Sunshine Kids Travel Safety Products From Hello Baby Direct

Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products are the ideal solution for today’s “on the go” family, with state-of-the-art product designs that combine safety and convenience so that every family excursion can be the enjoyable experience it was meant to be.

Since the very beginning, Sunshine Kids has worked to solve the real worries and hassles that parents face everyday. Their first product, in fact, was born from a small but momentous family discussion following a documentary which demonstrated the consequences of improperly secured car seats in collision situations.

Within the year, the purposeful kin had created a prototype that would come to be known as Mighty-Tite®, the world’s first and only seatbelt tightener, designed for ease of use and dependable peace of mind.

Just brought into stock at Hello Baby Online are three of the latest products from Sunshine Kids:

Sunshine Kids Buggy Tray

The Sunshine Kids Buggy Tray is a cleverly designed and handy insulated drink and snack fabric tray that attaches very easily to front bar of most pushchairs and can be easily reached by children.

Sunsahine Kids Seat Belt Pillow

And the Sunshine Kids Seat Belt Pillow means no more kinks in the neck while your kids sleep in the car.

Sunshine Kids Soft-Ride Comfort Cushion

And then there is the Sunshine Kids Soft-Ride Comfort Cushion which provides extra comfort for car seats and buggies and the gentle padding and reversible fabric sides are perfect for every season.

See all three products here at Hello Baby Direct.

Ride On Toys are just one of many different types of toys available for toddlers.

The Pink Great Gizmos Speedster Racer Sit N Ride Freestyle

And it is really amazing to think that given the myriad of toys available,  it doesn’t matter how old you are, you still remember your old ride on racing car, trick, fire engine etc.

So when your little one is old enough to toddle you really should consider buying one of the many ride ons available through a variety of outlets today.

Not only will it give them many years of pleasure and delight there are also many  benefits to ride on toys:

Improve sense of balance.

Without knowing it, a ride on will improve a sense of balance, vital in many activities and tasks carried out through our lives.

And toddlers that have played with ride ons find it easier as they grow older to ride bikes, roller blades and roller skates because they have learnt to distribute their weight better than other children.

Increase in health and fitness.

Many articles have been written and studies carried out advocating and sometimes even proving that a lot of time spent on ride ons will, as we get older, increase our interest in activities and games that improve fitness. Which is possibly the best reason of all for buying a ride on given the amount of time children seem to spend on computer games today!

Improve developmental and motor skills.

If you had a ride on you will remember pretending to be Stirling Moss winning the British Grand or Pat Moss flying over the Alps in her Mini during the Monte Carlo rally – ooops -seem to have given my age away!

Great Gizmos Speedster Car Sit N Ride Yellow/Red

Well it is still the same today! Your little one will imagine that they are doing whatever they want with make believe. Playing like this is a vital part of improving developmental skills. And many of today’s ride ons have other inbuilt activities so that your little one has many ways to keep themselves happy and amused.

All in all ride on toys help to develop motor skills as well as strengthen different parts of their bodies to enable them take part in activities that other children find difficult to pick up.

Hello Baby Direct has a number of Ride On Toys available at their online store.

Great Gizmos Harry Classic Pedal Car

For example, there are the classic Great Gizmos pedal cars that are still incredibly popular and a selection of modern trikes and scooters from Okiedog helps to provide a comprehensive range of wheeled toys for your toddler.

The innovative design and great functionality of Cheeky Chick and the Fropper from Okiedog have been recognized by design and industry experts.

Okiedog Cheeky Chick Trike

The Cheeky Chick received the coveted Red Dot design award and was recognized by industry and child experts as an amazing toy.

The Red Okiedog Fropper

And the Fropper received the Baby & Child Recognition Awards “Highly Commended” in 2009.

Come and have look at what we have at Hello Baby. Enter our online store here.

At Hello Baby we know that a good sun hat for baby is an important sun protective line, and something that baby should be wearing when going out, for however briefly, in the sun.

Wide brim sun hats are probably the most popular and look both cool and smart.

Banby Banz Blue Sun Hat

The Baby Banz Sub Hats were originally designed in Australia for one of the world’s toughest UV environments and they have been clinically tested to Australian Standards for fabric UV protection and have a UPF rating of 50+.

The Sun Hat’s material is a 100% cotton, poly cotton blend PF and will block out more than 97.5% of UVA and UVB Rays.

It also features an elastic strap above the brim that allows easy adjustment for years of wear as the child grows and fits  a head circumference of up to 48cm.

