Why Our New Favorite Place is Disneyland
? Recently, my husband, daughter and I flew to southern California for a family reunion. When the event was over, we spent one more week in the area, and on our last full day in California, we went to Disneyland. It’s no doubt that children far and wide revere Disneyland as the ultimate vacation destination, but as an adult and a parent, I had no idea how much I personally would enjoy my time there. What sets Disneyland stand apart from other theme parks I have been to is the quality—the quality of everything. It’s not just the rides, which are notably ...
Top Ten Family Spring Break Locations
Spring break with the family, couldn't come soon enough this year. Being teased by unseasonally warm weather all year long, we've been aching for this break. Now that it's arrived, where to go? Here are some of the top ten family vacations for Spring Break based on popularity we've researched on the net. Orlando, FL - Orlando sets the standard for family vacation spots. Boasting over 100 family-friendly attractions including Disney World, Sea World, resorts, water playgrounds and more, Orlando has something for all ages. San Diego, CA - Moderate, sunny weather and a plethora of family-friendly activities makes this city an ...
5 Proven Strategies for Flying with Kids
Five Proven Strategies to Flying with Kids Talk about the flight before it happens. Practice “flying” with your child. An anxious child will benefit from a pretending game that prepares him or her for the experience of flying. Practice standing in lines, sitting on the plane and carrying bags. Describe the view out the window. Take your child to the airport ahead of time to experience the crowds and the sights first hand. Give a rambunctious toddler jobs to do and have your child practice these roles. At the airport, let your child make choices that keep the experience interesting and ...
My Kid Is a Junior Ranger
I am the proud parent of a junior ranger. My daughter has vowed explore national parks, protect them from harm and teach others to protect wildlife and nature for future generations. The National Park Service junior ranger program is designed to educate participants about national parks in a way that is fun and flexible. Each child can complete the requirements on his or her own time, without going through a structured program. The activities kept our daughter entertained throughout our trip to the park, and she also became more engaged in her surroundings. If you’d like your child to participate, stop at ...
Top 5 Family Activities in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, often rated in the top 10 most affordable US vacation destinations, and one of our top baby equipment rental locations is packed with outstanding family activities. There’s a little something for everyone, from babies to grandparents. Here are the top 5 best family activities: 1. Mini Golf You can take your pick of elaborate mini golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. Each course boasts different themes and special effects. With reasonable admission prices, this family activity will entertain anyone who can lift a golf club. 2. The Beach More relaxing than the water parks, the beach offers something for everyone: sports, ...
Family Travel on a Budget
[caption id="attachment_1619" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Savannah GA Historic River Street"][/caption] Like almost everyone I know, my family spends a lot of time trying to find ways to stay within a budget, even while traveling. This year we decided that our major family vacation would be to someplace fairly local—within reasonable driving distance—and inexpensive. We checked the US News & World Report Travel section and found a list of top affordable US destinations. Savannah, Georgia had all our requirements and then some: it was affordable, close to home and it’s a city full of fascinating history and Savannah is a great place for taking ...
Trip to the Beach With The Little One
My family can't travel anywhere without a lot of gear. A lot of gear. Even a trip to the beach – only about two hours away from home – requires a huge beach bag, a cooler, a giant umbrella, car toys, water beach toys, first aid kit, change of clothes, four different types of sunblock, and so on. Sometimes, a trip to the beach can be as overwhelming as a trip to Peru. Here are some of the most useful things we routinely bring with us to the beach. These handy items make the trip with our daughter fun and relaxing: Car ...
Top 4 Reasons to rent baby equipment
Are you tired of going away on trips with your children and having to pack a huge stroller? It sounds like you need to be able to rent baby equipment after you get off the plane, or after you've reached your hotel room. Now, you’re probably thinking, “But if I rent baby equipment it’s too expensive.” That’s not the case with Tots-on-the-Go, they’re fast, easy and affordable. Just in case you’re still teetering on what you should do here’s four great reasons why you should rent baby equipment instead of packing your own. *Convenience – With rental companies stocking everything from ...
Tips for traveling with kids through the Airport this holiday
Flying during the holidays can try your patience, so if you are flying with kids it’s even more important than ever to be prepared. Packing List. Two weeks before you leave start a packing list for your kids. Losing baggage is all to common, especially during the busy travel system, so be sure to label your bags with your personal information including your cell phone number. Print boarding pass before you leave home. Of course you can always print it when you get to the airport, but so will everyone else. And when they break down, it’s just a mess ...
Bringing in the New, Giving the old!
So many of us are so lucky to give our children what they want for Christmas! Our children receive so many great new toys during Christmas that we do not know what to do with all of the old toys. We don’t want them to be thrown in the trash so what do we do with them? There are so many ways to put your old, gently used toys to use. It can really make another child’s day and nothing is greater then seeing another child less fortunate, smile. Below are a few tips and suggestions as to what to ...
