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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Fred and Courtney Ilarraza are the founders of Baby Bodyguards, a New York City-based company that offers "<keyword id="9859439" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="babyproofing">babyproofing</keyword>" services to expectant <keyword id="6359162" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="parents">parents</keyword>.</li><li>After having their first child in 2008, they realized that babyproofing their home was a big task, and decided to launch Baby Bodyguards to meet the needs of local parents.</li><li>Their services include everything from full-home babyproofing to in-home child and infant CPR, and expert instruction on car seat installation.</li><li>Since the pandemic, Fred Ilarraza says more clients want the $700 two-story babyproofing package, as many New York families have upsized or moved to larger homes outside of the city.</li><li>The company's most elaborate job to date was for a client renting a home in the Hamptons for just a month — the fee was $10,000 and it involved adding a removable pool fence.</li><li>Here's their story, as told to freelance author Jenny Powers.</li></ul>It was 2008 and my wife Courtney and I had just had our first child. As first-time parents, we began thinking about all the ways we needed to safeguard our home and since we had a lot of experts in our circle we reached out to them for advice. We wound up getting recommendations from pediatricians, child psychologists, and first responders, as well as other safety professionals. <div type="image" title="Courtney and Fred Ilarraza Baby Bodyguards" height="1085" width="1447" msid="77860464" hostid="261"></div><h2>During this process, we found there were no New York City-based babyproofing services.</h2>So, we decided to launch our own, called <a href="http://www.babybodyguards.com">Baby Bodyguards</a> (BBG).At the time, I was the owner of a title insurance company and Courtney was the deputy bureau chief for the Brooklyn District Attorney's office. Those first few months when I was holding down both jobs and leading a double life were difficult. I would leave the house in my BBG attire, do an installation then race to my car to change into a suit and tie and head off to a multi-million dollar closing. BBG was profitable from its first week but not in the same way a title insurance company is. That was our first real hurdle. We had this moment of 'How far do we take this?' and 'Can we afford to do this?' because at that point it wasn't profitable unless I was doing everything. We had to choose whether to continue offering a service we believed in, or stick with just making money at our jobs. We decided to go all-in with BBG right before the market imploded. The beginning was rough, and thankfully Courtney still had a job with benefits. It took over a year before we needed employees but from there, it took off and Courtney was in a position to leave her job and work for BBG full-time. <h2>Twelve years later, we've babyproofed nearly 12,000 homes.</h2>We've got three children now, and are still the only New York City-based babyproofing business around. You need an insane amount of storage and a ton of inventory to do this type of business, and most New Yorkers just don't have that kind of space. We live in Brooklyn and have a basement, garage, driveway, and a backyard where we can store bulk supplies and pallets of product. <h2>Every job begins with a comprehensive home evaluation where me or one of our five employees does a room-by-room walk-through.</h2><div type="image" title="Fred BBG Fred Ilaraza" height="2179" width="2305" msid="77860466" hostid="261"></div>From there, we email a PDF detailing everything we covered, along with a quote. Due to the pandemic, all of our consultations are now virtual. It was really a eureka moment when we realized we could have been doing them virtually all along. In the past, when we've scheduled home visits, sometimes only one caregiver could be there; now this way, everyone can be conferenced in from wherever they are. Moving forward, we're going to stick with virtual consults because it's more inclusive and saves a lot of time.We offer several packages which include products and installation. One Level Living costs $350, and is a soup-to-nuts package designed to cover all the basic items you'd require to secure a single-story home such as drawer and cabinet latches, sliding cover outlets, and soft corner guards. This used to be our most popular package, but since the pandemic began, Duplex Delight ($700) which is tailored to a two-story home has been far more popular, as many families have relocated to the suburbs or upsized in the city.We also have a la carte options available, because everyone's needs and homes are different. <h2>The most elaborate job we've ever done was for a client renting a home in the Hamptons.</h2>The architect, house manager, realtor, designer, owner, and renter were all present with a list of what we could and couldn't do in the home. The fee was $10,000, and the client was only renting the home for a month. My title insurance skills came into play on this job, as we had to come up with solutions that met everyone's needs and criteria on the fly. I had to remind the owner a few times on the liability involved in telling a renter they couldn't safeguard something that was inherently dangerous. We worked with them to create solutions that wouldn't harm the home, but would make it safe. The owner got to keep the removable pool fence — one of the most expensive parts of the job — to use for future tenants at no cost to him. It was a win/win for everyone.We also offer private car seat installation lessons where a certified child passenger safety technician will teach you how to properly install your car seat. If your car seat isn't installed properly, you run the risk of your child not being protected in a crash. This is why we insist on actually teaching people how to install it, rather than simply checking the seat or installing it ourselves.Courtney also teaches private in-home infant and child CPR. <div type="image" title="Baby Bodyguards." height="1498" width="1997" msid="77860468" hostid="261"></div><h2>There are common mistakes many expectant parents make when doing their own babyproofing.</h2>A lot of parents want to use those electrical outlet caps, which are more of a choking hazard than a protective measure. Also, when you preemptively install stove knob covers, you effectively add five toys to the front of the range that resembles an activity center to a child.A lot of people install toilet locks and wind up creating a false sense of security for themselves by assuming they can now leave the bathroom door open. Kids can still climb onto the toilet and fall and hit their head or attempt to give themself a bath. It's better to install something on the bathroom door that requires an adult to operate, mitigating any dangers that may present themselves in the room itself. These days before a job, our team all gets temperature checks, and none of us use public transportation. In addition to taking our shoes off on the job, which is customary, we wear facemasks and sanitizer holsters. <h2>The best time to have your home babyproofed is when the child is six months old and getting ready to crawl.</h2>If you're still pregnant and nesting, it's a bit too early to book us. But don't worry, we'll be here when you need to.

Wealthy expectant parents in New York are paying this couple hundreds of dollars to baby-proof their homes

