There are over three million births in the U.S each year which means many new mothers must adjust to caring for a baby. 

Many women find great joy in raising little ones but once they become toddlers it becomes trickier. Perhaps you’re not sure how to keep your toddler safe at home and you’re looking for advice.

Sound about right? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here are many ways to prioritize safety for toddlers in your home.

Child Safety in the Kitchen

One of the best safety measures for toddlers is to make sure the kitchen is a safe environment. You should remove stove knobs or conceal them with a child-proof cover so they can’t turn on the burners. You must also keep pot handles turned away so your child can’t reach for them and keep all cutlery, or anything else sharp, in a latched drawer.

It’s also important that there are no dangling cords around appliances and keep them out of your child’s reach when they’re not in use. Further, avoid displaying tiny refrigerator magnets because they may fall and your child may choke on them. 

And safety measures for toddlers doesn’t stop there, you must also consider the kitchen’s cleanliness. Little ones have an immature immune system which makes them susceptible to bacteria or foodborne illnesses. Because of this, you should wash your hands before preparing meals and thoroughly clean the child’s utensils.

You should also heat bottles in a bowl of hot water instead of the microwave as it can scald your toddler’s mouth. Plus, look out for choking-risk foods like round food (e.g. grapes) or those with a texture that sticks to the airway like peanut butter.

Toddler Safety in the Bathroom

Following proper bathtub safety for toddlers makes bathtime fun for both of you. Make sure you never leave your little one unattended and always drain the tub once you’re finished. You should also keep the toilet lid down because if your child throws their toy into it, they may try and fish it out or it’ll clog the toilet. 

Aside from knowing water safety for toddlers, hide electrical appliances like hair dryers so they don’t burn or give your child an electric shock.

Child Safety in the Bedroom

When regarding safety for toddlers at home, we must also consider the bedroom. There are many hazards such as lamps, curtains, and even rugs. Little ones are prone to toppling, yanking, or even slipping on these so keep the room basic to avoid accidents. If you do have furniture with drawers or shelves, nail them to the wall so your toddler can’t climb them. 

Toddlers are between one to three years old so once they’re 35 inches tall, move your little one to a toddler bed or a twin bed with a side rail. Make sure the bed is far from objects with strings (e.g. blinds) and items they could tug at like picture frames. 

Let them stay warm with a thin blanket and a small pillow but make sure it’s not big enough to become a makeshift stool otherwise they may escape. Luckily, after the first year, you don’t have to worry about SID so let your toddler sleep in whichever position is the most comfortable.

If you want to keep an eye on your toddler, get a video baby monitor so you know they’re safe during their naptime. 

Toddler Safety in the Living Room 

Every parent is used to toys strewn across the living room but aside from a mess, these are hazards. Remove all items that toddlers could choke on like coins, marbles, and small cars. You should also secure all furniture and electrical items so they don’t tip over onto your toddler and child-proof window cords so your little one can’t grab them. Further, place bumper guards on sharp edges to reduce the risk of a head injury. 

Not sure about stair safety for toddlers? Simply install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs to avoid accidents.

Child Safety in the Backyard 

Adult supervision is crucial when your little one is playing in the yard otherwise limit access by keeping the lock out of reach. If you’ve set up a jungle gym or a swing set, set down a soft surface underneath to prevent injury. 

You should also enclose swimming pools or ponds with a safety fence and drain kiddie pools when they’re not in use. Further, keep all garden equipment in storage alongside chemicals like pesticides.

Toddler Safety in the Car 

Getting the right car safety seat is crucial because they reduce fatal injury by 54% for toddlers.  

Most toddlers can graduate from a rear-facing car seat to a forward-facing model. But make sure your little one is properly buckled in, the seat belt should lie across the upper thighs and be higher across the shoulder and chest. 

Be wary about buying a secondhand car seat because even if it looks like it’s in a good condition, it may be damaged.

That’s Everything About Safety for Toddlers 

Now you know everything about prioritizing safety for toddlers.

