Trouble getting your parents to stop spoiling your kids? Try this reflective essay from Mothering.com about how emphasizing gifts affects grandparent-grandchild relationships - it's a good one.

Punnybop has two recommendations of books linked in some way to music - one through a well-known ballet, the other for its utility as a go-to songbook for parents. On The Tranquil Parent, Annie wrote about three of the last year's best books about food and our relationship to it.

Evenflo has recalled nearly 100,000 Majestic high chairs for choking and fall hazards. 140 structural failures dumped at least 47 infants on the floor, leading to bumps and bruises and even some broken bones. The company has received reports of over 1,000 plastic screw caps and/or screws falling off the high chairs, sometimes ending up in kids' mouths. If you have one of these, make sure you check your inventory number against this CPSC release.

Eco Child's Play can help parents get together an eco-friendly puberty kit for young women.

Wired for Noise's open, thoughtful post about raising children without religion was a remarkable bit of blogging, not least of which because it led to an extensive chain of comments that never lost their civility. Great stuff.

Leigh at Polliwogged has two great, medication-free suggestions for helping a congested baby get some relief.

Want to garden next year? In addition to subscribing to Gardenaut, take a look at this article from U.S. News about how much you could grow in a small space, and this post from The Simple Dollar about planning for your next year's garden.