Kids Ain't Cheap

But They Sure Are Worth It

Travelling with Kids: All You Need to Know

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travelling with kidsThe thought of travelling with kids can be a scary one but with a little bit of forward planning and organisation it needn’t be any more challenging than travelling alone.

The secret to successful travelling is to pick and choose holidays and destinations according to the needs of you and your children.  If you have very young children still in prams or pushchairs, a walking holiday may not be the best option for you.

Here are a few tips and hints to make your next family trip a memorable one:

Be safe

If you’re planning a road trip, then being safe is paramount. Check important documents are up to date and spend a little time checking you have the correct level of insurance cover.  It’s now quick and easy to compare Australian car insurance products using Internet comparison sites.

Take your time

In order to fully enjoy a holiday with kids in tow, you’ll need to take things a little slower than you would usually. Be realistic about how much you’ll be able to cram into your break, the less you plan, the more you’ll enjoy it.  By planning too much in advance you’ll feel restricted if you want to stay in one day, or the kids are tired.

Split chores

When traveling with partners, spouses or other families, it’s a good idea to split chores between you.  Take turns minding the children, preparing meals and driving so you all feel like you’ve had a proper ‘holiday’.

Allergy alert

If you’re travelling to a hotel that will be providing meals for you and your family, ring ahead to notify them about any allergies your children may have.  If they have severe allergies you may want to consider getting them a card written in the language you will be travelling to explaining what they’re allergic to.

Alternative venues

Gone are the days of couples only resorts or relaxing spa hotels.  Having children means changing priorities and looking at venues that cater to the needs of all your family.  Farm stays are gaining in popularity, as are hotels that offer arts and crafts and sporting facilities for little ones.

Kids clubs

Kids clubs are fantastic for giving you a couple of hours child-free relaxation time but you will want to check they’re not just sitting them in front of the TV.  You’re kids are on holiday too so will want to have fun.

Lightweight strollers

It’s worth investing in a lightweight stroller to take away with you.  Even if your toddler is independent enough to walk unaided, having a lightweight stroller with you means that you can stay out a little longer and enjoy a peaceful evening drink whilst your child has a sleep.  Sleeping children are surprisingly heavy!

Don’t forget the medicine

It’s a great idea to take a small emergency kit away with you.  This could include:

  • Liquid painkiller suitable for children
  • Bite and sting cream
  • Medicated nappy cream
  • Antihistamine medication

Keep a travel journal

Encourage your children to keep a travel journal.  Encourage them to fill it with tickets, leaflets and keepsakes from the areas you travel to.  This will supply them with hours of entertainment and provide them a lovely keepsake for years to come.

What other tips would you add?

Photo Credit: iosphere

Halloween Safety Tips

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jackolantern bucketHalloween should be spooky; but certainly not dangerous. It is our responsibility as parents to always keep our kids safe; so it is very important that we don’t let our guard down on Halloween, if anything — we need to amp it up. To avoid the many risks children face while trick-or-treating, it is imperative to use common sense. Here are some Halloween safety tips that will keep your kids safe and happy during this exciting holiday.

 

Before You Head Out

Here are some simple tips that you can check before you head out trick or treating:

Check Out Your Child’s Costume

Be sure that there is nothing dragging on the ground that they could trip on. If your child is wearing a mask, like the Monsters University Sulley Monster Mask, make sure they can see. If the holes are too small, you can make them larger by cutting them. This is very important; kids need to be able to see where they are going and when it’s dark out, it’s just that much more difficult. Make-up is an even better alternative to a mask; especially for little ones. Be sure to select make-up that is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.

Get Your Glow On

Put reflective tape on your child’s costume, have them carry glow sticks and/or wear glow bracelets or glow necklaces. This will help them to be more visible to motorists. You’ll also want to carry a flashlight to stay safe and visible; it also helps everyone to see where they are going, so hopefully no one will trip and fall.