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"></a><ul class="summary-list"><li>Cabinet safety locks are a babyproofing necessity.</li><li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Jool Baby Safety Straps</a> are an easy-to-install child-safety solution that resists toddler tampering.</li><li>Unlike other safety locks, the bendable and adjustable straps provide flexibility for installing on corner cabinets and appliances.</li></ul>There are a lot of ways children can wreak havoc on your home. At 14 months old, my toddler learned quickly and enthusiastically how to open the cabinet doors throughout our kitchen. From under the sink (what colorful, splashy bottles!) to the corner next to the stove (look at all those glass spice jars and pot lids!), nothing was safe. Since my home has an open floor plan that doesn't accommodate a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-baby-gate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">baby gate</a>, I needed some help keeping these doors and items safely off-limits. Now that my son is 18 months old, most of our non-child-friendly items are tucked away in hard-to-reach places or in cabinets with hidden doors.For everything else, we have <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Jool Baby Safety Straps</a>. The versatile safety locks are easy to install and handle, and there's no need to keep track of multiple pieces.<h2>Setting up the safety locks</h2>Our kitchen cabinet layout is punctuated by appliances and there is a large corner unit, so we needed locks we could set up both straight across and around corners. We also needed the option to use them on large appliances, like the stove. Strap locks are flexible enough to check off all these boxes because they are anchored in two places with a strap that connects them.Each <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Jool Baby lock</a> consists of two anchors and a strap. The straps can be adjusted from 3 to 7 inches, and the anchors secured with the attached 3M adhesive. No tools or hardware are needed. Setting up the first one was a little tricky, but once I got the hang of adjusting the size and figuring out the placement, the rest was easy to do. Each anchor is two pieces, one attached to the top of the strap and the other attached underneath with adhesive backing to secure it to a cabinet or appliance.One anchor is designated for sizing: You slide the top piece out to extend the strap to its preferred width, and once it's adhered to the surface, that's how it stays. The other anchor contains the lock mechanism, which is controlled by a small sliding component that releases the top piece from the bottom. The top piece then clicks easily back into place.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"><div type="image" title="Jool Baby Lock close" height="900" width="1200" msid="75301729" hostid="261"></div></a><h2>The safety straps are small but mighty</h2><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">These simple locks</a> have proved to be quite strong. One of the locked kitchen cabinets in question is where our snacks are stored, and although the lock is near the top of this 3-foot high door, it holds firm even against the most frantic of pulling from the bottom. We taught our big kid, 4 1/2 years old, how to open the locks because we trust her not to take advantage of this knowledge, but she does need two hands to do it.We have not had to place them on the stove or dishwasher (yet), but I'm confident their strength would hold on those devices as well. As such, the list of potential uses gets even longer: microwave, toilet, refrigerator, washer/dryer. If it opens on a hinge, the versatile <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Jool Baby strap lock</a> is here for you. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"><div type="image" title="Jool Baby Close2" height="900" width="1200" msid="75301730" hostid="261"></div></a><h2>They're easy for adults to unlatch one-handed while multitasking</h2>With two small children, including one toddler who is somehow always in three places at once, one of the biggest criteria for me in choosing a cabinet safety solution was the ability to use it quickly and easily. Unlike other styles, and even other strap locks, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">Jool Baby strap locks</a> are usable with one hand. Things usually get pretty hectic in the kitchen, and being able to maintain the ability to multitask, including when I've got the little one on my hip, without adding to my mental load was a huge win.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored"><div type="image" title="Jool Baby lock4" height="900" width="1200" msid="75301731" hostid="261"></div></a><h2>The cons</h2>Like most <keyword id="6361460" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Child-Safety">child safety</keyword> gear, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072KPZMMV/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_031120_jool-baby-cabinet-locks-product-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B072KPZMMV&amp;linkId=5341f1ff003b9a74a423728c30d10f39003b9a74a423728c30d10f39" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow sponsored nofollow sponsored">these strap locks</a> are not particularly attractive. We got lucky that they are white like our kitchen cabinets, but they would definitely stick out a lot more otherwise. Also, since they are attached with adhesives, it stands to reason that there will be unsightly residue once they are removed — something Amazon reviewers have indicated.<h2>The bottom line</h2>If you need cabinet locks, it's likely because you're the parent of a small but swift human whose daily goals revolve exclusively around destruction. Spare yourself a ton of time and frustration by investing in <keyword id="1591238" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="child-locks">child locks</keyword> that only require one hand to latch and unlatch.Pros: One-handed usage, flexible in where and to what they can be adhered, resists toddler tamperingCons: Not particularly attractive, may leave adhesive residue upon removalRead the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/jool-baby-safety-strap-locks-review">Insider</a>

I used these safety locks to babyproof my kitchen, and they've stood up against my determined toddler

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Tanguy and Lucie Yu gave up city life in Paris to move to Bali in 2019.</li><li>Their house, located amid rice paddies, took 4 months to build and has a garden indoors.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@luciechmelova9768">Tanguy and Lucie Yu</a> first visited <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/millennial-couple-investment-property-villa-bali-retirement-2024-5">Bali</a> together in 2018 for a monthlong vacation.That year, Lombok, a neighboring island, experienced a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/10351#:~:text=Ref%20%2312216%3A,units%20and%20damaged%20social%20facilities.">6.9-magnitude earthquake</a> that could be felt even in Bali, which was 40 minutes away by plane."We couldn't travel much to the other islands because the boats weren't working, so we rented motorbikes, and we did road trips to see all the different parts of the main island," Lucie, 35, told Business Insider.<div type="image" title="A man holding a baby posing for a photo with a woman." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047000" hostid="261" sizebytes="75570"></div>The couple, who was living in Paris at the time, was blown away by the simplicity of life on the island and the generosity of the people they met."Farmers whose houses were damaged by the earthquake still invited us over for coffee. They had a smile on their faces and were just happy to be alive," Lucie said. "It was a sign that this place had some magic."A year later, in September 2019, the couple packed up their lives and moved across the globe to Bali.<h2 id="a0e6c01b-8e45-4fbe-bb23-d13c21368609">Finding land</h2><div type="image" title="The exterior of their home in Bali." height="854" width="1139" msid="111046999" hostid="261" sizebytes="147114"></div>Initially, they planned to use Bali as a base to travel around Asia. But six months later, the pandemic hit and derailed their plans.Around then, Tanguy cofounded <a target="_blank" href="https://www.astungkaraway.com/">Astungkara Way</a>, a regenerative travel company. That spurred the couple's decision to put down more permanent roots in Bali, so they started looking for land to build on.During their first year in Bali, the couple lived in Kerobokan, an area sandwiched between the bustling, tourist-filled neighborhoods of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-x-couple-builds-family-home-bali-sell-empty-nester-2024-6">Canggu</a> and Seminyak.<div type="image" title="A pathway leading to the front door of the house. There's a garden inside the house." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047001" hostid="261" sizebytes="159462"></div>"It was very busy, very loud, and a lot of traffic," Lucie said.They knew they wanted to be somewhere quieter, and a friend introduced them to the property 10 miles north in Kediri, where they now live.The only criterion they had was that the land couldn't be a rice paddy since part of the travel company's mission is to protect rice paddies."We thought that it was too far from things like hospitals and shops. But when he took us here, and we stepped on this land, we felt this was the place we wanted to be," Lucie said.<div type="image" title="The living area and sofa." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047002" hostid="261" sizebytes="151628"></div>They had viewed three other plots of land before they found this."The land was basically the village dump and the soil was full of trash. It took us two weeks to clean everything up," Lucie said.She added that back in 2020, there was only one local village in the area, although things have changed since."We were like the last point before the rice paddies started and we were promised that it would stay that way," Lucie said. But two months later, a new 160-home development broke ground on the land just beyond their property.<h2 id="2e81bc46-8c04-48db-af76-1efbf1733ce9">Building a low-impact house</h2>In local measurements, their land spans 15 are — about 16,145 square feet.The couple says they paid 4.5 million Indonesian rupiah per are each year for a 25-year lease, which amounts to about 1.687 billion Indonesian rupiah in total, or about $103,500 in today's currency.<div type="image" title="The living area and sofa." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047005" hostid="261" sizebytes="157520"></div>Building the home took about four months, and they estimate they spent about $70,000 on the build.The couple's house is surrounded by their lush outdoor garden. A dirt pathway with an overhead trellis covered in creepers leads from the gate at the edge of their property to the couple's front door.The entire front section of the house is shielded by a giant insect net — meant for greenhouses — to prevent mosquitoes from entering.<div type="image" title="The kitchen island doubles as a dining table." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047006" hostid="261" sizebytes="74552"></div>"You get sun, you get wind, you get rain in the house as well, which is really nice, but you don't get bugs," Tanguy, 40, told BI.There's even a garden inside the house, which helps keep their home cool even without a cooling system.The couple's home was designed and built by the late architect Tony Gwilliam, a close family friend. The inspiration behind its design was another similar building prototype that Gwilliam had constructed in the <a target="_blank" href="https://bloolagoon.com/">Bloo Lagoon Eco Village</a>, a resort located along the east coast of Bali.<div type="image" title="The kitchen." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047004" hostid="261" sizebytes="85208"></div>"We went for a road trip during our first week in Bali, and we stopped by the Bloo Lagoon Eco Village because we wanted to see their permaculture garden. In the middle of the garden was the first prototype of our house, and we just fell in love with its concept," Lucie said.It was a six-meter cube made from steel, and the couple liked the idea of incorporating that material into their build."If you're using steel, you can have very small foundational elements," Tanguy said.<div type="image" title="The bathroom." height="960" width="1280" msid="111047007" hostid="261" sizebytes="46690"></div>For instance, the couple's house is supported by six steel pillars and made from local brick. Because it's light, the house can also be taken down and fit in a container to be moved if required."It doesn't take much space, and it doesn't require many materials," Tanguy added.As he explained, Gwilliam and the couple were inspired by architect R. Buckminster Fuller's ideas about <a target="_blank" href="https://www.moma.org/collection/works/804#:~:text=%22How%20much%20does%20your%20house,weighed%20only%20three%20tons%3B%20its">the weight of a house</a>, which is related to its environmental impact.<div type="image" title="The bedroom." height="960" width="1280" msid="111047008" hostid="261" sizebytes="61894"></div>"How much material was extracted from the ground, transported, and transformed? When you have a big concrete villa, the impact of those is colossal," Tanguy said.Even the home's interiors are fairly minimal, with each piece of furniture designed by the couple and made by local craftsmen."Maybe we're getting older, we're less attached — and this is also what the idea of coming here was about, to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/shannen-doherty-90210-declutter-downsize-breast-cancer-mom-2024-4">less attached to material things</a> and more attached to how we feel, how we live, how we are as a couple, as parents, and just focusing more on life," he said.Now, even with an infant son in tow, they have a slower pace of life.Every day, they spend time as a family and walk their three dogs along the beach, which is less than 10 minutes away on foot. The couple also has two cats, and they rear chickens and grow their own produce in the garden.<div type="image" title="A little play area for the baby." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047010" hostid="261" sizebytes="114724"></div>"The only thing that we didn't think about when we were creating the house was that we were going to have a baby, so it's not very baby-proof," Lucie added.That said, the layout can be easily adjusted because of the house's design and materials."If we want to add two more rooms, we can still do it within the space," she said. "We can improve it as we grow according to our needs."<h2 id="482b5f10-b856-495e-bee0-8f6d7d8f90de">Be part of the solution, not the problem</h2>Tanguy acknowledges that mass tourism has greatly impacted Bali and its natural ecosystems. He points to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2024/04/29/news/tipping-point-tourism-sustainability-bali-water-shortages#:~:text=Over%2065%20per%20cent%20of,water%20in%20a%20few%20years.">island's ongoing water crisis</a> and the destruction of Bali's natural landscapes for materials as examples.<div type="image" title="The garden." height="854" width="1139" msid="111047003" hostid="261" sizebytes="260668"></div>"I think people should move here if they want to contribute, but if they are here to just extract value from the people, from unregulated resource management, then they should reconsider," Tanguy said. "It's a pretty fragile part of the world."He added that there are plenty of eco-tourism alternatives that are now available on the island."There are a lot of hotels that are trying to do better, who are growing their own food, doing wastewater treatment or sourcing their food locally," Tanguy said. "If you come to Bali, go there and support. The same thing for restaurants.""Make sure to be part of the solution," he added.Have you recently built or renovated your dream home? If you've got a story to share, get in touch with me at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:agoh@businessinsider.com">agoh@businessinsider.com</a>.

