When do I take the straps off a booster seat and start using the regular seatbelt?

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Rebecca

I got a booster seat for my child and it is a transition one. What size should she be before I take the straps out?

Answer
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommend to use the harness for as long as possible, until it has genuinely been outgrown. NHTSA even recommends that 4-7 year old children use the harness for as long as they can: http://www.safercar.gov/parents/RightSeat.htm

A booster seat can only protect a child who sits straight up and back into the seat. It would be absolutely terrible if a child were to lean over to pick up their toy or to unbuckle themselves at the time of a crash. Generally, most children are ready to use a booster seat when they are around 5-6 years old.

A child under the age of 4 should never be in a booster seat. This is because the older a child becomes, the more developed their bones are. A child under the age of 4 does not have the bone density to take the force of a lap/shoulder seat belt. A 5 point harness distributes the crash forces more evenly over a child's body.

Some states like Georgia require children to be both and at least 4 years old and 40 lbs before they can transition into a booster seat that uses the lap/shoulder seat belt.

A forward facing car seat with a harness is outgrown when ONE of the following happens:
-the child has hit the maximum weight limit with the harness
-the tips of the child's ears are even with the shell
-the harness is parallel to the child's shoulders*

*When front facing, it is very important that the harness straps are at or above the child's shoulders. Most children outgrow their harnessed car seats by height before weight. This is why it is recommended to get car seats with tall top harness slots, greater than 17 inches to ensure that a child can use the harness function of a car seat for as long as possible.

If your child has outgrown their harnessed car seat and they are not ready for a booster seat, I'd recommend the Evenflo Maestro (50 lb weight limit with harness), Evenflo SecureKids 300 or 400 model (65 lbs weight limit with harness), and the Graco Nautilus (65 lb weight limit with harness). All of these seats have about 18" top harness slots.

The Britax Frontier 85 goes up to 85 lbs with the harness as long as you use the top tether and has about 20" top harness slots. If your vehicle does not have a top tether anchor, it is recommended to get one installed. The top tether is extremely important on any forward facing car seat as it reduces head excursion significantly.

A booster seat is designed to boost a child up for a better seat belt fit so that the lap belt is on the child's hips and the shoulder belt between the child's neck and collar bone. A seat belt that is improperly positioned on a child's body will severely injure or kill a child. Some boosters make seat belts fit worse. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rates how well booster seats position the adult seat belt. Here are their findings. If you don't know the specific model, you can sort the list out by brand name and their are pictures to help guide you: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/boosters/default.html

Here is more about seat belt fit: http://www.boosttil8.org/

If your child is at least 5-6 years old, and your combination seat does not properly position the seat belt, then I'd recommend the Graco Turbobooster ($50) or the Evenflo Big Kid (in highback) ($30) Both of these models recieved "best bet" ratings from the IIHS, which mean they do a great job positioning the seat belt on the average 6 year old child.

Other than a cat or dog, what pet would you recommend for a 6 year old girl?

Q. One of my daughters is allergic to guinea pigs, so those are out of the question too. If you say bird, please specify which kind!

Answer
I'd stay away from Hamsters since hamsters have a tendency to be skittish and bite. There are many pets a 6 year old can consider, some pretty exotic. Here are some pets ranging from mild to wild.

1. Rat- Rats are very affectionate, and very sociable. AND less likely to bite than hamsters
2. Fish- Not Goldfish, get her a tank full of GLOFISH and top it with a blacklight. It provides for a spectacular display and since they are a mutation of the zebra danio, they are hardy fish that don't require as large a tank as a goldfish does. (Goldfish require about 10 gallons per fish!)
3. Hermit crabs are good choices if your child does not want an "interactive" pet.
4. My 6 year old neice has a leopard gecko. I personally prefer a Malasi Gold dust, but there are plenty of lizards/geckos that make unusual pets for kids. They certainly attract a lot of attention from friends.
5. Madagascar hissing cockroach. This might gross you out, but they are perfect, low maintainence pets. They will not cause allergies, they will not require daily water changes, and are pretty unusual causing a sudden boost in popularity.

I would personally not recommend a bird until your child is about 8, because a 6 year old child does not usually have the patience to consistently act a certain way. If she is very mature for her age, and very gentle, you may want to consider a hand raised cockatiel, peach faced love bird or (my favorite) Conure. However, realize that these birds are ver intelligent and will require an hour or more of daily interaction every day, plenty of toys and mental stimulation to keep them from getting bored.

P.S: Glofish are illegal in Ca. You can google them to find out more

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Im moving into a rental that doesn't have a shed. Any ideas for non- permanent outdoor storage solutions?

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Shelley M

I have about $500 to spend. It needs to hold kids out door toys, garden equipment and bikes. Would a garden shed that comes with a base be any good? Any other ideas?

Answer
Rubbermaid makes one that is easy to build and take apart. My neighbor has one and he has moved it around his yard a couple of times with relative ease. I think he bought it at Lowes Home Improvement center.

What are good outside toys for little boys?

