As a mom, your number one priority is to keep your children safe and healthy. When you’re at home this is no big deal. Sure, you have to make sure your toddle daughter doesn’t put that clay figurine in her mouth again or that your four-year-old doesn’t try to go down the basement stairs, but relatively speaking, you’re safe and sound in your own little haven. Traveling on the road is a different story. You’re interacting with tens of hundreds of people that may or may not be paying attention to the road, and sometimes you may even find yourself distracted. That’s why keeping child your child safe while in the car is an absolute must, and a simple car seat is not always enough. Here are few devices that will make your car rides safer and easier, whether you’re traveling in the summer heat or the winter cold.

Baby Link Up, $29.99

When Peggy Ruggeri created Baby Link Up, her goal was not to just protect children from vehicular heat stroke but also to protect parents from the pain and guilt of leaving their baby in the car. This ingenious invention is non-electronic so you don’t have to worry about spilling liquids in the vehicle or listening for a reminder alarm. Simply attach the long end of the device to a seat belt or head rest, pass it to the front end of the car, and attach it to the bracelet. Easy-to-use and affordable, Baby Link Up is a must-have for moms with small children and babies.

Yada Digital Tiny Traveler, $169.99

Your mother may not be a big fan of modern technology, but we’re sure she would have appreciated this device when she had young children. The Dada Digital Tiny Traveler is a baby monitor that allows parents to glance at their babies while they drive. Complete with three camera mounting options for rear or front-facing car seats and night vision capability, busy moms and dads can actually see that their kids are safe with the Yada Digital Tiny Traveler.

7 A.M. Enfant Car Seat Cocoon, $59

It’s cold weather season, so one of your top priorities has probably been keeping your babies bundled up from head to toe. Of course, you don’t want to give them a heat rash either, which is why the 7 A.M. Enfant Car Seat Cocoon is so perfect for this time of year. Simply slip the water and wind repellant Cocoon cover over the car seat, and you’re ready for travel. The Cocoon will keep your infant nice and warm without the weight of extra fabric.

Safe Ride 4 Kids Tummy Shield, $169

This product is not for newborns or small children. Rather its goal it to protect expecting moms and their unborn children. As moms enter their second trimester, the baby moves up and in front of the hip bones, so the “lap” part of the seat belt doesn’t do much good to protect mom and baby. The Safe Ride 4 Kids Tummy Shield is designed to protect babies from displacement during car accidents, which can lead to mental and physical injuries. Crash-tested (and more comfortable for moms), the Tummy Shield can truly be a life-saver at the most unexpected and worst times.

The post Car Safety Essentials that Keep Baby (and Mom) Protected appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

As a parent of school aged children—we’ve all been there. You’re either in the car line waiting for the school bell to ring or at your child’s soccer practice. You’re stuck in the car with nothing planned to pass the time and a cell phone running out of battery. Listen up fellow parents, this is prime time to take care of some neglected business or make the most of your downtime. Here are some top tips to pass the time while waiting for your kids. With a little pre-planning, the kids’ practice times can become your best friend!

• Bring your laptop or tablet—most indoor training facilities and schools offer WI-FI or find a nearby coffee shop. Catch up on work, grocery shop online, create monthly family budgets, organize photos/create photo books, plan a family trip, read blogs and the news and spend a little guilt-free time on Pinterest or Instagram.

• Run errands—there’s usually a local Target, Walmart or Walgreen’s nearby. This is a great time to grab stuff for dinner, do your grocery shopping or simply browse a favorite shop.

• Enjoy “me” time—find a nearby nail salon for a mani/pedi, meet a friend for coffee or finally finish reading that book you started months ago.

• Return/make phone calls—keep your calendar and pen handy and use the time to book family appointments, organize playdates or return calls you haven’t had time for.

• App Time—the downtime just might be the perfect time for downloading the apps you’ve been meaning to install. Find learning apps for your kids’ tablets or install apps that make life easier for a mom such as shopping apps, family calendars, etc.

• Get in a workout—bring along your running shoes and use the time to walk around the soccer field, track, sports complex or neighborhood where your kids are practicing. It’s a great way to get in your exercise in a new environment.