Store away unneeded items and child-proof anything that could be grabbed or moved to prevent any accidents. It’s important to constantly supervise your little one especially when they’re in the bathroom or kitchen and remove items they could choke on. Good luck!

Hopefully, you found this article helpful. If you’re interested in similar content then check out our posts on everything from Sports to Family.

The holiday season is here and the best deals of the year are happening now! With so much going on this year, researching the top toys for your children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews may not have made it to your to-do list. No worries, here are some of the most popular toys for 2020.

Star Wars the Child Animatronic Edition 

You can never go wrong with Star Wars. The Child, also known as Baby Yoda, debuted in Disney’s Mandalorian and has captured the hearts of young and old Star Wars and non-Star Wars fans since his debut a little more than a year ago. This edition has a motorized head, ears, and eyes and is sure to delight all recipients. It also babbles, coos, and wiggles its ears. You may want to snag more than one of these amazing Baby Yoda toys before they’re gone. These are sure to be a collectible.  

Beyblade Burst Rise Hypersphere Vortex Child Battle Set

Beyblades have been around for several years. But the brand is always mixing it up with new blades, parts, and arenas. The two-level battle set lets kids digitize their stadium to compete with friends in digital battles using the Beyblade burst app.

L.O.L. Surprise Remix Hair Flip Dolls

Who doesn’t love a surprise? The Blind-box collectible toys offer the Hair Flip Doll. The mini-doll has 15 surprises, such as another hairstyle, a water bottle, and a musical instrument. The package she comes in turns into a turntable and plays a mini-record.  

Air Hogs Stunt Shots

No matter what age, remote control vehicles are always hit and Air Hogs win hands down as the best remote-controlled cars. Every child needs a Monster Truck that can handle all the latest tricks. Better yet, the soft tires are ideal for indoor play. They’re light and won’t scuff up your floors. Many moms and dads in the past have wished their kids R/C vehicles were as easy on their home’s interior. 

Blue’s Clues & You Peek-A-Blue

Blue’s back! Grab the 10-inch plush with big floppy ears and give her a squeeze. She’s ready for hours of peek-a-blue fun. Nickelodeon also offers a matching peek-a-boo Magenta. 

LEGO Disney Princess Ariel’s Undersea Castle

You wouldn’t expect a top toys list without LEGOs. The 2021 addition for the top building brand involves bricks for newbies. Duplo blocks are for kids ages two and up and feature 35 pieces, including Ariel, Flounder, and everything you need for a castle under the sea. 

Zing Air Go Go Bird

Not all remote control toys stay on the ground. Older children will love the Zing Air Go Go Bird that flies around day or night. It uses a six-axis sensor that allows the bird to fly six feet and turn around. To activate, just gently toss it into the air, and the wings automatically start flapping. The bird also has LED lights for night flying. Zing Air Go Go Bird is available in green and red.

Little People Launch & Loop Raceway Vehicle Playset

The Little People Launch & Loop Raceway Vehicle Playset combines the best of two toys for kids ages 18 months and over. It includes two main tracks that race through a set of tricks, jumps, and traps to give toddlers their first racing experience. The racing toy has a third stunt track and plenty of lights and sounds to keep kids engaged. 

LEGO Belle’s Castle Winter Celebration 

Another LEGO set made the list. These bricks are for stage 2 builders, ages four and up. The Beauty and the Beast set from Disney has 238 pieces, including Belle, the Beast, Gaston, and Lumiere. Get the kids started early so they can work their way up to more complex LEGO sets as they get older. 

Baby Shark Fishing Game

The take on the classic fishing game will have young children improving their hand and eye coordination while singing along to their favorite song. Baby Shark plays the Baby Shark song while it spins. Up to four players can work to catch fish to win the game. 

These are a few of the hot Christmas toys this year. Snag the ones on Santa’s list quickly before supplies sell out. You don’t want to be the parent or auntie that doesn’t snag at least one of the most popular toys for 2020.

