This news is rippling through the juvenile industry today, with sling manufacturers (many of whom are very small, mom-owned companies) scrambling to defend the safety of their products.

If you’re a parent, you’re wondering first and foremost whether or not a sling is safe to use. I can’t give you that answer, but I can give you some facts that I’ve collected, which may help you figure out how you want to respond to this.

1. The primary target of any sling safety investigations over the past few years is the Infantino Sling Rider.

2. The Infantino Sling Rider is a “bag-style” sling, and even though it is worn over the shoulder like other slings, it creates a much deeper space for the baby than other sling designs, like pouches and ring slings.

3. In May of 2008, a mom known as M’Liss posted the results of a homegrown study showing decreased oxygenation levels when infants were worn in bag-style slings. She tested several other babywearing options that didn’t create the same problems.

4. In October of 2009, Consumer Reports aired serious concerns with the Sling Rider in article on their blog, citing the recent death of a 6-day-old infant in an Infantino sling.

5. In the comments section for the article mentioned above, Kristen DeRocha, founder of Hotslings, responded by sharing the results of an independent study she had done, gathering data on 5 sling manufacturers over a 3 year period. Of over 600,000 slings sold, there were no reports of accidents or fatalities.

It’s true, there’s not a lot of legitimate scientific and therefore convincing/comforting data on this. That’s because scientific studies cost a lot of money, and most sling makers are moms who don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars lying around to fund research. Consumer Reports is right to point out that there is no ASTM standard that governs the design of slings. Even the government hasn’t spent much time thinking about this - until now.

But there’s also not a lot of evidence against any product other than the Infantino one. The expression “don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater” comes to mind here. I’ve used a variety of slings with all three of my kids, including my youngest, who napped in a Kangaroo Korner sling twice a day, every day of his life for a 4 month period (see photo above, taken when he was 5 months old). Like most moms, I was always vigilant about keeping an eye on him and the position of his head and mouth. We never had a problem.

It would be a shame for the CPSC to cast a shadow on all slings because of problems with one particular style. But I also care deeply that all the products we sell are safe for our children (mine and yours). I’m waiting for more information before I make any drastic decisions, either personally or on behalf of my business.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, I wouldn’t panic. Even if there are compelling reasons to avoid a sling during the very early months - and I’m not saying that’s actually the case - the beauty of a sling is how long it lasts. I’ve used slings with children as old as 3. There’s a bigger picture here that shouldn’t get lost in all the commotion.

I wasn’t always a believer in the Bee. I didn’t really understand why a mid-size stroller with a compact fold would hold any great appeal. In general, I question the wisdom of mid-size strollers. They’re not big enough to handle snow and ice and they’re too big to be super-convenient. But in spite of its size, the Bee is beautifully executed product that is packed with features and is a dream to push. Now, the upcoming improvements have addressed a number of design hiccups in the original model, and the Bee should continue to win fans.

So what’s new in the Bee Plus/Bee 2010? Starting from the bottom to the top, the Bee Plus has a sleek new wheel design and a better suspension system. The seat reverses effortlessly (a huge improvement over the older model). The flaps on either side of the seat have been removed and the seat itself is wider, as is the whole frame. The seat depth adjustment is much simpler. The strap height is adjusted simply by raising and lowering the entire seat back - a smart, time-saving idea that also has ergonomic advantages. The canopy is smaller (arguably not an improvement, but maybe that’s just me). The handlebar adjustment has been fine-tuned to eliminate any slippage.

It’s all good, and the Bee Plus is definitely better than the previous version. I miss the deep, protective sun canopy, and I felt a noticeable difference in the width of the frame. But I understand the rationale behind both decisions and agree that the pros outweigh the cons.

Last week, we hosted the first preview of the Bugaboo Bee Plus in the country at our store in Brookline. Maria, our Bugaboo rep, visited and brought her demo model. While she was here, I took advantage of the opportunity to grab some video footage so I could help you understand the differences between the old and new models. Enjoy!

