4 Ways To Ensure Safety Of Your Child In Car

Every parent tries their best to ensure the safety of their child. We invest in the best quality cots and cribs to make a safe nursery for our babies. When they start crawling, we put a safety lock on every socket, cover every sharp corner, and lock drawers and cupboards so that our baby does not injure herself when we are busy with our chores. Providing a safe and secure environment for our babies is our top priority.

We learn and research ways to protect our children from injuries at home. However, not very often do we know the safety protocols to ensure when traveling with the baby. We think that putting a baby in a car seat in the back is the safest thing and that there is nothing required. Well, you may be wrong. Here are a few tips to ensure that your child remains safe when you travel by car.

Invest In Best Quality Car Seat

A car seat is the most essential thing you must invest in for the safety of your child. Never keep your baby in your lap when traveling by car. In case you have to pull brakes suddenly you might put your baby at risk. Find the best car seat at Maxi-Cosi NZ.

The car seat should be of high quality. Make sure that the buckles are in place and there is no damage to the strap of the belt. Use both the shoulder and the lap belts. Make sure the baby seat is well-adjusted on the car seat and the belts are in place.

Positioning Of Car Seat

Many parents put their babies at great risk because they do not know how to position the car seat properly. The experts advise that babies less than 30 months of age should never face the front. Place the car seat facing the rear view of the car. In case you pull the brakes suddenly, the impact will not put any strain on the baby’s fragile neck and head.

The car seat should always be placed on the backseat of the car, ideally in the middle. Never place the car seat on the front passenger seat, or with the seat having airbags.

Put The Child Lock

Even when your baby is small, make sure you put on a child lock. Kids can be unpredictable. You never know when they learn new things. If your baby has started noticing things and has a grasp on the pinching position of the hands, she can try to unlock the door.

Make sure you put the child lock on your car’s door just for an additional layer of safety and peace of your mind.

Never Leave The Baby Unattended

Lastly, you should never leave your child alone in the car. Even if you are going for a quick run to the store, make sure you take your child with you.

Closed cars can build up gases when parked under the sun. These gases can be harmful and may suffocate your child.

 

7 Ideas for a DIY Kids’ Birthday Party

If you’re having a birthday party for your child, the last thing you want is to spend tons of money on decorations and other equipment. Instead, take advantage of what’s in your house already! Most of our homes have plenty of stuff we can use to decorate the party: balloons, Waterproof tablecloth and napkins, plates and cups – just go through your house or make a list of things you have in mind. It’s free, and you’re helping the environment by reusing instead of buying new stuff.

And here are some other ideas to help you make your party the best ever:

1. Create a universe

Turn your dining room table into a mini planetarium with a round lampshade and glow-in-the-dark stars stuck to the ceiling. It might be hard for kids to stick them all up there, so make it easier for them by using an adhesive spray or tape (you can even use invisible tape so no one knows it’s there). For the rest of the table, use paper plates and napkins, your kid’s favourite snacks, and a soft drink bottle for a comet.

2. Use balloons to create a centrepiece

Balloons and parties go together like jam and peanut butter. To make something really special, you could easily create an eye catching balloon display. It’s far easier than you may think and will help add real pizzazz to any children’s party.

3. Create your own cake toppers

Use your child’s favourite toys or characters and let everyone have fun decorating your cake toppers. You can also use paint, markers, stickers, or even homemade decorations like glitter glue or glitter art paint.

4. Make your own cards

You can make party invitations, birthday or thank you cards and decorations with sticker paper or a whiteboard and markers!

5. Decorate with playdough

You could make a pinata or use the playdough to create a decorated cake table by making a kids’ table with playdough and other decorations. You can also use playdough to create an alien planet or one of your kid’s favourite characters! The options are endless.

6. Make magic wands

A little magic will bring your party to life. A magic wand is a very simple decoration that looks great on a children’s table. It can be made from cardboard, dowelling or thin wood, or even by using a piece of cloth that you twist and stretch.

