CARES: A Holiday Life-Saver for Airplane Travelers with Young Children

Let’s face it! Traveling with young children is a challenge no matter what the time of year. But, during the holidays, airports are more crowded, roadways are gridlocked, kids are more excitable and parents are more stressed than typical. As the holidays approach, many moms online are gearing up for their trips by asking for travel tips and suggestions to make their holiday trips easier.

One common concern is how to juggle the carseat through the airport. You already have your hands full with toys for the kids to play with during the wait, diaper bags with snacks and drinks and the stroller… not to mention holding onto the kids themselves. Do you really want to lug the carseat for one or more children onboard your flight? The obvious answer is no. But, what are you to do to keep your child safe on the flight? The answer is CARES!

CARES or Child Aviation Restraint System is a belt-and-buckle device which works with the airplane’s seat belt providing the same level of safety as a carseat would. Certified by the FAA as an alternative to the traditional carseat, CARES weighs 1 pound and is easy to transport, install and use. CARES is designed for children 1 year old and older that weigh between 22-44 pounds protecting these children from flailing around in their seats during the flight. Best of all, you can check your child’s carseat with your luggage and not have to carry it throughout the airport.

One might think you could get CARES at stores like ToysRUs and One Step Ahead. However, CARES is not available at those stores. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, for example, Kidproteq in Wayne is the only store that sells CARES www.kidproteq.com . Getting CARES for your holiday trips will help make your air travel less stressful and more enjoyable this year. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy your flight!

Sleep much? Mount a baby safety gate and get your zzz’s.

Sick and tired of getting out of bed every hour just to put your toddler back in her bed? I know how you feel. For me, it started when my baby turned 2 ½ years old and kept climbing out of her crib. I figured it was time for her to move into her “Big Girl Room.” But, the transition didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped. Every night, I had to sit at the doorway of her room until she fell asleep. Even though her room was baby-proofed and I knew that she would be safe, I couldn’t sleep if she was awake and free to roam the house. Plus, she kept hopping in and out of bed every few minutes looking for me. Three years later, the same thing happened with my middle child! I was miserable and sleep-deprived for weeks!

Now I ask myself, why didn’t I think to buy a gate for the doorway? Not sure… Gates were a safety product that I had always thought of for keeping my kids out of somewhere as opposed to keeping them in. But, it makes perfect sense. Moms discussing sleep issues of transitioning toddlers from crib to toddler bed always offer a gate as a solution. Blogs like this one http://bit.ly/toddlersleepproblems provide many suggestions on how to get your toddler to stay in bed. I guess you have to use trial and error to see what works best for each situation. But, in my opinion, a gate is a great place to start.

So, when our third child gets to be “that age,” I’ll be babyproofing his room and getting a gate for his bedroom door. There are so many products out there, but chances are I’ll get a tall gate that will prevent him from climbing over. Both Kidco www.kidco.com and Cardinal make baby safety gates that get excellent reviews. Many online merchants like One Step Ahead carry both brands; however, many don’t offer the extra personal touch that Kidproteq www.kidproteq.com does. Kidproteq’s personalized approach helps you buy the right safety product the first time. And, maybe this time around, I’ll finally be able to transition my baby to a bed without sacrificing my sleep!

Messy Marvin

How many times did I forget to bring a bib for my little ones? And, then, I ended up with ketchup stains on my kids’ favorite outfits. Snapt Bib Clips solve the problem of being out and not having a bib. This clip can turn a napkin, towel or cloth into a bib in seconds. This is a must-have for every diaper bag.

Girl Scout Meeting

Last week, my daughter had her first Girl Scout meeting where she made a “sit upon” A “sit upon” is a mat that the girls lace up with yarn and they use it for circle time, camping or at any other Girl Scout function. Anyway, my daughter had leftover yarn which she started to wrap around her finger… until her finger was completely covered and the tip started to turn blue! I noticed it and quickly unwrapped her finger. Thankfully, she was fine but that wasn’t exactly how I thought her Girl Scout experience would start… with a First Aid lesson.