The Bugaboo Bee Plus (or Bugaboo Bee 2010) will be available in April.

Recapping my thoughts for the blog?

Well, that still needs work. Coming home with hundreds of pictures, dozens of videos and three kids starved for some parental attention was a poor combination. Add a couple of colds and a bad ear infection and - well, look at that - it’s March already. But I’m getting to it all, slowly but surely. I’ve written hundreds of words about all the booths I visited, and am still trying to edit it so it won’t put you to sleep. But to start, I’ve winnowed down to 10 favorite products from Toy Fair 2010. To be clear, these are products we will actually sell in our stores. There were dozens of crazy cool products that, for one reason or another, are not a great fit for us, but deserve accolades.

This is a start; the rest is yet to come.

Melissa & Doug Felt Cookie Set

I really liked all of the new felt play food sets from Melissa and Doug, but this one was my favorite. Start by “cutting” the cookies out of the felt sheets using cookie cutters. Lay them on the cookie sheet and decorate. The felt sticks to the felt, the decorations are adorable and there’s just so much awesome play value (and it makes me hungry).

O Ball Roller

The O Ball has long been a favorite toy for babies, but it’s such a simple concept, it was hard to imagine that they could extend it too much further. This idea was pure genius.

Squap

Remember the old catch game with the velcro discs and the tennis ball? Squap takes that concept to a whole new level. Wear the catcher like a mitt and trap the ball inside the clamshell. When you open your hand, the fabric inside the shell snaps taut and propels the ball back out again. It’s easier than you might think and totally addictive.

Bubber (aka Moon Dough)

This space-age play dough feels silky smooth and light as air, but it can holds a shape or an imprint with surprising sharpness. It’s a gluten-free material that’s non-toxic and will never dry out. Bubber is a more open-ended iteration of the material; it comes in a 5 oz bucket. Spin Master will be releasing it under the brand name Moon Dough later this year, and their sets will be more directed, with animal molds and other fun themes. However it’s packaged, kids will love it.

Thomas Early Engineers

Wooden railroad is making a comeback, and the new Early Engineers set from Learning Curve is a great point of entry for toddlers. The trains are chunkier and the sets have fewer pieces and more interesting designs.

Kid Galaxy Fisher Price Trucks

Kid Galaxy is best known for affordable, well-designed remote control toys, so this favorite came as a little bit of a surprise. Their new line of Fisher Price construction trucks have no electronic components whatsoever. They’re made of a combination of plastic and metal, so they’re built for heavy duty. They have lots of moving parts, and because they worked with Fisher Price to develop the designs, Little People fit in the driver’s seat.

Chicco 1 Two 3 Playhouse

Kids love playhouses, but not every family has the space for them. Chicco came up with a brilliant design that uses a nice set of hanging pegs that mount to the wall. The fabric play house attaches to those three pegs and pops out. When playtime is done, just remove the fabric and you have cute pegs to use for hanging clothes, towels, whatever. I loved the space-efficient, useful design, and Chicco did a very good job of keeping the color scheme unisex.

Crayon rocks by Clementine Art

These soy-based crayons made me swoon, they are so pretty. Shaped like rocks, they’re easy to hold, and they glide smoothly over paper, creating bright, vibrant colors without much pressure.

Thinking putty

This is not your grandmother’s Silly Putty. These jumbo-size tins are packed with a hefty portion of putty to roll, squeeze, bounce and stretch. They come in a variety of colors, including a totally rad magnetic version that comes with a piece of metal for awesome experimentation. Thinking Putty is made in the USA in a factory staffed by mentally and physically handicapped people, which makes it all that much cooler.

