s your wife a strict disciplinarian, while you prefer to let things slide? Is your husband a screamer, and you're an "inside voice" kind of mom? When you have different parenting styles, it can often feel like you're at odds with your spouse. "My husband doesn't seem to see half of what our son does," laments Christine Richards, a mom in suburban New York. "I don't want him to grow up badly behaved, so I end up being the heavy."

Have a good cop/bad cop situation brewing in your home? Here are strategies from Harvey Karp, M.D., author of The Happiest Toddler on the Block (Bantam), for navigating this common parenting conundrum.

ou find your kids practically coming to blows over who got more cream cheese on their bagel, and you can't help but think: There is just no way to avoid sibling rivalry. Well, if the goal is to avoid it entirely, then you might be right, says John Rosemond, author of The New! Six-Point Plan for Raising Happy, Healthy Children (Andrews McMeel Publishing). "The only way to prevent it is to only have one child or to space kids 18 years apart," says Rosemond, with a laugh. That said, there's plenty you can do to help defuse kids' natural tendency to push one other's buttons. Want to (almost) keep the peace? Put these strategies to work in your house.

or most moms, mornings are a mad dash to get everyone up, dressed and out the door -- if your kid's shoes match, all the better. However the a.m. hours don't always have to be so hectic (we promise). Try just one of these tips tomorrow and you'll start to feel (almost) serene.

Although gel hand sanitizers have proven in tests to reduce gastrointestinal illnesses and the spread of contagions compared to ordinary soap and water, their high alcohol content can be poisonous to children who ingest them. Photo: Living is Easy with Eyes Closed, courtesy Flickr.

ear EarthTalk: My pediatrician swears by those gel hand sanitizers for lowering the risk of my family getting sick during cold and flu season. But I've also heard that these products can be dangerous to kids if ingested. Are there any safer alternatives that work just as well?
--Jason Blalock, Oakland, CA

A 2005 study by the Children's Hospital in Boston compared illness rates across a study group of 292 families—half of them got hand sanitizers while the other half were given literature advising them of the benefits of frequent hand washing. The findings revealed that those families who used hand sanitizers experienced a 59 percent reduction in gastrointestinal illnesses and that the increased use of sanitizers correlated to a decreased spread of contagions in general.

haven't really safety-proofed the kitchen and it scares me," says Sharlene Breakey, mom of 5-year-old Zeke and 3-year-old Edie in New York City. "But I have basic rules I follow: I only use the back burners, unless I'm standing by the stove, and I never leave knives on the counter." Breakey also lays down the law for her little ones: They know not to touch the stove, because it's hot, and other kitchen basics. "I believe in the value of teaching kids to be safe themselves," she says. "They really do seem to understand that when I'm cooking, it's dangerous."

They're smart kids. Each year, more than 67,000 children are injured in the kitchen -- 43,000 of them four years old and under. "The only way to truly prevent kitchen accidents is to closely supervise your child and enforce rules, like no sitting on the counters," says Andy Spooner, M.D., director of general pediatrics at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. "Gizmos sold to improve kitchen safety are nice, but they can't take the place of adult supervision." What else can you do to prevent accidents? Here are Dr. Spooner's top recommendations

have been dying to tell you about this book for MONTHS now, and then kapow! Two things kept me from meeting my blog tour deadline for "The Daring Book for Girls." First, our server blew up. You all held my hand through that, no need to rehash it.

But funnier, I just got the book back. Josie and Lou refused to give it back to me!

I feel it necessary to mention that I know Andi and Miriam, the gals who wrote the book. They're longtime online writing buddies, the founders of MotherTalk, and I'm even in one of Miriam's books. With that said, don't discount me when I say that "Daring" turned out even more fabulous that I was hoping it would be!

I am a sucker for these kinds of "handy" books and guides. I wish I still had my old 1940s Girl Scouts manual, for instance; I think I carted that thing around until it fell apart (this was in the 60s, thanks very much).