Lunch Date

This week, I took my newborn to the mall for his 3 month old pictures. My 3 year old son was also in tow. So, I told my 3 year old that if he was good during the baby’s pictures, we’d have a special lunch date! He was excellent, even trying to make the baby smile! So, off we went to the Food Court for our special lunch. Unfortunately, I was so preoccupied with getting the pictures taken; I had forgotten to pack one of life’s necessities-The Table Topper. The Table Topper is a disposable placemat that covers the table when you are eating out. I did wipe the table with anti-bacterial wipes, but with it being cold and flu season and all the germs out there, I wish I would have had the Table Topper.

A Solution for the Child that Wanders

The fear of losing your child while out running errands is terrifying to me and likely every mom out there. So, when I heard about Joan Lunden’s Kinderkord, I was interested to say the least. Joan, with her husband Jeff, has 2 sets of twins. (And, I thought I had my hands full!) They found it difficult to keep track of the children when out in public places. So, they invented Kinderkord.

Kinderkord does not have the stigma that traditional leashes and harnesses do. Kinderkord is a nearly invisible, wrist to wrist connection which keeps your child within 2 feet of you. It doesn’t tangle so it can be used with multiple children and can attach to a stroller, belt or wrist. This is a must-have product for moms with young toddlers, moms with multiples or moms planning a trip to Disney (or anywhere for that matter.)

Real World

A teacher friend was amazed at an incident that happened at her school. At recess recently, she picked two kids to be captains and told them to choose teams. Can you believe that the kids didn’t know how to choose teams? These kids are your typical suburban kids that were involved with organized sports teams. But, when asked to play on their own, they didn't know how.

It is important for us, as parents, to remember we can’t protect our kids from everything. No one wants to be the last to be picked. But, if we are picked last one time, couldn’t it make us work harder to be better? Or could it remind us that we need to be nicer to our classmates? We can’t all be the “winner.” But, should we let everyone get a trophy just for showing up? Does this give our kids a false sense of entitlement? Will they expect that everyone that interviews for the big job will get one just because they participated? Opportunities like choosing teams give our kids the chance to learn social skills, negotiation skills and life skills. And, this will help them get ready for the “Real World.”

BPA Free?

When my sister in law asked me to help her register for baby products, I was more than happy to help. Certainly, a mom of three could give some advice on products you can’t live without, products that were a waste of money and products that were “nice-to-have’s” not “need-to-have’s.” But, as we started in the bottle aisle, I realized that things had changed since I had registered. Everything was being advertised as “BPA free.” What is that?

BPA stands for Bisphenol A which is an organic compound and considered, potentially, a hormone-disrupting chemical used to make some plastic products including baby bottles. This compound has been linked causing obesity, breast cancer, thyroid disorders and neurological issues. Recently, it has been noted that baby girls exposed to BPA while in the womb could have an increase in behavior problems. Therefore, it is important to check the plastics you use to make sure they are BPA free. Plastics that are recyclable #3 and #7 may not but could have BPA in them. Plastics 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 do not have BPA. For more information, check out www.bisphenolafree.org and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A.

Choking Hazards

Do you know what the #1 choking hazard is for babies in the home? I didn’t- until I had a professional babyproofer come to my house and give me a home evaluation. Believe it or not, it is the small plastic tip of the doorstoppers that attach to your baseboards. It was so surprising to me. My children didn’t bother with them but when our nephew was over, he seemed to enjoy batting at them. He giggled when they made a “boing” sound. Fortunately, he didn’t pull the plastic top off but he certainly could have. Thankfully, there are one-piece doorstoppers that can replace the old doorstoppers to avoid this problem. Check them out!

Time Out

“I’m sitting in the Time Out chair, because my mother put me there.” This is the first sentence of the book, “If I were a Lion” by Sarah Weeks and is a family favorite in our house. When I read this book to my kids, it makes me smile. The main character is a little girl who gets in trouble and compares herself with animals in a zoo. Sometimes I feel like I live in the zoo and I am the zoo keeper, yet the “animals” don’t listen… which leads me to a product that I recently saw at Kidproteq.