Talk To Your Kids

Make sure you let your kids know what is expected of them while they are out trick-or-treating. They need to be aware that they should never enter a home, there should be no running, no playing in the street, they should only go to houses where the lights are on, and they should not eat any treats before you get home and inspect everything. Also, be sure they know to say “Trick-or-Treat” — and that “Thank you” is always appreciated.

Layer Up

If it’s a little chilly be sure to put layers under your kids’ costumes. This will keep them comfortable and warm during their fun night of trick-or-treating.

Plan to Accompany Your Children

If your kids are young enough to go trick-or-treating; then they are young enough to require adult supervision. I know it might not be very “cool” for a twelve year old to have Mom and Dad hanging out, but you can be with them without being right next to them. You can just hang back a bit but still keep a watchful eye (this should only be done with older children).

 

Trick-or-Treating Safety

Here’s what you need to know when you’re out and about:

Let the Light be your Guide

As I mentioned before, you’ll want to carry a flashlight to help light the way, but another important thing you should do is to only walk down well lit streets. Other lights that will guide you, are house lights. Only go to homes that have their porch lights on. People have their lights off for a reason so be respectful of that.

The More the Merrier

Trick-or-treat as a group. This keeps you safer for many reasons, but the main one is, its makes you all more visible. Visibility really is the main element to having a safe Halloween. When crossing the street be sure to cross at corners and use crosswalks.

Beware of Dog

Anytime you come in contact with an animal you don’t know, you must always use caution. It is especially important to keep this mind during Halloween. Costumes can be confusing and scary to animals – dogs especially – so it is essential that you and your children are aware of this so there aren’t any unfortunate encounters.

Here are a Few More Quick Tips:

  • Do not go inside anyone’s house
  • Carry a cell phone for emergencies
  • Watch where you step
  • Don’t stand to close to Jack-o-Lanterns, since they usually contain a lit candle

 

Halloween Safety Tips at Home

Once you get home be sure to inspect all of the items your children have received. This means looking for any candy that may have been tampered with. Remove all choking hazards for little ones. This is especially important for parents with children under age 6. You’ll also want to monitor the candy intake; you don’t want to have to deal with an upset tummy later on. You might let the kids select a few pieces and then put the rest up. Some parents like to let their children trade in their candy for something else, like a special toy, gift card, or money. Some dentist offices offer this as well.

If you’ll be handing out candy, be sure that your pathways are clear that there isn’t anything trick-or-treaters might hurt themselves on. It’s also a good idea to lock up your pets so they don’t run out the door. Even the best behaved animals can get a little spooked, so just play it safe for everyone’s sake.

Do you have any additional Halloween safety tips?

How to Teach Kids to Stay Safe Without Scaring Them

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Stranger Safety DVD for teaching kids 4 & up to stay safeFor the past year or so I have been trying to figure out how to teach my boys about stranger safety. In preschool last year they learned all about fire safety and how to call 911. Their teacher explained that if something happened to me – like I fell and hit my head in the shower – they would need to call 911 to get help. I was really glad they talked about it because I hadn’t really thought about teaching them any of that. For the next few weeks following their safety lesson, the boys would ask if I was going to fall and hit my head every time I got into the shower. So, even though I knew they need to learn how to stay safe, I didn’t want to scare them. However, I also realized that if something happened to them because I didn’t properly educate them on how to be safe — well, I would never be able to forgive myself.

Stranger Safety

I now realize that it is imperative that they learn about stranger safety – whether it scares them or not – so I decided to bite the bullet and just do it. But how? How do I explain the difference between strangers, people they know and the handful of adults who Chris and I would entrust them with? This is a tough concept for little ones, so I went in search of something that might help me to at least start the conversation.

The first item I had was a Winnie the Pooh book called Safe at Home with Pooh. I actually didn’t buy this book with the intention of teaching the boys stranger safety. I just bought a stack of with books from the consignment store and it wasn’t until they asked me to read it that I realized what the book was about. It teaches kids not to talk to strangers and never to open the door to strangers (something I have mentioned that I don’t even do). The book was easy for them to understand and it helped get the conversation started about strangers and being safe.