7. Paint with love

If you’re taking your kids to some kind of special place, why not make your own special memories by creating fond memories of your own. Make your own children’s birthday card with stickers or create some kind of special painting with paint pens and markers that will be used again on the birthday itself (or perhaps even at another time). You could even have someone else do it for you if you’re not keen on painting yourself!

Whatever you choose to do, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Your kids will remember that they spent time with friends and family far more than they’ll remember what gifts they got.

 

How to Juggle all of Your Mom Responsibilities

As a mom, it can be difficult to juggle all of the responsibilities that you have, whether these are in terms of work or family, and this can make you feel fatigued and stressed. So, if you are struggling to keep up with your schedule and to-do list, here are a selection of tips that can help you to juggle all of the elements that make up your life more smoothly.

Look at Senior Living Facilities

If you are a mom, it may not only be your children that you have to look after, with many parents also looking after the older members of your family. However, it can be difficult to fit in caregiving with such factors of family life as the school run. If you are starting to find that you no longer have the time to give your elderly parents the support that they need, you should consider looking into assisted living CT facilities that could help them to live a high quality of life without your constant attention. This will then release the pressure on you to be in two places at once and can ensure that every member of your family can remain safe and healthy.

Create a Schedule

Disorganization is the enemy of juggling your responsibilities well, and you may often find that you feel hassled and flustered only because you are trying to do everything at once. Then, to make sure that you fit in all of the tasks that you need to perform at the right time, without forgetting everything, you should try to create a schedule. With this schedule in hand, you will soon be able to start following a routine and carry out your responsibilities by habit alone, ensuring that no part of your life gets forgotten or abandoned in favor of another.

Ask for Help

It is sometimes impossible to do everything that you need to do alone, though. If you are struggling to give every part of your life the attention that it requires, you should consider asking for help from your family or trusted friends. By sharing out the responsibilities in any way that you can, you will be able to prioritize the most important tasks to you while making sure that every other element of your life runs like clockwork until you have time for them again.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility is vital when you are a mom, as circumstances change constantly and you may find that unexpected events push out your schedule. So, you should ensure that you have ample time to allow for these obstacles and that you can adapt to whatever happens. You can also stay flexible by making decisions such as choosing to work from home. Working from home can help you to more easily juggle your responsibilities as you will be able to cut out the large amount of time that your commute takes up and finish your work within the deadline while still keeping an eye on your children. This may also allow you to work around your other commitments at the time of the day or night that works for you.

 

Fun Ways to Enjoy the Holidays With Your Children

There are many reasons why you might be looking forward to the approach of the holiday season. All of the parties, gifts, and Christmas treats ahead are likely enough to put anyone into the holiday spirit.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Christmas, however, has to be the fact that you get to share this special time of year with your children. Passing on the love of the magic of Christmas to your kids is certainly one of the best things about this time of the year.

However, depending on the age of your children, you might be struggling to find the best ways to enjoy the holidays together. Moreover, the fact that your schedule can get quite crowded around the holidays can make it difficult for you to coordinate time together as a family.

Thankfully, there are a number of holiday activities that you can enjoy together as a family that can help you to make some memories that you will cherish for years to come. You might even wish to make some of these activities holiday traditions that you and your family enjoy every year together during the holidays.

With that in mind, here are some fun ways in which you can enjoy the holidays with your children this year.

See the Lights

One of the most magical aspects of the holidays is seeing ordinary houses in your neighborhood transform under the glow of beautiful, colorful Christmas lights. As the holidays draw closer, you will find neighborhood Christmas lights being put up all throughout your town.

In order to fully appreciate these displays, plan an evening when you and your family can either walk the streets to view the lights or take a drive together listening to Christmas music and seeing the displays throughout your town. To make this activity extra special, listen to some Christmas music along the way and make sure that everyone has a mug filled with warm hot chocolate to enjoy.

Bake Some Treats

Another aspect of Christmas that the entire family can get on board with is that of enjoying the delicious treats that make their appearance this time of year. Christmas cookies, seasonal loaves of bread, and homemade candies are all fair game when it comes to some of the more classic Christmas treats.

You can enjoy this aspect of the holidays even more together as a family by planning a day to bake up some Christmas goodies together as a family. Take some time to choose the recipes together that you will all want to enjoy the most and get all of your ingredients together.