It is a “Time Out” mat to use when the children haven’t listened. It is a thin, bendable mat that has the words “Time Out” printed directly on it. The mat is easily transportable to a playdate or grandma’s house. And, you could even take it with you on vacation! What a great solution for the misbehaving “animals” in your life.

Flu Shots

So, I got a phone call from our pediatrician’s office. I thought they were calling to confirm the kids’ flu shot appointments on Monday afternoon. However, they were calling to say that they are out of flu shots. Out of flu shots? Are you kidding? It is the first week of October and they are out of flu shots? I had this appointment scheduled for weeks! Evidently, the shipment is delayed and will be sent sometime in November. No one is quite sure but the delay could be related to the swine flu vaccine that is being distributed. What are we to do? There is a flu mist that is available if your child meets the requirements. In the meantime, we are trying to stay healthy, wash hands, cover our mouths and nose in our elbows, take vitamins and get enough rest. And, we are keeping our fingers crossed that the flu shot shipment arrives!

Oh, No!

My son broke the DVD player. I knew one day this would happen. My oldest knows how to work the DVD player and this has come in handy when I need her help because I am occupied with our newborn. But, because my daughter does it, now my 3 year old son thinks he can do it too! And, he could if he wasn’t so fast and rough. Unfortunately, though, he broke it and it can’t be fixed. This is the type of situation that is tricky to handle- I had cabinet locks on the DVD cabinet but needed something easy enough for my 6 year old to open but complex enough to keep out my 3 year old. Somehow he figured out the lock. Perhaps we have another engineer in the family!

Just Another Day at the Park

My nephews are the cutest little boys ever- at 15 months and almost 4 years old- they both are spunky and full of energy! My mother is their nanny two days a week so on the days she has them, she likes to tire them out in order to get them to nap in the afternoon! This past Monday, we took my nephews along with my three to the playground. They had a blast. Running around, shouting, laughing… it’s great to be a kid! But, as I looked around, I noticed danger lurking. It was a windy day so there were large branches on the ground which easily turned into light-sabers. The monkey bars were slick from the previous night’s rain. There were some puddles that could have turned into a messy situation. Tree bark nearly took out my father who was sitting on a park bench. An innocent trip to the park could have ended with a trip to the ER. Thankfully, for our crew, it was just another day at the park.

Building Forts

It was a rainy day and the kids were itchy for something new to do. They weren’t interested in board games, puzzles, cars or ponies. They wanted to “use their imaginations.” So, we decided to build forts in the family room. I remember doing that when I was a kid. Certainly now, I have a different perspective. I wanted the kids to have fun but I also didn’t want anyone to get hurt. As I recalled, my childhood forts were fun and safe and I don’t remember anyone getting hurt. But as we started to build, I realized that this was going to be a lot more challenging than I thought. We put blankets over chairs with books to hold the blankets. Soon, the blankets were caving in on us and the books were falling all over the place. I guess it wasn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe next time, we’ll see if we can pitch one of Dad's army tents in the family room. It may not require us to use our imaginations, but it would be a lot safer.

Too much TV

After a busy Saturday morning, my daughter asked if she could take a break and watch some TV. So, she put on Noggin… and there was a display saying “Worldwide Day of Play”- from 12-3PM Nick’s Noggin was off the air to encourage kids to play. My first reaction was “Isn’t that nice? A day free from TV to play and have fun.” Then, I thought, “How sad!” When I was a kid (now I am starting to sound like my parents) but when I was a kid, we didn’t need a “Worldwide Day of Play” as an excuse to play! We loved to play. I remember watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers from time to time. But, when we were young, television was a treat, not an everyday occurrence.
Noggin's message helps to put things in perspective. Now, my life is full of laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, chauffeuring….how I wish I had more time to play. So, maybe the message is for us grown-ups. Grown ups need playtime just as much as the kids do! And, we grown-ups should play with our kids. So, get out there and PLAY!

DINNERTIME!