Baby Banz Pink Sun Hat

The cotton of the Baby Banz Sun Hats allow for breathability which compares favourable to most other UV hats which are made of synthetic material which do not breathe well, making it very hot for baby.

Features of the Baby Banz Sunglasses

And the Sun Hats are also colour coordinated to match the Baby Banz sunglasses and cases that we now have in stock at the Hello Baby online nursery store.

The Blue Train Themed Baby Banz Carry Case

Excessive U.V. Rays

As a follow up to our recent baby and kids U.V. article, and working with our Baby Banz partners, we have compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions about the  Baby Banz range of sunglasses:

Why does my child need to wear Sunglasses?

Baby Banz are a necessity to cover infant and toddler eyes from the harmful rays of UV (ultra violet) light. Until approx 8-9 yrs old a child has no filters in the eye to block out UV light. You can actually do MORE harm to the eye if you put an inferior lens in front of the eye! Behind tinted lenses, the iris opens to allow more light into the eye; if the lens doesn’t protect properly, and more UV light gets into the eye potentially damaging the child’s eye.

What is the UV protection of Baby Banz and Kidz Banz?

The lenses are a UV400 lens. These lenses block out the entire spectrum of UVA, UVB, and UVC rays from the sun. UVA rays are thought to be more harmful to the skin – they cause sunburn and get below the outer layer of skin. UVB rays are the rays thought to be the worst on the eye and causing damage to the retina and lens with overexposure and under-protection. UVC rays are extremely dangerous but do not reach the earth’s surface due to absorption in the atmosphere.

Overview of the Baby Banz features

What are the Sunglasses made from?

Baby Banz frames and lenses made from polycarbonate material. This material makes Baby Banz virtually shatterproof and ensures that they stand up to wear and tear.

What are the straps made from?

Baby Banz headbands are made from Neoprene. Neoprene is the same material used to make wetsuits; it is stretchy and easy to clean with warm soap and water. The material is very soft and comfortable on the little heads; it also keeps the glasses where they are supposed to be – OVER the child’s eyes. An added bonus is that it floats in water to avoid loss at the pool or beach.

Are Baby Banz adjustable?

Baby Banz headbands adjust and secure with a hook and loop closure system(Velcro®). This allows parents/children to loosen and tighten the glasses as they take them off and on and prolongs the use of the Banz as they “grow” with the child.

Where can I buy Baby Banz products?

Baby Banz products are sold at the Hello Baby online nusery store and you can find the Baby Banz sunglasses in stock here.

Can Baby and Kidz Banz be fitted with prescription lenses?

Yes! Our Baby and Kidz Banz sunglasses are Rx-able and are capable of being cold fitted with a prescription lens up to +/ – 8 diopters. You will need to purchase the Baby or Kidz Banz of your choice and take them to your optician to be fitted with the lenses.

Do children like wearing Baby Banz?

The Baby Banz Gang

Yes is the answer but Baby Banz should be introduced properly to achieve the best result. When infants 2-3 months old are laying in the carriage for a walk, slip the glasses over their heads and let them get used to wearing the glasses. With older children, it is important that the first time they wear the glasses they are outside when the sun is bright; as they will be more likely to see the benefit of wearing glasses if the sun is bothering them. If tried on inside, the child may have an adverse reaction to the glasses simply because the room becomes too dark. In addition, parents who wear glasses themselves set an example little ones will want to follow.

At Hello Baby we are continually striving to provide you with the best baby products on the market and the Baby Banz sunglasses are no exception – Baby & Kidz Banz are 100% UVA/UVB protective.

With sunny days just around the corner, we thought that you may want to know more about the reasons for protecting infants and toddlers fom the harmful rays of UV (ultra violet) light.

So, for example, until approximately eight or nine years old a child has no filters in the eye to block out UV light. You can actually do more harm to the eye if you put an inferior lens in front of the eye! Behind tinted lenses, the iris opens to allow more light into the eye; if the lens doesn’t protect properly, and more UV light gets into the eye potentially damaging the child’s eye. 

Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR) is high energy radiation from the sun, which is capable of causing damage to living organisms. Ultraviolet radiation is classified by wavelength into three regions:

UVA is thought to contribute to premature aging and wrinkling of the skin and has recently been implicated as a cause of skin cancer.

UVB is more dangerous than UVA and has been implicated as the major cause of skin cancers, sun burning and cataracts.

UVC is extremely dangerous but does not reach the earth’s surface due to absorption in the atmosphere.