Their trip to Bali was going to be a month long. But they fell in love with the island and built a house near the sea, giving up city life for good.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A mom shared a TikTok video about her 3-year-old son in July that garnered 3 million views.</li><li>She said her son snuck out of their home and walked to a local McDonald's during nap time. </li></ul>A Wisconsin mother said her three-year-old son snuck out of their home during nap time to get McDonald's. Marissa Phiffer shared the anecdote in a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mamarissax2/video/7262131412235537707?embed_source=121355058%2C121351166%2C121331973%2C120811592%2C120810756%3Bnull%3Bembed_blank&amp;refer=embed&amp;referer_url=iframe.nbcnews.com%2F4vpfTbZ%3F_showcaption%3Dtrue%26app%3D1&amp;referer_video_id=7262131412235537707" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok video</a> on July 31, the same day her son took an unexpected solo outing. In an interview with Insider, Phiffer said the ordeal unfurled that afternoon after waking up from a nap with her toddler twins, Aiden and Aleiya. Phiffer described herself as a "helicopter parent," so she waited for her children to fall asleep in their cribs before she slept on the floor nearby.But when Phiffer awoke, she discovered both Aiden and his shoes were missing."I wake up and look over at his crib," Phiffer said. "His crib is to the left, and his mattress is to the right — you can just tell he escaped."Aiden is a bit of an "escape artist," according to Phiffer, but she said he usually climbs out of his crib at night to play with his toys. She quickly searched for Aiden in the house but realized he'd left once she spied the front door.To her surprise, she told Insider Aiden had unlocked the screen and front doors."I was more worried about everything inside the home, like outlet plugs and cabinet locks. I wasn't thinking about him leaving the house," she said.Phiffer said she called 911 and canvassed the neighborhood with the help of her family. Local authorities arrived quickly and, fortunately, had answers.She added that Aiden had walked a half-mile to the McDonald's down the street, and officers confirmed it by showing Phiffer a photo they took of him at the fast food restaurant. A Good Samaritan had called authorities after seeing Aiden wandering.Phiffer rushed to the McDonald's to reunite with Aiden, who was unfazed and enjoying the restaurant's playground."He was like, 'Hi, mom!'" Phiffer said. Aiden's disappearing act was overwhelming at the moment, but in retrospect, Phiffer said she sees the humor in the situation. She told her followers in another<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mamarissax2/video/7263980040101154090" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> TikTok video</a> that she's since added additional locks to her home so it won't happen again."It was only funny once I found out where he was," she added. "He loves McDonald's, and he's always wanted to go to the playground."On TikTok, Phiffer's story resonated with other parents, some of whom shared similar experiences in the comment section. She said the response has been positive for the most part, which she didn't necessarily expect when she posted the video. The internet is quick to mom shame, and a previous video she posted of her daughter roused opinions from some TikTok users. "I did not expect everyone to be like, 'It's OK, mama. I've done this, too,'" she said, adding that she's not easily bothered by trolls or people criticizing her. "I know I'm a good parent," she said. "Nothing they can say can make me think otherwise."

A 3-year-old toddler snuck out of his crib to go on a solo McDonald's date. His mom says she felt seen by other parents who've experienced the same thing.