Parentof1

My son is 8 months we are getting ready to buy our first home we have always lived in apartments and never had a yard , what are good toys that a 1 year old will love to play outside with? He will be one in may his dad is building him a big wooden swing set for his birthday , what else ? We are thinking of getting a pool since he loves water. What about a sprinkler? Any personal experiences will be very much appreciated

Answer
Small trampeline, bounce house, pools. I think little tikes has a mud pie table which the kids like. Outdoor kitchens and grill, sandbox, and of course the swing set will be a lot of fun. Sidewalk chalk, bubbles, if you get a dog playing with the baby and dog in the yard. Tball (little tikes set comes with stand and ball), the other big bouncy balls at Wal Mart. Basketball hoop and ball (once again, little tikes I believe). I have also seen lawnmowers that blow bubbles and kids gardening tool sets. See saw, tricycles (radio flyer has some nice ones for the younger ones), battery powered ride on toys, slides, clubhouse. The list goes on and on.

My daughter probably likes the sidewalk chalk, pool, and sandbox the best. She loves playing with her dog inside/outside no matter what the season is.

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What should I do for my 2 year olds birthday party?

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Q. He will be 2 on june 29th. I do not have that much money. Last year I had alot of water toys and a bbq. Is that cool? What new kid games and new food ideas does anyone have.

Answer
Its a kids party, BBQ and water would be fine. Liquor is good to for the adults ... having screaming kids running around isn't always easy

What are the rules/laws concerning flotation devices (blow up boats, etc)? It says fabric only?

Ann Onimou

We are going to Myrtle Beach for a vacation in September (to Pirateland campgrounds) and since I have never been, my husband was looking up stuff about the beaches there. We found this:

City of Myrtle Beach Beach and Boating Regulations
Sec. 5-6.
Certain Floatation devices restricted.
a. All flotation devices must be fabric-covered and have a 360 degree rope (three-eights inch minimum diameter) with a ten percent slack or must be U.S. Coast Guard approved as a flotation device. Those devices not meeting these requirements will not be permitted on the surf or in the water. This section does not apply to surfboards, paddleboards, and skim boards.
b. All retail outlet stores licensed by the municipality or county and which sell beach equipment such as chairs, umbrellas, floats and other personal flotation devices must display prominently a copy of subsection (A) of this section relating to flotation devices in that place of business.

Does this mean we can't bring our blow up paddle boat/dinghy (fits one adult, or two kids) or floating 'island' (also blow up but seats 4 in a circle and is meant for 'lounging' on the water) which are made of vinyl (normal blow up pool toy stuff, I guess)? What about other water toys such as floating blow up rings/seats (for our toddler) or pool noodles?

We come from Ontario and regularly go the a beach up here and they have almost no rules compared to Myrtle Beach so this is all new to us.

Can anyone shed some light on this? Are these rules enforced or are they just on the books 'in case'? I will be putting my daughter in a life jacket (even in her floating seat) for safety but I would like to put her in the seat so she can float 'on her own' (while I hold the seat) because that's more fun than being attached to Mommy all day. Here, I just put her in a floaty swimsuit (has padding inside) and then in her seat but the water is only up to about 10 feet deep even at the 200 foot mark there.

Any answers/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. If we're going to need to buy new flotation devices, we'll need to save up :/

Answer
Those laws are needed and enforced there. The type of things you're wanting to bring are very dangerous in the ocean and won't work in the rough surf. The only thing you have listed that I'd even consider bringing are the noodles but even those won't be much use in the surf and will easily be lost.

There is no way you daughter can "float on her own" in the ocean surf. Simply impossible and far too dangerous. The ocean is great fun to play in but you'll quickly see when you get there that these types of things have no place there. So save the space in the car or camper and don't waste your time bringing any of these things.

Pirate Land is a great campground and I stayed there one time years ago. According to their website they have paddle boat rentals and that would be for use in one of the campgrounds inland ponds. I seriously doubt you would be allowed to bring and use your own but they may allow it. You'll want to contact them through their website or give them a call and inquire. I wouldn't want to bring that boat along all that way only to find out I can't use it.

Sorry for the somewhat bad news but don't be discouraged. You'll LOVE the ocean and have a great time I promise!

Good luck and I hope this helps!

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I need help creating a Subvertisment Idea?

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Kathy

Please help!!! I need an idea for a project in my digital toolbox class. I need to use photoshop to merge together at least 3 images to provoke an idea or message. Like choosing an issue in society and using a brand to extort it.

For example:

An image of an overweight kid standing in front of McDonalds to show that McDonalds will make you fat and causes obesity in children.

An image of a hand tattooing a baby a picture of a Disney character to provoke the message that Disney is forced into our childhood minds from birth.

A slogan would be helpful too since we have to make one...

Thank you!!!

Answer
How about some product related to getting/staying slim - Diet Coke, 'Lite' .... whatever is common in your country eg. http://www.heruni.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/diet-foods.jpg stocked to the hilt on the kitchen shelves, but the family is obese & lazy ?

Watching supermodels walk the ramp & trying to emulate their figure, etc. by becoming anorexic ? You could show magazines with Size 0 model photos, posters in the room, etc. while the girl tries to emulate in front of a mirror.

Something similar with Health drinks, sugar-free foods, etc....

New gadgets from Apple that kids get hooked on or enticed by ? Almost a status symbol too, with people lining up for hours/days in front of stores before a new launch...

