Travel Solutions: Childproofing on the Go!

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Travel-Tot has the perfect solution to one of the top family travel-hurdles addressed in this month's Parents Magazine; how to childproof your lodging accommodations when traveling (hotels, motels, family or friend's homes, etc.)! Travel-Tot's Travel Childproofing Kit contains everything you need to help create an additional layer of protection from common guest room hazards such as: sharp corners, doors and drawers that can cause pinches, exposed outlets,  loose cords, and accidental access to dangerous areas (balconies, drawers, closets, bathrooms, etc.). 

But what makes Travel-Tot's Kit a better choice than other childproofing kits, or even just packing a few products you have at home?  Easy - our product is specifically designed to be an all-in-one, portable, temporary, convenient collection of childproofing devices. All items fit neatly in the lunch-box sized Kit box and all items requiring application are fastened with provided, non-damaging adhesive strips that can be removed before you check out! Components require no tools and all included devices can be installed in about 5 minutes; they go on strong, and come off clean! Just follow the enclosed directions.  As an added bonus, we are now offering free shipping (this week only)!

Travel-Tot lets you instantly childproof hotel rooms, motel rooms, even grandma’s house! It's an easy, temporary, non-damaging solution designed to keep little ones safe anywhere you go.  So grab a Travel Childproofing Kit before your next family getaway and enjoy some peace of mind.  With Travel-Tot, you can keep your kids safe as home, wherever you roam!

-Destination Mom

Great Summer Reads for Kids!

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Summer is a great time to share a love of reading with your children; and whether they are pre-K or in the throes of elementary school, we have ideal summer reads for your little learners!  From the classics to the latest releases, here are some of our favorites:

Pre K-K

Tap the Magic Tree by Christie Matheson 

Children will love interacting with the illustrations to make the magic apple tree bloom, produce fruit, and lose its leaves!

In the Sea by David Elliot

This beautiful collection of poems for children features beautiful woodcut illustrations and captivating rhymes about sea creatures!

Grades 1 and 2

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig 

In a moment of fear, Sylvester the donkey asks his magic pebble to turn him into a rock, but then he cannot hold the pebble to wish himself back to normal again! (a beloved classic that earned the Caldecott Medal in 1970) 

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Upon arriving at school one day, Duncan finds a pile of letters, one from each of his crayons, complaining about how he uses them. 

Grades 3 and 4

Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan 

The sweet tale of a prairie family's experiences with Sarah, a mail-order bride from Maine, and the family's two children, Anna and Caleb. (a timeless tale that earned a Newbery Medal 1986)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Four English schoolchildren find their way through the back of a wardrobe into the magic land of Narnia and go on an adventure assisting Aslan, the golden lion, against the White Witch, who has cursed the land with eternal winter. 

Summer Alert: Cars, Kids, and Safety

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Every summer the news is riddled with tragic reports about infants or toddlers, found or forgotten in cars, dying from heat exposure.  Sadly, incidences of children accidentally trapped in cars or run over while playing in driveways also increase during summer months. These are tragedies that can strike anyone; and while these stories are terrifying and heartbreaking, it is important to note that there are ways to help prevent these terrible accidents.
  

Nine Tips to Prevent Car-Related Tragedy This Summer

• NEVER leave children alone in a car - not even for a moment; their bodies respond to increased temperature far more quickly (3 to 5 times more rapidly) than adults' and can suffer devastating damage or even death in a very short time. 
• Be particularly careful if you change your routine for dropping off children at child care; these suggestions can help remind you that your children are with you, even if they fall asleep:
• Place a sticky note or cling on your dashboard to remind you that your child is in your vehicle.
• Always put an object that you can't leave your car without (i.e. cell phone, purse, lunch, laptop, etc.) in the backseat where the child is seated.
• Keep a stuffed animal in the car seat when it is not in use; when you place your child in the car seat, move the stuffed toy to the front seat.
• Place your youngest or quietest child behind the passenger seat - you will be better able to notice if the child is there than if they are in a seat behind the driver's side.
• Have your spouse or the child's day care provider contact you immediately if the child does not arrive at the day care facility at the normally appointed time.
• Teach children NEVER to play in any vehicle.
• Always keep vehicle doors and trunk locked, particularly at home, and keep keys out of the reach of children.
• Install a trunk release mechanism to help prevent entrapment.
• Watch children closely around vehicles to be sure they do not enter unnoticed, particularly during loading/unloading.
• Double-check to ensure all children have left the vehicle when you reach your final destination.
• If a child goes missing, in addition to checking pools and other bodies of water, check all nearby vehicles.
• If you see a child alone in a car, dial 911 immediately.