Dec 10
22
Ban on Drop Side Cribs
We all wondered when drop side cribs would be banned. Well, the day has come. On Dec. 15th the news hit that the Consumer Product Safety Commission has banned drop side cribs.
Since 2001 drop side cribs have been blamed for 32 infant deaths. The new federal standards will take effect in June 2011, stopping the sale, manufacturing and use of them in motels, hotels, and child care facilities.
These cribs were very popular due to the moving rails which made it easier to lift children in and out and especially easy for those that had children with physical disabilities.
What to do if you have a drop side crib?
1.) Call the manufacturer of the crib and ask if there has been a re-call. If so, then ask for a refund.
2.) If you have one that has not been re-called then it is your choice whether you want to keep or not. If you decide to keep the crib then make sure all hardware is fully operational and the crib is in good condition.
3.) If staying at a hotel, call before hand and make sure they are not providing drop side cribs.
Hotels and day cares have one year to get rid of these drop side cribs so you may want to check with your day care as well.
Because of this ban, mattresses are being more closely looked at as well. You should only use a mattress specifically designed for the crib you are using and you should not be able to fit more then 2 fingers between the mattress and crib.
For more information on crib safety and safe sleep environments for baby, visit CPSC’s crib information center at: www.cpsc.gov/info/cribs/index.html
Nov 10
29
Booster Seats Improve
Booster Seat Good Belt Fit
Boosters are better than they used to be at fitting lap and shoulder belts on 4 to 8-year-old kids to restrain them in a crash. Most belt-positioning boosters, though, don’t offer consistently good fit in all vehicles. Researchers test 72 booster seats, assigning the best ones the top ratings of BEST BET or GOOD BET because they correctly position belts on average booster-age kids in most vehicles. A good booster routes the lap belt across a child’s upper thighs and positions the shoulder belt at mid-shoulder.
Oct 10
18
Comparison of hybrid strollers
The hottest craze in strollers has been the single turned double tandem stroller. Phil&Teds were the first to design this innovative concept and did it so well, but several other companies have tried to do the same since. Three of the four of them look so much alike, that even to my trained eyes it takes a second or two to realize which model I’m looking at. We are now updating this post to add the newest copy cat, the iCandy Peach, turned Peach blossom. They all have their pros and cons though and here we brake it all down for you comparing the new Phil&Teds Explorer model), UppaBaby Vista, Baby Jogger City Select, Britax B-Ready and iCandy Peach Blossom.
Posted in Strollers TotsFeatures by .
Tots on the Go is showing Dads you can still be styling after you have kids with a Roddler, the industries first truly customizable stroller at a now truly great price for the summer, exclusively at Tots on the Go. Part hot rod, part stroller, Kid Kustoms’ Roddler is an amazing ride for the little cool kid in your life.
Before you hit the road take stock of what’s on the market now to make your life easier for your road trip. Whether taking a baby, toddler, or tike, there are some great products to appeal to every age group kid.
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- BuggyGuard Stroller Lock
My family just spent a wonderful Spring Break in New York and Boston. These are cities we had frequented pre-kids but it is amazingly different with our boys. There were definitely lessons learned and I wanted to share these with you.
Our boys are definitely at a great age to travel though. They are 4 1/2 and 6 so energetic as all get out, but they are able to understand consequences. One of the things you always read and is so true, is change your expectations when traveling with kids. We definitely couldn’t see all the sites we wanted to with kids because they just would get bored. We also had to arrange every day around a play ground or park just to get their energy out. New York and Boston were perfect cities for this. Luckily with our google maps on our phone it was able to tell us where the nearest park was at all times.
Gear we recommend taking:
We tried to keep the gear we took to a minimum. We allowed them each to take a few toys and they both had a little kids backpack with them that limited the size of toys they could take. The stroller was a challenge for us because you do NOT want to take a side by side double stroller in NY or Boston. You will most likely get kicked off the streets. We thought about a single lightweight stroller with a stroller board or a lightweight stroller and a backpack carrier, but seeing as how both of our kids are still very lazy they ended up both taking naps every day in the stroller, so we were happy about our choice, the Phil&Teds Vibe with doubles kit. Luckily our kids are off the charts small for their size so our 4 1/2 year old was tight in the backseat, but it was either walk or sit and he chose sit. Smart kid.
We found that the Phil&Teds strollers were definitely the city mom stroller of choice. They were EVERYWHERE in New York and Boston. Can’t blame them. Best solution to maneuver to young kids (or lazy kids in my situation) in such cramp spaces. I think a backpack carrier can also be a good choice for kids, but carrying your child for such long periods is not physically good for you or the child.
Some other items that were invaluable to us were the BuggyGuard stroller lock. I was not about to risk losing this valuable piece of property so we took our BuggyGuard with us and I’m so glad we did. Instead of taking the stroller inside a crazy cramped up restaurant, we locked it around a tree next to the bikes. When we went to Toys R Us in NY I locked it up in the front entrance so we wouldn’t have to maneuver it through the crowds and we even had a lady come up to my husband trying to buy it off of us.
