Infant Toddler Products

Pillow safety for babies under 12 months

As a baby develops in its first year, there are a lot of exciting new things for them to experience. One of these is going outside and traveling in the car. Some parents may even want to take their baby or infant on an extended trip that requires air travel. While keeping things closer to home, there’s still enough to keep parents concerned and up all night with worry. Using pillows during travel can bring up some questions about the overall pillow safety, both inside and outside of the home. 

How safe are pillows for babies in their first year?

There can be a lot of questions about pillows for babies under 12 months. New parents sometimes feel overwhelmed by all of the rules and restrictions that they hear about. One of these hot topics is pillows for babies under 12 months. Using a pillow in a baby’s crib is an absolute no, but this doesn’t mean that it can’t be useful in other areas. Doctors recommend that parents keep pillows out of their baby’s cribs until the child is at least two years old. 

In a child’s first year, there are a couple of ways that pillows can be helpful. The first is a U-shaped pillow that is primarily used when a child is in their car seat. This not only helps with supporting their head and neck, but it can also provide a sense of comfort and security. Many children do not like the feeling of confinement that comes with being restrained in a car or infant seat. Using a neck pillow can help to give them a feeling of safety and relaxation. 

The other instance when a pillow is not only safe but helpful for an infant is when they are learning to sit on their own. Sitting is one of the major developmental milestones that babies achieve in their first year of life. As they are developing the muscles that are necessary for them to sit without assistance, a specialized sitting pillow can help to support them.

As a child develops, their needs will change, but having supervision is always important in the first few years of life. Staying aware of their movements can help to keep them safe. Regular check-ups with a pediatrician are also helpful for the child and the parents. Pillow safety is just one of the important aspects of a child’s first year. Keeping a child safe requires constant attention.

Infant Toddler Products

Tips for childproofing your home

Making sure your home is completely safe for your children is no easy feat. As parents, we sometimes go to extreme lengths to make sure there’s nothing around that could possibly harm our little ones. While it’s impossible to remove every potential danger, there are lots of things you can do to prevent your children from coming to harm. If you’re looking for some new ideas to stop your children from causing unintentional havoc, this blog has got you covered.

Keep your glasses safe

If you or your children wear glasses, you’ll know just how easily they can become broken. Whether your children have stepped on them, thrown them into their toy box, or run around outside wearing them, it’s all too easy for lenses to become smashed and arms to be bent out of shape. One solution to the problem is ordering prescription safety glasses, which are designed to withstand rough treatment and harsh environments. Another is to make sure your glasses are always out of reach or stored safely in a protective case. As your children get older, make sure they understand how to take care of glasses to avoid breaking them.

Check for sharp edges

It can be hard to find sharp edges when walking around the house normally, so it’s important to get into your child’s mindset. Crouch or crawl around your rooms to see if you can find any pieces of wood or metal that are sticking out. Don’t forget, your children will probably be running up and down and not looking where they’re going. If there are any areas where your children often trip over and fall, try to put some extra cushioning in place or get rid of bumps in the carpet that are causing them problems.

Locks

Some cabinets contain items that children shouldn’t get their hands on. Whether it’s cleaning chemicals, medicines, or kitchen knives, storing them out of the way won’t be enough to stop busy little fingers from finding them. Putting locks on the cupboards that contain anything harmful to your child’s health will keep them much safer and will also offer you complete peace of mind. Just make sure you don’t misplace the key!

Cover sockets

Children often stick their fingers or other objects into wall sockets, which can lead to disastrous consequences, especially if these objects are metal. If your child uses scissors, they might be curious as to what happens when they put one end in a wall socket. While this might seem an unlikely thought process for an adult, children are curious and often don’t know any better. You can buy socket covers and protectors from hardware shops, which will act as a deterrent to adventurous children. If your kids are old enough, make sure you educate them about the dangers of electricity to prevent accidents.

It’s natural to be anxious as a parent, but your children are safer than you think. Try not to stress too much and take sensible precautions where needed for childproofing your home.