And with the advent of 24 hour children's television and video games, I worry that "girl culture" as I knew it is disappearing, much as "housewife culture" disappeared almost overnight late in the 20th century after several millennia of tradition. Every time I see a couple of girls playing "cat's cradle" with a loop of string I get happy chills.

And this book gives me happy chills!

ere's a craft even the very youngest children can get involved in and end up bursting with pride to give away. "My husband just started a new job so we gave the paperweights to him for his new office. The kids really felt as though they were making his new job a better place to work," said a Connecticut mom.

If you have ever left crayons in the car on a hot day you know what happens. They melt all over everything! That inspired this project. The smallest children can help by pounding to break up the crayons, yet this activity is fun for all ages. All of our families reported that "crayon smashing" was a big hit. Christine LaClair (4) "thought it was neat that we crushed the crayons with my wooden hammer (that I'd been hiding!)." The Sypniewski family used a meat tenderizer for a mallet with great success.

hat do your kids do for fun? If you answer "watch TV" or "play video games," your kids may be facing a serious health challenge, especially later in life. Obesity and inactivity are sharply up among today's children, and while schools are trying to reverse the trends, the real battle is on the home front. You have to get them moving, and you can't depend on your child's school to do it for you.

You don't need to force pushups and squats on your children, or march them through an adult workout routine. Kids love to play. You just need to encourage them to channel all that energy into active play.

: I returned from maternity leave to learn that a co-worker who has been trying to get pregnant still hasn't. How do I handle my joy and her sadness?

arents need timeout from parental duties to keep the spark between husband and wife ablaze. Whether it's a table for two, a concert, movie, or even a sleep over (empty nest or at an inn), quality time as a couple is important to a marriage and family.

If you don't think you can afford these dates without worrying about your kids' happiness and safety, and childcare costs, you're not alone. For this reason, consider a child-swapping network with other couples. It's a convenient, inexpensive, reliable and rewarding alternative to a babysitter.

: My three year old always tells me when she needs to use the potty at home, but at daycare she continually wets her pants. What should I do?

hat's in that jarred baby food in the cupboard? Chances are there's a ton of sugar and preservatives in it, that's what. The majority of baby foods on the market add sugar to everything, even chicken and peas. And that's not counting the extra salt!

Why should you go homemade? For starters, you'll know exactly what's going into it that way. You'll be able to tailor the ingredients to what your baby needs and likes. The food will be fresh, free of extra sugar and salt, and prepared with good ingredients, as opposed to jarred ones which are often made from bruised fruits and vegetables with chemicals added to even out the taste. The killer reason for me? Homemade baby food isn't only better for baby, it's not only easy to make--but it's incredibly cheap!

Giving babies nutritious food is not only good for their health, but it will also help establish positive eating habits, unlike our spokesbaby here. Photo: Getty Images.

ear EarthTalk: I want to give my baby fresh, organic food but I don't have the time to make her special meals. What options are out there?
--Marie L., via e-mail

Babies deserve the best possible start in life, so giving them nutritious food is a must, not only for good health but also to establish positive eating habits as early as possible.

According to Consumers Union (CU), publisher of Consumer Reports magazine, commercial baby foods, many of which are made up of condensed fruits and vegetables, can contain high concentrations of pesticide residues. “A lot of these pesticides are toxic to the brain,” says Philip Landrigan, a professor of pediatrics and preventative medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Citing studies that have linked smaller head circumference and reduced intelligence in babies to in utero exposure to pesticides consumed by their mothers, Landrigan says it is best not to gamble when it comes to baby food.

ne of your many jobs as a mom is to be a short-order cook. You know by now that your son wants the skin taken off his hot dog, your daughter will only eat the Blues Clues Mac and Cheese, and by all means, they both will only eat their grilled cheese sandwiches without the crust. Well, we can help make life easier with that last one. This -- dare we say -- ingenious product by Inventive Parent cuts a sandwich into 4 quarters, removing the crust, in one swift, mess-free motion.

ouldn't it be great if you could get childcare every time you needed it, whenever you needed it? Well, for most of parents, that just isn't possible. So, in the meantime, try some of these tricks from real moms on how to get your errands run, and traveling done with happy kids at your side.

