Fun in the Sun!

School’s out for summer! Forget homework—kids are ready to get out and play. Follow these tips to help keep your kids safe and avoid common summertime injuries.

Before heading out on your summer vacation, be sure to check out the latest car seat recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The new policy says toddlers should stay in rear-facing car seats until at least age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their car seat. It also says that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 4 feet 9 inches tall and between 8 and 12 years of age. Children should ride in the backseat until age 13.

Be Hard Headed - Make sure your child is protected while riding his or her bicycle, rollerblading or skateboarding. Look for helmets that:

Are brightly colored

Fit correctly

Can be easily adjusted

Have a Consumer Product Safety Commission or Snell Memorial Foundation sticker inside

Don’t allow your child to wear a hat under his or her helmet, and replace a helmet if your child hits a hard surface while wearing it. A helmet’s ability to absorb shock decreases after it has sustained a blow.

Don’t Let the Bugs Bite - Bug bites are common in the summer and are usually harmless. However, in addition to causing that aggravating itch, bug bites can be painful. To ward off mosquitoes and ticks, use an insect repellent that contains 10 percent to 30 percent DEET, and reapply every two or three hours. Never use insect repellants on a child younger than 2 months old, and avoid using products that combine DEET and sunscreen. The sun protection factor in these products is less effective, increasing the need for reapplication and potentially causing overexposure to DEET.

Drink Up - Before kids play outdoors, they need to drink water to prevent dehydration. During outdoor play, children weighing 90 pounds should drink 5 ounces of cold tap water every 20 minutes to prevent dehydration.

To keep your summer safe with a free first-aid kid from Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital at St.Vincent, visit KidsHealthLine.com/firstaidkit.

Little Out of Towners

Renting baby/toddler gear is a great way to reduce stress when travelling with children! How often have you been packing for a family trip and wished you didn't have to haul so much gear around? Children's gear can be cumbersome and takes up a tremendous amount of valuable space. Add to that the hassle of reassembling it all when you reach your destination and you have a stressful start to your get-away - not exactly the relaxing escape we all dream of; but gear is a way of life for the safety-conscious parent. Renting offers the perfect compromise; safety with the convenience of delivery and assembly!

One of our favorite gear-rental companies is Little Out of Towners, located in the Charlotte, NC; they serve the greater Charlotte area as well as the York, Chester, and Lancaster counties of South Carolina! They feature an expansive line of JPMA-certified rental items at reasonable prices and take great pride in providing rental items of the highest standard with respect to safety, cleanliness, and condition! Travelling outside the Carolinas? No problem - they have compiled an extensive list of independently owned and operated rental companies spanning the world over, complete with contact information and websites! The Little Out of Towners is truly dedicated not only to keeping your kids safe when you travel, but also to making travel less stressful and more enjoyable for families!

Below are a few guidelines for renting gear:

Get all pricing information up front, including rental fees, delivery charges, fuel surcharges, set-up fees, late fees, and cancellation fees and policies.

Be certain to clarify what type of equipment you will be getting. Different companies may define "toddler bed" or "portable crib" differently - don't be afraid to ask questions to ensure you will be getting the gear you need!

The renter should be able to provide you with the manufacturer's recommendations regarding age, height and weight for whatever product(s) you may require.

Be certain to verify that the company checks for equipment recalls. Even if they do, it never hurts to double-check, so always get the make and model of the equipment so that you may check for yourself at http://www.recalls.org/.

Also, verify that their products are JPMA Certified. JPMA is the leader in product safety and usage; certification information is available athttp://www.jpma.org/.

Ask about the company's cleaning and safety-assurance procedures.

Bottom line: renting can save you time, hassle, and may even be cheaper than bringing your own items from home (once you factor in excess baggage fees, etc.) - so check out rentals for your next family adventure! Happy travels!

Snazzy Baby Knee Pads

With spring here and summer right around the corner, I know ALL of you want to be outside. Make sure you get a pair of Snazzy Baby Knee Pads - perfect for baby crawling around outside! Your baby will love the new and improved snug, soft, 4 layer cushioned oval Snazzy Baby Knee Pads. Made of the very best Neoprene material available. They are secured with Velcro straps ensuring a comfortable fit and a happy baby.

On SALE for $18.00

Week at the Beach

The week at the break package is the perfect for a spring break or a long vacation in a sunny location lounging on the sandy beach with your baby. This package makes ordering so convenient by having everything you need with one click. You just need to add the formula, baby food, and snacks that are specific to your baby's diet, check out and you are ready to go. Visit week at the beach and purchase one today!

Plan for your next ski trip...

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When you buy them for your next ski trip don't forget to order - Week on the slopes for the kids! Perfect for a week long vacation at the slopes with baby in tow. This package makes ordering so convenient by having everything you need with one click. You just need to add the formula, baby food, and snacks that are specific to your baby's diet, check out and you are ready to go. A little something for you and baby!

Tiny Bites Food Shears

Tiny Bites Food Shears are fun and functional. They allow parents to safely, easily and efficiently cut their child’s food into small pieces to ensure safe consumption. They can easily turn any food into perfect “finger foods”, bite-sized pieces, easy-to-eat strips, fun shapes or sizes. Perfect for travel with your toddler.

Each Food Shear is 5 1/2" inches in diameter. The cutlery-grade stainless steel blades are 2 1/2" inches long. Dishwasher safe.

Comes in a package of 2.