Actor Michael Douglas blames his fame for son's problems http://ow.ly/17eumv #

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I’ve always admired the way the Fresh Air Fund gives kids a chance to have a completely different summertime experience that can change their outlook on the world. I promised them I’d post their appeal for new family hosts for this summer. In 2009, The Fresh Air Fund ’s Volunteer Host Family program , called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes up to two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. The Fresh Air Fund relies on donations to provide memorable summers to NYC children. The Fresh Air Fund needs hosts for the summer of 2010. More than 65% of all Fresh Air children are reinvited to stay with their host family, year after year. Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City’s toughest neighborhoods have experienced the joys of Fresh Air experiences. Fresh Air Fund Host Families “It is rewarding to see the smile on our Fresh Air child’s face as she enjoys the simple things we take for granted…” Friendly Town host families are volunteers who live in the suburbs or small town communities. Host families range in size, ethnicity and background, but share the desire to open their hearts and homes to give city children an experience they will never forget. Hosts say the Fresh Air Experience is as enriching for their own families, as it is for the inner-city children. There are no financial requirements for hosting a child. Volunteers may request the age-group and gender of the Fresh Air youngster they would like to host. Stories about real Fresh Air host families and their New York City visitors are just available. Click here to learn more about becoming a host or call (800) 367-0003. Share on Facebook

We’re doing a roundup of car seats unveiled at the 2009 ABC Kids show, the major annual convention for baby and kids products. This year, the biggest story on car seats in general was in side impact head protection. While car seats have made major advances, this is still an area where more technology can save young lives. There were also at least 2 new seats developed to evolve with a child from 20 pounds to 100. In this series, we will look at the following seats: 1. Graco Nautilus 3-in-1 (previously reviewed) 2. Britax Parkway SG (previously reviewed) 3. Safety 1 st Complete Air car seat with Air Protect 4. Evenflo Symphony 65 5. Clek Oobr Today’s review is on the Safety 1 st Complete Air car seat with Air Protect from Tom Green of San Francisco, California. Let me start by saying that we’ve had our share of car seats, so for me, it’s tough to justify a pricier car seat, which the Air Protect is. However, I tend to prioritize safety & function, which the Air Protect offers in spades. And it appears that you can use the Air Protect through the baby, toddler and preschool years, so maybe it’s worth the investment. Here’s my quick pro/con list on the Air Protect: Pros: Side impact air cushions offer peace of mind with respect to your child’s safety if in a car accident. These cushions are also a nice head rest for your kids when they inevitably fall asleep in the car. Easily adjustable harness that you do not need to re-thread Great looking – ours is brown/orange Easy push button LATCH hooks which are a cinch to install Cup holder! Cons: My youngest child is not going to be interested in sitting rear-facing until 40 lbs, no matter how safe it is, so the rear-facing option is not a plus for me. Plus, rear-facing cramps their ability to extend their legs comfortably, or at all. Pretty expensive ($250) considering there are other highly rated car seats out there. I don’t have a newborn but it looks a little large and upright for the under 6 months crowd. I think most people would feel more comfortable with, and find more utility out of, an infant car seat for the first 4-6 months. All in all, the Air Protect seems like a great car seat for parents who are very safety conscious and willing to shell out the extra $ for the added peace of mind, especially if you want to extend your kids’ ability to sit rear-facing. I’m not sure I’d pay $250 for a car seat, but having said that, functionally the seat is easy to install/use and I like that it transitions through the different phases of baby/toddler/preschool. GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own. Share on Facebook