• Sneak in a snooze—how often to moms get a chance to relax? Don’t feel guilty! If you’ll be waiting a specific amount of time, set your phone’s alarm, lay back your seat and turn on light radio music, a book on CD or iPod or NPR. You’ll be surprised how great a little downtime is for your spirit.

• Podcast away the time—these days podcasts are all the rage and what a perfect time to listen to some you’ve been wanting to check out. Download them on your tablet before you leave and listen away the time.

• Take a class—use your spare time to learn something new or get a little smarter! Armed with a tablet or laptop and WI-FI, you can be learning a new language or taking a free online class while your kids are at practice. Just don’t forget your headphones.        

MyBuckleMate Founder Meghan Khaitan invented MyBuckleMate to make buckling up a snap. It’s perfect for carpooling and fitting three kids in the backseat. MyBuckleMate is an award-winning product that’s the first of its kind. It promotes safety and independence for kids booster seat age and up. MyBuckleMate makes it easy to buckle up every time, every ride. Available in black, tan, gray, beige and red. Retails for $14.99. www.mybucklemate.com

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By Jon Sumroy

I am mad

Bangkok, Thailand. Six of us crammed into a two-seat Tuk-Tuk (a three-wheel rickshaw). My wife, four children and me; careering through the traffic, the pedestrians, the lights and the fumes. Wind in our faces, legs out the sides, bags piled on laps. It’s part of the culture, the experience, the vacation. But it’s crazy!

We’re never so reckless at home: never allowing more people than seatbelts, always fastened, luggage stored correctly, respecting the laws of the road. Why do humans so easily excuse ourselves, ignore common sense, justify our actions and take ridiculous risks?

Everyone is mad

Yet we do this every day, with our children.

Fifty percent of US kids don’t have the correct booster seat when carpooling^[1]. One in five parents whose children carpool say they “bend the rules”, allowing children to ride without belts, booster or child restraints. Two-thirds of parents say they notice other carpool drivers bending the rules, too.^[2]

And it’s not just in our own cars. Taxis are exempt from the car seat laws, but this does not make them safe. Rental car companies extort $5 a day, for a seat; covered in another child’s dinner or worse. On vacation, when the airline won’t allow extra hand luggage. With a friend, relative or neighbor for a quick journey round the corner. Even with safety seats, you can’t fit three in a row, so it’s “scissors/paper/stone” to see who takes the risk. And then we have big kids. Not big enough to graduate to adult seatbelts, but big enough to fell babyish compared to their peers who have. How many parents succeed in the daily fight; or just give in.

Five Top Tips for Car Seat Sanity

So what to do? Well, it comes down to planning and discipline.

Carpools

You always have carseats for your own children but not for others in the pool. Set up a routine: leave your child’s seat with school bags overnight, ready for the next day when the carpool arrives. Lobby schools to provide storage so seats will be available for the journey home.

Relatives

It’s about time-management. Build time into every plan to juggle the boosters from car to car. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) report more than 20 percent of parents rarely talk about the type of restraint their own child uses in another person’s car. Whenever someone else takes your child, have the ‘carseat’ discussion.

Vacations

I was mad in Thailand, but you don’t need to be. Consider you carseats as valuable luggage. Wrap it well, check it in, add ‘fragile’ labels, examine for damage and use it on every journey.

Rentals

I had a long conversation recently with a leading rental agency employee. He confided that, in the cut-throat world of car rentals, margin are so slim that they can make more money renting the booster seats than they do the cars. A typical booster cost $30 and they can rent it out for $5 a day for six months. Do the math! It’s not surprising that they are dirty and disgusting. Take your own carseats! You know its history and you know where it’s been.

Three-in-a-Row

We all have to make sacrifices. And this is one. There are very few cars, even large ones, designed to accommodate three carseats in a row. Manufacturers add space and comfort to the side seats at the expense of the middle. Don’t take the risk! A child who needs a carseat, needs a carseat. In a collision, the injuries a child sustains when only using the adult seatbelt can be horrific. Please … just don’t do it.

