Have you ever been Rickrolled? Not even sure what that is? Rickrolling is an internet bait and switch, generally, where a link is provided, ostensibly to some interesting and related content, but which actually turns out to be a link to a video of the 1987 music video of Rick Astley and his song "Never Gonna Give You Up." It's a harmless prank that has made its way from a few off-beat websites into even the real world.

So what's the point of telling you this? Well, for the first three months of his life, there were only two things that could get my son Jared to stop crying -- carrying him up and down stairs (thank goodness we have plenty of them!) and the song Time and Tide by the Polish pop star Basia. If you're having similar problems, you could try what worked for us or you could do what works for another family: rickrolling their baby.

Yep, they've got a baby that apparently calms down instantly when they put on Rick Astley's famous music video. While I don't envy their situation, there are worse things to have to endure -- like your baby crying. I'm lucky; my youngest son Ezra gets the same effect from Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kermit the Frog. So if Rick, Basia, and LBM don't work for your kid, keep looking -- that magical piece of music that calms them down instantly may yet be out there.

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Optave Inc., of Alpena, Michigan, in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, is voluntarily recalling their Action Baby Carriers. The chest strap on the carriers can come loose from the shoulder straps, potentially allowing the baby to fall. Such a "feature" would seem to be counter-productive to the product's intended purpose. Luckily, there have been no injuries reported.

The carriers affected by this recall were sold in various colors and patterns, and were available under the "Action Baby Carrier" brand name in retail stores across the country and on the internet in May and June of this year, for $80 to $90. If you have one of these carriers, do not use it in a position that requires the use of the chest straps. Instead, contact Optave for a free set of replacement straps. For more information, contact Optave Inc. at toll-free (866) 208-0269 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site.

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Kids hate tags. Heck, I hate tags. They're itchy, bothersome, and they're always sticking out. Parents everywhere have been cutting tags out of clothing for years, tired of listening to kids complaining about them. Then, some smart marketer had a great idea: Let's make clothing without tags. Peace reigned over the kingdom of children's apparel. Mostly.

It seems that something sinister is going on with Carter's Fall 2007 line of tagless baby clothing. Some parents are reporting that their babies are getting rashes and sores high up on their backs from the silk-screen label. According to The Consumerist, the problem is limited to the Fall 2007 line, so unless you're child is wearing hand-me-downs, this shouldn't affect your future Carter's purchasing plans.

It's not clear whether this is a problem with manufacturing or simply an allergy issue. And then there's this forum that suggests the problem isn't limited to the Carter's brand. If your child has had a reaction to a tagless tee, contact the company that made them. It sounds like Carter's, at least, is asking parents to send the clothing in and then refunding their money in the form of a voucher. Have you ever had a problem with tagless baby clothes?

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of more than three hundred thousand sets of Circo Rosette Bobbie Socks sold exclusively by Target, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, due to a potential choking hazard. The socks were sold in packs of six for about six dollars from January 2007 through July 2008.

The socks feature a ribbon which can detach and could be swallowed by a small child. Target has received four reports of the ribbons coming loose; thankfully, there have been no injuries. If you have any of these socks, take them away from your children and return them to the nearest Target for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's Web site at www.target.com.

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Wipes. Once you have a child, it seems impossible to get away from using them. They're everywhere and made to use for everything baby related. And there are so many different kinds to choose from, you find yourself sampling until you find the "right" wipe for your family. Some prefer the all-natural variety, some prefer antibacterial. Others prefer the sensitive skin version, and some just go for whatever is cheapest. Heck, you can even make your own baby wipes at home.

But, are wipes all they're cracked up to be? Are they really safe for all the uses for which they are available? I use them to wipe up during a diaper change. And I use them to wipe my hands. And I use them to wipe down the table after my son has his meal. And I've been known on occasion to use them to wipe his face after said meal. I've used them to wipe his nose instead of traditional tissues because they keep the skin on his nose from drying out.

