Now that the holiday season is in full swing, it seems like I have a party or event to attend almost every other night. (It doesn't help that so many of my friends are Sagittarians and I have to celebrate birthdays left and right.) To save what would be a small fortune in babysitting, I've been talking to other parents about babysitting swaps.

Here's how it works: You find other parents -- preferably friends and family who you know and trust, and whose kids your child likes to play with -- who are in the same bind (they need to attend a party or have to finish their holiday shopping, or even need an hour or so to get their hair done for an upcoming holiday gathering). Then, you babysit their kids while they do what they need to do and vice versa.

It's win-win for everyone. Your child and his friends get to play together while you and the other parents save money on babysitting. (Amazingly, that same little boy who clings to me when he sees me getting dressed to go out barely has time to give me a hug and a kiss goodnight when he's playing with a friend.) The only glitch may be if all the couples in your circle decide they want to attend a Christmas Eve party, for instance. In that case, you may want to consider relatives who you know will be staying home, such as a couple with a new baby or grandma and grandpa.

So set up some babysitting swaps and enjoy those holiday celebrations!

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Here's a big sigh of relief for all those parents who've bought -- or are hoping to buy -- Zhu Zhu Pets for their kids. A new finding by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has found that Zhu Zhu Pets do meet federal safety standards for toxic chemicals after all.

The popular hit toy had been identified by consumer watchdog group Good Guide as having higher-than-acceptable levels of antimony, a toxic chemical that can has been linked to cancer and heart and lung problems after prolonged exposure. But analysis by the CPSC has determined that Good Guide's testing system, which measures compounds found on the surface of the toy, was different from the one required by the federal government, which uses solubility tests.

In a recent press release, Good Guide states, "While we accurately reported the chemical levels in the toys that we measured using our testing method, we should not have compared our results to federal standards. We regret this error." They've also explained their testing method in a blog.

So while Mr. Squiggles may be off the hook for now, it looks like more than a few irate parents are now going to be left wondering just how reliable Good Guide's safety tests are, which is a shame. There are lots of potentially-toxic kids' toys and products out there, and we parents could all use some reliable information.

Your kids may be clamoring for the latest trendy toys in their letters to Santa, but consider adding a challenging brain-building game or two to the list. Grade-school age kids are developing math and verbal skills every day, and are really able to enjoy mind-challenging board games.

Just this past weekend, my 8-year-old son played chess and Monopoly with friends and family, and I was amazed to see how much his skills had grown in just a few months. He not only beat grown-ups at chess, but he also acted as the "banker" in Monopoly (and made change without any help!).

Board games can come in especially handy during family get-togethers over the holidays, when you have lots of grandkids and cousins of all ages running around. So get some great board games and get your game on!

As parents scramble to find Zhu Zhu Pets (and their accessories!) to fulfill their kids' Christmas wish list, a new report by Good Guide, a group that works with a range of non-profit organizations to educate the public about health, environmental, and social issues, has found that they may contain a potentially-harmful chemical called antimony. According to the report, the hair on Mr. Squiggles was found to contain unacceptably high levels of this chemical, which has been linked to cancer, heart, and lung problems.

Meanwhile Zhu Zhu Pets' manufacturer, Cepia LLC, says it stands by the safety of its toys and says the Zhu Zhus passed rigorous testing standards.

To see the report about Zhu Zhus, or the potentially-toxic content in other hot toys this season, check out Good Guide's list of chemicals in toys.