We've dug into the <keyword id="6354910" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="careers">careers</keyword> and lives of a wide range of professionals to find out what their <keyword id="11018" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Jobs">jobs</keyword> are really like, how they got started in their industries, and what it takes to be successful in their roles.From a Christie's auctioneer to a Starbucks barista to a tarot card reader, our job diaries profile dozens of unique careers that people are curious about. We spoke to a USPS employee who's been working tirelessly through the pandemic, a fintech president managing her company from home, and a celebrity dog groomer who charges $300 an hour to pamper wealthy people's pets. There's a phone sex operator who made $258,000 in one year working from her car just a few nights a week and a webcam model who brings in $1,000 a day. Here's an inside look at their journeys, their days, and their advice for other aspiring professionals. An ethical hacker: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ethical-hacker-how-to-protect-yourself-online-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a 'white hat' hacker. Here's what my job is like, and 5 things I think everyone should do to protect their personal information.</a>A nautical performer: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-diary-day-in-the-life-of-a-professional-mermaid-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a professional mermaid who makes upwards of $250 for an appearance. Here's how I turned my passion for cosplay into a business.</a>Home baby-proofers: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-diary-new-york-couple-helps-parents-babyproof-homes-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wealthy expectant parents in New York are paying this couple hundreds of dollars to baby-proof their homes</a>A charity auctioneer: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-diary-live-auctioneer-for-christies-landed-job-at-24-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a live auctioneer for Christie's. Here's how I landed the job at 24 and what a day in my life looks like.</a>A cat sitter in Australia: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-its-like-being-cat-sitter-for-strangers-during-covid-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a cat sitter who just finished my first pandemic-era job. Here's how I landed the gig in a competitive cat-sitting market — and why it was surprisingly easy.</a>A rideshare driver in New York: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-life-of-uber-driver-in-nyc-during-covid-19-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm an Uber driver in NYC who's been disinfecting her car after every ride since the pandemic started</a>A nail artist: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-diary-mobile-celebrity-manicurist-for-nearly-50-years-2020-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a mobile manicurist who travels around NYC giving $85 manicures to clients who all want to keep me a secret</a>A best friend for the wedding: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/job-diary-a-day-in-the-life-of-professional-bridesmaid-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: As a professional bridesmaid, I deal with everything from missing grooms to wedding crashers. Here's what a day in my life is really like.</a>An at-home sex worker: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/phone-sex-operator-job-diary-working-during-pandemic-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a phone sex operator who made over $258,000 in one year. During the pandemic, I'm busier than ever.</a>A balloon artist: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-artist-business-custom-balloon-installations-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I love balloons so much that I left my career as a wedding planner to start my own custom balloon installation business. My job often starts when everyone else leaves the office — here's what a typical day looks like.</a>An adult film actress: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/porn-star-making-five-figures-from-home-during-pandemic-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I'm a 32-year-old porn star making five figures a month from home during the pandemic. My secret weapon is my gift of gab.</a>A KonMari organizer: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/konmari-consultant-during-pandemic-day-in-life-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I'm certified in Marie Kondo's tidying methods and have been helping people declutter their homes virtually during the pandemic — here's what a typical day is like</a>A USPS worker: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/postal-worker-for-17-years-nerve-racking-see-whats-happening-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I've been a postal worker for 17 years, and I'm unnerved by the current situation: 'It's getting scarier</a>'A fintech president: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/a-day-in-the-life-fintech-executive-new-york-covid-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Inside the daily routine of a fintech executive who spends her days championing diversity in the world of investing — and balances all of it with spending time with her wife and kids</a>A webcam model: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/webcam-model-working-from-home-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: At age 46, I earn over $1,000 a day as a webcam model. It's my ideal job — here's why.</a>A rural beekeeper: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/im-a-beekeeper-at-hotel-connect-community-with-bees-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I've been a beekeeper for 4 decades, co-founded an urban bee non-profit, and now I work at a hotel connecting the community through beekeeping</a>A barista in New Jersey: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-barista-what-my-job-is-like-during-the-pandemic-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I've been a Starbucks barista for 8 years. Working at the coffee chain sometimes feels like a social experiment.</a>A personal stylist: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-life-bay-area-stylist-single-mom-during-covid-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A day in the life of a Bay Area fashion stylist and single mom who is working from home during the pandemic</a>A tarot card reader: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/professional-tarot-reader-heres-what-my-days-are-like-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Job diary: I've been a professional tarot card reader for over 20 years — here's what my days are like</a>A celebrity magician: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-life-magician-hired-by-billionaires-2020-7?r=job-diary-lp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A day in the life of a 'billionaire's magician,' who's hired to fly around the world and entertain the elite</a>An English teacher in France: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/teaching-english-abroad-isnt-as-easy-as-you-think-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">For 2 years I taught English in small, idyllic cities in southwest France — and it wasn't the vacation I thought it would be</a>A kids' etiquette instructor: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/social-etiquette-instructor-for-kids-teaching-virtually-during-covid-19-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I run a children's etiquette school in NYC. Here's how I'm helping my high-profile clients' kids learn manners and people skills amid a pandemic.</a>A counselor: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-life-of-pregnant-mental-health-counselor-during-covid-19-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I'm pregnant and a mental health counselor. I've been meeting my clients in person during the pandemic despite the health risks — here's why</a>An intern and social media influencer: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-intern-tiktok-influencer-day-in-the-life-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I'm a Google intern and TikTok influencer who's living with my parents in Texas for the summer — here's what my days are like</a>A luxury dog groomer: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/celebrity-dog-groomer-charges-300-an-hour-luxury-pet-haircuts-2020-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I'm a celebrity dog groomer in NYC who charges $300 an hour to pamper pets — I even give henna treatments to make dogs look younger</a>A COVID-19 tester: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/day-in-the-life-of-coronavirus-tester-in-south-carolina-2020-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A day in the life of a COVID-19 tester in South Carolina, where new cases surged to a record-breaking daily high this week</a>Business Insider regularly interviews top business leaders who are propelling their companies to success during the coronavirus pandemic. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/subscription/prime">Read about them by subscribing to Business Insider</a>.

JOB DIARIES: An inside look at the day-to-day lives of successful professionals from every industry