My husband came home from Costco with a box of 700 wipes. Yes, 700. And all for the low cost of like $17. But are they good for the environment? Do they disintegrate or pile up in a landfill somewhere like everything else? Is it worth it for the convenience? And what about the organic versions versus the regular kind? Is there any real advantage to using chlorine-free wipes as opposed to generic ones? So many questions, so many wipes. They're invaluable when it comes to diaper changing duties, but other than that are they really worth it? I come from the cloth napkin world where little is thrown away or not reused, but I love the cleanliness and simplicity of the wipe. Is there any middle ground?

What is your favorite type of wipe, or have you found a way to get things (and your kids) clean without them?

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Move over, Texas -- they do things big in Colombia too. Real big. Like, an eleven-month-old Colombian boy that's already the size of an eight-year-old at sixty-one pounds. He started his massive growth spurt when he was two months old, according to his mother. He's undergoing tests to identify the cause of his massive size; doctors think he may have, among other issues, hyperthyroidism.

Meanwhile, another gigantic baby has come along, born weighing thirteen pounds, two ounces -- about what you'd expect a four-month-old to weigh. Angelly was born by Cesarean-section in northern Colombia and is doing well, other than some breathing problems requiring oxygen.

Unfortunately, being exceptionally big is not always sweetness and light. These kids will miss out on a lot of babyhood -- they're likely going to be too big for a crib altogether too soon, if they ever fit in one. (I know my youngest son, at four months and more than fifteen pounds, has already outgrown his bassinet.) Baby swings and most infant ride-ons are right out, and forget about playing airplane -- unless his dad looks like Andre the Giant (which would, however, explain a lot.)

Still, it's not all bad. Bigger kids tend to be able to hold their head up, sit up, and even walk sooner than their smaller counterparts. It's probably best to think about the positive aspects and hope they stay healthy and happy.

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Recently we all got a good laugh, intentional or not, from a mom who posted on Craigslist looking for a nanny. For those of you unfamiliar with Craigslist, it's a now international site where one can post or look for anything from a job to household goods (used baby clothes too!) to a hot date, and everything in between. Hence, it should come as no surprise that someone would post looking for a nanny.

Finding a good nanny, especially in a city as big as New York, can be daunting at best. Sure, there are many to choose from, but they're expensive and trolling through their credentials can be arduous. All the good ones seem to have been snatched up by a neighbor uninterested in doing a nanny share. Finding affordable daycare, however, can be twice as hard. There are waitlists and questionnaires long enough to boggle the mind. All the good ones are very expensive, and few if any actually provide a discount for siblings (often they will give your child preference over another if you already have a child in regular attendance).

I find myself in this very situation right now. To live in New York, I have to work full-time, so childcare is a necessity for me. I am a Brooklyn mom so things in my part of New York should be less expensive than, say, the Upper East Side (from whence the poster looking for a nanny hailed), but it's still eyepoppingly absurd how much everything costs. If I were to put both my kids in daycare it would cost more than my new mortgage. Yep. So a nanny seems like a good idea, if I could just find a good one that wasn't too expensive and that didn't need to live with me. I, too, have thought about posting on Craigslist. Perhaps not in quite the manner in which the other mother posted, but it's certainly crossed my mind. After all, folks post for everything else so why not?

Would you post for a nanny on Craigslist or any other site or is that a crazy idea? Also, if you happen to be a nanny or know of a good one in the New York area, please let me know. My kids are NOT a pain in the ass. They're cute.

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Let's set the record straight. Apparently there were some rumors out there that Victoria Beckham was keen on having additional children. Well, according to Posh Spice herself she doesn't want any more kids. While there was a time Victoria would've been interested in a fourth child, she says right now is not the time to be adding to her brood.

In fact, says Beckham, her life is too filled to have time for another child. She and soccer superstar David Beckham have three children between them, all sons. And Beckham notes that, like any other mom, she finds herself running each of them back and forth from all their activities. Her husband has a busy schedule with his soccer career, and she's pretty busy doing whatever it is she does.

Beckham was quick to point out that she has no problem with celebrities who do have larger families. She supports parents like Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt who adopt, noting she "respects" them but that it's not something she's considered.

