EDITOR’S PICKS

Swaddles are everywhere lately and for good reason: They work! Swaddling my kids put them to sleep instantly (well, almost instantly). Both my daughter and son loved the cozy comfort of it and I loved the fact that it kept them sleeping for long periods of time. Back in the day, I did experiments to see if there really was a difference in how my daughter slept and, without a doubt, she slept sounder and longer when swaddled. Swaddling also helped assuage my nervousness about them turning over or getting smothered by a bulky blanket.

Now, having said all that, let me add that not all swaddles are created equally. I like the ones from Aden + Anais. They're made of muslin, a cozy fabric that really breathes (it allows air to flow in and out, therefore preventing your baby from overheating). And while you should always choose functionality over fashion, the Aden + Anais swaddles have both!

($44, Pink/White Muslin Swaddling Blanket, and $44, Aqua/Brown Muslin Swaddling Blanket, www.adenandanais.com)

Paraben-Free Deodorant

According to www.breastcancer.org, a large study found no connection between antiperspirant use and breast cancer. However, scientists are still looking into a potential link. Many underarm hygiene products have parabens in them (chemicals that behave like a weak form of the hormone estrogen). Parabens have prompted the growth of breast cancer cells in test tubes and the growth of uterine cells in mice.

With this kind of information out there, why not err on the side of caution? There are some pretty good paraben-free deodorants on the market today, such the roll-on Deodorant by Real Purity ($8.54, www.purebodysolutions.com) and Nature's Gate Organics Chamomile and Lemon Verbena Deodorant ($23.96 for a four-pack, www.amazon.com). Stick to it!

CFLs

According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, “if every American replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star, we'd save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars.” So, imagine if we changed all the light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)—now that'd be a bright idea. CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. They're available in many different shapes and sizes and can fit almost any indoor and outdoor fixture. Visit www.energystar.gov to read more and start being a part of the solution.