As I was researching materials that might help me teach the boys about stranger safety I happened upon the website: The Safe Side. I was delighted to see two familiar faces smiling back at me. The first was John Walsh, the host of America’s Most Wanted and one of the founders and key supporters of  the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The other face I recognized was Julie Clark — the creator of Baby Einstein. These are two people who I believe to have the best interest of children in mind and the experience to create a program that would give children the tools they need to stay safe and to do it in an entertaining way.

Checking it Out

Of course, I decided to watch the program before the boys did just to make sure I thought it was age appropriate for them. I was relieved to see that it was highly entertaining and really great at teaching kids about “Don’t Knows” folks who are strangers and “Kind-of Knows” pretty much everyone else your child might interact with such as coaches, teachers, neighbors, family friends, doctors, librarians, etc.
>N was actually very reluctant to watch the video, which made me hesitate a bit but I knew we really just needed to watch it and start discussing how to stay safe. I told him that if he thought it was too scary I would turn it off. Since I watched it before they did, I knew that they would think that “Safe Side Superchick” was really funny. She provides really important information and does so in a fun and completely goofy way. The boys both loved it and they actually asked to watch it again today. We had fun not only discussing what they should do when certain situations happen but acting it out as well.

Another thing the video recommends is that you pick three adults who you completely trust with the well being of your child and put them on a list. This way if something happens and you cannot get to your child, they will know it is okay to go with one of these people but no one else! Then there is a clear distinction of who it is okay to go with unless you (their Safe Side Adult) tell them it’s okay or they ask permission first.

Internet Safety

Internet Safety DVD for teaching kids 6 & up to stay safeThey even have a Safe Side video all about internet safety. This isn’t really an issue for us right now because the boys don’t use the computer but I will probably have them watch this once they are a little older. The only thing is it might be outdated because it’s from 2006 but I’m sure the basic tips are still relevant.

So my plan is to keep talking about how to stay safe, letting them know that they can come to their Dad or I if something doesn’t seem right or makes them uncomfortable and that it is okay to yell fight, hit, kick and whatever else they need to do if someone ever grabbed them. By teaching them about safety I hope that this will help the boys to be prepared if God forbid something did happen!

So what have you done to teach your kids about stranger safety? What books, programs or websites have you used? I’d love to hear what others have done or recommend!

Press Release: Child Proofing Your Home Reduces Risk by 70%

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International Association for Child SafetyIn the wake of a new study that shows a clear link between babyproofing one’s home and a reduction in injuries to children, the International Association for Child Safety is reminding parents that a professional babyproofer can help them choose and install the appropriate products.

The study by researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center looked at two groups of families with newborns. One set had properly installed and maintained child safety devices in their homes. After two years of follow-up, babies and toddlers living in these homes had 70 percent fewer injuries requiring medical attention than did those in a control group with no child safety devices installed in the home.

Study shows Childproofing reduces child injuries by 70%

“The home environment is the most common location of injury for younger children,” said the study’s lead investigator, Dr. Kieran J. Phelan, in a medical center news release. “However, parents may not have the time, training or resources to obtain and install the best safety products.”

The International Association for Child Safety (IAFCS), a worldwide network of child safety professionals and babyproofers, has helped parents and caregivers do just that for more than 15 years. IAFCS has the first and only certification program for Certified Professional Childproofers®.

“This study just confirms what our members have known for some time – proper installation of appropriate safety devices can prevent injuries,” said Colleen Driscoll, Executive Director of the IAFCS. “Our members are trained and experienced in identifying hazards and installing top quality safety devices for even the most difficult-to-solve home hazards.”

Many parents need help choosing and installing child safety products, notes Driscoll. “IAFCS members are expert childproofers and are able to help make your home a safe place for your little one.”

Regardless of whether parents decide to use a professional childproofer, parents can reduce the risk of injuries in their home by following these safety tips provided by IAFCS. For more tips or to find a child safety professional in your area, visit iafcs.org.

Did you child proof your home when your kids were born?