The future

Now is the time for some future gazing. Would’t it be great is there was a booster seat that was so small, yet so safe, it would be easy for a child to have it with them at all times. Something so advanced, compact and portable, it could be stored almost anywhere. That way children could always be safe, no matter whose car they were in. Watch this space http://igg.me/at/mifold/.

About the author: Jon Sumroy is the inventor and CEO of mifold – the Grab-and-Go booster seat, the most advanced, compact and portable booster seat in the world. mifold is more than 10x smaller than a regular booster seat and just as safe.

^[1] Carpooling and Booster Seats: A National Survey of Parents – PEDIATRICS Vol. 129 No. 2 February 1, 2012 pp. 290 -298(doi: 10.1542/peds.2011-0575)

^[2] Many kids using safety belts should ride in booster seats – Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Highway Loss Data Institute – Status Report, Vol. 49, No. 9 | November 6, 2014

The post Crazy Risks with Car Seats appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

The folks at Rubber Mulch have put together these leading safety tips for playground safety that includes what to inspect on the playground, the correct length of the soft surface under the swings, basic ideas for safety and more. The following tips will help you plan the perfect playground for plenty of fun filled days with your little one.

Top Tips for Playground Safety 

•Maintain a visual line of sight with children.

•The opening in playground equipment should be less than 3.5 inches or larger than 9 inches so a head cannot get caught.

•Check metal slides to make sure they’re not too hot to the touch.

•Make sure kids wear shoes or sneakers in the playground to protect their feet.

•The length of soft surface under swings should be double the height of the swing set.

•Choose equipment that’s right for your kids’ size and age—toddlers cannot use metal swings seesaws or slides yet.

•Place rubber mulch, mats or soft surface under the playground to cushion falls—it’s best to avoid playgrounds with a concrete surface.

•Inspect the playground and sandbox for splintered wood, broken glass, sharp metals, uncovered chains or loose bolts, wet spots or missing ladder rungs.

•Remove necklaces, scarves, and handbags, clothes with drawstrings or clothing that may get caught.

•Apply sunscreen on the kids before letting them play in the sun.

•Fence the playground in so kids can’t run into traffic.

Playgrounds have been making kids happy for many, many years.  While accidents can happen, following some of this sage advice, will help reduce injuries and ensure that kids can play safely and have fun at their neighborhood or school playground.

Bio:

Miriam Sonenschein is the marketing coordinator at RubberMulch and a mom of four active kids  She’s all too familiar with the myriad of safety concerns and potential hazards on the playground turf and provides expert advice about playground safety.  Since 1997, Rubber Mulch (http://www.rubbermulch.com) has manufactured top quality rubber surfacing products for playgrounds, residences and commercial markets. Playsafer Rubber Mulch was handpicked by First Lady Michelle Obama for the White House playground due to their stellar reputation for superior safety, quality and service. Rubber Mulch pioneered the tire recycling industry with the most advanced technology and equipment to process scrap tires.

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Safety begins at home and should be a consistent factor everywhere you go. This is especially true if you have young children. Toddlers are vulnerable to accidents, so protecting them from harm should be foremost in all that you do. We’ve rounded up ten of the most important safety tips below to guide you at home and when you’re planning a trip with your kids.

Safety at Home. Keeping a home that’s a safe haven for your kids is not an option; it’s a must. Many toddler accidents happen at home, so it’s your job to create a space that’s conducive to their growth in a secure manner. Always remember that, beyond hiring professional childproofing services and buying child-safety gadgets, your supervision is still the best safety tool at home.

Childproof vulnerable areas. Get down on your hands and knees to get your toddler’s perspective, if you must. From that vantage point, you can tell what’s within reach, and which areas a small child can get to with a little effort. Once you’ve pinpointed the vulnerable areas of your home, childproof them with baby gates, netting, slip-proof carpeting, corner guards, electrical outlet covers, and tamper-proof locks. To be more thorough, create a baby proofing checklist as illustrated above.

Keep a first-aid kit at the ready. Boo-boos are part and parcel of growing up, so make sure you have a first-aid kit within reach at all times. Put essential items such as bandage strips, sterile gauze, tweezers, cotton balls, pediatrician-recommended medication, rubbing alcohol, thermometers, antibiotic ointments, and other important things. Tape a list of emergency numbers (including your family physician’s and a poison control hotline) on the kit’s cover or near the phone for quick reference.