If your children are a bit on the younger side, you might consider doing the actual baking yourself and then inviting them to come and help you decorate cookies and treats with you. Such treats can even double as nice gifts to give to friends and family this holiday season. On the other hand, you might wish to keep all of those delectable delights at home to enjoy with your family throughout the holidays.

Top 6 Toys for 3 Year Olds 2021

Do you think it has been too long since you got a gift for your 3 year old? Well then, we have just the guide for you. If you have no idea what to get for your son or daughter, then you must take a look at the top 6 toy options for 3 year olds in 2021.

A Balance Bike

Riding a bike is one of the fondest memories of childhood. Every child must experience what it takes to ride a bike. Your three year old just might be ready to take the next step of their growth. This is the best time to introduce them to a balance bike. A balance bike is the safest option as it is the easiest to ride, and can be the best fixtures to enable smooth riding.

This bike type has a metal frame, which makes it very sturdy and comes without pedals. Your toddler can learn to balance on the bike using their feet. This will be great for their learning!

Kinetic Sand Kit

The obsession with kinetic sand is real. If you want your child to sharpen their fine motor skills, then you must definitely invest in kinetic sand. It is a great way to awaken the sensory awareness in your child as they can feel the sand in between their fingers and can press it. This toy can surely keep your kid busy for hours. An investment you won’t regret.

Wallbars Nets

Is your child trying to climb walls? If yes, the wallbars would be the perfect toy for them. Your child may be super active and a toy that demands them to sit might not be the best fit for them. This is why you must consider investing in a wallbar net and they will have all the exercise they need with it.

Play Kitchen Set

Most children are absolutely fascinated by kitchens. They watch their parents cook and work in the kitchen, only pushing them to do the same. While you cannot let your toddler play with actual kitchen utensils, you can get them their very own play kitchen set. With the toy kitchen set, they can make mock food and do everything they see adults do.

Plushie

Most of us have had stuffed toys that we remember to date. It is important to have a stuffed furry friend for a child. They can think of it as a friend and carry it wherever they go.

Drawing Mat

Last but not the least, is a drawing mat. Most parents are extremely annoyed when their children write on walls, but what if they write on the floor? Get them a drawing mat and they can draw to their heart’s content without you worrying.

These toys for 3 year olds are your best options. Not only are they essential for their growth but they will also keep your child occupied while you are busy doing things around the house.

5 Ways to Make Your Clothes Last Longer

There are some people that seem to make the clothes last forever. Believe it or not, there are people over 60 out there who have the same clothes they’ve had since they were 20. So, what is their secret anyway? The truth is that making your clothes last longer comes down to good habits. Here are some of the best tips for stretching the lifespan of your favorite pieces of clothing

Don’t Skimp on Quality

A lot of people go for quantity over quality, and unfortunately, it results in their clothes failing to stand the test of time. Instead of opting for cheaper clothing, try to go for quality brands that are made from solid materials. Even though it may seem like a better deal at the time, the truth is that when you have to replace your garments once or even several times a year, it will wind up costing you much more in the long run. You’re always better off spending extra for something that you won’t have to replace— potentially ever.

Know Your Wash Cycles

Some people make the mistake of assuming that laundry cycles are made for any type of clothing. The truth is that some clothes should only be washed at certain temperatures. Washing some garments on an extra hot wash can lead to your clothes getting destroyed in no time. Make sure that you know your wash cycles, and which ones are appropriate for what types of clothing. Above all, know when something can only be dry cleaned. If you put something in the wash that is dry clean only, you’ll regret it.

Wash Your Clothes Inside Out

One old but effective trick is washing your clothes inside out. When you wash them from the inside out it will preserve their color, and prevent fading, or peeling of certain materials. This is especially important for darker clothing, like jeans.

Only Use Your Dryer When Necessary

You get it, your dryer is incredibly convenient for drying clothes quickly. However, if it’s sunny outside, you’re much better off drying your clothes in the sunlight. Not only will you save yourself money on your electricity bill, but your clothes will last much longer. The high heat breaks down the elasticity of your clothing, and can even shrink it. Consider investing in a special drying rack to put outside, or simply hang up a clothesline in your yard.