Choosing a Crib for Your Baby

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A crib is one of the things you need to buy when expecting a baby

Photo on CAPL

There are many baby items that are perfectly safe to buy second hand. Unfortunately there are a couple of items, such as a car seat and a crib, that are safer for baby if bought brand new. New cribs can be very pricey but you do not need to spend a fortune to keep your baby safe during sleep time. The least expensive crib on the market can be perfectly safe for baby as long as it meets the government safety requirements and is assembled correctly.

If you do purchase secondhand, make sure it is from someone you know and trust. Regardless of where you purchase, it is important, for the safety of your baby, to always keep an eye on current baby product recalls at www.recalls.gov (in the United States) and http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-eng.jsp (in Canada). In my experience, most of these recalls are easily fixable and often the company ships you a small repair kit, free of charge to you, complete with instructions. It is only in more drastic cases where you would actually have to discontinue use of the product you have purchased. When buying new, many baby items come with a registration card that you mail to the company and they will mail information concerning recalls directly to your home.

Statistics show that although 4 million babies are born in the United States each year, only 1 million cribs are purchased. In the United States, 26 infants die each year and another 11,500 are hospitalized in crib related accidents. Unfortunately, many of these accidents occurred in older-style cribs that do not meet current government safety regulations. In the United States, the Consumer Product Safety Commission states that only cribs made after 1991 are likely to meet all current safety standards. In Canada, all cribs made after September 1986 are likely to meet all current safety standards. Health Canada states, “Using a crib manufactured before September 1986 poses potential hazards that may result in serious injuries, including death.”

Crib Safety Standards

Crib safety standards in both the United States and Canada include:

  • Crib slats must not be more than 2 3/8 inches apart so as to prevent baby from slipping through them. You should not be able to pass a pop can through the slats. If you can, then the slats are not properly spaced.
  • There should be no broken or missing crib slats or any other missing or broken parts of the crib.
  • Hardware should be properly installed on both the crib and the mattress support, according to instructions. Only use original hardware for both. Hardware should not be loose or damaged.
  • The crib mattress must fit snugly inside the crib with no more 1 3/16” (two fingers) width between the mattress and the sides of the crib. If the mattress is not a tight fit, the baby could become wedged into this space and become trapped.
  • There should be no decorative cutouts in any part of the crib, including the headboard and footboard, where your baby’s head or body become trapped.
  • Corner posts should be no higher than 1/16” (US), 1/8” (Canada) above the end panels of the crib. Your baby’s clothing can hang off of them if they are any higher. This includes decorative knobs and posts.
  • The crib mattress support should always be set so that your baby cannot climb out of the crib. You can use the highest setting for newborns but as soon as your baby is able to push himself to his knees you need to set it to the middle setting (usually around 4 – 6 months) and when she is able to pull herself to standing, the crib setting should be at its lowest setting (usually between 8 – 12 months).

For more detailed safety standards please visit http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/regsumcrib.pdf (USA) and http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/H46-2-03-332E.pdf (Canada).

Crib Types

The standard crib is by far the most popular type of crib. It features stationary sides, dual drop sides or single drop sides. For the safety of your baby, however, it is recommended to always keep the sides of the crib to the highest setting. In fact, many crib manufacturers are now doing away with drop down sides. So if you are buying a new crib, it is best to buy one with stationary sides, even though drop down sides are very convenient. If you are buying or using an older crib that has drop down sides, it is best to leave the sides up at their highest setting at all times.

Convertible cribs offer all the features of a standard crib but convert into a toddler bed. Some even then convert into a double bed. This means that you pay one time for a bed that will last your baby well into his or her adulthood!

Other types of cribs available on the market include round cribs, canopy cribs and portable cribs. Round cribs are fairly new to the market. Canopy cribs are available in standard rectangular shapes or as a round crib. Portable cribs are about one-third smaller than a standard crib and fold up easily for travel.

Whatever crib you choose for your baby, just remember to keep safety at the top of your list!

What type of crib did you use for your baby? Where did you get yours?