: My child seems to be learning some bad habits from the other kids at daycare. What can I do?

: First, make sure you have a solid relationship with your child's caregiver. I can't stress that enough. That foundation will help you deal with many issues effectively.

e love Fleurville because it always stands for fashion, function and quality! Their innovative diaper bag, the Sling Tote, can be carried three ways: over the shoulder as a tote, or as a messenger bag, or attached to your stroller -- which is especially handy for strollers like the Bugaboo, which have one long pushing rod in the back instead of two handles.

ear EarthTalk: How can we get schools to offer healthier and more eco-friendly cafeteria food to our kids? I don’t have time to bag a healthy lunch every day.
-- Leslie Morris, Richmond, VA

Now that many schools have stopped selling sodas and other unhealthy vending machine items to their students, improving the nutritional quality of cafeteria food is on the agenda of many parents and school administrators. And luckily for the environment, healthier food usually means greener food.

raveling with a baby requires many items, and doing research to find the best of each is a hassle. Not to mention the expense and bulk of buying and transporting every single-function item. Thankfully Lillebaby has made traveling safe and convenient with their 5 in 1 travel system. It serves as an infant carrier, car seat bag, play blanket, travel bedding, and toddler footmuff. We especially love its function as a car seat bag, which allows you to lift your infant (up to 20 lbs) directly from the car seat after unbuckling him, and hold him in the sturdy carrier-- no more lugging a heavy car seat!

im Lindberg is the lead singer of the punk rock group Pennywise. Being neither an aficionado of punk nor a fan of the rock bio genre of literature, I resisted reading this book. Having completed my read, I now regret that resistance.

I haven’t listened to Pennywise, Jim’s band, but have heard snippets of their appearances on Loveline with Drew Pinsky. I can’t speak to their music, but I can tell you that Jim a doofus. A loveable doofus, for sure, and quite serious about a few things, but when it comes to things like onesies and potty training, he is a very very silly man. He also happens to be one of the more unlikely authors of a book on parenting.

ere's a clever way for your kids to have fun while being safe: Animal-head helmet covers! Your little one will love showing off his tiger head as he bikes around the playground or zooms down the slopes. He'll be the envy of his friends, and you'll breathe easier knowing he's protected -- not to mention how darn cute he'll look!

re you considering homeschooling your children? While there is more information out there about homeschooling than ever before, you may not know where to start. So let's take a look at homeschooling, from a beginner's perspective.

"Homeschooling" in a legal sense means that one or more children of not more than 2 families are instructed by parents or legal guardians, or a member of either household. The laws that define homeschooling vary from state to state, and country to country.

If you have ever had a baby or toddler, you've already homeschooled--you just didn't know it! Learning begins long before kids reach school-age. Many children already know their alphabets, the names of animals, colors and other more complicated stuff before they reach school. And who taught them? I'm betting it was you.

Homeschooling is just a natural progression from there. Instead of sending your child to a public school, you make or buy your own curriculum and teach in ways that best suit your child. This, put simply, is what homeschooling is about. Here's what to consider before you make the decision to homeschool.

: What's the best way to prevent and treat baby acne?

eing outdoors should be a part of everyone's daily lives. But lately it seems as if people are forgetting about the natural world. The recent book "Last Child in the Woods" even gives it a name--"Nature Deficit Disorder"--and claims our children increasingly suffer from it.

Nevertheless, children are naturally drawn to the outdoors. If you let them, toddlers will pull you outside constantly. They have the right idea and we should all try and get out more. Here are five fun activities that the whole family can enjoy.