Apply Stain Remover Immediately

If you spill something on your clothes, don’t let it sit there. It’s important that you treat stains with a stain remover as early as possible so that it doesn’t remain stained. If you treat a stain with a stain remover and find that the stain is still there after being washed in the washing machine, wash it again rather than dry it. Drying the clothing with the fresh stain will cause the stain to stay.

7 Top Tips to Keep Your Pet Happy and Healthy

Animals are a great addition to our home. Most pet owners see them as equal members of their households. Therefore, it’s important to prioritize their health and wellbeing so that they have longer, happier lives. Whether you are an owner of a cat, a dog, or perhaps both, continue reading for some top tips on how to optimize their health.

Register Your Pet at a Vet

You can keep your pets healthy by registering them with a local vet. Your vet will carry out regular health checks, they can advise you on matters regarding pet insurance, and help you to spread the cost of your animal’s veterinarian treatments.

Select the Perfect Pet Insurance Plan

Pet insurance can save you a lot of money on expensive procedures, although there will still be some costs. Some insurance companies offer more for your money, so it is worth using a comparison site to help you find the best deal and protect your beloved pets.

Regular Fleeing and Worming

Once you have chosen a suitable insurance plan, you will be able to get discounts when it comes to flea and worm treatments for your pet. This must be done regularly, even for indoor cats as external pests can still be brought into your home.

Spaying/Neutering

In addition to worming and treating pets for fleas and ticks, it’s advisable to sterilize any pets that you do not intend to breed. For cats, both the males and females no longer urinate to mark their territory and females will have a lower risk of ovarian cancer. Also, both genders will be calmer and female dogs will no longer experience menstruation.

Pet Nutrition

You must ensure that your pet’s dietary requirements are being met through a balanced diet. You can purchase dry or wet food, which should have informative labels on the packaging. Furthermore, you should also be aware of the foods to avoid. For example, feeding dogs chocolate can be fatal.

Provide Outdoor Space

If you have a cat or a dog, ideally you should have a spacious garden for them to roam around and play in. Outdoor cats should have access to a garden that isn’t near a main road. However, some felines are solely indoor animals and will require high surfaces and enough space. They will also need more playful interaction to ensure they get the exercise they need to maintain a healthy weight. Moreover, all dogs must be taken outside for walks each day or permitted to play in an enclosed outdoor area.
Hygiene and Cleanliness

If you are an owner of an indoor cat, then you must clean out their litter tray each day. For dog owners, it’s advisable to bathe them once a month unless you have been to the beach or on a muddy adventure! Furthermore, cats and dogs will need brushing regularly, especially when the weather becomes warmer in spring because they molt more often.

If you are a pet owner, then follow the above advice above to maintain a healthy, happy pet.

 

Challenges You Will Face Being a Mommy and Looking After Elderly Parents

Being a mommy is the best job in the world, no doubt about it. However, things are not always perfect, and sometimes life can throw a bit of a curveball at you. One curveball that could have been thrown your way could have been the care of aging or elderly parents. Perhaps you knew it was coming and had never really prepared well enough, or perhaps you were in denial about what it would be like. Now, however, the time has come, and you are juggling being a mommy while looking after your elderly parents. There is, of course, no going back, so you have to make the best out of it.

The Challenges You Will Face and the Solutions You Need to Put into Place

You may have thought about some challenges, such as logistics, especially if you are in different states, but there may also be challenges that you may not have even thought about, such as mom guilt. Of course, most, if not all, challenges can be overcome, and with a strong support network around, you can tackle anything that comes your way. So, what challenged should you be preparing for and in anticipation of?

Mom Guilt – It is a Real Thing

Yes, unfortunately, it exists. You will be busy looking after your parents, but at the back of your mind, you will be feeling guilty about time spent away, or apart from your children. Mom guilt can eat away at you if you are not careful. Not becoming too consumed by guilt is probably your best way forwards. If you stop and think about everything you are missing out on at your own home, you may not be able to look after your parents correctly, and this would then leave you feeling even guiltier. So, be aware that you will, on occasions feel guilty. Learning to live with guilt will allow you to focus on the task at hand and ensure you provide the best care to your parents.