Dinner time is the most hectic time of the day. Inevitably, the baby is fussy, homework needs to be completed, someone has an accident… and everyone is hungry! Last night was that night but crazier than typical - my husband was out for the night. So, I was multi-tasking as usual. Dinner was started- table set, bread sliced, sauce made… and I had gnocchi boiling on the stove when my son called for me. I went to check on him when my daughter yelled “MOM! The pot is boiling over!” Thankfully, the water just started to spill over the edge but certainly could have been a disaster- both mess-wise and safety-wise. I am really glad that my daughter knew to call for me immediately. This was a teachable moment for both my kids and me. Never leave the stove and always tell your kids to call for help if they spot a problem, not to handle it on their own.

Home Office

Since I have been blogging from home for about 2 months now, my children have become fascinated with Mommy’s work and the “computer room.” Ideally, I try to do my work at night- uninterrupted, peaceful and serene- to me, pure heaven. But, occasionally, I do need to work on the computer during the day. This means my 3 year old ends up under the desk and my 6 year old begs to have a turn online for Playhouse Disney time. So, this got me thinking… when our newborn starts toddling around, I am going to have to really babyproof the study. I remember when my daughter was about 18 months she always wanted to push the blinking hard drive button- turning on and off the computer. But, now that is no longer a problem. There is a new product called PC Guard. It is a plastic covering that goes over your computer’s front panel protecting disk drives as well as buttons. The computer is saved!

Halloween Already?

It seems like every year on the first day of school, the stores start trading in their pencil cases and glue sticks for Halloween costumes and goblin décor. My kids have already been brainstorming about what to be for Halloween: a witch, a bat, a firefighter or a vampire. There are so many things to choose from. And, as a result, our dress ups have been getting a lot of playtime. Recently, the kids were playing with masks and trying to scare each other. It was cute- until my 3 year old decided it would be fun to dress up his newborn brother as a bicycle rider. He proceeded to put his bike helmet on my 2 month old! Thankfully, I was right there to stop him. So, as we approach Halloween, it is important to make sure our kids’ costumes are safe as well as their dress ups- watching out for trip or choke hazards on outfits. And, most importantly, don’t let the kids dress up the baby!

Back to School Germs

It happens every school year. Moms everywhere are SO excited for school to start. They start making their “to do lists” for all of the things they will accomplish when the kids are at school… and then… one of the kids gets sick… and then sickness passes through every family member in the house! Agh!!!!!!! Germs are everywhere. Suddenly Mom’s “to do list” is longer than ever- disinfect the bathroom, wipe the kitchen counters, change the sheets, buy Lysol!

The #1 thing anyone can do to stay healthy this cold season is to wash hands. We have a rule at our house. When you come in, wash your hands! Whether it is from school, playing in the yard or the grocery store, it is a good habit to get into. Taking vitamins, eating a nutritious diet, getting plenty of sleep each night and having the flu shot are also ways to stay healthy. As we near the end of the first month of school, I hope that you have a healthy fall and winter. Stay well!

Danger that lies within the napkin...

My kids know that knives are dangerous! That is why my oldest child, age 6, must ask permission to have a butter knife to help make her lunch. My 3 year old likes to help too! But, he must have a grown-up help him. Recently, we were out at a local pizza place for dinner. A fork, knife and spoon wrapped in a napkin were at every place setting. My son took the napkin and shook out its contents. He immediately removed the knife and handed it to me. It made me so happy that he remembers what the rules are. And, it makes me think he is a bit safer because of it.

Billy Goat

When my daughter was about 2 years old, I found myself with a dilemma. She would climb onto the kitchen chairs and then make her way onto the kitchen table! But, what was worse was that she would stand on the table and bat at the kitchen chandelier like it was a cat toy! What was I to do with my little billy goat? Truly, there was nothing I could do except pull all of the chairs away from the table until mealtime. Annoying- yes- but at least it kept her safe. You think you have child-proofed it all… but you can never be prepared for what your little one might do!

Torn Shorts

Trouble always seems to find my preschooler! Recently, my son was on the swing set. He was standing on the swing and going back and forth. When he tried to get down, his shorts got stuck in the metal hook that attaches the swing to the chain. After a minute to figure out how to unhook him, I got him loose. It was a freaky sort of thing but this just goes to show you how quickly things happen... and how you need to be there in case something does.

