Ever get tired of eating at home or suffering through take out? Ever fantasize about going out to a nice meal that someone else cooks, someone else serves you and someone else cleans up? Ever figure out how to turn that fantasy into a reality and actually get you, your spouse and your kids out the door at a reasonable hour before things get too crowded and miraculously find yourselves seated at a table at--oh!--a restaurant?

You've finally managed to sit down and rest your aching feet, your aching back, your aching everything. You've got the kid's food and his toys and his diaper changer and your spouse has managed to put down the stroller and find a safe place for it out of the way. The server has brought the high chair. And, as you're sliding the baby down into it, you realize it's broken. The latches don't work or don't exist or whatever. You kindly ask for another one, explaining this one is broken.

The server obliges and brings you another one, which is, alas, also broken. Not only is it not safe, but it simply won't hold your son, who is more excited than ever to be in a new place with new faces and smells and ever so much excitement. He can't sit still. In fact, he won't sit at all and you have to hold him down to keep him from standing in the high chair.

You're having a baby, now where to put the car seat? According to a recent study, the most popular placement for car seats is the rear passengers side, most likely so that the driver can most easily see and attend to the baby.

But the same study found that the safest place for baby is actually in the center position of the back seat, if the car seat can be installed correctly in that position. An analysis of data from car accidents in 16 states found that kids under age 3 who sat in the center were 43% less likely to get hurt.

Sometimes, placing the car seat in the center just isn't possible. In our first car, we couldn't get a snug fit. Our second is a minivan, with bucket seats in the back. If this is the case for you, safety experts remind you that any car seat that is properly installed in the rear offers excellent protection. But if you can get it installed correctly in the center, even better.

When Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen broke up way back when, many speculated that playboy Charlie had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. There may or may not be something to that theory, but according to Denise Richards, the final straw in the relationship had nothing to do with another woman. She says it was an ugly disagreement over vaccinations that made her realize her marriage wasn't going to work.

Denise says that when she decided to vaccinate four-year-old daughter Sam, Charlie accused her of poisoning their child. "I knew when he said that, that the marriage wasn't going to work," she tells Rebook magazine.

While that does seem a little harsh, I've seen first hand right here at Parent Dish how the subject of vaccinations can divide parents. In the end, the best we can do is agree to disagree. But when mom and dad have different opinions, things can get a little more complicated. Have you and your partner found yourselves on different sides of the vaccination debate? How did you work it out?

Just how much are you supposed to eat when you're pregnant? According to MayoClinic.com, the average (not overweight, not underweight) woman should gain between 25-35 pounds during pregnancy. But, does it matter what your doctor says, what your friends and family say, or what the little one inside you dictates?

With my first pregnancy, I was advised to consume between 300 and 500 calories extra per day. Not a drop more. Gone were the days when I thought I would be able to eat anything I wanted, the way things used to be

Back when my mother-in-law was pregnant with my husband her doctor prescribed her diet pills to take during her pregnancy so she wouldn't gain too much weight. Scary thought, eh, but it's the truth. How she managed it I'll neverk know. Now that I'm in the second trimester of my second pregnancy, I am starting to remember what it was like the first time around.

The term 'gateway drug' is used to describe certain lower classed drugs that some believe can lead users to harder, more dangerous drugs. Marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes are all considered by some to be gateway drugs. But lawmakers in Georgia believe there is such a thing as 'gateway candy' and have moved to ban the sale of such confections to minors.

The candies in question are marijuana flavored and lawmakers believe that selling them to underage kids promotes the use of drugs. But this week, Georgia governor Sonny Perdue signed into law a measure that makes it illegal for retailers to sell marijuana flavored candy and other products to anyone under the age of eighteen. The new law takes effect July 1 and anyone found guilty of breaking it will be fined $500.

These candies are sold under names like "Kronic Kandy" and "Pot Suckers" and are usually flavored with hemp essential oil, which is legal. This gives the taste of marijuana without the intoxicating effects.

I had no idea such a candy existed, but according to Senator Doug Stoner (is that his real name?!), that may be because of who I am and where I live. "I don't think that folks are aware this is going on," he says. "It's mainly, from what I can tell, particularly targeted to minority communities."

My first reaction to this story is one of total agreement. Why on earth should a child be eating candy that exists for the sole purpose of imitating the taste of an illegal drug? But then again, why should that candy even exist in the first place?

Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of about 5,000 Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmers. Munchkin has has received nine reports of the units overheating, with several of them actually igniting and causing damage to counter tops. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported.

