It's prime sandbox season, but this is one playground hot spot that's fraught with dangers.

Now that you've run to scream at your kid to get inside, a bit of good news: It's relatively easy to make your sandbox safe for the summer.

The Stir asked Wendy Gordon of the Natural Resources Defense Council's SimpleSteps.org to explain all those cancer-causing agents in the sandbox and how to get them away from your kids.

I just learned some very important information about babies and sunscreen and I need to share it with everyone ... especially my in-laws. We have a vacation planned with them this summer. I'm half excited, half fearing it.

They mean well, are very in love with "our twins" as they call them, but they aren't exactly up to date in the baby department. I'd bet they bring some DEET bug spray and chemical-filled sunscreen for the babies thinking they are helping out. And yes, this is the same step-mother-in-law who dumped my breast milk when they visited earlier in the year. I already had to get rid of the plastic BPA bottles they gave us.

Yikes! Studies are showing some not-so-hot things these days, whether it's the troubles of babies of sperm and egg donors or how many kids die in hot cars in July. Luckily, we have some cute baby picks to lift you out of this baby news depression. And the links are ...

Just in case you needed more incentive to quit using tanning beds (besides skin cancer -- HELLO!), you're about to pay more.

Like many other women, I feel like I look better tan -- healthier, skinnier, prettier. And like many women my age who celebrated their 20s in the early-mid '90s, I spent a good amount of time (and money) at the tanning salon. As a breast cancer survivor, I cringe just thinking about it, but I did.

Back then, I was likely addicted to tanning beds, much like the Jersey Shore reality stars, as I used to hit the tanning bed a few times a week slathered in some sort of tan "accelerator." These days, I slather on the sunscreen daily and, while I do swim outside and thus get color, I feel better knowing I'm not blatantly courting skin cancer.

Your toddler is always slathered with SPF, wearing a protective hat, and taking shade breaks. Good for you -- and him.

But on the off chance he gets a sunburn this summer, follow these basic dos and don'ts to ensure a quick and comfy recovery.

For many of us, this is the time of year when our Chanel No. 5 is replaced by Eau de Insect Repellent.

Here in Nashville, the recent flood has given way to a bumper crop of mosquitoes, which sent me scurrying to the store for a case of OFF!

I use the spray very reluctantly -- to be honest, DEET scares me a little -- and I've begun researching alternative methods of keeping those nasty bugs from biting us. As it turns out, there are actually insect repellent sprays and accessories on the market that will have all you stylistas out there taking a second look (and in some cases, laughing out loud!). Here are a few of my favorites ...

All it took was one bug bite, and my daughter's ear looked like she'd been in a boxing match.

Ever heard the term cauliflower ear? That's what she had -- bright red, swollen, and sore to the touch.

Insect bites can you leave you wondering whether you need to take your kids to the hospital or if they are developing an allergy, so The Stir checked with Dr. Leslie Barakat, a pediatrician with Cigna Medical Group, to find out when we should bug out.

It's summer (safety) time -- are you inflicting hearing damage to yourself?

Maybe you like to blast your iPod at the gym or while you're out for a run (which is not only dangerous for your ears, but also for your life, as you should always be able to hear what's going on around you when you're out exercising, especially in traffic).

Or maybe you're taking in a summer concert or music festival. Don't forget those fireworks for the 4th of July. Heck, even a lawnmower can produce enough noise to hurt your ears.