Store toys in easily-accessible places. As stated above, it’s important to know if your toddler can reach for something with relative ease. This means that if you store their toys in overhead bins, there’s a huge chance of them getting hit by overturned and falling things. Keep toys in a basket or in a chest on the floor, and store non-essentials under lock and out of sight.

Supervise feeding time closely. It goes without saying that you have to know how to give first aid to a choking toddler. But an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure, supervision still ranks higher when you’re feeding your child. Never leave your child alone while they eat. Place your child on a booster seat and encourage them to relax during mealtime; a hyperactive toddler won’t be able to focus on eating properly and can court accidents. Remove or switch off all sources of distraction such as toys, gadgets, and the TV. Cut your child’s food into bite-size pieces, taking care to remove those that can easily choke such as nuts, raisins, and small bits of fruit.

Be alert for toy and baby product recalls. Every year, we’ve come to expect kiddie products being recalled because they don’t meet federal safety standards. Always be on top of things when it comes to food and items you buy for your toddler. One of the best ways is to constantly check consumer-safety sites such as kidsindanger.org, which regularly updates its list of hazardous products for children. And when shopping for your child, always research on consumer reports about the item, and if it is age-appropriate for your toddler.

Best of luck!

Julie McCaffrey

About Julie McCaffrey

Parenting expert Julie McCaffrey is a proud mommy to 3 kids and owns BabyNav Baby Planners where she offers personalized consultation to new and expecting parents along with functioning as the Chief Brand Officer at PishPoshBaby.com—the high-quality baby store that supplies the facts and advice, along with the right choice, to parents who are completely lost in the whirlwind of baby gear. She loves to help moms and dads navigate everything from baby gear, preparing for multiples, getting back to work and getting the whole family on a routine.

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With September Baby Safety Month in full swing, it’s time to think of ways to improve the welfare and security of infants everywhere. Rather than scramble to read every blog post and article for tips to better ensure your baby’s well-being, simply look to Prince Lionheart, Kinsights.com, Cozy Cover, and Difrax for baby-proofing essentials and safety advice. From a community forum of parents all offering tried-and-true infant safety tips to a pacifier rinser that keeps harmful germs at bay in the case of a dropped pacifier, the below picks will help keep baby secure and sound throughout Baby Safety Month and beyond.

The post PROTECT YOUR TOT DURING SEPTEMBER BABY SAFETY MONTH & BEYOND WITH THESE TOP PICKS appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

1.  Will your child be walking or riding a bike to school this year?

• Make the trip with them a couple of times so you are both comfortable with the route.

2.  Time how long it takes for them to travel each way; walking or riding.

• This gives you an idea what time they should arrive A.M. & P.M.
• If they have a cell phone ask them to call/text when they leave & arrive both ways.

3.  If there is another child in the neighborhood going to the same school, try to arrange for them to travel together. There is safety in numbers.

4.  Point out “safe places” for them along the way (if there are any) in case of an emergency.

5.  Will your children be riding the bus this year?

• Make sure they are familiar with the bus number. It’s better to miss a bus & remain at school with adults that can help instead of taking the wrong one & nobody knows where you are.

6.  Wait in a group at the bus stop.

• Don’t ever leave the group to walk up to a car that approaches.

7.  Never allow your child to “ride” with anyone unless they are on your “safe list”.

• A safe list tells your child the ONLY people they are ever allowed to go with if it’s not you.
• This includes walking, riding or even approaching a car. It’s that serious!

8.  Communicate! If your child is expressing concern or feeling uncomfortable find out why & take action. Children have great instincts. Listen to them.

For more information about Simple Self Defense for Women® Guest Speaking, Workshops, DVD’s, Security Products or how to bring us to your business or campus visit www.simpleselfdefenseforwomen.com

Tracy & Charley Vega, Co-Founders- Simple Self Defense for Women®

The post 8 MUST KNOW BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, roughly 800,000 children are reported missing each year. That’s over 2,000 a day. Shocking, isn’t it?