Grill by Hape

My husband is addicted to smoking. No, not cigarettes - meat. So I knew he would fall head over heels for this wooden grill, a beautifully detailed piece that attracted a lot of attention. Something tells me my son will be getting one of these for his birthday this year…

The G2 was unveiled as a concept stroller at the ABC Show in September, and we loved it. We’re so excited that it’s made the journey from concept to reality in a relatively short time period. The improvements to the suspension, the addition of a snack tray and the complete redesign of the stroller seat are all welcome changes in a product that is already enjoying skyrocketing popularity.

Come to Brookline or Wellesley and take a look or order online.

So I’ll keep it mercifully brief. Toy Fair 2010 is in full swing and as always, there’s lots to see.

So far, I’ve made good progress on the larger upper level of the show:

But there’s still that worrisome chunk in the middle that I need to get to. Plus:

Yeah, there’s a whole other level I haven’t even touched yet. But no worries, I still have two days. I’ll get it done.

Of the parts I have seen, I’ve been taking lots of pictures and some videos (not edited or posted yet, but coming soon). Trends are: dropping prices (good), lots of hype around Toy Story 3 (hopefully good), interesting technologies (mostly good, some weird), green/organic/eco-friendly (good), and a surprising number of empty booths (not so good). Manufacturers are playing it safe with modest product introductions. Many are focusing their time and energy on developing and improving their best products, which makes sense.

We’ve met some interesting people. Like him.

And her.

I even saw Annabel Karmel from a short distance (love her). We’ve seen so many interesting things. I’ll have lots to report, after I recharge my computer (and myself). For now, I’m running on reserve power, so I’ll just have to say good night.

Mimes are funny, but not always the way they intend. A google search for “mime jokes” returned 152,000 results (discovered strictly out of curiosity). But Mr. Rivest has an impressive resume. A student of the legendary Marcel Marceau, he has presented over 5,000 performances in 11 countries all over the world. He is the founder of the Rivest School of Mime Theater in Springfield, MA.

So put aside whatever preconceived notions you have about mimes, glass boxes and falling trees. Bring your children on Sunday and enjoy this unique and entertaining experience together. The show begins at 10:30am and tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for children. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.

I would totally see you there, but I’ll be in New York for Toy Fair.

Next time I won’t miss it.

I like mimes.

Not in that way.

In 2004, I was starting Magic Beans while finishing my second pregnancy. All the research I’d done about double strollers was doubly important - for me and for the stores. I came to the conclusion that THE stroller to have was a Mountain Buggy Urban Double.

I got one and LOVED it. That stroller was a tank. I could push it up hill, fully loaded, with one finger. We used it all the time, and that stroller is still good as new, residing currently with friends who have twins.

But a lot has changed in five (almost six) years. If you want a double all-terrain stroller, you can still get a Mountain Buggy, but you’ll probably also want to consider a BOB, a Valco or a Baby Jogger. If you don’t need something heavy duty, you could go for one of the two Maclaren twin models, or you could look at the Baby Jogger City Mini.

Chances are, though, you’re probably looking closely at what I’m going call an “adaptive double.” A what? An adaptive double is a stroller that starts out as a single stroller and can then be - you guessed it - adapted to hold two children. Thanks to Phil&Teds, these are enormously popular — if you can figure out which one to get. Phil&Teds alone offers four different models, and now the UPPABaby Vista offers a Rumble Seat, and the versatile Baby Jogger City Select is hitting the market at the same time as a similar European model, the iCandy.

In other words, what used to be a fairly straightforward decision (Mountain Buggy. Done.) is now fairly complicated. And I may or may not have had a sneak peek today at yet another adaptive double stroller that will be a worthy contender when it comes out later this year.

Choice is good. But choice can be paralyzing.

A good customer of ours recently started a blog, Gear Mommy. She has two young children and has been using the phil&teds Sport stroller. She bought one of the first City Select models from us and has done an extraordinary review of the Baby Jogger City Select vs. the Phil&Teds Sport, comparing the two options side by side. If you’re in the market for a double stroller, I recommend reading this first.

