It’s not a new year without resolutions, but we have to be careful before we go buying things we hope will help make us better parents. Because with the following corporate co-pilots bringing us their products, we’ll save more than our money by not buying their help.  #NotBuyingIt

This water bottle from Pottery Barn was found to contain excessive levels of lead, which can cause cumulative brain damage in children.

RESOLUTION: Toss the juice boxes, serve kids more water.

NOT BUYING IT: Excellent idea! Juice delivers sugar, while it’s whole fruit counterparts contain filling fiber and just as many vitamins. But make sure you do this without the Avengers and Darth Vader Water Bottles from POTTERY BARN. The gray paint can contain excessive levels of lead, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and were recently recalled. Lead poisoning can cause mental and neurological delays in kids. Lead can also be instantly deadly. In 2006, a 4-year old girl died from swallowing a heart-shaped charm that came with Reebok sneakers. The Avengers water bottles contain images of Thor, The Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man on one, and images of Darth Vader on the other. Take the bottles back to your nearest retail store or call 844-421-8062 for your refund.

This Digital Temple Thermometer from K-Jump Health could produce an inaccurate reading that would delay our kids’ treatments.

RESOLUTION: Closely monitor feverish children.

NOT BUYING IT: Of course, we’ve all heard that 4 percent of kids under age five have febrile seizures and we know the older ones can infect other children at home and at school. But we’ll have to employ some old fashioned temperature-taking by mouth, by ear or by tush. Because the Digital Temple Thermometers by K-Jump Health Co. – the ones that would let us believe a gentle touch to the forehead could tell the whole, sick story  — won’t likely work, says FDA. The ones manufactured between October 2012 and just last month will give you a reading that’s lower than actual body temperature. That means we could forgo or delay treatment and – if necessary – understate the situation to doctors or emergency room personnel. The thermometers were sold at retail giants such as Kroger, Safeway & Target, but also dozens of smaller chains. If you already bought one, get a replacement by calling 877-299-6700 or email DTTRecall@bestmedusa.com.

This burn relief gel from Dollar Tree doesn’t meet federal packaging standards and can poison children if swallowed.

RESOLUTION: Keep the First-Aide Kit Fully Stocked

NOT BUYING IT: Accidents happen, and we want to be prepared. But if you happen to pick up Assured Burn Relief Gel from the Dollar Tree, put it in back the car and return to the store (or call 800-876-8697.) The packaging is not child resistant, as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, says the CPSC. This product is made with lidocaine, which can poison a child who swallows it.

We’ve got stuff to tell you constantly!

Connect with The Home Economist:

Brett Graff is THE HOME ECONOMIST, a former U.S. government economist who today reports on money, proving that the way things seem is not frequently what they are. You can read her work in THE MIAMI HERALD and you can preorder her book NOT BUYING IT: STOP OVERSPENDING AND START RAISING HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, MORE SUCCESSFUL KIDS on Amazon.com.