Movie franchises & their related products - whether toys, masks, clothes, or whatever - kids dreaming of Being that character & trying dangerous stunts or picking up wrong attitudes/habits ?

Hope these spark off ideas...

What, in your opinion, is the most stupid way the government spends our money?

Mary

Answer
The federal government spent billions of dollars in 2011 on some unusual projects.
Here are some that seem utterly outrageous to me...

1. $764,825 for a study on how college students use cell phones and social media

The National Science Foundation awarded the University of Notre Dame this grant to study the mobile and social media habits of college freshmen. I can tell you exactly how college freshmen use mobile phones and social media: for 3 a.m. texts and phone calls to that guy in American History. I could have saved the government a lot of money.

2. $136,555 for teachers to retrace Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales in England
Ads by Google

This grant, awarded to teachers from Kent State and Eastern Illinois Universities, allowed Middle English lit fanatics to take the trip outlined in Canterbury Tales. I'm betting £10 that the tour guides just make up half of the landmarks.

3. $55,660 on butter packaging

Kriemhild Dairy Farms received this chunk of change to package their grass-fed cow butter. The funding isn’t the only thing that’s too big: The butter itself is 85 percent fat.

4. $606,000 for a study about online dating

Columbia University researchers received over a half-million dollars to study online dating. Maybe the Ivy League nerds who conducted this study should put down the lab coats and go to a bar — or at least the library.

5. $484,000 for a pizza restaurant

Arlington, Texas has one more beer and pizza joint, thanks to this grant to a private developer. The groovy Mellow Mushroom, a national chain, is known for its hippie theme.

6. $48,700 towards the Second Annual Hawaii Chocolate Festival

These funds were awarded to promote Hawaii’s chocolate industry. The Aloha State is already full of sandy beaches, clear blue water, and sun. Why do they get all the good stuff... (That’s the mayor of Hershey, Pennsylvania on Line 1.)

7. $147,138 to build a magic museum

Maybe the wizards at the American Museum of Magic in Marshall, Mich., can make the federal deficit disappear. The grant was awarded to promote the “history of magic entertainment.”

8. $96,000 on iPads for kindergarteners

One school district in Maine was awarded this grant to buy every kindergarten student the latest Apple gadget. These kids can’t add yet, but thanks to Uncle Sam they’ll never need to.

9. $175,587 for a study on the link between cocaine and the mating habits of quail

The funding for this super-important scientific study is down from its 2010 level of $181,406. But I think the amount is ridiculous for research that proves what the film “Blow” already did: that cocaine is linked to high-risk sexual activity.

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What toy should I get for my 7 year old niece?

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lod

I don't know what to get for my niece this Christmas. I don't really know what's hip these days for 7 year old kids. What toys do they like?

Answer
My 10 year old niece has been asking for a Zhu Zhu pet. It is a little electronic hamster and there are a lot of different accessories that they can buy and expand, so it's pretty cool. They're not too expensive either.

Any suggestions for a present for a 3 year old boy?

Q. I want to get him something he can do at my house when his parents come for dinner. We don't have a lot of kid toys. He has a 7 year old brother who would want to play too.

Any suggestions for games or toys that I could get?

Answer
At 3 NOT Legos (I saw that). They are too small for little hands and could be a serious choking hazzard.

Duplos (larger sized Legos) would be appropriate and a good idea.

An older 3 may also be entertained forever with Matchbox/Hot Wheel cars (mine did).

They are both pretty compact and don't require a lot of accessories or adult help to be fun.

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What did you do for your baby's first birthday?

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Mama to 2

Boy or girl?
When?
Where did you have the party?
What was the theme?
Who was invited?
How did it go?
What did your child wear?
What did you buy your child?

I'm just curious, my daughter will be 1 in 10 days... I can't believe it.

Here are my answers:
Boy or girl?
-Girl

When?
-October 30th (3 days after her actual birthday).

Where did you have the party?
-It will be at our house

What was the theme?
-HALLOWEEN! Orange and black everything! Everyone comes in costumes.

Who was invited?
-We cut it down to strictly grandparents, aunts, uncles, first cosines and very close friends... that still equals 50-ish people!

How did it go?
-I don't know yet lol.

What did your child wear?
-She will wear her pumpkin Halloween costume!

What did you buy your child?
-I got her gift yesterday. I bought her a My Little Pony toy, a mini toddler interactive and light up kitchen (6-24 months), a baby purse with interactive lipstick and things like that, a shirt, sweater and jeans.

Answer
Its crazy eh? Cady will be 1 in a week!

Boy or girl?
-girl
When?
-October 24th, 2010
Where did you have the party?
-it will be at my parents house (where we are living)
What was the theme?
-first birthday...everything is my first birthday and in pink
Who was invited?
-grandparents, aunts, uncles and our good friends who mostly all have kids close in age to Cady
How did it go?
-we'll see! good I hope!
What did your child wear?
-it depends on the weather...we hope for an outdoor party. I want to put her in her pink and black shirt dress with black leggings
What did you buy your child?
- we got her a wagon and a Fisher Price My First Dollhouse with an extra playset that goes with it

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What is this loud mysterious beep I keep hearing in my house every ten minutes?

How do you ensure that your kids get enough exercise during the winter?

