Baby-accessories

Travel Potty Chairs and Toddler Bibs - What Goes In Must Come Out

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 15:48:00 +0000

What goes in must come out

It never ceases to amaze me how such tiny little people can produce so much stuff that needs wiping, removing or mopping up. I've heard that humans are made up of 70% water but I honestly think babies are 110% puddle! If it's not coming out of one end and needing a bib it's coming out of the other and needing a pottie.

The thing is, as cute as some toddler bibs can be, they're not exactly what we dream of dressing our little darlings in are they? Personally I dreaded the moment when I'd have to cover half of the gorgeous outfit I'd chosen with a piece of terry towelling to catch the constant waterfall of dribble, even more so if we were visiting someone that had gifted us the outfit in question. Having said that, I'm well aware there's quite enough laundry without changing babies clothes even more times a day, and a damp chest is neither healthy nor attractive.

Turns out a loving and rather clever granny had similar thoughts and designed a completely new solution. The Dribblebuster is a neckerchief, it looks cool and catches drool at the same time as allowing the clothing bought for your little one to be seen and cooed over. There are even matching t-shirts for a fully co-ordinated dribble dressing solution!

It's not only dribble of course. There's, y'know, the other end. Toilet training is a time when we need to be relaxed in order to help our toddlers learn this important new skill. Of course it can be tough to be completely chilled when you're mopping up the thirty-twelfth accident of the day (seriously, where does it all come from?!) but the real hard work of toilet training is (insert dramatic music...) GOING. OUT.

Routine and familiarity are vital to a child that's learning a whole new set of rules about controlling their bodily functions. All of which goes out of the window when they need a wee outside the house and all the sights, smells and feelings are totally different to home. A lot of children find this so distressing they simply can't go and toilet training is prolonged causing frustration all round.

The Potette Plus gets over this brilliantly. These travel potty chairs are designed to be a doddle to take out and about and quick to set up ready for those urgent moments. The disposable, bio-degradable liners make tidy-up a fuss-free experience and, for bigger boys and clever girls, it turns into an already familiar portable potty seat.

Miniature Wagon Wheels

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 21:02:00 +0000

The wheel, greatest invention of all! Supposedly because it led to man being able to conquer his surroundings but for me it's the sheer joy and health benefits they bring to young children that make me want sing their praises (another round of "Wheels on the bus", anyone?).

Until I saw a Wheelie bug I despaired of ride-on toys. There really is only so much primary coloured plastic an adult can look at without feeling one's eyes are being assaulted by a box of crayons. Also, most have fixed wheels so can only travel back and forwards meaning you spend a lot of time rescuing frustrated little people that get themselves stuck in corners. Not entirely getting the 'promoting independent movement' part there, are they?

Someone out there clearly felt my pain because they came up with gorgeous looking ride on toys that have castor wheels. These cute bugs (the mouse and tiger are my favourites!) can go in any direction, including in circles, meaning tiddlers legs get great all-round exercise as they have fun gaining independence of movement, balance skills and frustration-free problem solving when they inevitably scoot themselves into a corner.

From things they ride on to things they can ride in. One of the most iconic images of childhood in the USA is the Radio Flyer Wagon and even if the name isn't immediately familiar I bet you know the one I mean. Bright red with a black handle and the Radio Flyer logo in white along the side, it comes in wood or metal (and more recently, plastic) and usually has a cute kid pulling his or her favourite toys along behind him as they all go on an adventure in the garden. They've been a staple of American family life since the #18 Classic Red Wagon was first produced over 70 years ago.

They were first used on Fire Island, New York. No motorised transport was allowed on this holiday isle so in order to get belongings from the ferry to the accommodations people used the Radio Flyer Wagon. Proving itself strong and stable it soon got pressed into use for grocery shopping and moving heavy objects around, not to mention kids who would jump in for the ride at every opportunity! They now come in many sizes, all the way down to a miniature wagon which is perfect for kids of up to 90 years!

Activity Play Mats - Back To Sleep, Front To Frolic

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 10:31:00 +0000

Back to sleep, front to frolic!

We all know that the safest way for our babies to sleep is on their backs but this doesn't mean they have to miss out on tummy time fun. In fact it's vitally important for their development that they spend some waking time each day lying on their front as this plays a big part in them learning to roll from side to side and strengthening the muscles they need for crawling and then walking.

Gone are the days when a folded towel on a changing mat was all a baby could look forward to dribbling on when placed face down, there's now a huge choice of infant playmats and babygyms to keep them entertained and stimulated.

