Friday, December 19, 2008

Liberty Mutual Be Fire Safe this holiday season

As we are get ready for the holiday season lets keep into consideration fire safety. I know at this time of year we all are so very busy with buying gifts or making gifts, finding or decorating the perfect tree and getting up those decorations inside and outside of our homes but here is something for you and yours to remember:

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, nearly 47,000 household fires occur during the holidays each year. Misplaced or dry decorations mixed with fires and candles can lead to injuries, the loss of property, and even to lost lives, a tragedy which most families fail to consider amidst their festive holiday planning.

In preparation for this year's holiday season, Liberty Mutual Insurance and Holly Robinson Peete, actress, philanthropist and mother of four are teaming up to raise awareness and spread simple tips to keep families safe this holiday by encouraging moms to set aside a few moments before the holiday rush to review fire safety precautions and response plans with their family at BeFireSmart.com.

The website www.BeFireSmart.com acts as a resource for parents and educators offering tips for talking with children about fire safety, how to prevent fires and how to create a family escape plan should a fire break out. Games and activities such as a free downloadable coloring book further engage children as they learn how to spot potential fire risks and help to keep their families safe.

Friday, December 5, 2008

Baby Einstein DVD Viewing tips

DVD Viewing Tips

Without exception, one of the most significant moments of discovery for any mom, is the day she realizes her baby truly recognizes her and wants her above all others. That bond, the super-glue of parent child attachment, is the foundation for baby’s healthy development.

At Baby Einstein, each DVD is designed to reinforce parent-child interaction by providing visually interesting, entertaining content that you and your baby can watch together. Whether the theme is art, music, or barnyard animals, each DVD offers an opportunity to cuddle, share, talk, or sing along with your baby. The DVD can also be a jumping off point for more parent child interaction during your everyday routine.

Talk! Talk! Talk!
From the moment we say that first hello to our new baby, we begin developing our little one’s language. So, when you’re watching a Baby Einstein DVD, you don’t have to be quiet. This is a chance to create little stories.

For example, if you see mechanical toys on the DVD, describe the action to your baby—“see the seals go UP the ladder. Now they’re sliding DOWN and around-- very fast.” If your baby starts “talking” back to your sounds, praise, cuddle, and imitate your baby to keep the conversation going. Even if you feel self-conscious about talking to a 6 month old, just stay the course. Your baby is probably listening and may show you with a smile, nod, or squeal, the many different ways they understand your language.

From the Video Theme to the Real World Scene
Whenever there is an opportunity to link what you have seen on the DVD to other experiences in baby’s life, make that connection. For example, if you watched a DVD about animals, you might say, “Oh, look. There’s a BIG fish on the screen. Do we have another fish in our house?” And off you go to look at your gold fish. This kind of activity shows baby that something we see in one place can be seen in other places too.

Bring it to Life
If children or puppets on the DVD are jumping or dancing, you can hold your little one and dance along to show baby how it feels. You can also play infant sized musical instruments to accompany the DVD Orchestra. Or, try using puppets or baby’s favorite stuffed animals to mimic the action in the DVD. You may get giggles from your little one. Babies usually want to do what they see and you can make that happen.

Make it Personal
Try making connections between what happens on screen with what happens in baby’s life. If you have a DVD that contains sign language, try some of the simpler signs with your baby. If you see how the puppets always do silly stuff, bring a puppet to mealtime to help you serve the food or provide additional encouragement to complete the meal.

Make it a Family Affair
Consider using DVD time as a way to interact with the whole family. If baby has an older sibling(s) around you can invite them watch the DVD with you. Encourage your older child to point out the names of the animals, say the colors, or even make animal sounds. They will probably love playing with baby and will be excited about showing off how much they know!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Mom Central Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Oh Wow this Holiday Season I do not know what to get people this year. Thankfully I have a resource to go to like Mom Central for help on deciding what to get for those on my holiday gift list. There are recommendations and giveaways galore. Like the 16 days of giving from Mom Central! All you have to do is register at http://www.momcentral.com/index.php?option=com_juser&task=register and then login. then you go to the gift guide at http://www.momcentral.com/gift-guide/ and click on the box that says giveaways and follow the instructions for entries below:

From Mom central: To be eligible to win the daily prizes, participants must register on Mom Central, log-in, and leave a comment on the post. In addition, if participants tweet or email friends about the giveaway, they can earn another entry!

