Keep Calm and Carry On (with Empowered SAFETY)

This post is brought to you by our partner Empowered SAFETY a cool service for parents (giveaway + free trial info below)

When I first became a mom, I felt like some kind of mommy impostor taking my newborn home. I couldn’t figure out why they were letting me leave the hospital with this baby and how was I going to keep her safe?! Was this an irrational fear? Yes. But a real emotion? Absolutely.

Why had I taken six weeks of childbirth classes and one minuscule hour of newborn care? I mean, the baby was coming out one way or another. But I had to care for this child for the rest of her life and I couldn’t find an instruction manual anywhere.

Fast forward 10 years and my husband and I now have five kids so I guess we figured something out. But parenthood is chaotic, exhausting and sometimes overwhelming.

For example, take product recalls. Please tell me how I am supposed to keep on top of product recalls between packing lunches, giving baths, helping with homework, running kids to activities and you know, once in awhile fitting in an actual pedicure? Just in 2013, there were 113 children’s products recalled. Whoa. I couldn’t name one of them. I went through the list and thankfully none of my kids’ stuff was on there but nothing like perusing a whole bunch of recalls to make me a little concerned as a parent.

That’s why I’m kind of obsessed with Empowered SAFETY. It’s a super simple way of knowing which children’s products have consumer complaints and recalls.  Researchers monitor products, pulling together complaints and recalls into one, easy to use place.

With the premium package, it’s actually the only service to notify parents of complaints BEFORE there is an actual recall on an item.  For example, with one stroller, there were complaints as early as 2009 but the product wasn’t recalled until 2014. It’s pretty scary to think of all the kids who could be potentially hurt or even killed between the time a few parents file a complaint about an item and it is actually off store shelves.

Premium members can also use the site, and its extensive database, to research complaints before they even make a purchase. You don’t have to comb the internet looking for issues. The company does it for you. It’s like having a personal assistant except they don’t pick up your dry-cleaning.

My family and I examine and test out a lot of different children’s products, gear and toys for this very website. Before we bring them into our home, I’m always reading reviews from other parents who like us have purchased the product to find out if there are any problems or safety concerns. This research is time consuming. Parents are on the frontline when it comes to noticing a potential problem with a product and we depend on each other when it comes to keeping our kids safe.

What I like best about Empowered SAFETY’s service is that it doesn’t overwhelm you with too much information because is there anyone who needs more email?! You receive info relevant to the products you register, health topics where you you live and your children’s ages. The company also sends you notifications on food safety like national food recalls. Here’s a screenshot showing just a few of the items from my Empowered SAFETY newsfeed this week…

As a mom, I don’t want to be ridiculously obsessive about safety but I don’t want to stick my head in the sand either.  Empowered SAFETY is your zen place when it comes to children’s products. Buying a new crib? Before you plunk down a chunk of cash, check the crib model in the database to see whether there have been any consumer complaints and and of course what exactly is of concern. If all is clear, then buy it and register it on the site to keep up-to-date on it. (This service available to premium members.)

And it’s also super helpful when borrowing items from friends. I remember almost borrowing a crib tent for my very spirited toddler until I found out they all were recalled because of safety concerns.

Empowered SAFETY offers different family plans (the basic and premium plan are less than 50 cents a day which is way cheaper than a pumpkin spice latte) and you can even do a free two-week trial which I totally recommend that you do. Better yet, Alpha Mom readers get a free 28-day trial. Here’s your promo code: ES28DAY92. This code expires on 11/30/14 so sign up now to take better advantage of the offer.

Empowered SAFETY is not only a helpful resource for the first time mom but great for us more seasoned moms who might be a bit crazy with multiple kids (with tons of homework) and not always able to focus on recalls and product safety issues. (And by “seasoned,” I mean “beautiful and glowing” from all our years of motherhood.)

Also be sure to enter our giveaway below. One reader will be chosen randomly to receive six months of free access to Empowered SAFETY. Enter using the widget below.

 

This is a sponsored post written by Alpha Mom on behalf of Empowered Safety. Thank you readers for supporting our partners.