Bike Safety

This past weekend, my 3 ½ year old son fell off a bike and scratched his belly. He was trying to ride a neighborhood kid’s bike that was too big and didn’t have training wheels. Obviously, he shouldn’t have been playing on a bike that wasn’t his but this seemed like a good opportunity for me to address bike safety.
Here are some tips on having a safe bike ride:
1. Make sure bike seats, handlebars and wheels fit properly.
2. Oil chain regularly
3. Check brakes and tires regularly
4. Do not wear anything that could get caught in wheels, i.e. loose pant legs, backpack straps, shoelaces
5. Wear sneakers- not flip flops, sandals or cleats
6. Don’t wear headphones
7. Ride in safe places like sidewalks or bike paths. Avoid wet leaves, grave and storm grates
8. Review road rules
9. Learn and use hand signals

For more information, check out www.kidshealth.org.

Escape Artist

Today, I was reminded of the time my daughter “ran away” from home. She was about 2 years old. My husband and I were having a conversation and she wanted to go out to play. We said no…. but she snuck out the back sliding glass door anyway and made her way across the street to play on the neighbor’s swing set. We didn’t even know that she was gone until my neighbor discovered her and brought her home immediately. I never knew how to prevent my kids from opening the sliding glass door- it is so easy to do. But, there is a sliding glass door lock and adheres to the glass and prevents the door from being opened more than a few inches. I’ll definitely be getting those for both of our sliders. No doubt!

Childproof Medicine Bottles

Recently, my neighbor told me that her husband had to have surgery on his shoulder. After the operation, the doctor prescribed pain medication which he left on his bedside table in a “child-proof” bottle. Well, her 2 year old discovered the bottle and ended up opening it! Thankfully, her mom was right there to fish the pills out of her daughter’s mouth. That could have been devastating! So, this is a reminder....It is always a good idea is to lock medicines away to keep them out of children’s reach. And, make sure that all caps are properly closed. I guess some “child-proof” bottles really aren’t that “child-proof!”

Bus Safety

Buses, buses everywhere! Now that school is back in session… the buses are all over the place. This is a good time to remind our children about bus safety. Here are a few tips to refresh your kids’ brains as we begin the school year.

Always walk; never run to the bus stop.
Walk on sidewalks or on left facing traffic
Allow 5 minutes before bus arrives
Wait in a safe place away from the road
Never talk to strangers
Watch for traffic when boarding and exiting bus
Stand 3 steps away before the bus leaves
Go straight home so a grown up will know where you are
Get off at the proper bus stop
While on the bus, stay seated, be quiet, keep aisle clear and never throw anything that could distract the driver.

For more information on bus safety, visit www.aboutschool.com/busstop.htm. With these things in mind, have a great school year!

Cooking with Kids

One of my favorite pastimes is cooking with my kids. Both my daughter and son love to cook and I find that they are more likely to eat if they are involved in the preparation. But, remember safety first! The Learning Tower, an enclosed stepstool, provides a safe way for your kids to observe, participate and help in the kitchen. Kids stand in the Learning Tower and can help without the potential of getting hurt. This reminds me of something that happened recently. The other day, we made zucchini bread- a family favorite- for a playdate we were having. I had washed all of the dishes and put them on a towel to dry including the sharp knife I used to cut the zucchini with. My friend came over and we (as typical) were chatting in the kitchen when she looked over and realized that I had not dried and put the sharp knife away. Usually I wash and dry anything dangerous and put it away immediately to avoid little hands reaching over the counter and hurting themselves. The moral to the story is to make sure your kids are safe in the kitchen and always remember to store dangerous kitchen utensils immediately after use.

Had a Great Fall!

My son is always getting bumps and bruises. Some of them are because he doesn’t know better and others are because he doesn’t listen. Recently, it was the latter that resulted in a big cut on his head. He was playing in our family room- standing on my daughter’s doll high chair. And, after repeated warnings, he fell into our windowsill cutting his forehead. Thankfully, it wasn’t a bad cut, but it makes me think- what would happen if I weren’t there?