Infant Toddler Products

Bring your toddler’s walls to life with Wall Stories

Bring your toddler's walls to life with Wall Stories

If you are looking to upgrade your toddler’s room, consider bringing their walls to life with Wall Stories. Choose from Paw Patrol, Elmo, Peppa Pig and the Ludo collection teaching numbers, colors and more. All you need in some wall space, a box of your Wall Stories choice and a tablet or device for the free Google Play or Apple Store app. Once you have it all ready, simply aim your device at the wall art and start learning and playing.

Elmo wall stickers

The wall stickers are easy to install. You can see that they come in large chunks which makes adjusting and placing them much easier than smaller pieces. The adhesive is removable and repositionable. If you have a silicone-based paint then you know it can be more difficult to stick to. Once the Wall Stories are in place, find the free app here: https://wallstories.com/en_ca/download-app

Wall Stories

There are 3 modes: Story Mode, Game Mode and Creative Mode. In story and game mode, you don’t need to have the device aimed at the art, but you will for the creative mode.

In story mode every story can be read or listened to in English or French. In game mode there are 3 levels of difficulty: The games will evolve as your child learns! In creative mode children can design and create their own space for play.

Sesame Street wall art

The box comes with all stickers and an activation code. Shop Wall Stories to find a set that the child in your life will love. It makes a great gift for the Holidays.

Infant Toddler Products

4 Tips to Build a Budget-Friendly Designer Nursery

4 Tips to Build a Budget-Friendly Designer Nursery
Photo credit: Image by Terri Cnudde from Pixabay

Designing your little one’s nursery shouldn’t cost you a fortune. As parents, especially first-timers, it is perfectly natural for us to be caught up in decorating our newborn’s first bedroom, as we all want to make it as beautiful as it can possibly be. However, baby items and furnishings can be costly, so it is important that you keep track of your budget to avoid going overboard. Here are some budget-friendly ideas to help you create a luxurious space for your bundle of joy without costing an arm and leg. 

Do away with the changing table

One of the furnishings you can do without is a changing table. Not only can it take up a lot of space, but your little one will surely outgrow it in just a few months. You don’t need a fancy table to change your baby’s diaper; you just need a clean and safe place where your little one can lie down. If you have a spare dresser, consider using it instead. Add a changing pad on top of it and place it near your baby’s crib for easy access.

Be creative with wall decals or paint

One of the easiest and most affordable ways to spruce up the nursery is by applying a fresh color or paint. You can paint it with multiple bold colors or make a statement by applying one bold color to one part of the wall. However, it would be best to stick to neutral colors or use subtle shades to prevent your baby and yourself from getting visually overwhelmed. Sticking to neutral shades will also make your decorating job more manageable in the future if ever you decide to change the nursery into another type of room. Another option is to decorate the walls with decals, as they are more affordable compared to wallpaper, and they won’t damage your walls once you remove them. 

Focus on the essentials

Your baby will not remember the brand of beddings you used or the number of stuffed toys they had, so try to stick to the essentials as much as you can. Avoid splurging on the crib or baby beddings. Try to limit the toys, as your baby may not appreciate them until they get older. You can also decorate a designer nursery with plants to make it more homey and lively.  

Resourcefulness can go a long way 

Babies can be expensive, so being resourceful can help you stretch out your budget. Remember that not everything in your little one’s nursery should be store-bought or brand new. Before going baby stuff shopping, assess the things you already have. Check your unused furniture, and consider transforming some of them into baby furnishings.

You can revamp an outdated dresser into a multifunctional baby storage, just by giving it a fresh color of paint. If you don’t have extra furniture, consider shopping at thrift stores or accepting hand-me-downs. There are also several vendors online, such as Quirky Bubba, where you can buy high-quality, and trendy baby furniture at a fraction of the price of a designer piece. 

Preparing for the arrival of your little one doesn’t need to be expensive. With a bit of creativity, careful planning, and an open mind, you can turn a simple bedroom into a luxurious and comfortable nursery.