Another item that was a must have was the stroller rain cover. With all that walking you just never know when it might hit and unfortunately we did have to use it a few times. Our kids slept through the whole thing, while we got wet, but oh well. One thing I wish I had brought with me though was the travel bag for the stroller. It would have been so much easier to cart around the airport when not in use and to gate check it. Now the Vibe does at least roll in the folded position, which is very useful, but it would have been nice to have it protected as well.
I finally got a chance to use our most popular item, the CARES Safety Harness. I used it from the beginning of our flight going to NY and my son really seemed to love it. I didn’t put it on him though for the flight going back home at the very beginning and I quickly realized that was a mistake. Being the adventurous 4 year old that he is, he thought that sitting in the seat belt did not apply to him and he kept undoing it. Our flight was rather bumpy so, I put him in the CARES and he was perfectly fine then and secure.
Kid Friendly things to do in NY and Boston
In New York we stopped by Central Park almost every day. Between all the awesome playgrounds, the zoo and just playing around, our kids loved Central Park. The Toys R Us in Time Square was a huge hit for adults and children. How can you not be in awe by a giant Ferris Wheel inside a toy store? Too cool. We did one of the city bus tours and it was a great way for the kids to really take it all in. We did to go the American Museum of Natural History and MOMA, which isn’t for all kids.
As for Boston, our favorite and a must see was definitely the Science Museum. It was so impressive. We spent five hours there and could have certainly spent longer if we weren’t so exhausted. We actually thought about going back a second time, but so many other great things to do in Boston we just couldn’t fit them all in a few days. The Aquarium was a blast, even though not one of my favorites I’ve been to, it was still worth visiting with our kids.
Just walking around Boston and New York is a treat with kids. My son loved listening to all the different languages people spoke and seeing the different people. Our kids have always been quite adventurous with food so we made a point to try a different ethnic food every night and our kids were truly good sports about it.
For us, traveling with our kids is truly a learning experience…for us and them. We take the little things for granted and only children can bring us back to earth to show us what life is truly about. Having fun and being with one another. You can of course do that at home, but they learn so much more about us as well when we are away from all the daily distractions life and work bring.
Baby with 2 remotes
About two years ago my family and I were going to a relatively nice restaurant for dinner. As we were being seated by a hostess, we passed by a table of six adults and a 1 year old child, which was seated in a high chair at the end of the large table with a DVD player sitting in front of him. I know that I must have stared for 30 seconds longer than I should have, but I was stunned. How can six adults not entertain this beautiful, sweet child without plopping a brain draining player in front of him?
No one says that parenting is easy, but our children deserve the very best we can give them. Let them draw at the dinner table, read them a book. Talk to your children for heavens sake!
Things seem to only be getting worst though. Recently I visited a local baby store and was just appalled when I saw a customized DVD player holder for a stroller. Come on already! Why have kids if you are going to just plop them in front of the TV every free moment?
What’s next? A DVD player in the crib? Well actually, there is a patent for one. I’m not kidding. I don’t even have a television in my room and I’m a parent.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screen media for children under the age of 2 years. Although most studies that have been conducted for the affects of TV on babies has not shown a direct negative affect, there is no benefit either. Other studies have shown that TV viewing at high levels put kids at risk for other things such as obesity, sleep disturbances and attention problems. If these aren’t enough reasons, Elizabeth Pantley, author of No-Cry Sleep Solution has a list of several great reasons why your child should not start watching TV at such a young age.
If your child isn’t the easiest to go shopping with, let them spend quality time with dad, not in front of the TV. The whole family deserves quality time, but most importantly, children deserve the opportunity to learn from the very beginning of other ways to calm themselves down and ways to learn and interact without the TV.
Consumer Product Safety Commission’s new chairman, Tenenbaum, is “planning” on issuing a warning about baby slings. Too late, the media already has for them and it’s gotten so blown out of proportion that I feel sorry for parents trying to understand if their child is in jeopardy or not.
It is important to understand that the concern is over specific type of baby sling, the “bag-style” slings. These slings wrap around the parent’s neck and cradle the baby in a curved or C-like position. Over the past 11 years there have been 7 babies that have died in baby slings and 37 infants who have been seriously injured. Recent recalls have been associated with baby slings, specifically the Ellaroo and Infantino baby slings.
Travel insurance is a great way to protect your travel investment. By choosing to offer travel insurance, your travel agent is providing you a financial safety net for most unforeseen travel inconveniences. Access America travel insurance plans have been created to suit most any traveler’s coverage needs. Many of our travel plans include benefits like:
- Trip Cancellation/Interruption
Two Richmond, Virginia, mom owned businesses are trying to make the guess out of planning for your baby a bit easier and a lot more fun with Baby Bump Parties.
Baby Bump Parties are get-togethers for mothers and mothers to be. The parties are designed to provide guests with information on top picks for baby gear as well as to determine those items best suited for your family’s lifestyle, under the expertise of owner of Tots on-the-Go. Most importantly, you will be able to test out the products first hand.