We’re celebrating the Grand Opening of our Cambridge store this weekend in a grand fashion. Here’s why you don’t want to miss it:

1. The deals - we’re offering some exclusive deals you can’t find anywhere else. Like $50 off a Stokke Tripp Trapp. Or $30 off a Beaba Babycook. Or some other deals that are so good, I’m literally sworn to secrecy. You’ll just have to come over and hear about them in person. Oh, and best of all? These deals are available in all four stores!

2. The giveaways - if you loved our 31 Days of Giveaways, this weekend is basically a live version. Come and peruse all the items we’re giving away and enter to win. Our friends at RunMyErrand.com will even deliver your prizes right to your door for free (some restrictions apply).

3. The vendors - some of our favorite manufacturers are sending representatives to talk about their products. You can meet with Britax, Stokke, UppaBABY, Baby Bjorn, Baby Jogger, Bloom, Skip Hop, Go Gaga, Papa Products and Valco. This is a great opportunity to give feedback about products you’re already using and to learn more about products you may be considering.

4. The entertainment - we’re having an appearance by Elmo, crafts for little kids, games for older kids and a Sunday concert for the whole family with Vanessa Trien and Julie Rama Winslow.

5. The gift bags - we have a very limited number of baby gift bags to give away. Be one of the first 15 customers each day to spend $75 or more on baby products in the Cambridge store and receive an upgraded premium gift bag.

6. The grab bag - grab one free gift with any purchase.

You can find all the details at mbeans.com/grandopening. I hope to see you there!

Bonus points if you recognize the musical theater reference in the title of this post…

On Saturday night, we closed the store and started packing up the merchandise.

On Sunday, we moved all the merchandise to the warehouse, one truckload at a time. The contractor’s crew came in and worked with our crew to demolish the carpet, the old playscape, and the flooring in the bathroom area.

On Monday, the contractor built the walls for the new playscape and stock corridor. They painted, too. The flooring contractor cleaned up the subfloor to get it ready for the new, beautiful flooring.

On Tuesday, they put down new, eco-friendly flooring all though the store.

On Wednesday, they finished the flooring. The contractor’s crew finished painting.

On Thursday morning, our team moved back in, scrubbing and cleaning to get rid of all the dust before the merchandise came back. The warehouse brought truckload after truckload of merchandise. The contractor finished up a few small things. A brand new eco-friendly electronic door-opener was installed. Magic Beans people came from all four stores, the headquarters and the warehouse and worked with an incredible energy and enthusiasm all day long and completely remerchandised the entire store. It was really something to see. And I scraped five years worth of Scotch tape from the back of the cash wrap with a razor blade and a whole lot of Goo Gone. We were done by 8pm.

Which brings us to today. I will post pictures later today, but if you’re curious, come and see it for yourself this morning.

Huge, huge kudos go out to SO many people (in addition to the contractor and flooring guys). Meredith, Mary Kate, the WHOLE Brookline team (you guys are so incredible), all those who came from the other stores and the office to pitch in, and especially Dustin, Doug and the crew at the warehouse. It was a huge job and you all rocked it. Thank you.

In this retelling, a painted story-book opens to reveal each scene. The marionettes are hand-crafted and brought to life by a master puppeteer.

Founded in 1993, Tanglewood Marionettes is a nationally touring marionette theater that specializes in performing classic tales for groups of children.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children.

According to the press release we received from Regal Lager, the US distributor of Cybex, there has been one report of injury - a fractured finger.

As with the Maclaren recall, if you have a Cybex, please don’t panic. Regal Lager has made a fabric hinge cover that, I assume, is very similar to the one fashioned by Maclaren. Once that is in place, the stroller poses no risk to you or your children. If you have one of these Cybex models, you can contact Regal Lager for a repair kit at (800) 593-5522 or visit regallager.com/recalls. 

To see the official announcement from the CPSC, click here.