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punchy333

With the winter we've been having (blizzard one day, rain the next, repeat) what indoor, physical activities do you do with your kids to make sure they'll sleep during their nap. My 4-year-old refuses to nap, and then is cranky the latter half of the day because he hasn't been particularly active the last few weeks.

Answer
We live in Quebec, Canada and go outside everyday, irregardless of weather. My 2 boys, age 3 and 5, are so active that it is the only way to let them be sane. Some days we are just out for 10 minutes but we always go. Once we are back inside they play a lot on hopper balls for kids and we use couch cushions for sliding. They also have an exercise mini trampoline that they jump on to music (with adult supervision).
Another great toy that we have is a play tunnel. It folds up for easy storing and the boys run around and crawl through it.

We also love having musical parades. Gather a bunch of musical instruments and then have an energetic musical parade. Hide and seek burns loads of energy!

On high energy days we head to the mall and walk around, visit the pet store, and at the end they each get to pick a ride

Have fun with it!

What is a good toy for an active little 1 year old who LOVES to climb?

Kathy

He LOVES to climb and I am looking for a great toy that will allow him to do that. I'll be there to supervise his play.

Our set up. We have a huge loft style apartment so space isn't as much of a concern as it would be in normal apartment.

Cost isn't really a concern either. Just trying to get some ideas and suggestions.

Thanks!

** Rude or insulting comments will be reported immediately. Let's keep Yahoo Answers a fun and friendly site.

Answer
We have one of those climbers with a slide in it in our house.. the plastic ones you can get at toys r us. Ours has a climbing rock wall on one side a ladder and slide and ship wheel.... my kids climb all over it and love it.. we keep it inside but its meant for outside but we to have the space. We paid about $199 for it. We use to get funny comments from our friends because our youngest could climb up there at 11months but couldnt walk lol he would crawl to it and up the ladder he would go...

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How do I make a toy parachute that falls for the longest time?

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Merlin

How do I make a toy parachute that falls for a long time? Any suggestions on the design of the parachute, materials to use? Thanks!

Answer
the easy way to make a toy at home would be to use dental floss for the lines and a thin plastic sheet or very, very light fabric for the canopy. I would make a round. Building a RAM air canopy would be way to much work. the round canopy will just be a circle of material with a small hole cut in the center. this center hole will allow air to spill out in the center and will let the canopy descend straight down. without it the canopy will wobble back and forth to spill extra air out a side. Look up some pictures of millitary drops for good images of round canopy. flame jumps use them a lot too. I know there is a good picture of a kid jumping a paracamander on the pics of the week page on www.skydiveradio.com.

real parachutes were made of silk, now they are made of F111 or Zero Porosity fabric. Check out www.performancedesigns.com for a site of one of the best manufactures in the business. I just one of their Spectre canopies and love it.

if you ever want to try skydiving yourself I strongly encourage you to do it!


There are a couple websites you need to check out to get good info on skydiving.

http://www.uspa.org is the website of the United States Parachute Association, the governing body for sport parachuting in the United States. There is a list of member dropzones on the website along with all sorts of great info on the sport.

http://www.dropzone.com is another great resource for everything about skydiving and some BASE too.

http://www.skydiveradio.com is just fun and a good place to feel like you’re at the drop zone when you can’t physically be there.

Make sure that you contact the drop zone you want to jump at directly. There are a few scams out there, one of which is 1800skyride. They will take your money and send you to any dropzone they want too but only about three dz’s in the country except skyride tickets. So please, please, please contact the dropzone directly.

The tandem is a great jump. I’d get video too. I made one tandem a little over two years ago and came back to start student training (good info about student training at uspa.org) and got my license. I’ve been jumping for two years and have a few hundred jumps. I love this sport and I sincerely hope that you’ll become a full time skydiver and I’ll be able to make some jumps with you at a boogie!

Blue Skies!

How do you go about sampling kids and baby products like strollers and electronics etc?

Christen T

I see ppl on the internet getting to try out big products like strollers and riding toys etc totally free and just have to write a review on hte products and get to keep them. Anyone do that for totally free without buying a membership somewhere or somewhere with a cheap membership that actually works? I'm interested in doing this but IDK any legit places to go to do it and I'm leary about buying memberships. Thanks

Answer
You have to live in a major city then look up Market Research firms, then call them to see if they conduct focus groups and are accepting applications for new participants

I used to be signed up to an agency in NYC but in 5 years only participated in 2 groups as they have a database of thousands of people and look for very specific demographics for each group

I had one that was for athletic shoes. We didn't know in advance what the group was (you rarely do) but about 50 people were invited in and asked to fill out a questionnaire with our age, ethnicity, income level, education level then it had a lot of questions about our exercise routines, which sports shoes we had bought before, gym membership, etc. We then turned the applications in, waited about an hour, then they called 10 of us to participate in the group and the other 40 were sent home.