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The second trimester marks the middle of your <keyword id="6357793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="pregnancy">pregnancy</keyword> and lasts from weeks 13-26.</li><li>You can look forward to learning the baby's sex, feeling the fetus move, and reduced nausea.</li><li>During the second trimester, the fetus will grow from the size of a peach to a head of lettuce.</li></ul>The second trimester of pregnancy spans weeks 13-26 and usually marks a turning point for you and your baby. This trimester is often referred to as the "honeymoon period," because symptoms from the first trimester, like <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-helps-with-pregnancy-nausea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">morning sickness</a>, start to fade, says <a href="https://www.drsherry.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sherry Ross</a>, MD, an OB-GYN with her own private practice.Related Article Module: When do pregnancy cravings start and which cravings are a red flagIn the second trimester, the baby grows rapidly and can hear sounds and voices from outside the womb, says Ross. Highlights during this period include finding out the sex of the baby (if you want to) and feeling the baby move. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect in the second trimester. <h1>13 to 14 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/986" target="_blank" rel="noopener">3.5 inches</a> and 1.5 ounces, about the size of a peach.</li><li>What's developing in the womb: The baby's blood, bones, and genitals.</li><li>What are common symptoms: A common <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/13-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptom</a> around this time is an increased <a href="https://www.insider.com/sex-positions-while-pregnant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sex drive</a>, due to the <a href="https://www.insider.com/sex-positions-while-pregnant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pregnancy hormones</a>. And your belly and breasts will continue to grow, says Ross.</li><li>What to look out for: At your next ultrasound, your healthcare provider may ask you if you want to know the sex of the baby. Ross says your healthcare provider will also conduct additional tests to look at your baby's anatomy and check for any developmental risks like Down's syndrome. </li></ul><h1>15 to 16 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/1058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">4.75 inches</a> and four ounces, roughly the size of an avocado.</li><li>What's developing in the womb: The baby's facial expressions and hearing, so the baby can start to hear noises like your heartbeat.</li><li>What are common symptoms: <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/pregnancy/art-20047732" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Symptoms</a> like skin changes (<a href="https://www.insider.com/best-ingredients-for-hyperpigmentation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">melasma</a>), nasal congestion, dizziness, leg cramps, headaches, and white <a href="https://www.insider.com/pregnancy-discharge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vaginal discharge</a> are common during this trimester, says Ross. </li><li>What to look out for: You may start to feel your baby move from <a href="https://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/pregnancy/trimesters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">week 16</a> onwards. Initially, the movements will feel like a fluttering sensation, known as "quickening." You may not feel them every day at first so don't worry if it's not consistent.</li></ul><h1>17 to 18 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/1058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">five inches</a> and eight ounces, about the size of a sweet potato.</li><li>What's developing in the womb: The beginnings of eyebrows, eyelashes, and lines along the baby's hands.</li><li>What are common symptoms: You may have <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/18-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stomach pain</a> during the second trimester, due to constipation, gas, or growing pains. This may be normal or an indication of something more serious.</li><li>What to look out for: "<a href="https://www.insider.com/bleeding-during-pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vaginal bleeding</a>, uterine cramping, leakage of clear or bloody fluid, or pelvic pressure could be troubling second-trimester <a href="https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=pregnancy-whats-normal-and-whats-not-1-4076" target="_blank" rel="noopener">complications</a>," says Ross. She says frequent urination, increased discharge, lower back pain, headaches, and diarrhea are also <a href="https://www.beaumont.org/conditions/pregnancy-warning-signs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">symptoms</a> that you should report to your healthcare provider. </li></ul><h1>19 to 20 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week20.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">six inches</a> and 11 ounces, roughly the size of a cantaloupe.</li><li>What's developing in the womb: A thick waxy coating that protects the baby.</li><li>What are common symptoms: As your belly grows and the skin adjusts, it may cause some pigmentation that typically shows up as a <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/20-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dark line</a> down the middle of your stomach. As the fetus grows it will put pressure on your stomach, lungs, kidneys, and bladder, which may cause a stretching sensation in your groin area which is known as <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/round-ligament-pain/faq-20380879" target="_blank" rel="noopener">round ligament pain.</a> On the upside, your hair may look thicker, shinier, and shed less. </li><li>What to look out for: Week 20 is the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20046151" target="_blank" rel="noopener">halfway-mark</a> of your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may conduct an ultrasound around this time. If this is your first pregnancy, you'll start feeling the baby's movements by this time.</li></ul><h1>21 to 22 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20046151" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7.5 inches</a> and one pound, approximately the size of a spaghetti squash. </li><li>What's developing in the womb: The baby's taste buds and sense of touch, so the baby may start to experiment by sucking a thumb or stroking a limb.</li><li>What are common symptoms: You may experience an increased appetite. You'll also likely see <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-rid-of-stretch-marks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stretch marks</a> on your belly, breasts, or thighs that appear red at first and then fade to a silvery-white. As your body starts to prepare for the baby's arrival, your breasts may start to leak <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Colostrum-Your-Babys-First-Meal.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">colostrum</a>, a nutritious fluid that your body produces before your milk comes in. Ross says you may also experience <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week22.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Braxton Hicks contractions</a>, which are typically irregular and painless, almost like a squeezing sensation. </li><li>What to look out for: Contact your healthcare provider if your contractions are frequent, intense, or painful, as that could indicate premature labor. </li></ul><h1>23 to 24 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/1058" target="_blank" rel="noopener">eight inches</a> and 1.25 pounds, about the size of an ear of corn. </li><li>What's developing in the womb: The <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/24-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lungs</a> and vital organs have developed to the extent that with neonatal care the baby has a chance of surviving if you deliver early; however, there is a possibility of disability.</li><li>What are common symptoms: As you get closer to delivery, <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week23.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">factors</a> like cramps, <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-rid-of-heartburn-during-pregnancy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heartburn</a>, anxiety, backaches, and needing to urinate can make it hard for you to sleep.</li><li>What to look out for: The baby will typically get pretty active around this time, so you'll probably feel movements and occasionally even hiccups. </li></ul><h1>25 to 26 weeks pregnant</h1><ul><li>How big is the baby: Around <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/fetal-development/art-20046151" target="_blank" rel="noopener">nine inches</a> and two pounds, approximately the size of a head of lettuce. </li><li>What's developing in the womb: The baby starts growing hair and may start responding to your touch or voice.</li><li>What are common symptoms: Carrying the extra weight can cause back pain. You may feel bloated and have swelling in your face, hands, and feet, due to <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/13-to-27/25-weeks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water retention</a>. You may also leak a little urine when you sneeze or cough.</li><li>What to look out for: Typically, between weeks 24 and 28, your healthcare provider will do a prenatal test to check for <a href="https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/week24.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gestational diabetes</a>, which is a form of diabetes that can occur during pregnancy and lead to complications.</li></ul><h1>Insider's takeaway</h1>Related Article Module: How much weight you should gain during each trimester of pregnancy, according to doctorsAs the baby grows rapidly in the second trimester, you'll start to experience symptoms like stretch marks, gas, and constipation. But you'll also likely have a lot more energy than you did in the first trimester, which can be a good time for you and your partner to start baby-proofing the home, finalizing your birth plan, and joining prenatal classes."This is an important trimester to make sure you are gaining the appropriate amount of weight, exercising regularly, and getting adequate amounts of sleep," says Ross. <a data-type="5dd69bde79d757697c271c74">Pregnancy symptoms you can expect each trimester of your pregnancy and how to alleviate them</a><a data-type="5dd1ddc879d757433c48c2d4">Yes, pregnancy can cause acne but there are safe ways to treat it</a><a data-type="5e556973a9f40c38900d9e4c">You can take probiotics when pregnant. Science-backed benefits are few</a><a data-type="5e53fa8fa9f40c04af1d65ad">What is a doula and how to know if one is right for your pregnancy</a>