For more helpful information and great products that can help keep your child(ren) safe in the car, check out KidsandCars.org.  Safe, happy, and healthy travels.

-Destination Mom

Products We Love: Sunscreen Bands

Travel-Tot is very excited to share what we believe to be one of the most important summer safety products out there: Sunscreen Bands! The team at Sunscreen Bands is dedicated to advocating for sun safety and educating about skin cancer. Their product, and the information contained below, are proof positive that Sunscreen Bands are a must-have summer product - so pick some up before your next family getaway!

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Skin cancer is 90% preventable.  In the United States, 1 in 5 children will develop skin cancer; the team at Sunscreen Bands is determined to drastically reduce that statistic. Their patented color-changing technology monitors UVA & UVB exposure to remind you when to reapply sunscreen and when to get out of the sun for the day! 

• Sunscreen is applied TO THE BAND in addition to the skin for accurate monitoring according to your SPF level
• Band color fades as a reminder to reapply throughout the day
• If/When Band reaches a creme color, you have reached your maximum recommended exposure for one day & should cover up or get out of the sun
• There is no time or heat element, solely measures UVA & UVB sun exposure
• Waterproof (both salt water and chlorine)

Sunscreen Bands are now available nationwide at CVS, Walmart, Toys R Us/ Babies R Us, and Amazon.com, among others. Also, they are partnered with The National Shade Foundation and are endorsed by Parent Tested Parent Approved, National Parenting Center, and The Personal Care Products Counsel!

Fatherhood: The Ultimate Trip!

Whether you take your kid(s) fishing, camping, to the movies, bowling, golfing, or just on amazing adventures with the tales you spin, there's no denying that fathers are a treasure!  So to all you dads we say...

 fatherhood is a trip; enjoy the journey and celebrate all the beautiful stops along the way!  

Happy Father's Day!
   

Three Great Ways to Make Air Travel Less Germy!

These fantastic tips come to you courtesy of our friends at Clorox®:

Researchers from Auburn University recently confirmed what we suspected all along – airplanes are crawling with nasty germs. In addition to common bacteria and viruses, airplanes can also harbor pathogens like E. coli, which can survive for hours, even days, on various parts of an airplane cabin.

Now before you panic and swear off air travel altogether, take a deep breath and remember there are ways to limit your exposure to bacteria and viruses on airplanes:

1. Wash your hands. Often forgotten in the hustle and bustle of travel, washing your hands is one of the easiest things you can do to minimize exposure to pathogens.
2. Pack Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes On the Go. They are the perfect size to bring in your purse or carry-on bag. Use them on your armrests, tray table and in the lavatory. Oh, and don’t forget to wipe down that window shade, you don’t know whose face was leaning up against it on the flight before yours!
3. Don’t forget about the travel pillow. When you arrive home from vacation, be sure to spray your travel pillow with some Clorox® 4 in One Disinfecting Spray, which effectively sanitizes soft surfaces and reduces allergens such as dust mites (ew!).

Destination: Rhode Island!

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Looking for a fun New England family getaway?  Think Rhode Island!  What it lacks in land mass, it makes up for in fun family attractions!  Boasting over 380 miles of coast, Rhode Island has a wide array of sites; from "shore" things, including:

• Newport’s mansions and Cliff Walk, Save the Bay Exploration Center & Aquarium,  over-nighter opportunity at the Rose Island Lighthouse, or a 90-minute, 22-mile ride along Narragansett Bay on the Newport Dinner Train or the Newport Ice Cream Train, 
• parkland adventures like Fort Adams State Park's "coming soon!" zip line, which will offer amazing aerial views of the nation's largest coastal fortress or the tide pools at Beavertail State park in Jamestown,

to city favorites, like Providence's:

• Roger Williams Park Zoo where you can visit the animals, play in the Big Backyard, or rent a swan paddle boat, canoe, or kayak,
• Museum of Natural History and Cormack Planetarium in Providence,

or take the road less traveled and:

• explore the state with the  Rhode Island Farm Scavenger Hunt and visit 28 of Rhode Island’s working farms, or
• visit the Frosty Drew Observatory (on Friday evenings) to experience the spectacular night sky!

Safe and happy travels!

-Destination Mom

Kick-off the Summer with Fun Surprises!

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Sometimes the best getaways are just little escapes from the everyday! Whether it's planting a garden together, making home-made ice-pops, or a spontaneous water balloon fight after school, start your summer off with unexpected surprises!  Even the most simple departures from routine can be spontaneous celebrations!  Go fishing one afternoon, get pedicures together, take a hike, go berry picking; the possibilities are truly endless, so make some fun today!