The recall involves the Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket 2-in-1 Design. This is model #13301, lot number TP-1487. The set includes a main basket, a lift-out basket, an adapter ring, and a measuring cup. You will find the lot number on the bottom of the unit and the word "Munchkin" on the front.

These were made in China and sold at various retailers nationwide as well as the Munchkin company's catalog from June 2007 through April 2008 for about $20 each.

If you have one of these warmers with lot number TP-1487 on the bottom, you are advised to stop using it immediately and contact Munchkin to receive a free replacement. You can reach the company by calling them toll-free at (866) 619-8673 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday, or by visiting their Web site.

Last summer, sitting on a beach together, my closest college friend and I watched our four little ones splash in the water together. As we laughed together over old times, we wondered if our kids would ever be able to get anything past us. Looking at them then, building sand castles, all youth and innocence, it was hard to imagine them even trying.

But some day, they'll be tweens, then teens, then (gulp) college students and adults. And at some point, they're likely going to ask us some pretty difficult questions. They say that experience is the best teacher, but is sharing your own life experiences really the best way to teach your child a life lesson? Or does telling your kids that you [fill in your own inappropriate/dangerous/illegal behavior here] just give them license to try it themselves?

Among the experts, advice seems to be absent and what little there is is mixed. But the Washington Post has an excellent article exploring the topic and the pros and cons of sharing this kind of heavy information with your kid. What do you think?

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced the recall of about 17,300 Playground Swing Sets made by Playworld Systems Inc., of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The clevis bearing on the swing set can wear out and cause the swing to detach, posing a fall hazard to children.

There are seventeen different swings involved in this recall and the model numbers can be found here.

These were sold through authorized dealers nationwide to day care centers and children's learning centers from January 2007 through February 2008 for between $770 and $3,100.

If you have one of the recalled swings, you should immediately remove it from the swing set until a repair kit can be installed. The company has sent direct mail notices to consumers, but for further information you can contact Playworld Systems at (800) 233-8404 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site.

No one likes to see their kids get sick, and fevers can be especially worrisome. When my daughter caught the flu this winter, her fever soared to 104.5 and she felt like she was on fire. I think I checked her temperature every hour that night, until I could feel that she had cooled back down.

But researchers say that parents may be worrying too much about childhood fevers, and that many tend to medicate (or worse, over-medicate) a condition that doesn't even need treatment, even waking up comfortably sleeping children to give them medication.

A lot of people in the technology industry consider Microsoft to be pure evil. It turns out that they aren't completely evil after all. The company has partnered with the Companions in Courage Foundation to deliver gaming kiosks to children's hospitals around the country, loaded with an xbox 360 video game system, games, and TV shows and movies.

The kiosks will also let hospitalized kids play games and chat with other kids in other hospitals over a private network. The first batch was installed at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the Children's Hospital of Orange County in California.

"Entertainment, creativity and personal connections can be important factors in alleviating some of the isolation and discomfort these children experience each day," said Companions in Courage founder and National Hockey League Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, speaking of kids who are in the hospital for an extended period. "These gaming stations are a perfect complement to the interactive playrooms."

The mission of Companions in Courage is to build interactive playrooms in hospitals throughout North America. "It's extremely gratifying to witness the joy and excitement of these children and teens when they have a chance to break away from the normal hospital routine, and make new friends while playing video games," said Cynthia Sparer, executive director of Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian.

For once, I have to say -- and this pains me to no end -- good job Microsoft!

Based on my own personal experience, I've decided that getting pregnant is more of an art than a science. Those who've spent some quality time getting pregnant, and perhaps even those who got pregnant after only one attempt (and I find myself in both categories) would agree, even with the factual information out there.

According to the powers that be--scientists, doctors, your health teacher from the 6th grade--pregnancy occurs one way and one way only. A sperm, offered by the male, implants itself in an egg, supplied by the female, and voila'--you make a baby. Science also points out that whether you do it the old-fashioned way, through intercourse, or through other means such as in vitro fertilization, the mechanics are the same. Sperm meets egg, and the rest is history.

But, getting through that simple task can be daunting. It can seem to take forever. Many gals have turned to old wives tales and gossip heard through friends and family to get themselves in the family way. Do any of these methods work? Well, science would argue no, they don't. Experience might say otherwise, however.

If you've been reading ParentDish for long, then you know that kids are finding new and exciting ways to get themselves suspended from school all the time. Taking calls from parents stationed in Iraq, smelling their own shirt, and sporting a trendy haircut have all caused school suspensions, along with a permanent mark on school records.