Looking for gift ideas for the upcoming holidays? Everyone loves popcorn, don’t they? JohnsonsPopcorn- has been making the most mouth-watering popcorn creating delicious recipes through the same process since 1940, that’s 80+ years serving customers from the beautiful Ocean City, New Jersey Boardwalk! Select your favorite for this holiday season to treat your whole family to from tubs and tins of delicious sweet and savory popcorn. All products are gluten-free and you can choose from Caramel Corn, Salt-n-Sandy, Cheddar, Peanut Crunch, Chocolate Drizzle, Platinum, Butter and Tri-Flavor. Learn more about ordering your favorite flavors and gifts at: www.johnsonspopcorn.com. I had the opportunity to taste this popcorn and it is delicious! My favorite is the Caramel Corn!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Are you looking to get your older kids off the video games for a little while? This game just may do the trick!

WHAT’S WRONG WITH GROWN-UPS? is a question most kids would love to ask but are often too busy with video games, social media, and texting friends. Well now these inquisitive, thoughtful kids can get this question and many others answered thanks to What’s Wrong With Grown-Ups?  a new intergenerational card game from Authentic Agility Games that was created with kids and their crazy questions in mind. Similar to its first two successful card games, What’s Wrong With Grown-Ups? consists of 500 thought provoking, entertaining and often provocative questions designed specifically for curious kids and their family and friends. Available on Amazon, kids and their parents and caregivers can begin to strengthen their bond by asking open-dialog questions to get more than a “yes” or “no” response.

Following the success of her first two games, How Do You See The World? and Why Can’t We All Just Get Along?,” Florida-based entrepreneur Cathy Cranberg says that she developed this intergenerational game to stimulate conversations between kids of today, their peers and kids and adults, and as a fun and engaging way to get everyone involved. “We realized important conversations should not be separated due to age or interests, but rather encouraged at all ages”. What’s Wrong With Grown-Ups? is now available on Amazon.com for $24.99.

The questions included in What’s Wrong With Grown-Up? are fun, inventive, short, and to the point, given the limited attention spans of kids and teens. The rules are simple; the player rolls the dice and then selects the category that correlates with the symbol on the die. The player then asks that related question for all to answer in our own ways and words. The 500 questions are written so anyone can answer, drawing at times surprising and unique answers and fun physical challenges. The game is about cooperative play and is not focused on winning and losing, but rather offering an opportunity to drive conversations as you learn about what kids think about important topics. 

Look for it on Amazon.com this holiday season!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Redefining home cooked meals, Hak’s believes everyone deserves a restaurant-quality food experience in their home without the time-consuming prep. Prepared by Chef, CEO and Founder Sharone Hakman, Hak’s products champion adventurous new flavors made from organic, sustainably sourced, and cruelty-free ingredients. Debuting this fall, Hak’s is excited to add another innovation to the portfolio of dynamic, chef crafted foods – Perfect Side Dishes.

A collection of organic chef-made, heat & eat side dishes, these fully cooked, family-sized side dishes are the ideal accompaniment to any dinner time meal. Made with clean, delicious, and quality ingredients, Hak’s Perfect Side Dishes are non-GMO, keto and paleo friendly, and sugar free. Now available in Costco’s throughout the Los Angeles region, consumers can get their hands on Hak’s Roasted Cauliflower with Chimichurri Sauce. With six servings per container, just pop in your microwave for 5 minutes, and this satisfying side dish is ready to serve.

I had the opportunity to try the Organic Rainbow Carrots with Maple Dijon Glaze and also the delicious Roasted Brussel Sprouts and I love how fresh they taste and how quick and easy they are to make. The Rainbow Carrots are definitely on my menu for this upcoming Thanksgiving!

Look for them at your local Costco!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Subscription boxes are everywhere. Whatever you may want to arrive at your door regularly, you can find it. They are one of the most fun ways to shop online – there’s a reason they’re so popular! If you need a little self-care, then a subscription box could be the ideal way to go.

What Are Subscription Boxes?