Ultra Violet Protection Factor (UPF) is the rating that indicates how much UVR is blocked by a material. For example, a material with a UPF rating of 20 would only allow 1/20th of the hazardous UVR falling on its surface to pass through it. This means that this material would reduce the UVR exposure by a factor of 20. Stated another way, this material would block 95% of the UVR and transmit only 5%. UPF 50+ blocks more than 98%.

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is the rating that is used for sunscreens, which refers to the blocking strength of the sunscreen and the length of time it protects. For example, a SPF of 50 will allow you and your child to stay in the sun 50 times longer than the normal time it takes unprotected skin to change color (tan) or burn. If your skin burns in 10 minutes, than your protection will last up to 500 minutes (multiply 50 by 10).

Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before going out in the sun, because the chemicals need time to absorb into the skin. The best sunscreen to choose has broad-spectrum protection that can block out both UVA and UVB rays.

Dr Brown's Complete Feeding System

Hello Baby Direct is delighted to announce that it now has in stock the Dr Brown’s complete feeding system for happier babies.

Created by a physician, Dr Brown’s Natural Flow is the only baby bottle with a patented internal vent system that actually helps promote good health in babies.

By eliminating the vacuum and air bubbles, it helps to reduce feeding problems like colic, burping and gas.

And the positive pressure created by our system is as close to breastfeeding as your baby can get.

Quite simply, it looks and works unlike any other bottle.

The Dr. Brown Feeding Bottles are designed to reduce colic and also are proven to help maintain vitamins C, A & E.

Dr Brown's Natural Flow Starter Kit

The patented internal vent system of Baby Bottles from Dr. Brown is the only vent that eliminates the vacuum and the air bubbles found in most baby bottles. It allows air to enter through the nipple collar without being incorporated into the breastmilk or formula.

The air is then channeled through the internal vent system to the area above the breastmilk or formula.

Babies feed more comfortably because the vent allows them to nurse without fighting the negative effects of a vacuum or the discomfort of ingesting air bubbles. This helps to reduce colic, spit-up, burping and gas.

The breast milk or formula flows freely through the nipple as the air is channeled to the top of the bottle. This positive pressure eliminates nipple collapse, and can help reduce build up of fluid in baby’s ear.

Features:

• Patented Internal Vent System is proven to minimize oxidation of breast milk and formula to help maintain essential nutrients.
• Fully vented bottle design provides vacuum free feeding similar to breastfeeding.
• Vent system eliminates the negative pressure and air bubbles to help reduce colic, spit up, burping and gas.

Check out Dr Brown’s Complete Feeding System For Happier Babies here.

Travelling with your infant can be really enjoying if some basic travel and safety products are in the car. Both parents and the children will be more relaxed and the journey more comfortable if you carry some travel and safety accessories.

Hello Baby Direct, the U.K.’s favourite on line baby nursery store, has just brought into stock three travel & safety products from Safety 1^st, the company that is dedicated to helping provide a safer world for children.

Safety 1st Baby View Mirror

The Safety 1st Baby View Mirror securely attaches to the rear view mirror of your car, providing a clear view of your little one while not altering your view of the road. The mirror can be adjusted to allow full range of view. And when not in use the mirror will fold up and out of the way.

Safety 1st. Nap n Go

Then there is the Safety 1st Baby On Board Seat Belt Adjuster which provides a more secure car ride, and comfortably centres the seat belt of your car on your kiddies’ shoulders

Safety 1st Seat Belt Adjuster

At Hello Baby we think that these travel and safety products really will make your next journey more enjoyable and memorable. Bon Voyage!

Whether you are considering an essential nursery purchase for a new baby or buying a toy to develop and entertain a child of any age, you can trust Tomy to provide the best choice.

Hello Baby Direct has just brought into stock three super additional products. One is an additional Aquafun bath time activity toy and the other two are play and learn push/pull along toys.

Octopals Aquafun Bath Toy

The Tomy Octopals from the Aquafun range of bath toys is a wonderful, colourful, floating bath island toy, featuring mummy octopus that acts as a pouring cup and her eight little babies that can stick to the sides of the bath or tiles. Each baby of Octopals is a water squirter and features a different number that corresponds to a number on the base for number matching fun.

The Tomy Quack Along Ducks is a great way to encourage play and to develop early skills. Pull the string of the Quack Along Ducks and the adorable ducklings waddle and quack along. Children can take them for a walk, and when they pull the cord they play a happy quack quack song as they waddle along.

Quack Along Ducks

The Quack Along Ducks also develops hand to eye coordination, stimulates movement and teaches cause and effect.