Its a fun way to celebrate the Holiday spirit. Hope to see you there!

Baby Einstein 10 year anniversary

I can't believe its been 10 years already but Baby Einstein is 10 years old! My daughter had Baby Einstein products and so did my son and now my twin girls get to enjoy the same videos, cds and books as well! Check out the image below and www.babyeinstein.com for more info on the special edition Dvd's to celebrate the 10th year of Baby Einstein. I got a chance to receive a special pack from Baby einstein and the video baby mozart is super cute. The babies love love love it.

Seatsnug

There is a new product that helps keep your booster seats in place and keep your kiddos safe and snug its called a seatsnug. read and see the image below




taken from www.seatsnug.com:


Product Information

SeatSnug® is a first-of-its-kind product that enhances both the safety and comfort of children riding in booster seats.
Why Do We Need SeatSnug®?

Children in booster seats are at risk of injury and death due to seatbelt slack (looseness). The three-point seatbelt commonly used in motor vehicles, represents a compromise between safety and comfort. A three-point seatbelt allows slack to develop in the lap belt portion while children (or adults!) are riding in a vehicle. Seatbelt slack is acknowledged in the auto industry as a major contributor to injuries and deaths in vehicular accidents.

A loose seatbelt allows a child in a booster seat to bounce around, rock, tip, slide, and even fall over during normal vehicle maneuvering, which can result in injuries, such as a child’s head being thrown against the side of the vehicle, as well as leading to child discomfort, including motion sickness. In frontal impact accidents or during panic stops, a loose seatbelt can further lead to a child submarining under the lap belt. Loose lap belts are also contributors to children, whether in a booster seat or riding without a booster seat, ejecting out of the seatbelt in rollover accidents, allowing children to “fly around” the vehicle, resulting in the potential for severe injuries and even death—even though the seatbelt was buckled!
What’s the Solution?

The brand new SeatSnug® allows the lap belt to be lightly tightened around a child’s hips while riding in a vehicle, preventing seatbelt slack or looseness from developing.

By gently securing a child while riding in a booster seat, SeatSnug® substantially eliminates bouncing, rocking, tipping, falling over, submarining, and ejection, thus reducing the potential for injuries and death in vehicular accidents. At the same time, SeatSnug® improves child stability and comfort.
How Does SeatSnug® Work?

SeatSnug® can be easily and quickly clipped onto a vehicle’s existing factory installed seatbelt. Once a child in a booster seat is buckled up, the lap belt may be lightly tightened around the child’s hips by pulling up on the shoulder strap to more safely secure the child, without affecting the normal operation of the shoulder strap. The child continues to have the comfort of free upper body movement. Thus, SeatSnug® enhances child safety while maintaining and enhancing comfort.

SeatSnug® incorporates the unique race track proven, crash tested, and patented CG-Lock® Technology (visit www.CG-Lock.com for more insights about the CG-Lock).

The CG-Lock technology received The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval as a unique car safety device that stabilizes children in booster seats to increase child safety and comfort. SeatSnug® is a CG-Lock technology product designed specifically for children, to provide peace of mind to Moms and Grandmoms, while they drive children around.

Watch the comparison booster seat video, which dramatically demonstrates the merit and benefit of SeatSnug® and the CG-Lock technology in safely and more comfortably securing a child in a booster seat. The differences are amazing—yet the video was done at ONLY parking lot speeds. Imagine the safety difference at much higher speeds or if an accident should occur.