Pet Food Nightmare

My friend’s11 month old nephew is the subject of today’s blog. This baby boy tried eating the family cat’s food! The little boy sat on the rug next to the cat’s bowl as he normally does when his mom fills them. She put the lid back on the cat food container, turned around to put it away, turned back to see the cat walking away from her bowl and the baby crunching on cat food. The mom asked her son what he was eating and he grinned. Every child should have a pet, but just make sure your child doesn’t eat the pet’s food!

Multiple Uses for a Great Idea

Being a new mom, again, just this July... and having a 3 and 6 year old it is hard to believe that we will be re-baby proofing in just a few short months. Before you know it, our littlest will be crawling around getting into his big sis and bro's things. I feel like we just had gotten beyond many of the safety issues with our 3 ½ year old. It seems like I am not alone in this problem. I recently got an idea from a mom in this situation. She gates off a section of her family room- kind of like a large playpen area that is a “Safe Zone” for her littlest- what a great idea. Since then, I found out that my neighbor does the same sort of thing while camping. She packs her gates and makes a big circle and lays blankets down for her 9 month old to play on. He loves it and it gives her piece of mind knowing her baby is protected.

Rub-a-Dub… Baby in the Tub

Last week, my mom was babysitting my nephews: ages 1 and 3 ½ years old. After a long day of play, my mom gave them a bath together. She took the 1 year old out of the tub, dressed him and then proceeded to get the 3 ½ year old out. She got distracted for just a moment when the little one ended up going back into the bathroom and fell into the tub while reaching for a toy- pajamas and all! Thankfully, my mom was not far behind him to fish him out of the tub. I can only imagine how scared both my mom and my nephew were! So, remember to drain the tub after wash and play is done…. immediately!

On the Go

I am always on the go. And, now with a third baby, we needed a new car for our growing family. We got a Saturn Outlook and it is really great. However, when I went to change my little baby boy’s diaper while running errand for the first time with all three kids, I thought I was going to cry. He kept rolling back into the seat making this diaper change- messy, messy, messy in my brand new car! But, the BackSeat Baby Changer is a great solution to this problem. A foam wedge helps even out the seat making it easier to change baby. Problem solved!

Pool Safety

This week, we visited friends who have a backyard pool where my kids love to play. A pool on a hot, humid day is a wonderfully refreshing thing. However, it is important to be safe in and around the pool. So, I thought this would be a good opportunity to review the American Academy of Pediatrics pool safety tips.

1. Never leave children alone in the pool.
2. Practice “Touch Supervision.” Kids under 5 should be within arms reach.
3. Put at least a 4foot tall fence around the pool making sure to separate the pool from the house.
4. Keep rescue equipment and phone by pool at all times.
5. Don’t use air filled “swim aids” as substitute for life preserver.
6. Remove all toys from pool after use.
7. Secure pool after swim is done.
For more, check out www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm

Hot, Hot, Hot

Yesterday, I took my kids on our annual trip to Winterthur. It is a beautiful museum and garden in Delaware that has special childrens' programs on Tuesdays in August. We spent the entire day exploring the gardens, playing in the fields, having our picnic lunch, visiting the Touch Room and listening to story time. It was fun but we were hot, sweaty and miserable by the end of the day! So, when we got back to the car, I wished that I had a Car Seat Sun Shade for my kids’ car and booster seats. The Car Seat Sun Shades keep your car seats 26 degrees cooler. That would have come in handy! Instead we had to stand outside of the car for what seemed like forever waiting for the car to cool off. Note to self- get some sun shades before next years' trip!

Protect The Baby

My friends that have more than 3 kids often have the best advice. One day, I was visiting with a friend and noticed that she had her infant in a bouncy seat and the bouncy seat was in the pack-n-play. I thought that was kind of odd… and asked why she did that. She said it was to protect the baby from her 2 and 3 year old. Okay- that makes sense. What a great idea! And, now, having a newborn surrounded by lots of kids- both my own and their friends, I realize this advice is something I will be using to protect our newest family member!

Car! Watch Out!