Sometimes, the consequences fit the crime. Sometimes, schools go too far in trying to enforce a "zero tolerance" policy. Take the case of a nine-year-old Milwaukee girl who recently received a three-day suspension for taking rocks, a hammer, and a screwdriver to school. When the bus driver discovered her with the items, the police were called and a threat assessment team was assembled.

My 7-year-old is crazy for the lip gloss. She can be convinced to wear lip balm, but prefers the shiny wet look that can only be achieved through the liberal application of gooey, flavored lip gloss. If it has sparkles in it, even better. The resulting shimmery pout is inappropriate enough on a little girl, but there's an even better reason to toss all that stuff in the trash: lip gloss can be hazardous to your health.

Some dermatologists say that not only does lip gloss not protect your lips from the harmful UV rays of the sun, it can actually make those rays even more damaging. If your gloss has SPF, then you needn't worry. But many of them - even those pricey brands - do not. Dermatologist Bruce Robinson says the shine of the gloss acts like a magnifying glass between the sun and your lips and the moisture in the gloss "kind of smooshes" down the natural protective outer layer, allowing those UV rays to penetrate even deeper into the skin.

"Instead of having to travel through that thicker layer, it's more condensed," Robinson says. "So the UV rays are reaching deeper layers of epidermis and dermis because you don't have this forcefield."

And while skin cancer is a very real concern when you're talking UV rays and skin, it isn't the only one. Too much exposure can result in non-cancerous disfigurement of your lips, including actinic keratosis (a small, scaly patch that can turn into a wart-like bump) and lip freckling. Nothing sparkly and pretty about that.

Not all dermatologists agree there is a connection between lip gloss and skin cancer but I am a firm believer in erring on the side of caution. They do make lip gloss with SPF protection, so why not use it?

One article--and one set of research--would have us think so. Perhaps this story is more the sort that would fall under "Pregnancy Fact or Fiction," as breastfeeding in general is a REALLY hot topic, but let's investigate the findings.

To be honest, before we get started, I'd like to point out that this story feels very familiar. That's probably because it is. We never seem to stop talking about breastfeeding--those for it, those against it, etc.--I guess that discussion is a good thing. Way back when no one ever talked about breasts or using them for anything other than filling out a bullet bra.

In this most recent study, 14,000 babies were studied by an international research team. Their findings suggested that breastfeeding makes babies smarter, especially when not mixed with formula. The way the process worked was a little unsettling to me, though: half the mothers were strongly encouraged to breastfeed and the other half were given no encouragement.

As someone who was a recent new mom myself, I can't say that a lack of encouragement would be especially helpful. I guess I wouldn't want the medical staff breathing down my neck about it either, but it would seem especially unfair to a new mom to not encourage her to give breastfeeding a chance. I was able to breastfeed, but I was also given a ton of support and encouragement from everyone from my family to the OBGYNs and nurses to our ParentDish readers. Not everyone gets that kind of support.

What really upset me about the article are some of the other assertions made by the researchers, namely that mothers who breastfeed are "different" because they are smarter and more invested in their children. Say WHAT? So, someone who chooses to not breastfeed or can't breastfeed given the circumstances is not as invested in her child? I disagree. Completely.

It's a pretty well known fact that fast food is bad. It's fast food, right? It's convenient and you can drive up to it and pay for it with the crusty quarters filling your car ashtray and sometimes vegetable chopping for salads is too much of a pain in the butt when you have three disgruntled and hungry kids. Right?

I am normally pretty health conscious but I have to admit that I have eaten fast food and at chain restaurants with my pre-schooler on occasion. Since I'm a vegetarian, I usually stick to Wendy's baked potatoes, but I have bought chicken nugget meals for my son on occasion. There will be no more of that.

According to this article about the Twenty Worst Foods in America, McDonald's premium chicken breast strips (5 of them, with ranch dip) have 830 calories and 55 grams of fat. For those keeping track at home, that's more calories and fat than most kids need in an entire day. Gross.

The Twenty Worst Foods in America also lists the Worst Kid's Meal (hint: it's macaroni and cheese at Macaroni Grill -- like feeding your kid a pack and a half of Kraft Dinner! Most interesting to me is the Worst Food in America -- an appetizer at a well-known restaurant chain which holds the caloric equivalent to 14 Krispy Kreme donuts - and 182 grams of fat. Yech.

The article is useful in that it can help understand which restaurants should be blacklisted (hint: On the Border) and why some seemingly benign food choices are really very dangerous.

Yet another case for chopping and slicing at home.