And finally Hello Baby also has in stock the Tomy Loco Motion Loco which is a push along toy with the element of surprise! Press the funnel of the loco and you will be rewarded with a squeak. The three carriages of the Loco Motion Loco link together, and each one has a different toy to play with.

Loco Motion Loco

The Loco Motion Loco is a great play to learn toy encouraging the development of fine motor skills and hand eye coordination.

Come and have a look now at these really great Tomy toys at the Hello Baby Online Nursery Store.

For baby and children of all ages, the Lumilove Nightlight’ animals have just set up home at the Hello Baby online nursery store and have been designed to provide  your little ones who are nervous of the dark  a comforting buddy at bedtime.

Order Your Very Own Cherry The Kitten Lumilove Nightlight Here

These cute little creatures glow gently by your child’s bedside to banish the dark and night time fears, plus their friendly demeanour adds extra reassurance, and their gradually changing colour brings a touch of fun!

Available in five delightful designs of Cherry the Kitten, Wouaf the Puppy, Bamboo the Panda, Lily the Elephant and Wabbit the Rabbit.

Their tummies gently glow and regularly change to a variety of beautiful colours, from red to orange to pink and green.

Their arms and legs can be moved so they can sit or stand

So simple to use, they are plugged into the mains during the day to charge them up and then, unplugged they last for eight hours with no wires or batteries.

Order Your Very Own Wouaf The Puppy Lumilove Nightlight

The low energy LED will not become hot so they are perfectly safe for your little one to pick up if they want to get up in the night.

Check  out the Lumilove Nighlight animals at the Hello Baby online store and menagerie here.

I often turn to Slate.com for a North American perspective on the issues I can’t quite keep up with in the papers: politics, society and especially motherhood. Its Life section is astoundingly replete with newsworthy dialogue and droll observations and its women’s-issues blog Doublex.com goes some way to filling my weekly goss-and-gyno quota (no small feat).

This week on the main site, Alan E Kazdin, director of the Yale Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic and author of The Kazdin Method for Parenting the Defiant Child, writes (with Carlo Rotella) on the differences between bribing and rewarding your child. It is a piece anyone in the incentive phase of parenting should take a look at, as it touches on the myths and half-truths associated with discipline. And, for parents like me who need discipline with their discipline, it gives tips for properly structuring rewards and punishments.

Kazdin cites some common objections to the reward system. For instance: “I don’t want to reward behavior the child should do anyway because it’s part of his normal responsibilities.” (The answer: jump-start good behaviour with positive reinforcement that will move towards “locking in” good habits.) Or: “If we use rewards to get the behavior, the behavior will stop once we stop giving the rewards, which means we’d have to give the rewards forever to keep the behavior going.” (The solution: praise helps to instill good efforts as habits, and eliminates the need for praise in the future.)

Bribery by contrast, says Kazdin, is the unsystematic offering of rewards to get your kids to do things at odds with your own behavior.

Feeling guilty yet?

Kazdin’s reward-system dos and don’ts? Well, he condemns “winging it”, offering a one-time reward for a single task, like TV time in exchange for tidying up. And also the “hail Mary”, in which parents offer a grand reward – like a new bicycle – for, say, a year of good grades. It rarely works, he says. Don’t try it.

His top tips include the following:

• Be specific. “Vague commands like ‘be nice’ are too general. Rather, say, ‘When you’re playing with your sister, keep your voice down and don’t take her toys’. When you see the desired behavior, praise it specifically and enthusiastically.”

• Be the model. “Show the child exactly what the behavior would look like. Then have the child do it and praise her for whatever parts she copied correctly from you. Other people can be used as models if you punctuate what you see with your approval.”

• Practice. “If your child is already occasionally doing the behavior you want, systematic praise can lock it in as a habit. If the child does not do the behavior yet, practice it in pretend, gamelike circumstances. You do it, have her do it, and praise.”

• Reward gradual approximations. “If the behavior does not yet occur the way you want, praise partial successes and build them up over time.”

Kazdin follows with an enlightened take on the carrot/stick theory: “Many parents rely on threats, hitting and punishment, especially when trying to teach respect. More punishment leads to children escaping and avoiding the punisher; more effective praise makes for closeness and better relationships. In seeking to strike the balance between them, the rule of thumb is that praise for good behavior should be much more frequent than punishment for the behavior you want to eliminate.”

Ellen Himelfarb is a freelance journalist and mother of two. You can reach her at ellen.h@mac.com