I live on a cul-de-sac and, since we don’t have sidewalks, the kids love to ride their bikes in the street around the circle. Often, you hear the moms yelling, “Car! Watch Out!” We have to be especially vigilant about the cars during “rush hour” when the moms and dads are coming home from work. Kidproteq has the perfect solution to this potential problem. The Driveway Safety Net helps keep cars out of the driveway and the Driveway Safety Signs alert drivers that kids are at play. Both of these can help everyone stay safe on these beautiful days.

These Hot, Hot Days of Summer

95 degree days with a heat index over 100 are miserable… especially when you forget the sippy cup while running errands. So, you stop and buy a bottle of water for your three year old. Only problem is you are likely to have water, water everywhere! So, why not buy a Sippin’ Spout or two for emergencies like this one. Easy to use, you just place the spout over a standard water bottle and problem solved! Stay cool and stay safe on these hot, hot days of summer!

Grocery Cart Get-Away

It is amazing how difficult it is to manage three children and a cart full of groceries. Then, I saw the “Cart Stopper” on the Kidproteq website. The Cart Stopper has a suction cup that sticks to your car and a metal piece that hooks to your cart. This prevents your cart from rolling away as you unload your kids and your bags. Whoever invented this one is a genius! Now, if someone could invent a gadget to unpack the bags and put the food away…. A mom can dream, can’t she?

Choking Hazards

This weekend, my husband and I got the 0-12 month toys down from storage for our little baby boy. The bin was full of shape sorters, teethers, stuffed animals and stacking toys. It was so much fun reminiscing with our older kids about when they were a baby, what their favorite toys were and funny things they did. But, then I started thinking… all of these toys are safe for our littlest… but our 3 and 6 year olds’ toys certainly aren’t safe for our newborn! It seems like the magic “cut-off” is 3 years old. Most toys are labeled “Not intended for children under 3.” So, we are going to come up with a solution in our house. No little parts out while the baby is awake. And, a good check is “The Kidproteq Tube.” If a part can fit inside the tube, it is a potential choking hazard to any child under 3. I plan on showing the tube to my older children so if they ever are wondering if it is safe for the baby, they can check it firsthand with me and “The Kidproteq.”

Lost and Found

During our vacation, we took the kids to the rides at the boardwalk. Now, there are 3 kids and 2 parents… and no one can be in two places at the same time. Thankfully, our littlest is a newborn so he was “stroller bound.” But, in the future, my husband and I need to think through a strategy to make sure our kids do not get lost. And, if they do somehow get lost, we need to arm our kids with a plan. That is when I immediately thought of “IdentaKey.” IdentaKey is a means to store all of your family’s vital information in case of an emergency. Information is kept in a small container that attaches to your keychain. You can store pictures, fingerprints and emergency contact information which is protected with a username and password. If your child was lost and you needed to give police information, you’d have it right away by plugging IdentaKey into any USB port! Hopefully, you’ll never need to use the information stored, but isn’t it good to know you have it just in case.

Vacation… All I Ever Wanted…

I love to go to the beach. And this year, our family rented a great house by the bay in Delaware. It wasn’t relaxing but it was fun… until my 3 year old was stung by a jellyfish! He was hysterical and, after 6 hours of crying, my little boy finally settled down. Never having a “run-in” with a jelly fish before, I did learn a couple of things from the experience. First, jelly fish are typically out in the morning so be alert. Second, if you get stung do the following: Pour vinegar on the site. Then, lather shaving cream and rub area. Next, scrape off the shaving cream to remove the jellyfish “poison.” Lastly, apply anti-itch cream. It did work for our son. So, here’s wishing you a “Jellyfish-free” vacation!

Rental House

Wouldn’t it be great if the house you rented for your beach week was child-proofed? It would- especially if you have children under 3 years of age like we did! My one year old nephew got into everything but the thing he liked the most was climbing up and down the stairs. So, if you are renting a vacation house this year, here is a reminder. Ask the rental company if the owners have done any childproofing. If not, find out if there are stairs- perhaps you could bring a pressure mounted gate, if the area is suitable. Also, pack outlet covers, loop cabinet locks, toilet locks, bedrails and nightlights. You can never be too prepared. This goes for hotel rooms too! Have happy and safe travels!