Since the news broke about Maclaren, a bright spotlight is shining on the mechanical design of strollers. The CPSC’s uncompromising stance on safety is coming face to face with the pinch hazards that are standard with any folding product. I don’t think this will stop with umbrella-fold strollers.

When I was in elementary school, a friend of my sister’s got her fingertip amputated when a heavy school door slammed on her finger. It was totally traumatic. But the lesson is clear - little fingers are delicate, and heavy, moving objects are hazardous. Whether there are more recalls coming down the pike or not, always use common sense when folding and unfolding your stroller. Keep your children out of the way and make sure you know how the fold works, so YOUR fingers stay out of harm’s way. (I’ve pinched my fingers more than a few times when demonstrating strollers to customers, always when I’m too busy talking to notice where I’m putting my hands.)

We’ll miss you, but it’s just a week, and it’ll be worth it. If you need something while the Brookline store is closed, why not go over to Cambridge? Or Wellesley? Or even Hingham? Or buy online and get the goods shipped right to your door.

We’re looking forward to showing off our new look. Wish us luck…

ps - watch for pictures on our Facebook page.

This Sunday, January 24 at 10:30am, The Split Hares Traveling Troupe of Artbarn Community Theater presents its adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale, a tale about a Chinese Emperor brought closer to his people by a tiny bird and her humble song about the meaning of happiness. With original songs, this colorful story of nature and humanity is bought to life by this troupe of talented young actors.

Artbarn is a wonderful performing arts program for children from preschool through high school. The Split Hares Traveling Troupe is comprised of children in grades 1-5.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for children, and they’re selling fast. If you’re planning to go, I recommend you preorder online.

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you already know that I use my vacations to test-drive new products.

This most recent trip, I got up close and personal with the new Hotslings AP.

I’ve always loved Hotslings for travel because they fold up small enough to tuck into a diaper bag. The new AP version offers adjustability without adding any bulk. Two small straps can be cinched tight or let out, depending on who’s wearing the sling, or even how many layers you’re wearing (like when you, oh, say, start your day in a tropical climate and end up in a snowstorm).

The Hotslings AP was just as comfortable as a regular pouch and did a good job distributing the weight of my slim 17-month-old. He was right at home and happy to ride on my hip, even after a delayed flight that had us trekking through the airport past midnight.

Adjusting the size is very easy, but it needs to be done before putting on the pouch, so there’s a little trial and error involved. This is a small price to pay for excellent portability and flexibility.

I thought this might make a nice Wordless Wednesday post (my first, but whatever). Then I realized, it’s been pretty wordless around here for a few weeks, and a little explanation might be in order.

See, here’s the thing. People always assume that December is the craziest month of all for me, and, fine, that’s probably true. But there’s this misconception that January is quiet. It’s not.

In January, we need to do all the things we couldn’t fit in to December. We need to return all the phone calls (or try to), read all the emails (or try to), and - oh yes - restock the empty stores with new, 2010 product. The catalogs come fast and furious, sales reps call for appointments, and somewhere in there, I need to take a vacation.

Yes. Need to.

For the weeks between Halloween and New Years, our kids spend a lot of time with babysitters. By the time January rolls around, they’re feeling pretty neglected. A few days in the sunshine (with no babysitters) recharges everyone’s batteries and gives us a fresh start for the new year.

All this just to explain why I haven’t posted in a while. I was on vacation. And it was fabulous. Now I’m home and ready to rock the blog again.

This Sunday is the launch of the 2010 season, and it’s a live show with Davey the Clown. Davey is a physical comedian, juggler, unicyclist and accordionist. His show contains silly juggling, amazing magic, incredible unicycle tricks (on a six-foot unicycle,) wacky antics, rousing accordion music, balloon sculpture, tons of audience participation, and a rubber chicken! Can you think of a better way to spend the first Sunday of the year? Neither can I.

I’ll be there, raffling off Magic Beans gift cards and trying to keep my kids from storming the stage and stealing the accordion.

You can purchase tickets in advance or at the door.