When I was a kid, my friends and I spent our hours after school meandering the neighborhood. Mom and Dad had no idea where I was or what I was doing. In summer…sun up; I’m gone. I was a race car pulling in for a PB&J pit stop around noon, and dinner was just a distraction. I was gone for hours upon hours. No big deal. Today? Different world!

My daughter is almost 10. If she is three minutes late from a bike ride, her mom and I are freaking out. We lose sight of her at the park and we panic. On vacation? When I am not playing with her, I am a CIA agent scanning the crowd for suspicious characters.

So how can we keep our kids safe in today’s modern world? No tool or device will keep your kids safe 100% of the time, but here are five things you can do to mitigate the risks:

1.  Family Talk – Take time to talk to your children about safety and abduction prevention. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has an excellent campaign called Take 25 (http://www.take25.org/) that provides free tools such as safety tips, conversation starters, and mini-lessons to help trusted adults begin conversations with children about safety.

2.  ID Card – Create and give each child a laminated ID card with his or her name, date of birth, address, phone numbers, etc. If your child is too young or otherwise unable to speak for him or herself, consider writing the information somewhere on his or her clothing in permanent marker.

3.  Child ID Kit – Prepare an ID kit for each child in the event that he or she is missing. The kit should include a physical description (nickname, date of birth, height, weight, gender, fingerprints, hair and eye colors, etc.), any identifying features (glasses, braces, scars, birthmarks, piercings, etc.), any medical information (conditions, disorders, diseases, medications, etc.), and, most importantly, an up-to-date, good quality digital photo. Be sure to take your kits with you on trips and vacations.

4.  Emergency Hot Spots – Whether you are at a playground, amusement park, ski slope, vacation resort, or any crowded location, always identify the nearest help and information centers, emergency stations, and police posts. Inform your children where to go and what to do in case of an emergency or if they get lost.

5.  kidsport GPS Tracking Device – The kidsport GPS band is a GPS tracking device developed specifically for kids that allows parents to locate their kids on their cell phones, iPads or computers. It features an alert button that sends you an immediate text if your child needs you; a secure latch to prevent unintended removal; a removal alert that texts you when the band is taken off; and a Geo-Fence Boundary Alert that sends you a text if the boundary you set is crossed. To find out more about kidsport GPS, visit www.kidsportGPS.com. (Bands are currently on sale now as pre-orders and will be available this fall.)

No parent I know can imagine what it is like to have a child go missing. It is our greatest fear. But by educating a children and taking safety precautions, we can help reduce the chances of that ever happening. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com) has a lot of excellent information on child safety and what you can do as a parent or guardian. 

About Eric Long – Eric Long is a dad and co-founder of Precise Innovation, a creative idea company that developed the kidsport GPS tracking band for kids. Our company is based on one word…FUN. We believe the best ideas come from simple, everyday need and that we are most creative and innovative when we are having fun. Our goal is to create products that make sense; make consumers’ lives better; and make a positive impact. To learn more or to pre-order your kidsport GPS, go to www.kidsportgps.com. 

The post 5 Tips to Keep Your Kids Safe appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Owner Greg O’Sullivan, first created KidSwitch when his two-year-old daughter suffered an injury after falling off a make-shift toy “ladder” that she had created to reach her light switch. He knew there had to be a better way.  Nearly 15 years later, KidSwitch has become a parents dream to this common problem. 

KidSwitch glows in the dark and is simple to install. We also love the fact that it teaches toddler energy-saving habits at an early age and really makes potty training work at night! No more scary trips to a dark bathroom!

KidSwitch was voted by consumers at the Best Child Safety Product of 2008, and we can see why. Parents love that their toddlers no longer have to rely on them for this repetitive task, and it gives the child the self-confidence they need to say “I did it myself!”

• Helps Toddlers SAFELY reach and operate lights!
• SAVES MONEY! Stop leaving the lights ON all day!
• Perfect for Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Playrooms, Hallways, and GRANDMA’S HOUSE!
• Makes a GREAT GIFT!

Check KidSwitch out today at

www.buykidswitch.com or www.kidswitchshop.com

FREE SHIPPING on all orders of $20 or more!

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