Subscription boxes are online subscriptions that you sign up for that delivers regularly. This could be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, and so on. It’s like Netflix, except it brings you a material item. If you’re curious about trying one, then here are the reasons they make the perfect (and regular) self-gift.

The Surprise

One of the greatest things about subscription boxes is that sometimes you will be surprised by what they bring. There are some boxes where you won’t even know what’s coming! Whether you’re ordering food, a book, or a beauty product, sometimes, when you open it, you might find something you’d never have thought of buying before.

The Variety

There truly is no limit to the number of items you can buy as a subscription. This includes:

• Food
• Alcohol
• Books
• Skincare
• Period items
• Makeup
  
  

There is so much more! No matter who you are, there’s something for you. Whether you want a monthly cologne or even a new piece of clothing, you’ll find it! Make yourself smile by gifting yourself a regular present. 

The Savings

Often, subscription boxes send you items for a much lower price. This means you’ll save money overall! If you subscribe to a makeup box, for example, you’ll find that buying each product individually would have cost you a lot more than what you paid for. You’ll end up with a great collection of items without damaging your pockets!

The Self-Care

Everyone needs to indulge in self-care, and by subscribing to a monthly treat, you ensure that you are doing it regularly! Choose a pampering box or a book box so you are always reminded that you should relax and take a time out. If you find that you forget to take time to yourself, then a sub box is a great way of reminding you to switch off and enjoy your time.

You Don’t Have to Think About it

When ordering items online, you probably find yourself waiting near the door in deep anticipation of its arrival. With a subscription box, it’s easy to forget that it’s even arriving. This means you’ll have a little gift waiting for you, and you don’t even have to think about clicking on ‘checkout’ each time you want to treat yourself. It’s like receiving a surprise present!

You Deserve it

One of the main reasons for splashing on a subscription box is that you deserve it! The world is a busy place, and sometimes, all you need is a little treat that greets you at the end of the day to remind you that you are worth it.

Halloween is almost here and these sweet treats may not be candy but they are sure to be a hit!

You’ll think Savor Patisserie’s macarons are too beautiful to eat—until you’ve experienced their melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness! Made by hand, these yummy Instagram-worthy treats taste like they’re straight from Paris but are made in the heart of Texas by a woman-owned bakery. Just in time for Halloween is the Halloween Collection, with flavors like Rice Krispie Treat, Caramel Apple, Cookie Butter, Sour Patch Kids and Chocolate Orange! Two-piece Halloween favor boxes will also be available, made up of a delicious white vanilla macaron, decorated with a Jack O’Lantern, and a salted caramel macaron in orange that reads, “Happy Halloween.” Each favor box is decorated with a black ribbon, making it the perfect gift for teachers, a fun Halloween surprise from parents to kiddos, or just to treat yourself! No matter which you choose, know that they’re all made from a  perfect mix of almond flour, egg white and sugar surrounding a filling of ganache, buttercream or jam — but less than 100 calories each and gluten free! www.savorpatisserie.com, I had the opportunity to try these melt-in-your-mouth delicious treats and they really are a must-buy this Fall!

Another favorite cookie treat this season are sugar type cookies that you can decorate yourself!

Eat Your Words Custom Cookies – Celebrate Halloween at home having deliciously spooky fun decorating cookies. Eat Your Words Custom Cookies has Halloween-themed Decorate Your Own Cookie Kits. Each kit contains everything you need to have a ghoulishly good time decorating and eating sugar cookies. Choose from Dracula, Ghost & Goblins, Witches’ Brew and Trick or Treat cookies. Each kit contains a dozen cookies, four piping bags of icing and a bag of sprinkles. Price: $28; https://eatyourwordscookies.com/products/decorate-your-own-cookies. I love how these are in a kit and are sealed up so they really stay fresh. They are so easy and fun to decorate and taste delicious!

The kids will love decorating the cookies! I like how fresh both the cookies and the frosting are in this kit. Usually I am not so impressed with cookie kits that are shipped but these were incredible!

Happy Halloween!

Self Disclosure: I received free samples of the products mentioned in this post. Images: SoCal City Kids.