Not Having Enough Time to Yourself

That free time you used to get when the kids went to school or kindergarten is now gone. You feel like you are constantly running around, and you feel as though you never have any time for yourself. You need time for yourself, and it is important that you make time as and where you can. Looking at respite with Brandywine Living at a location such as Brandywine Reflections will give you some much-needed time away from your parents and away from caregiving responsibilities and duties. Time away will allow you to just be yourself and be a mommy again. If you do not create time for yourself, you will struggle to sustain what you are doing.

Feeling Overworked and Unappreciated

As a mommy, it happens regularly, and unfortunately, it also happens as a caregiver. Feeling unappreciated and feeling overworked can leave you feeling a bit down, which is, of course, not a situation you want to find yourself in. You will feel worse if your parents are suffering from a disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s, which may even make it difficult for them to recognize or remember you. Telling yourself that you are doing your best and giving yourself a boost is the best way to approach the situation every day. Remember that your parents do appreciate you even if they never say it or show it, and, although the job is tiring, knowing that you are supporting your parents will ease the feelings and emotions you feel.

Feeling Lonely and Tired

Getting enough sleep is important. As a mommy, you need to be fresh and ready to tackle anything your kids throw at you, from life questions to homework and mountains of washing. As a caregiver to your parents, you need to have had enough sleep to tackle their house, personal care, chores, and tasks. When you are overtired, times can be tough, and you can end up feeling lonely. When you feel lonely, your emotions can get the better of you. You can feel like a terrible mommy; you can feel like an awful caregiver. So, to fight off these feelings and emotions as much as you possibly can, you must ensure you rest and sleep where you can and when you can.

Balancing and Juggling Your Life, Your Family’s Life, and, of Course, Your Parents Life!

A perfect balance does not exist no matter how hard you try. However, utilizing the time that you have, prioritizing tasks, duties, and chores, and ensuring that you spend good quality time with everyone who you love and care about will ensure that you get a near as close to perfect balance. Remember that time spent with loved ones, memories made, and experiences shared will help you get stronger both as an individual and as a family unit.

Having a Bit of Freedom

Letting loose, not having any responsibilities, and being a little bit carefree is what you crave. Having a bit of freedom, leaving the children at home with a responsible adult, and getting out of the house and away from all of the commitments you have is sometimes just what you need to do. Having a change of scenery, doing something different, and even getting in outside help to assist you with your parents will give you breathing space. Breathing space will help you feel like you again and allow you to be a fantastic mommy again.

The Feeling That You Are Not Doing Enough for Everyone

The ultimate challenge you will face is the feeling that you are never doing enough, no matter how hard you try. Caring is hard, being a mommy is hard, and unfortunately, there will never be a perfectly balanced match that results in you feeling fantastic. Doing the best that you can do, being there at all times for your children, and being there for your parents is what you need to focus on doing. Just being there is enough for your children, and it is enough for your parents, so remember this in times of self-doubt or worry.

 

Prepare your child for in-person learning: PPE and social emotional skills

When you consider your child’s return to in-person education, ask yourself what is in their best interests. This standard that divorce lawyers use for child custody cases is also relevant here. The goal is to get them relaxed, ready, and inspired to return to campus. This article is one of a two-part series. The second article will focus on academic skills.

Build on Experience

If your child was able to engage in in-person learning in the spring or over the summer, ask them what elements were helpful. Maybe they calmed down by bringing a stress ball or stuffed animals to school for those tough moments. Perhaps it helped them to have a journal to write down their thoughts about the pandemic. It may be a good idea for you to give them a note in their lunch every day. Think about what is possible to help your child improve their mental health without a significant addition to your workload or budget.

Review Safety Protocols

See if your child’s teacher or school has a new digital presentation ready to familiarize children with back to school routines. If yes, go over this with your child several times before school starts. If not, see if you can volunteer to help make such a presentation. If the teacher or school just has suggestions at this point, make flashcards to test your child.