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So you can add this to your list of essential parenting skills: keeping a poker face. It turns out, according to a new study, that kids as young as four months can read the emotions playing across your face. Apparently, they use the same brain regions as adults when processing the gaze of another person.

The four-month-olds in the study had a face that either looked at them or looked away and then smiled and raised its eyebrows, an indication of friendship. "In four-month-old babies we demonstrate very early specialisation, and indeed, an adult-like pattern of activation of the brain regions that process face-to-face social interaction," said Dr. Tobias Grossman of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck at the University of London.

Other studies have shown that autistic toddlers have difficulty making eye contact, so Dr. Grossman wants to focus on the importance of this skill in future research. Professor Mark Johnson, who also worked on the study, was quick to note, however, that "we are not claiming it could diagnose autism - merely that it may prove a useful early warning signal." Still, it seems to me that the more we know about these sorts of things, the better off we are.

So the moral of all this? Don't think you have an automatic upper hand when playing Texas Hold 'Em with your four-month-old. They can read you like a book.

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 44,000 Phil & Teds e3 Single Buggy, e3 Twin Buggy and sport v1 Single Buggy Strollers due to a laceration hazard. The manufacturer has received nine reports from consumers who have cut their fingers on the hinge locking mechanism when folding or unfolding the stroller. In May of 2006, 425 e3 Twin Buggy Strollers were also recalled.

Made in China and imported by Regal Lager Inc., of Kennesaw, Ga., the strollers were sold at baby furniture and baby products stores nationwide from August 2003 through August 2008 for between $400 and $650 each.

The single strollers have metal frames with three wheels, a cloth seat and canopy. The twin strollers have a metal frame with four wheels, side-by-side cloth seats and double sun canopies. They were sold in various colors including red, orange, green, black, charcoal and navy. The Phil & Teds logo is located on the crotch piece of the harness.

If you have one of the recalled strollers, you should stop using it immediately and contact Regal Lager to obtain a free hinge cover repair kit and instructions. You can reach them by calling (877) 242-5676 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.

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This product recall is a little different than others in that it isn't actually a product recall. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible "close-sleeper/bedside sleeper" bassinets do not meet the safety standards regarding spacing of the metal bars and pose an entrapment and strangulation hazard to infants. The products would be recalled, but SFCA Inc., the company which purchased all of Simplicity, Inc.'s assets at public auction in April, 2008, refuses to recall them. SFCA claims they are not responsible for products previously manufactured by Simplicity.

Clearly somebody needs to be responsible for the products because according to the CPSC, two infants have already strangled to death between the bassinet's metal bars - a 5-month old girl earlier this month and a 4-month-old girl in September of 2007. Since SFCA won't recall them, the CPSC is issuing a warning and urging all consumers to share this warning with day care centers, consignment stores, family and friends to ensure no more children are injured or killed sleeping in this bassinet.

The Simplicity 3-in-1 and 4-in-1 convertible bassinets have metal bars spaced farther apart than the 2 3/8 inches maximum allowed by federal crib safety standards. The metal bars are covered by an adjustable fabric flap which is attached by Velcro. The fabric is folded down when the bassinet is converted into a bed-side co-sleeping position. If the Velcro is not properly re-secured when the flap is adjusted, an infant can slip through the opening and become entrapped in the metal bars and suffocate. This warning does not cover bassinets produced in recent months that have fabric permanently attached over the lower bar.

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Do you read parenting books? For real, as in from cover to cover? Did you get anything at all out of the book? Was it overall a great buy with an excellent philosophy, or was there at least one nugget of sage advice that has helped you shape your parenting style? If the answer to that last question was yes, then perhaps parenting books are good for you. For others, not so much.

I remember when I first started writing for ParentDish--way back in the Blogging Baby days. I was pregnant and trying to figure out if I had what it took to be a parent. I bought oodles of parenting books and tried to plow through them as best as I could. I found lots of conflicting information, some of it outdated. I had lots of conversations with other parents and got more of the same. I even asked them what parenting books they recommended. Some loved certain books, some hated said books. One such book was "What to Expect when You're Expecting." I wrote a post about that and got innumerable comments of both praise and abhorring. So it is with any sort of parenting advice.