We were then put in a room with a two-way mirror and talked about why we chose particular brands of cross trainers - the fit, style, performance, name brand, price, advertising campaigns, celebrity/athlete endorsement, recommendation from a store employee/personal trainer/friend/family member, etc. Then we were told to give our size and they mailed us a pair of plain white shoes with no logos. We had to wear them working out for 2 weeks then were invited back to give feedback

I did another group where we tried flavors of a new drink (like Snapple -- in fact it might have been Snapple but you never know the company name that's running the group). For that one we didn't get to keep anything. We were just paid about $50 to taste various cups with letters on them, choose which of the 4 versions we liked best, guess what the flavor was supposed to be, if we thought it was too sweet or not sweet enough, if we would ever buy it, if we would recommend to friends, etc

A friend got to do one for facial self tanners where she got a free tube of self tan for face to try out and give her feedback

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How much television do you let your toddler watch?

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kittykitty

My almost 3 yr old is addicted to TV. Well not TV, her Disney DVDs; Toy Story, Monsters Inc. Mickey Mouse Beach Party, 101 Dalmatians, etc.

I've set a limit of 1 hour a day or 1 movie a day and her father doesn't agree with me. He thinks she should be able to watch them all day long!

Just trying to get a few different perspectives on the idea. And maybe some ammo in my back pocket for the next time mom & dad have a discussion on this matter.

Thanks!

Answer
Well, from what I've read...

Television on all day interrupts with imaginative play. (hey that rhymes!) In other words, a child who is playing teatime with dollies will stop to watch something on TV... thus having her playtime actually interrupted by television.

Television, even educational television, has been shown in studies to not be beneficial. Most of the time, kids seem to copy the behaviors more than anything else (so if they see Dora the Explorer yelling all the time, they yell. If they see happy, cooperative play, or quiet resolution in conflicts, then they are more likely to copy that.)

While some studies have said that a child watching TV for more than 2 hours a day isn't going to have the educational problems they originally thought, it's still a precursor to being overweight.

Movies though are a little better than TV. They don't have the commercials, you know what's on them, and they actually help a child focus for longer periods of time. Even so, as soon as they start playing something else, turn it off. If your hubby likes background noise, then music is better.

The thing is, your hubby isn't all wrong either. It's not really healthy to put too much emphasis on "don't watch too much TV, you'll ____" because that indicates that TV is to blame for any bad habits your child picks up. It also makes the TV a forbidden fruit, and as she gets older, something that she will fight with you more about (and since dad's on her side...) My mom tried it, believe me... it didn't work.

What DID work was her saying "If you do this, then you get this much TV time." So if we had been playing all afternoon, came in and cleaned up, then we could watch a few hours of TV before bedtime. If we read a book, we got a bit more TV time. If we did our chores, etc. She made sure that for every so much TV time, we were physically active. And made sure we had other interests (mostly music) that weren't very conductive to the TV (ie, if I'm playing the piano, then the TV interferes and should be turned off. If you want to play Hungry Hungry Hippos, the TV has to be off. If you want to play Chutes and Ladders... get the picture?) She took us outside and gardened with us, removing the TV entirely. The TV was NEVER in the dining room, and NEVER in our own rooms. We had to share with the whole family, and after a certain time of night it was turned off so the family could prepare for bed. She still had problems with some of us, but it was a better approach in my opinion.

What are some things I can do to make a long car ride with a 9 month old easier?

M.Warren

In the near future my husband and I will be taking a 6 hour drive to the beach our 9 month old can get pretty fussy if she's been in the car a long time what are some things we can do to make it easier on both her and us and just beach tips with a baby are welcome too!

Answer
It has been a while since I took a long car ride with an infant, but here is what I used to do.

-Try to leave early so baby will sleep for as much of the ride as possible.
- Have someone sit in the back if possible, to provide toys or food as needed.
- Stop frequently so the little one isn't sitting in a wet or dirty diaper for a long time.
- Pack a few things from baby's normal sleeping environment, this will also help if you are staying overnight somewhere.

I don't have many beach tips as I never took my little one to the beach until she toddler age and then I spent most of my time keeping her from eating sand and running too far into the water.

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What are some good quiet car toys for long trips with toddlers?

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Miki

I have ADD so loud toys in the back seat can be a bit distracting while driving. I thought about coloring books and crayons but if they are dropped she can't reach them because of the safety harness and they can melt when left in a hot car. I am going to get some board books but would like other suggestions.
I'm looking for a bit of a low tech solution.
I'm fine with music, it usually helps me focus really.

Answer
Yeah, crayons are a pain in the butt in the car! My car seat is covered with melted crayon, and it doesn't come out easily!

Have you considered DVD players? They're not so noisy that you can't deal with it. And they'll keep the kids seriously busy and quiet. You could even try to get them to wear earphones so that you don't have to hear it at all. But when we travel, we use a laptop to play movies, and connect it to the car's audio system to get great sound.

How long is the trip? If it's more than a couple of hours, plan on frequent stops and carry a good variety of snacks. You'd be surprised how long a bag of fruit snacks or animal crackers will keep a child quiet, especially if it's a favored snack or one she hasn't ever seen but likes.

What do you/your kids take in your carry on bag on an airplane/car ride?

Missy

What do you/your kids take in your carry on bag on an airplane/car ride? Do they pack their own bag or in yours? Do you help them or is it all up to them?

What about suit cases? Who packs those? If they do, do you give them a checklist? Do you go over it to see if they have everything or if they forget something, it's their problem?
Also, how old are they?