Act out certain scenarios. For example, role play with your child to see what they will do when someone accidentally gets too close or coughs on them. Have your child learn to be polite and say things such as, “I would like some more space” and “Can you please distance yourself socially?” If your child is young, practice routines with them. One enjoyable one is waiting in line for extended handwashing while socially distancing from you.

Check Their Personal Protective Equipment

Go over with your child what PPE they need to be safe at school. Items include a mask, hand sanitizer, and perhaps gloves for certain tasks. Practice using these items, such as taking gloves on and off without tearing them. Make sure they have multiple masks to take with them to school.

Show them where they should put the masks in their backpack. Review rules such as, “Don’t share a mask with a friend. You can give a friend a disposable mask, but then they have to keep it.” Make sure they know you are giving them extra masks in a different place, such as the side pocket of a backpack.

Outreach to Counselors and Teachers

Learn the identity of your child’s school counselor and psychologist. The school counselor is usually there to see a child with everyday concerns. A psychologist often has the job of seeing students with serious mental health concerns and testing for issues like autism spectrum disorder. Ask them what they did over the summer to learn about serving children’s needs during the pandemic. Learn how often they will be available for your child. Also sign any necessary permission slips for their services.

It is helpful to tell your child’s counselor and teacher about concerns your child is experiencing. For example, your child may have problems telling a teacher when they have too much work on their plate. Ask if it’s possible for your child to reach out to a counselor or another person about matters like this if necessary.

Also ask what you may be able to do to volunteer with “class talk” workshops by a counselor. You may be able to do a lot, such as collect supplies for arts and crafts or make a poster with other parents to show your support for students. Let your child’s educational and mental health team know you are there for them. Your child has a greater chance of success when others can count on you to be responsible, thoughtful, and responsive.

 

How to Prep for After You Have a Baby

For many, having a child is a wonderful thing, and it’s something they have been looking forward to for a long time – perhaps well before they actually conceived a child. However, as much as it is a beautiful experience, it can also be overwhelming, and you’ll need to ensure you have everything in place for once the baby arrives so that everything is a lot easier for you and you can concentrate on this new chapter of your life. Read on for some useful tips on how to make these preparations and what you should be putting in place.

Make Time To Rest

Having a baby – actually giving birth – is a traumatic event for the body, no matter what the mind might think. You have to go through a lot to ensure your baby arrives safely, and you won’t just be able to pick up and carry on with everything you need or want to do moments after the baby is born. You’ll need at least a few days to recover, and if you have had a c-section or any complications during birth, you will need a lot longer – perhaps even months.

This is why it’s so important to allow your body to heal. You’re already going to be tired, especially because babies don’t sleep through the night since they need to feed a lot more often than older children, so take the opportunity to rest whenever you do have the chance. The house can be messy for a little while longer, and although your friends and family will want to see the new baby, if you need to rest, they must understand. The more you can rest at the start, the sooner you’ll be back on your feet.

Make Things Easy

Before you give birth, there are many things in life that will seem easy and that you just don’t even think about. After you give birth, these easy tasks become much more difficult, perhaps because you don’t have the same amount of time or because you’re over-tired and can’t focus properly.

Make things as easy as you can for yourself so that you don’t have to add any additional stress to your life. Use One day lenses, for example, so that you don’t have to spend time cleaning them, or set out a week’s worth of clothes in advance, so you don’t have to think about what you’re going to wear. There are many other ideas you can implement too. These might be small things, but they’ll make a big difference and help you feel much more in control so you can deal with parenthood in the best possible way.

Stock Up On Food

As we’ve mentioned, finding time for yourself with a new baby is not easy, and so you may not have a lot of time to prepare proper meals in the first few weeks. This could lead you to indulge in takeout or skipping meals altogether, and these are not good ways to get healthy and prepare for parenthood.

Instead of this problem, prepare the food before the baby arrives. Batch cook some quick and easy meals and then freeze them so that you can simply defrost and warm through and have something great and healthy to eat. Or speak to friends and family; they will want to help out, so let them and ask them to bring you meals to ensure you keep your strength up.