Why the second trimester is often called the 'honeymoon period' of pregnancy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>After her toddler son died in an accident involving an <keyword id="6371031" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="IKEA">Ikea</keyword> dresser, Crystal Ellis became an advocate for child product safety.</li><li>Ellis and product safety attorney Dan Mann spoke about the lax environment around consumer protection at a Kids in Danger video conference on July 16.</li><li>"Parents believe that anything in the marketplace has been tested and vetted by the government," Ellis said. "It's sad that that's not true."</li><li>An Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement that the company commends Ellis and other advocates' efforts to "raise awareness about tip-over prevention."</li><li>"IKEA is committed to helping move the entire industry ahead when it comes to product safety," the spokesperson said in a statement sent to Business Insider.</li></ul>On the morning of June 11, 2014, Crystal Ellis checked on her son Camden before dawn, finding him safe and asleep. Two days away from his third birthday, Camden had just spent his second night in his "big boy" bed.Later that morning, Ellis set about feeding her newborn daughter while her husband Charles went upstairs to wake Camden for breakfast. But when Charles entered the toddler's room, he found the boy pinned under a three-drawer Ikea Malm dresser. Camden was rushed to a hospital, where he lingered on a ventilator for four days. Two days after his birthday, Camden's parents removed their son from life support.Since losing Camden, Ellis has become an advocate for child product safety, founding the <a href="https://stoptipovers.org/">Parents Against Tip-Overs</a> network and joining a lawsuit against Ikea. In conjunction with the <keyword id="486480" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Consumer-Product-Safety-Commission">Consumer Product Safety Commission</keyword>, Ikea voluntarily <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/customer-service/product-support/recalls/ikea-reannounces-recall-of-malm-and-other-chests-and-dressers-due-to-serious-tip-over-hazard-pub2baf2d4c">recalled</a> 17.3 million dressers in 2016. A company spokesperson said that 1.54 million chests of drawers "have been addressed through the <keyword id="54643" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="recall">recall</keyword>." Wall attachment kits have been applied to 1,080,956 Malm drawers, while 448,082 have been refunded."Please keep in mind that many consumers may have chosen not to participate in the recall if their dressers were already attached to the wall in accordance with the assembly instructions or if they no longer had the product in their home," the spokesperson said.Ellis described losing her son at a Kids in Danger virtual conversation on July 16 with KID Board President Shawn Kasserman and Dan Mann, an attorney who represented Ellis and other parents against Ikea. In 2016, Mann's law firm Feldman Shepherd <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-ikea-oks-tentative-settlement-in-fatal-dresser-tip-over-2016-12">secured</a> a settlement of $50 million for three families who lost children in accidents involving Ikea dressers. As of 2020, the deaths of 10 children have been linked to Ikea dressers.An Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider that the company wanted to "express our deepest condolences to the Ellis family and everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy.""We respect the work that Mrs. Ellis and the safety advocates are doing to raise awareness about tip-over prevention," the spokesperson added. "As a leader in the industry, we share in the responsibility to educate consumers on the dangers of furniture tip-over, and we remain committed to creating safe homes for families."But Ellis and Mann said that these tragic accidents go beyond issues with certain products or companies. They argue that two to three children will continue to die every month in preventable tip-over accidents due to the United States' lax stance on consumer protection. According to <a href="https://www.anchorit.gov/why-anchor-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CPSC estimates</a>, furniture tip-over accidents have resulted in the deaths of 459 children in the United States since 2000. "Corporations cannot regulate themselves, it's just against what they are," Ellis said. "The only things that affect corporations are lawsuits, public shaming, and government regulations."<h2>Deaths in 'baby-proofed homes'</h2>Visiting the parents of children killed by Ikea furniture, Mann said that he encountered "baby-proofed homes" and parents shocked that popular nursery items could turn deadly. His law firm began investigating the issue of Ikea tip-overs after the death of two-year-old Curren Collas who died after a Malm dresser from Ikea fell over on him on the morning of February 25, 2014. His death was the first widely publicized case involving a toddler dying in a Malm tip-over incident.The attorney found that Ikea dressers were seen as safe due to their lightweight design. Ellis' son was taller than the dresser that killed him. But Mann said that sense of safety was an illusion.Mann said that, in the case of Ikea, the company "made a conscious decision to not test their dressers to the performance requirements" set by the industry at the time. In response, the spokesperson for Ikea directed Business Insider to <a href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/customer-service/product-support/recalls/ikea-reannounces-recall-of-malm-and-other-chests-and-dressers-due-to-serious-tip-over-hazard-pub6f52ecb9">a recall page</a> and wrote, "This recall reannouncement involves MALM and other IKEA chests and dressers that do not comply with the requirements of the U.S. voluntary industry standard."According to Mann, Ikea eventually took the position that consumers should "anchor the dresser to the wall," although the company did not initially supply anchoring hardware. Ellis and Mann said that the testing around anchoring itself can be dicey. USA Today <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/06/24/video-shows-anchored-ikea-bookcase-crashing-onto-twins/3234329001/">reported</a> that toddler twins escaped being crushed by an anchored Malm dresser in June."The great tragedy here is that there are millions and millions of these units still out in the market and they need to get out of the marketplace," Mann said.An Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider that the company has invested millions "in ongoing communication about both the recall and tip-over prevention through a number of different channels, including IKEA.com, paid advertising, social media channels, email and press outreach.""The recall is still communicated on the homepage of our website, which had 327 million visits last year," an Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider in a statement. "To date, IKEA has sent over 16.7 million emails regarding the recall to its customers, including IKEA Family loyalty program members."<h2>'I had no idea'</h2>An Ikea spokesperson told Business Insider that the furniture giant "is committed to helping move the entire industry ahead when it comes to product safety."Both Ellis and Mann said that the problem with child product safety goes far beyond the Swedish furniture retailer."This is not just an Ikea problem," Ellis said. "This is an industry-wide problem."During the KID videoconference, both speakers described navigating a legal landscape in which corporations are left to regulate themselves. The Consumer Product Safety Commission — a federal agency dedicated to promoting the safety of consumer products — is currently unable to demand mandatory recalls or even publicize the dangers of specific products without a company's permission."The <keyword id="300029" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="CPSC">CPSC</keyword> does a lot of good work but in some ways, they are a toothless tiger," Mann said. He cited the case of the Fischer-Price Rock N' Play sleeper. According to an investigation from <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/child-safety/while-they-were-sleeping/">Consumer Reports</a>, the CPSC was aware of around 73 child deaths linked to the product but was unable to act upon that information.Even in cases where a voluntary recall happens, the lawyer said that companies rarely put the resources into educating consumers about a <keyword id="101478" type="EVENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Product-Recall">product recall</keyword> as they do marketing the unsafe product in the first place."The last thing that I want to be doing is sitting in a parent's living room saying, 'This product has been recalled,'" Mann said. "And they saying, 'I had no idea.'"<h2>'A record of killing children'</h2>For her part, Ellis said that she believes that there are not only plenty of "products in American homes that could kill your child," but that many of them "have a record of killing children" that has never seen the light of day."There will likely be other toddlers that lose their lives," Mann said. "And, sitting here, we know that it's going to happen."As an advocate for child product safety, Ellis said she supports the effort of US Rep. Bobby Rush of Illinois, whose "Safety Hazard and Recall Efficiency (SHARE) Information Act" would un-muzzle the CPSC from directly warning the public of the dangers of certain products.She also called on companies to do more to avoid littering the market with deadly products."Care about your consumers. Pull it. Test it again," Ellis said. She added that if a product is made dangerous by consumer error — such as a toddler pulling at a drawer — manufacturers should account for that and "design a product that doesn't have to be anchored to the wall" to be safe.Moreover, Ellis said that consumer culture must change. "Parents believe that anything in the marketplace has been tested and vetted by the government," Ellis said. "It's sad that that's not true."<h2>Read Ikea's full statement here:</h2>First, we want to once again express our deepest condolences to the Ellis family and everyone who has been impacted by this tragedy. We respect the work that Mrs. Ellis and the safety advocates are doing to raise awareness about tip-over prevention. Tip-over is a serious issue for the entire furniture industry, not just IKEA. According to the <a href="https://www.anchorit.gov/why-anchor-it/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)</a>, every 12 days someone dies when a television, a piece of furniture or an appliance falls on them, and 459 children have died from tip-over incidents since 2000 in the United States. As a leader in the industry, we share in the responsibility to educate consumers on the dangers of furniture tip-over, and we remain committed to creating safe homes for families.IKEA has for decades provided tip-over restraints with all chests of drawers over a certain height. Warnings about the importance of using the restraints are included in the assembly instructions and accompanied by step by step instructions for their use. Where wall attachment is required, this is communicated on the price tag on display units, in IKEA store signage, and with online product information. IKEA has also been working to raise the awareness of the importance of securing furniture to the wall through our ongoing Secure It! Campaign.Since announcing the 2016 chest of drawers recall in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), we've been investing millions of dollars in ongoing communication about both the recall and tip-over prevention through a number of different channels, including IKEA.com, paid advertising, social media channels, email and press outreach. The recall is still communicated on the homepage of our website, which had 327 million visits last year. To date, IKEA has sent over 16.7 million emails regarding the recall to its customers, including IKEA Family loyalty program members.As a result, more than 1.54M chest of drawers have been addressed through the recall—1,080,956 through wall attachment kits and 448,082 through refunds. Please keep in mind that many consumers may have chosen not to participate in the recall if their dressers were already attached to the wall in accordance with the assembly instructions or if they no longer had the product in their home.IKEA also continues to educate consumers on the dangers of furniture tip-overs and how to prevent them, including through the recent launch of the IKEA Safer Homes app, safety workshops in our stores in November, and mandatory Safer Homes training for all our co-workers. Additionally, we recently introduced a new process in our stores and online that reinforces the importance of wall attachment and encourages customers to enter their contact information prior to purchasing any chest of drawers. This will also allow us to more efficiently communicate important information regarding product updates and recalls to customers who have purchased the product.IKEA is committed to helping move the entire industry ahead when it comes to product safety. In addition to the new app and ongoing communication efforts, the company has continued to invest in product development and testing, leading to innovative solutions to further enhance safe use.