Answer
My 10 and 11 year old boys fly twice a year to Florida and Oregon to visit their grandparents and they share a book bag with snacks, a pack of gum for takeoff, two books each, their DS ( but they usually don't use these at all) writing paper and a pencil/pen (I ask them to write every day and to write a paragraph on the plane about what they are experiencing right at that moment) and I always get them a mad libs, or crossword puzzles/word finds. They can entertain themselves for the entire flight with a book of mad libs. My 6 year old takes all of the above and a couple small toys, he loves his cars to play with in his lap. My twin 4 year olds have not flown, but if we did take them with us, I would pack snacks, books, and a portable DVD player, or my laptop with movies in them, suckers for takeoff, coloring books with pencil that has all the colors in one pencil. That way you don't have to keep track of crayons. We found them at Micheals. My oldest daughter loves to listen to music, so I would also bring a child's pair of earphones to listen to kids music. Lots of patience for the parents.

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How many toys does your toddler have? Or how much of your house does your baby occupy?

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Jenny

I'm wondering how many toys other people give their toddlers. You can estimate.
Each stuffed animal counts as one toy.
A fisher price barn with all the animals I would count as one.
Each hotwheels is one toy.

You can figure your own system. I'm wondering if we're nuts or if most people have this many toys. We have a pretty big house and we've turned the dining room into a play room for books, letters and numbers with some stuffed animals and cars. It's also where my piano is and we have a sofa where I play guitar. The entry area has his play village with his play houses and tunnels. The village spills over into my office but it makes a nice door and he doesn't go past that line.

The kitchen, living and breakfast area are relatively toy free. Maybe a toy or two that he's playing with and his rocking horse stays in the living room.

Upstairs, his room is another play room which is nice in winter as it is much colder downstairs. We have more books, letter and learning toys, oodles of stuffed animals, Fisher Price garage and Farm and a variety of other toys.

Just curious to see the toy situation in your home. My mom says she's never seen a child with more toys.

Answer
My 2 year old doesn't have a lot, but she has enough.
Our house is a little different. Our main living space (3 bedrooms, 2 bath, kitchen/living/dining) is only 900 square feet all together - high ceilings in our A-frame make it feel bigger, though. We've got a basement that adds another 900ish square feet, but we only really use that when it's warm. it's only heat is a wood stove. So we don't have a lot of room for lots of toys.
In the kitchen area, I've got a cooking stand with a shelf that has 2 tubs of art supplies/playdoh, which she shares with her 5 year old brother
In the living room, she's got a large dollhouse (we fixed up my old one, for her, for Christmas) and in a corner I have a medium sized bookcase (3 ft x 5 ft) of puzzles, games and toys, 2 kid recliners with a little end table that has a few books. there's also a basket of books by the couch (not that anyone usually notices) We also have a large rubbermaid of blocks. Not necessarily fancy, expensive blocks - some were melissa and doug, but the vast majority are old decking cut up that a neighbor brought over. They love those the most.
In her room, which is pretty small, she's got a laundry basket of stuffed animals and dolls. She has a small play kitchen and a little bin of play food/dishes. She's got a small bookshelf with her books and a few random toys. She's got a few dress up clothes in there as well. And that's about it for her. We don't have oodles of anything.

What are good toys to buy for babies with eye problems?

rainbowbri

My friends baby was born with eye problems, she's only 4 mths old so the doc says it's hard for him to make an exact diagnosis, but she has alot of trouble focusing on things it seems . I'm not a mom so I'm not sure what toys do what, but my friend is strapped for cash so I wanted to get her a couple of things that might be helpful maybe help the kid learn to focus better? any suggestions? brands? types? specific toys?
Thanks.

Answer
i would say things with bright colors and things that move, like a mobile or one of the things that can hang on the side of the crib.

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Can you treat a kids blow up pool with chlorine and cover it?

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Laurie29

I recently purchased a 10' x 30" pool with filter for my kids. Our yard is not level so it does not work. I then bought a smaller blow up pool that won't be so uneven in the yard. What I don't like about it is that I will have to dump the water and re-fill every few days. Has anyone found a cover for these smaller (125 gal) pools and do you chlorinate the water so you don't have to change it as much?

Answer
I wish it was that easy but it's not. You'll still need to dump the water eventually even if you manage to keep the chlorine levels within human tolerances for swimming. What the kids and the environment add as organics will need an increasing level of sanitizer to deal with, having no filter. It'll get to the point where to keep the pool clear using chemicals alone will be both expensive and non swimming. Toxic. You WILL have to dump it. You'll have to dump it all if you use no sanitizer at all as well only sooner. A pump and filter remove a lot of contaminants that when you clean that filter...you don't need to deal with chemically. That's why a proper pool has those items. 125 gallon pool? I wouldn't even bother spending the money on attempting to keep the water viable. It'll cost you far more than it's worth to try. It'll be cheaper and much easier with that volume to simply dump it when it starts to cloud over, fill it and tell the kids either bathe cold or wait until tomorrow. You can extend the time between dumps by making sure the kids use clean swim suits and any toys they use haven't been on your lawn or in a lake where they can pick up phosphates or algae spores. If those toys or bathing suits have...wash 'em. Keep the end of that garden hose clean too. It all helps.
As for a "cover". Yep...you can get a solar cover (essentially a bubblewrap) cut for that size. Pricey per square foot for what you want to do and will help heat and keep external organics for the most part, from falling in but when you take that cover off...anything that fell on it goes in unless you're careful and have help. You'll also have to deal with the chemical demands the extra heat you've added via that solar requires. Nasty things grow quicker the warmer the water is. In a larger volume...usually not a biggie all things being equal. Small volume...ohh yeah. Biggie.

