those nights when you don't feel like "cooking" but you still want something warm in your little one's tummy. It's from mother of 4 jaydenblu ... You gotta be careful serving too much ham, though. It's high in fat and sodium. Some tasty low-sodium choices are often available at the deli counter. Once in a while, I splurge on a hormone and antibiotic free petite ham from Niman Ranch. They…

Photo by Veela I was amused to read that parents in the New York area are bringing their kids to a free day care service offered at furniture store IKEA—even if they aren't shopping for furniture! Some say it's a relaxing "date night" for them and their spouse: They can relax on the couches for 45 minutes while their kids have fun in the day care center.This reminds me of a story a friend of mine told me the other day. Her gym offers free day care as part of the monthly membership fee. Although she (obviously) adores her 2-year-old, sometimes she will go to the gym—even if she doesn't…

Photo by MattisMommy09 This came up recently at a friend's barbecue, and I'm sure with all the Fourth of July parties this weekend it's bound to be an issue again: Explaining to my 6 year old and 4 year old why they aren't allowed to handle sparklers, even though other kids are doing it. It's too bad I have to deprive my little ones of this Americana experience that I remember so fondly. Then again, at their age I also shot guns, rode around unrestrained in the bed of my dad's pickup on major roads, and did all sorts of other things that makes me wonder how I ever survived childhood in the…