3 years after Ikea recalled 17.3 million dressers, a lawyer who represented the parents of victims say more toddlers will lose their lives to furniture tip-overs

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I'd been thinking of adopting a <keyword id="6358705" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="puppy">puppy</keyword> for months before the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> pandemic hit the US, and once I was at home full-time, I decided to go for it.</li><li>Adopting Pongo hasn't been cheap — I spent $400 just to adopt him and get him home. I also have some costly vet bills on the horizon.</li><li>I'm privileged to have enough money to cover my usual expenses, so I'm happy to spend my <keyword id="9071533" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="stimulus-check">stimulus check</keyword> at local pet-related businesses.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yourmoney?utm_source=bullet">Read more personal finance coverage</a>.</li></ul>As the COVID-19 crisis continues to unfold around us, the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-signs-coronavirus-economic-relief-aid-bill-checks-for-americans-2020-3">stimulus package signed into law by President Trump</a> last month brought another surprise: I would qualify for the $1,200 check that's making its way to the households of most Americans. The funds will be a much-needed lifeline to many. However, I'm still able to rely on my emergency savings if my income should drop in the near future. Plus, my husband has a stable job that has survived the global economic crisis so far. With all of those factors allowing us to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/im-investing-thousands-this-month-even-though-the-market-is-volatile">continue saving and investing</a>, I was very tempted to simply file away the check into a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-save-money-in-high-yield-savings">high-yield savings account</a>. But since the goal of the stimulus package is to stimulate the economy through spending, I've decided that would be a somewhat selfish choice for my situation. Instead of allowing the funds to sit idle, I've decided to spend every last penny on taking care of a brand new puppy. <h2>Why I adopted a puppy during the pandemic</h2>Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had been wanting to get a puppy for months. The idea of a puppy to take care of was exciting. However, between my unpredictable day job and busy career as a freelance writer, I had been putting off the decision to bring home a new addition to the family; I didn't feel like I had enough time at home. But now the tables have turned dramatically. When the COVID-19 crisis started to unfold, I was not entirely sure how things would play out. In fact, I still have no idea when things will return to normal. But, for now, our new normal is spending more time at home — a lot more time. The problem of who would stay home to potty train the puppy was no longer an issue. So we went to our local animal shelter and brought home a lovable mixed-breed puppy. <h2>Fostering pets is on the rise</h2>We are not the only family in America that had this idea. The number of animals being fostered right now is <a href="https://pethealth.force.com/community/s/blog-article/a4u3k0000013NeEAAU/greater-focus-on-shelter-needs">790% higher than this time last year</a>. That means more pets are finding their way into loving homes for the time being. Although official adoptions are down 39% from last year, it is possible that many of these foster parents will take the next step towards adoption in the coming weeks and months. <h2>How I'm spending my stimulus money</h2>My plan is to spend the entirety of my stimulus check on our new puppy, Pongo. So far, the little guy is eating through the check quickly. As we make purchases for Pongo, we are making our best effort to support local stores during this difficult time. First of all, the cost of bringing our new puppy home was just over $400. We had to pay for the adoption fee in order to take him home, as well as an apartment pet fee before he could walk through the door. In addition to the costs of physically bringing him home, we had to prepare the space for a puppy. We bought him a cushy crate and plenty of toys to entertain him for the next several weeks. We also picked up practicalities, like electrical socket covers and baby-proofing cabinet locks. A few hundred dollars later and he is happily enjoying his new home. After bringing him home, we had to navigate taking him to the vet in the post-coronavirus world. It involved dropping him off in a clean space for the vet to pick him up for this first check-up. The first visit to the vet led to a string of expenses that will likely stretch out for the next several months while he works up to becoming fully vaccinated and completely recovered from his rough days of puppyhood. All in all, Pongo is well worth every penny that we are spending on him. Not only are we providing a happy home to a deserving puppy, but also using our stimulus funds to help our local economy survive. With the money from the stimulus check on the way, we are not at all worried about the impact of these new pet costs on our budget. Instead, we are lucky to be in a position to help others in our community that are struggling by spending money intentionally at local pet-related businesses that need our help right now.<ul class="read-more-links"><li>More <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/yourmoney">personal finance</a> coverage</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-open-high-yield-savings-account-now-interest-rates-down">4 reasons to open a high-yield savings account while interest rates are down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-open-wealthfront-cash-account-savings">It took less than 10 minutes to open a high-yield cash account with Wealthfront and earn more on my savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-a-house-with-no-money-down-home-loans">How to buy a house with no money down </a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-to-save-money-in-high-yield-savings">When to save money in high-yield savings</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-rewards-credit-cards">Best rewards credit cards</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/reasons-to-get-life-insurance-you-havent-thought-of-yet">7 reasons you may need life insurance, even if you think you don't</a></li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/spending-my-stimulus-check-on-my-new-puppy-2020-4">Business Insider</a>

I'm happy to spend my $1,200 stimulus check on my new puppy because he needs me — and so do our local businesses