One question: With that size above ground that you bought originally...why didn't you level the pool base and keep it instead of opting for something like an EZ set type that you now have ? Obviously you had the space for the original. Was the grade that far out of whack? One person could hand bomb out a grade difference of 4 inches over a 30 foot length easily in less than a day. Less if they had help for example.

Im moving into a rental that doesn't have a shed. Any ideas for non- permanent outdoor storage solutions?

Shelley M

I have about $500 to spend. It needs to hold kids out door toys, garden equipment and bikes. Would a garden shed that comes with a base be any good? Any other ideas?

Answer
Rubbermaid makes one that is easy to build and take apart. My neighbor has one and he has moved it around his yard a couple of times with relative ease. I think he bought it at Lowes Home Improvement center.

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Why are little kids toys so much more fun than big kids toys?

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orik128

Me and a friend were just playing with a toy pirate ship having the time of our lives when the question popped into my head. Why are little kids toys fun? Why don't you tell me.

Answer
Because they are nostalgic, simple as that. It's the same reason why old school Nickelodeon is widely agreed as that channel's prime.

Where can i buy good kids toys online which will deliverable at India?

softparks

Hi Friends
I need a good online shop where i can buy Kids Toys like cars, Bikes etc. Can anybody suggest a good website for Online Toys buying.

Thanks in Advance
Javed

Answer
amazon!!

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What was the electronic toy in the late 90's that you could use as a pda and a messenger to talk to others?

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k w

within the same vicinity that had the same device. It was made for kids. not a cellphone or friend link.
not a pager.

Answer
Pager.

What kind of parent do you think the 90's children would make?

Sunshine R

For those born from 1990 to 1996. I was just wondering, because of how kids act today and they things they have now, like my 9 year old cousin, he was born in 2003 (His older twin brothers and I were born in 1994 just months apart). To me, they aren't very disciplined, I Remember everything from late 1995 as my earliest memories. I didn't act that way growing up, I didn't even get Electronic toys until I was like 10 or 11.

I just wanted other peoples views

Answer
Well, I was born in 1995, I'm 17, and I have a 10 month-old son. I agree with you on the differences due to the generations. I'm quiet, respectful to EVERYONE, but my younger siblings (1999 & 2001) are loud, messy, and honestly act like heathens. A lot of people say that I'm a b*t*h whenever I smack my son's hand and say "no," but won't hug him afterwards...HELLLOO! that's how kids got wild in the first place. My son doesn't watch tv, play with any electronics of any kind. This may sound really cruel but kids are constantly plastered to them and they get hooked at such a young age. I want my to not be dependent on computers and such, I'm teaching him to pick up a book like I was taught. Oh and my husband (1992) thinks the same thing about this, we agreed on our parenting.

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Where is a good place to donate toys for christmas?

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Aveanna

I want to know a place in Rhode Island. I am trying to get a grant. If you knew what it feels like not to get toys on christmas you'd want to do it too. Just please look for programs like adopt a family and toys for tots. I bet the children not getting toys will love it. Thank you!

Answer
First of all thank you for actually thinking of others this Christmas, you won't believe how selfish people can get around now. Ask your church, many times they will set up a program around Christmas. Or try sending them anonymously to a children's hospital or just a regular hospital and they will give them to the kids.

Merry Christmas!

Who plans on buying their kids toy made in china this Christmas?

elizabeth

I am just wondering if you are planning on buying china made toys for your kids this christmas or if you are planning on avoiding them? And Why?
There are plenty of toys made in the US and we are not stuck buying China toys. The step 2 mail box is made in the US!!
I do believe china is trying to kill us off, don't you see they have to many people and not enough land, they will take all they can get.
Just think the job oppotunities for the Americans if we started making toys here in the US

Answer
Do we really have a choice?

Everything is made in China these days.

It makes me sick that they can do this to us! It's only due to the West that they have an economy because we keep buying their rot!

I'd rather pay more money for something decent instead of some not so cheap, nasty, dangerous, plastic rubbish that will poison my kids!

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what can kids bring to kindergarden when they sleep?

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Anastasiya

my cousin is going to kindergarden next year ( 2012) and we were wondering, can she bring a pillow pet, blancket, with her when she sleeps? what can we do to help her get ready for school? she is 3 almost 4 in a month and 2 days. thank you! if u have any other advice, please tell me! Thank you!

Answer
Check with your school's policy.

I would bring a blanket (nothing new, old blankets from home can be comforting), a stuffed animal for comfort (again from home), and a small healthy snack. Also, a good sturdy container for drinks. Some good choices would be:

-Apple
-Banana
-Carrots and dip
-Apple juice
-Orange
-Grapes
-Blueberries
-Orange juice
-Milk or chocolate milk

Also, as a friendly reminder, if you must by new products, try buying organic or eco-friendly. Many hidden toxins are present in toys that you don't know about it. Here's a good site with cute blankets and the best stuffed animals :)

http://www.oompa.com/

Good luck!

