Parenting Archive

My thoughts on parenthood, and what it's like to be a mom in the Philippines.

Essential Tips On Having A Worry-Free Travel With Your Family

Traveling with your family is a beautiful experience, especially if you are going without any hassles. However, there are many circumstances that you might be facing in your journey. To have hassle-free travel, we will tackle some tips that might be helpful for you.

Check Your Vehicle

If you are traveling by car, you need to make sure that the vehicle is in good condition. Before hitting the road, check your car’s oil and filter if it needs replacing. Don’t also forget to check your spare tire, so you are ready in case you encounter a flat tire along the way. Fill your gas tank ahead of time, so you don’t have to go into a gas station on the day of your trip. If you are traveling with a toddler, make sure to bring a car seat for the baby’s safety. If you plan on using a limo, do your research, check write ups for Limo Find to have the best deal possible.

Pack Your Travel Essentials

Make sure to pack your travel essentials. Avoid overpacking as it will make your traveling bulky, especially if you are commuting. Make a list of your travel essentials such as toiletries, first-aid kit, towels, slippers, clothes, etc. If you are traveling with a senior, make sure that the doctor has a recommendation, and any medication should be packed. If you are going with a kid, toddler, or baby, then make sure to pack the essentials needed. You need to pack some diapers, wipes, and other traveling essentials that are suitable for the kid’s age.

Book Ahead of Time

If you are planning to visit out of town, make sure to book your hotel or accommodation ahead of time. Check out the prices online, see, and compare if there are promotions ongoing. If you want to save money on your bookings, then book ahead of time or at least a month before your arrival. If you plan to go out of the country, you can save on a ticket if you buy it early. There are some promotions that airlines are offering, make sure to get updates on airlines so you can book a promotion fare.

Budget Your Travel

Manage your travels by budgeting. Allocate money on travel expenses such as transportation, food, accommodation, and miscellaneous. Make sure there is also emergency money in your pocket. List down your priorities and label them by price, so you will know how much is your reasonable expenses. If your budget is low, you can alter some things such as cooking your food rather than dining out.

Check Online Reviews On the Attractions

If you don’t have an idea what to expect, make sure to check online reviews to see what’s waiting for you at your destination. There is much info on the web about the attractions, see what the places worth to go with are. You can also check the reviews where you can look at the rates of entrances and what are the things not allowed upon entering.

Also read: 3 Ways That Travel Can Enhance Your Life

Make your travel the most out of it by these hassle-free tips. You will surely enjoy your journey with your loved ones without worrying.

YouTube Kids Safe Use Guide For Parents

YouTube Kids is a different app fromYouTube. It’s an app built to be a family-friendly place for kids to explore their interests. With the news of suicide game targeting kids and suicide challenges invading YouTube kids, one can help but think other ways to make YouTube kids safer for our kids.

Google permits news stories and videos intended to raise awareness of and educate against the challenge. They have not seen any indications that the Momo challenge is on YouTube. In addition, this content has not been found on YouTube Kids.

Here’s a statement from YouTube spokesperson:

“YouTube’s Community Guidelines prohibit content that’s intended to encourage dangerous activities that have an inherent risk of physical harm or death. We remove flagged videos that violate our policies.”

If you are still worried, here’s how what you can do to make sure your kid is 100% safe usingYouTube KIDS:

Step 1. Sign in to your Kid’s YouTube Kids account. This is a bit tricky specially to those who just used YT Kids.
?Open the YT kids then click the lock button at the lowest right area. There’s math in it, use a calculator or set up your own passcode. I recommend NOT setting up your own passcode.
?Click settings. Click your kids username. You will be asked to sign in to your google acc.

Step 2. TURN OFF ALLOW SEARCHING.
When you turn search on, your child can access millions more YouTube Kids videos beyond the home screen. This allows them to search for new content on their own. When you turn search off you restrict your child’s experience to a more limited set of videos.

Step 3. TURN ON APPROVED CONTENT ONLY. When you turn on approved content only, you can handpick channels and videos that their kids can watch inYouTube Kids. Add channels that are safe and appropriate for your kids.

Add our KIDS YOUTUBE CHANNEL:
The A Toy Z channel
Channel about toys!

Step 4. Turn on PAUSE WATCH HISTORY.
This stop the app from using new video views or search terms to recommend videos.

Step 5. Set a TIMER. Go back to LOCK BUTTON along with your calculator and click timer.

5 Benefits to Using the Right Car Seat

Do you and your family like to take road trips? Well, having a baby along for your adventures will make road trips – and driving, in general – very different. Going on a long drive while baby is on board can be quite exhausting and nerve-wracking for a lot of people. Using a car seat will help alleviate the stress and let you enjoy your next family drive.

As a parent, one of your top priorities is keeping you child safe in the car. One of the reasons for this is because studies shows that car accidents are still one of the biggest causes of injury in children. This has led to the increased use of car seats to protect small children who cannot use conventional seatbelts yet.

Nevertheless, despite their importance, many parents do not use the right car seat for their children. The reasons for this point to behavior are much too complex to analyze here. However, the result of this is likely to increase the risk of danger to your child on a drive. With that in mind, here are 5 compelling reasons why you should use the right car seat:

1. It’s the Law
Laws about car seats vary from one state to another. However, you must ensure that you are complying with the laws of any and all of the states you will be passing through on your drive. For instance, some states do not require your child to use a car seat past a certain age or weight while others do. However, it is important to note that car seats are generally required by law, regardless of what state you live in or drive through.

2. A Basic Safety Requirement
Apart from legal implications, using a car seat is a necessary part of ensuring your baby’s trip while traveling. Think about it: it’s a universal requirement that everyone should use a seat belt while they are in a moving vehicle. Well, babies and small children cannot safely use traditional seatbelts until they are at least a few years older. In the meantime, it only makes sense to use car seats and provide your kids with adequate protection during any drive.

3. Protection against Serious Injury
Recent studies found that more than 90 percent of all car seat installations require some kind of adjustment in order to ensure your child’s safety. It’s undeniable that the hassle of selecting, buying, and setting up car seats can be draining. However, it only makes sense for you to endure some discomfort if it will afford your children maximum protection in case of an accident.
Also, keep in mind that babies and small children are much more susceptible to spinal injuries. Using the right car seat is the best way to avoid such devastating, life-changing injuries if you are ever involved in a collision.

4. Keep them Comfortable
Car seats are usually made to certain specifications, especially focusing on the age and weight of the child. So it only makes sense that using the wrong one will be very uncomfortable for baby, leaving them feeling cranky or – at worst – in pain. Installing old or used car seats might save you some money, but they will cause you more problems down the road.

5. Ensures your Convenience
Whether you are doing a quick run to the grocery store or going on a vacation, using the right car seat will soon prove to be very convenient for you. After all, trying to keep your family organized while worrying about holding your baby or keeping them safe would be quite challenging and time consuming. Cut yourself some slack and use the right car seat to keep your kids safe and comfortable, while ensuring your convenience and peace of mind too.