Once you become a parent, generally all the things you were so scared of dissipate. You become more confident in your decision making and parenting abilities. Most of the time, you actually become a better wife, daughter, friend, sister, etc. in the process. Did the parenting books help? Maybe, maybe not. Being a parent did. The things we all fear--that we'll be bad parents, that we'll hurt our children, that they'll be taken from us through our own negligence--seem to go away the more we actually practice parenting. And that means whatever parenting style comes most naturally to us or works out best for us. And it is different for every person. I don't think it really matters how much attention you paid to WTEWYE--you're probably doing OK in the mommy or daddy department. Parenting books, if you actually have time to read them (see: before children) might offer some insight, but only you will be able to determine the right approach to raising your kids.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 10,000 Taggies Strollin' Along Stroller Activity Bars due to a choking hazard. The importer has received three reports of the shiny material on the ear of the elephant detaching and children putting it in their mouths. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

Made in Hong Kong and imported by International Playthings Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., the activity bars were sold in specialty stores nationwide and online from February 2007 through July 2008 for about $23 each.

The recall involves multicolored, fabric and plastic stroller activity bars featuring a yellow giraffe, a purple hippo and a blue elephant attached to a 12" long elliptical base with straps that attach to a stroller. The Taggies and Earlyears® logo labels can be found sewn into the seam on the lower left front of the activity bar.

If you have one of these stroller bars, you should immediately stop using it and contact International Playthings for a free replacement toy. You can reach them by calling (800) 445-8347 or by visiting their Web site.

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I love being pregnant, and I love having kids. I love breastfeeding. But I hate, and hate is really not a strong word compared to how I actually feel, nursing bras. They're all terrible. First of all, they're gigantic. Breasts become fuller with milk, of course, so they get bigger...and bigger, and bigger and bigger until they feel like they're going to burst. Hence, once needs a giant bra for the giant breasts. I can get behind that--it's rational and makes sense.

What I don't understand is why they have to be so hideously ugly and not actually provide the support required to tote around said enormous breasts. And while I may be funny, I'm also being dead serious. I have three or four (I think I banished one it was so awful) nursing bras from various manufacturers that were clearly designed with someone who either has never had breasts swollen with milk or who never wanted to look even remotely attractive without her shirt on. Those with underwires are uncomfortable. Those without lack any real support.

There's also the issue of the bras never quite managing to hold onto the breastpads placed in them to keep them from getting covered with milk leakage. I have had, however, quite a bit of success with Lily Pads, which are technically designed to be worn under things with which one can wear no bra or at night when one doesn't want to wear a bra to bed. Some women have reverted to wearing regular bras in larger sizes or just going braless all together.

What about you? Do you hate nursing bras, or have you found one that answers your prayers? Do you have a trick for making them more comfortable, or at least more tolerable?

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Once upon a time, families traveling with small children got to board first, to give them time to get their little ones settled in, put away their luggage, toys, and snacks, and do whatever else they needed to do, without blocking the rest of the passengers from getting on the plane. Instead of standing in the aisle getting angry at the parents, the other passengers could sit comfortably in the terminal, getting annoyed with the airline.

Not so anymore, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Southwest, American, Delta, and United have all dropped the practice, although you can still ask to board early on American and Delta; it's up to the gate attendants. The reason isn't corporate hatred of families; studies have shown that boarding everyone together -- including the little ones -- saves ten to twelve minutes, on average.

"If you're bringing on people who need assistance -- younger kids -- all at once, you potentially create a bottleneck on the front end, as opposed to randomly dispersing them based on where people are sitting in the aircraft," says Anthony Black, a spokesman for Delta. "The best process is to board the aircraft normally." I imagine, too, that parents move a little quicker when they feel the stares of other passengers beating down on them and saving time is clearly more important than saving a parent's sanity.

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