Nesting

Every pregnant woman knows the feeling. We want to get ready for our new baby’s arrival so we nest. We get the nursery ready. We clean out closets. We shop for new things. And, recently, I went through the same nesting process. I started spring cleaning in February as I waited for our July baby to be born! Most things were easy to clean out. However, when it came to the medicine cabinet, I wasn’t sure how to get rid of expired medicines. I had always flushed old medicines down the drain, but the Federal Guidelines for Disposal of Prescription Drugs now suggests mixing the drugs with kitty litter or coffee grounds and put them in a discreet carton or container before putting them in the trash. For more information, please check out the guidelines at www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/pda/022007.html.

Mall Rat

Yesterday, I went to the mall with my 2 week old baby. Just my little guy and me… no 6 year old, no 3 year old. What a joy to shop with such an agreeable little one! I was able to shop and actually think while doing so. But, the best part of all was that I had the Mommy Hook. The Mommy Hook is a metal hook that attaches to your stroller and holds your bags while you shop. This way, you don’t have to squeeze everything in the basket under the stroller inevitably crushing your purchases and you have easy access to your bags. Retail therapy at its finest!

Bath and Pool Toy Safety

In the summer, my kids love to play in the blow-up backyard pool. They bring their favorite bath toys out to play. However, I was always considered about mold, mildew and germs that collect on the toys, particularly in the squirt toys. I recently read an article about how to solve this problem with bath toys. It certainly would work on pool toys as well. First, dry off the toys squeezing as much water out as possible. Make sure to turn on exhaust fan to get humidity out. If mildew starts to build, take ¾ cup chlorine bleach per gallon of warm water and soak toys for 5 minutes making sure solution goes inside squirt toys. Rinse with hot water and air dry. Make sure to store toys in a dry place outside of the bathroom. (Information taken from Real Simple Magazine-Nykia Spradle)

Summer Buzz

In preparing to head to the beach, I asked my husband, a former military man, to give our 3 year old son a hair cut- a buzz cut to be exact. I thought it would be cooler and easier to keep while on vacation. My husband did a great job on my son’s hair cut! He looked so cute and very grown up! However, about 1 hour later, my son got his hands on the scissors and cut a chunk from the front! I have always told the kids that “We cut paper- nothing else!” But, when our 3 year old saw Daddy cutting hair with those scissors, that rule went out of the window! Since then, in talking with other parents, it seems that many a little boy (and girl) has done this to his/her haircut… So, the moral to the story is be vigilant and always put scissors away or be prepared for another trip to the barber shop or hair salon!

Snack Control

Now that it is summertime, it seems like the kids are constantly asking for a snack. The kitchen never closes! Both of the kids just help themselves to snacks from the pantry- and it always seems to spoil their dinner. So, I put a door knob lock on the pantry door. Genius! Now, they have to “ask permission” before getting a snack and I’m not wasting their food at dinnertime.

How many times has my heart stopped when I thought one of my kids darted into the parking lot with a million cars zooming by! And, now with three kids and only 2 hands, I needed to come up with a solution to this dilemma. Then, I discovered the “Parking Pal.” It is a magnet that sticks to the car with a handprint on it. Your child puts their hand on the magnet when they are leaving the car and then you can gather everyone at the same time and have control of the situation. This is especially useful for preschoolers, like my 3 year old. He loves to make it into a game. It certainly came in handy today when I ran errands for the first time with 3 kids. Most importantly, it gives me peace of mind knowing that the kids have a plan when getting out of the car.

Coming home from the hospital on Wednesday with our third baby, I discovered a package at the door! What a special treat- something I had never seen before, a Grobag Egg Digital Thermometer that doubles as a nightlight. If it is too warm, the nightlight turns red. If it is too cold, it turns blue. Ideally, you want the room to be between 61-67 degrees which will make the nightlight yellow. So, I set it up in the baby’s room and much to my surprise- the room was 4 degrees hotter than our room where our thermostat is. So, on went the A/C! Even on days that seem beautiful outside, I have realized that it is still too warm for the baby. What a clever product! Now, we can keep our baby comfortable and safe… and hopefully we can all get a good night’s sleep!

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