When you buy through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. <a href="https://www.insider-inc.com/commerce-on-insider-inc/">Learn more.</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XC1VV86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_012120_taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-humidifier-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07XC1VV86&amp;linkId=ffc5d8ff4cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da624cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow"></a><ul class="summary-list"><li>Humidifiers are a staple in my house during winter months to help combat dry air and ease cold symptoms.</li><li>The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XC1VV86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_012120_taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-humidifier-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07XC1VV86&amp;linkId=ffc5d8ff4cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da624cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow">TaoTronics Ultrasonic Whale-Shaped Humidifier</a> is the perfect size for my daughter's <keyword id="58401" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Bedroom">bedroom</keyword>. It's a well-designed kids' humidifier and provides continuous mist all night long.</li><li>With a built-in dimmable night light, the humidifier helps keep the environment calm while getting my daughter ready for bed or during middle-of-the-night wakings. You can also keep the night light on or turn it completely off.</li><li>Cool-mist humidifiers are safer for <keyword id="6354493" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="children">children</keyword> than hot-water vaporizers, according to the <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/How-to-Manage-Colds-and-Flu.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>.</li><li>Check out our buying guide to the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-humidifier" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best humidifiers</a> to find more options for your <keyword id="6363870" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="home">home</keyword>.</li></ul>Any time my daughter gets sick, one of the first recommendations her pediatrician makes is to put a humidifier in her room at night. In fact, we run humidifiers in our bedrooms throughout the winter because I find it helps with dry skin and the static electricity that always plagues me in colder, dryer months in the Northeast. Plus, it doesn't hurt to already have one running and ready to go anytime a cold strikes.When it comes to my 18-month-old daughter, she doesn't need a boxy and heavy humidifier that could hurt her if it fell. She just needs one big enough to create humidity in her bedroom throughout the night.We like using the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XC1VV86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_012120_taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-humidifier-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07XC1VV86&amp;linkId=ffc5d8ff4cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da624cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow nofollow">TaoTronics Ultrasonic Whale Shaped Humidifier</a> for exactly that reason, and it's an added bonus that it has a built-in night light. <h2>Specs</h2>At 2.5 liters, this BPA-free humidifier has an average-size tank, and it holds more than enough water to continuously provide mist to her bedroom through the night. My daughter's room is 115 square feet; the humidifier works for areas up to 269 square feet. According to the company, the humidifier will run continuously for 30 hours on the lowest humidity setting. To change the amount of humidity, there is a dial on the front that you can adjust from "min" to "max." The "max" setting puts out 160 ml/hour. When the humidifier runs out of water, it automatically shuts off.If your child uses a night light or you like to keep the room dim during bedtime and night wakings, you'll find the built-in night light very handy. With two features in one, it's one less cord and product that I need to worry about babyproofing, and anything that simplifies my life as a mom makes me happy. There is a button on the side of the unit that controls the night light. Hold it down to dim the light, or press it to turn the light on or off. The humidifier also has a very dim light that indicates the unit is on. It's located just above the dial on the front. I keep my daughter's room very dark, and when I turn the light away from her crib, it's not very noticeable. The humidifier also includes a feature to diffuse essential oils, though I have not used it.It's very quiet at 26dB, which is just above the <a href="https://www.chem.purdue.edu/chemsafety/Training/PPETrain/dblevels.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sound of a whisper</a>. In an otherwise completely quiet room, I can just barely hear it, and I can't hear it at all over the sound of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-sound-machine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">white noise</a> I play in my daughter's room at night. The 2.5L tank is small enough to fit under the faucet in most sinks, making it easy to fill up. I can easily fit it in my bathroom sink. Cleaning the water tank is simple as well. The opening is 3.6 inches wide, so you can fit your arm in to clean the tank and keep it free of mold and mildew. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XC1VV86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_012120_taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-humidifier-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07XC1VV86&amp;linkId=ffc5d8ff4cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da624cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow"><div type="image" title="TaoTronics Ultrasonic Humidifiers for Babies" height="900" width="1200" msid="75481616" hostid="261"></div></a><h2>The benefits of humidifiers can't be understated </h2>We use humidifiers at night all winter long to combat the dry winter air, and I can personally tell a difference if we go without it for just one night. I wake up with my throat feeling dry, and our bedrooms are full of static electricity. It's not just all in my head either: According to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/in-depth/humidifiers/art-20048021" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mayo Clinic</a>, humidifiers can help ease common dry air symptoms such as dry sinuses, bloody noses, and cracked lips.When flu and cold viruses strike, I want to do everything I can to fight them. Although a humidifier certainly isn't going to cure a cold, it can help alleviate cold symptoms, and the <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/How-to-Manage-Colds-and-Flu.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">American Academy of Pediatrics</a> (AAP) recommends cool-mist humidifiers to help with stuffy noses. <h2>This humidifier works well for travel</h2>I'm not ashamed about the fact that I overpack, so it might seem a bit extra to pack a humidifier for trips, but the air in hotel rooms can be extremely dry. If I'm going on a road trip and packing space isn't an issue, this is the perfect humidifier to travel with, especially because of the built-in night light. I always find that hotels don't have light-dimming options, so we like to travel with a night light to provide just enough light to keep the environment calm when getting ready for bed and for middle-of-the-night wakings. The humidifier is small enough that it won't take up a lot of room in your car, and it could even fit in checked luggage if you wanted to take it on a plane. <h2>A note on safety</h2>First of all, the fact that this is a cool-mist humidifier, rather than a hot-water vaporizer, is excellent for safety, as hot-water vaporizers can cause burns if touched or spilled by children. The <a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/medication-safety/Pages/How-to-Manage-Colds-and-Flu.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AAP recommends</a> cool-mist rather than hot-vapor humidifiers for use with children. Another notable safety point is the use of essential oils. I don't use essential oils because they exacerbate my asthma, so I can't speak to how well that function of the humidifier works. If you choose to use essential oils around your children, be sure to thoroughly research the safety of the oils you're using. <a href="https://parenting.nytimes.com/childrens-health/essential-oils-safe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Essential oils</a> can irritate the upper and lower airways and accidental ingestion can be very dangerous, especially in children. <h2>The bottom line</h2>Humidifiers can help you and your children get through the dry winter months a little more comfortably, and they can even help ease cold symptoms. If you're looking for a humidifier for your baby or child, the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XC1VV86/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=biipf_012120_taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-humidifier-review-20&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;creativeASIN=B07XC1VV86&amp;linkId=ffc5d8ff4cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da624cab7a3afa53c5c84c36da62" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener nofollow">TaoTronics Ultrasonic Whale Shaped Humidifier</a> works well for bedrooms, and kids will love the cute shape.Other humidifiers I've tried have had continuously lit "on" lights so bright that I've had to tape over them to keep my daughter's room dark at night. However, the dimmable night light is an added bonus that could even prevent you from needing to buy a separate night light. Some others I've tried have also made loud dripping water sounds that could be heard even over the white noise I run in my daughter's room at night. This humidifier solves both of those problems, making it one of the best ones I've tried.Pros: Mists continuously for 30 hours, built-in night light, runs quietly, small enough for travelCons: Essential oils can be dangerous for children — take caution if using that featureRead the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taotronics-ultrasonic-whale-cool-mist-humidifier-review">Business Insider</a>

A humidifier is a must when illnesses hit your home — this whale-shaped one keeps my daughter comfortable during winter months and doubles as a night light

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