Am I wrong for kicking my son out of the house for being homosexual ?

Everette

I didn't raise him to be this way , he did not play with this girl toys as a kid I believe this is something that has just sprang up !
First of all I am his father and yes I believe he chose this behavior to try and hurt our family !

Answer
Sorry to be so blunt, but you did your son a big favor by kicking him out of the house. I can only imagine how he suffered growing up and having to keep his true nature concealed from the people who are supposed to love him the most - his family.

What makes you think he CHOSE this behavior? Have you even tried to understand the science on homosexuality? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/why-are-there-gay-men_n_1590501.html?utm_hp_ref=sex

You are seriously narcissistic if you think he "chose" this behavior to hurt the rest of the family. It's not about YOU!

And how would it "hurt" the family? Is your family so dysfunctional and weak that they would be "hurt" by the cruel opinions of pinheads? You seriously need to re-think what is important in your life.

The loss is yours.

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What are some bands that are in the same genre/ sound the same as Shiny Toy Guns?

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renisanemo

Answer
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What are sone fun games for 11-12?

Cadence

I need fun indoor and outdoor games for kids 11-12 years old, the games need to be really fun since kids that age lose focus easily,
Thanks in advance(:

Answer
Your question appeared in the video and on-line games section. A good website for 11 year olds is www.knowledge-adventure.com.

However you ask for indoor and outdoor games in your actual question so I am sure you have already typed party games for 11 year olds into GOOGLE. Quite a few websites come up including
www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/partry games
http://answers.ask.com/Entertainment/toys-and-games/where can I find party games
www.ehow.mom/coolpartygames forkids-11yearsold

Some of my favourites are Treasure hunt, scavenger hunt, three legged races, sack races. Sardines.

Pass the balloon - Over head and under the legs alternately.. A game of two teams in lines. Front person passes balloon over their head to person behind them. Second person passes balloon through their legs to third person who is immediately behind them etc. (over and under) until it reaches the back of the line. The back person runs to front and balloon is passed all down the line again until everyone has been the front person.

Juggling. Provide three balls to each of two people. Can they juggle them and keep them in the air. Who can do it for the longest time?

Apple bobbing.
Place large bowl of water with apples bobbing in it. They have to put their hands behind their backs and use their teeth to get an apple out of the water.

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What does ergonomics & anthropometrics mean in product design?

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Jagex T

For my product design coursework we are designing a new childerens toy and i need to research ergonomics & anthropometrics for kids what does it mean? Please?

Thanks - 10 points for best answer!!

Answer
ergonomic would be its safety and comfort to the human body and its usability. For children, something like size would need to be considered as you won't want the parts to be swallowed. Here is some info on it:
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ergonomic-design.htm

anthropometric- from what I have read, since this is designed for children hand grip of the toy based on children hand size is important
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropometry

you could probably ask for more info here: http://www.productdesignforums.com/topic/2729-ergonomics-anthropometric-data/

http://imeulia.blogspot.com/2011/05/anthropometry-in-design.html

Will getting a dog help my children overcome their fear of dogs?

Love my ba

I have two kids who are 2 and 4. They are deathly afraid of dogs, I mean absolutely terrified. If they see a dog DOWN THE ROAD that is even on a chain and it is barking they still freak out and run inside. The main problem is my 4 year old. He is so scared of dogs that it's almost ridiculous. My daughter who is 2 is also scared of dogs but I believe it's only because of her big brother being afraid of dogs. When he is not around to show fear, she is interested in dogs and even pets them, but doesn't want to be put down or I guess in a position where the dog could get her. The main problem is when they come at my kids, playful or not if they come running at my kids that's when they really get scared. Or bark loudly at my kids. If they are far away and playing or doing something funny like chasing a toy my son will laugh and laugh but if they get near that's when he gets scared. He has no reason to have this fear but has had it since before the age of 1. I am wondering if I get a dog, maybe one that is a little older past the puppy stage like 2 or 3 that is calm and not all jumpy, but still plays, and is very sweet and loving, if it will help my children over come their fear? At least to some degree? Has anyone has experience with this? Also if you could recommend and good bread for this? I am shelter currently has at a Puggle, and a beagle lab mix that I have been looking at pictures who are both 2-4 years old and cute! Thanks for any help

Answer
No no no no. Your kids should feel safe in their own home. That means no dog until they are ready for it. Further, kids age 2 and 4 are NOT a good home for the dog either. The younger child especially is at the age where kids can be absolutely abusive to a dog (or any animal) without understanding the consequences. That's why THOUSANDS of toddlers are bitten every year....

Here is a website with some good ideas for you to try:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/helping-your-child-overcome-a-fear-of-dogs?page=2

EDIT:
In 2011, there were 43,989 dog bites reported for kids age 4 and under. And I'm betting at least that same number went unreported.... http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/nfirates2001.html

BTW, "cute" should be the LAST consideration. Wait until your youngest is 5 before getting something like a Lab or Golden Retriever, or a cross of those. That will give you lots of time to work on your children's phobias.

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