The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Stork Craft Manufacturing Inc. has recalled about 535,000 baby cribs because 'metal support brackets used to support the crib mattress and mattress board can crack and break,' which can create gaps that can entrap and suffocate children.

These Stork Craft baby cribs were sold between May 2000 and November 2008 at all major retailers, including J.C. Penney, Kmart and Walmart. Parents should stop using the recalled cribs until they can be repaired with new mattress support brackets that you can get for free from Stork Craft.

Related:
CPSC - Stork Craft Baby Cribs Recall Alert
Stork Craft Recall Page
Crib Safety
Used Baby Cribs

The CDC is reporting another multistate outbreak of salmonella, a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. So far, 399 people have gotten sick with this strain of salmonella in 42 states since September 3, 2008.

This follows the large salmonella outbreak last year that affected 1438 people and was linked to raw jalapeño peppers and raw serrano peppers. It isn't known yet what is causing the latest salmonella infection, which makes it important to recognize salmonella symptoms if your child gets sick.

A peanut butter recall, of King Nut brand peanut butter because of salmonella contamination, suggests that peanut butter may once again be involved in a large, nationwide salmonella outbreak. More testing has to be done to see if these cases are linked.

Related:
CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Investigation
FDA: King Nut Issues Peanut Butter Recall
Pet Turtles and Salmonella
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Food Safety

The president's choice of surgeon general likely isn't something that has interested the average parent or pediatrician in recent years. Many probably can't even name the last few doctors to serve. They likely already know that Sanjay Gupta, the neurosurgeon/medical correspondent for CNN, is being considered as President-elect Barack Obama's choice for the next U.S. surgeon general though.

Since the surgeon general is 'America's chief health educator,' having someone with so much media experience is likely going to help a great deal, especially to get the many health problems we all face the exposure they need with all of the other problems that get so much attention.

Hopefully the next surgeon general, whoever it is, will give strong attention to the many medical issues facing our children, including:

• autism
• mental health problems, including childhood depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc., and promote greater access and availability of help
• teen pregnancy
• teen drug use
• childhood obesity
• child nutrition
• the lack of active free play and physical activity among today's children and teens
• school performance problems, including greater help for kids with learning disabilities and dyslexia
• food safety
• vaccine safety
• increasing access to health care for all children
• preventing birth defects and premature births

We often hear of New Year's Resolutions for people to exercise more, eat healthier, stop smoking, etc., but this year, how about adding some resolutions to help make you a more effective parent?

In addition to being a good role model for your kids, these Parenting New's Years Resolutions will help you with child nutrition, getting your kids more active, and get rid of problem behaviors.

Related:
New Year's Resolutions for Kids
10 Family Resolutions
Best Foods for Kids Quiz
Childhood Obesity Quiz