The older style plastic A-frame with mirrors, rattles and teddies dangling from it was okay for little ones that could roll over to reach up to the treasure but not much good for younger ones tummy time, nor were they very interesting when face-down, let alone portable.

Let's face it, there's quite enough stuff to cart around when visiting people with baby; fourteen plastic poles and some dangly things just don't fit in the nappy bag! This meant poor bubba was often relegated back to the folded towel on the changing mat when the family spent time at Grandparents or friends houses.

The newer generation of playmats are much nicer. Cosy padding makes it much more comfortable for even the youngest infant and there are all kinds of interesting, tactile things to keep them interested while they learn to lift their heads for longer and then go on to support themselves on their arms before, well, before you then have to start shopping for safety equipment as well as fun stuff!

Not only are they nicer, the better ones fold up to be easily portable so you can rest assured your little one will have somewhere safe and familiar to spend time when all the cuddling and cooing of granny's or aunties gets a bit much for them.

Personally I think the best of the bunch are the Ladybird Activity Play Mat with its supersoft padded collar, babysafe mirror that can be placed just out of reach to encourage crawling and teething attachments and the Wiggle Worm Travel Activity Gym. With it's soft padded base, interesting tactile dangly things and gorgeous bright, stimulating colours this is definitely preferable to the old plastic A frame jobs!

How To Avoid Baby Bath Backache!

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 11:35:00 +0000

Bathing your baby is the best beginning to a calming bedtime routine and you can never start too soon. If you think about it, newborns have just come from a warm bath that lasted nine months! Of course we then put them into a huge bright space with an inch of water in the bottom and they don't enjoy it at all. In fact, a lot of them scream the place down and bathroom acoustics are very unforgiving on grown-up ears when babies scream, take it from me!

There are lots of nifty things around to help make bathing easier as little ones grow, from full length supports that hold them snugly as they lie back to seats that stick to the tub prevent slips and topples. These are absolutely great for older bubbas that have learned to love their nightly splash (also known as the soak mum/dad session in my house!) but sadly, no good for tiny infants.

The other pain, quite literally, is “baby-bath-backache”. I've known occupational therapists to gasp at the positions we adopt to keep our slippery newborns safe in the water. It's bad enough for even the strongest back to be bending over at a strange angle using both hands to support and wash a baby - any woman that's not long given birth will tell you it's agony and there's no gas and air available!

Thankfully, some clever genius has devised some baby bath sets that solve all these issues. It's called a Tummy Tub, it's shaped like a womb and holds baby in the foetal position with water up to the shoulders. Sound familiar? It'll feel even more so to a newborn, even low birth-weight or premature tinies can enjoy it, all it's missing is a heartbeat and the occasional tummy gurgle! The smart shape means baby is cocooned totally in water but it actually uses less than a standard baby bath, making it much easier to handle even when full and very eco-friendly. There's even a stand that lifts it to the perfect back-saving height then turns into a step as baby turns into independent toddler then a box for them to store their treasures in after that.

And staying with the theme, what about Clevamama baby bath towels. Suitable from birth to two years, this fabulous piece of kit fastens around Mum's neck like an apron, keeping her dry and allowing her to lift her baby or toddler out of the bath with two free hands. The special hood goes over baby's head to retain warmth whilst the gentle absorbent fabric dries any excess moisture - even from awkward nooks like between the toes.

Two recent additions to the plethora of baby bathing equipment out there but these items have won awards and make you wonder why someone didn't think of them years ago. Maybe because we were all busy clinging to slippery babies and then holding our aching backs...

Toddler reins, baby leash? What a pain, give me peace!

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:01:00 +0000

You know why they call our lovely mini-people toddlers? Because that's what they love to do most! Toddle around on their unsteady legs, first practising staying upright then fast gaining speed and agility until before you know it they're out of your sight and you're going out of your mind!

I recall being in a shopping arcade once and calling “watch out!” to a cute padded-anorak wearing toddler that was on course to run - full pelt, arms flailing and all - into the path of a mobility scooter. It was only when I looked down at the baby leash in my hand - and more to the point, the very empty other end of it - that I realised I'd have been better off calling the child's name. Yes, he was my mini-person and yes, he'd learned to loosen the grip on his wrist strap. The chest fastening harness I had didn't fit over his winter coat and there really wasn't a great deal of choice in reins or leashes around at the time. Not that that fact made me feel any less guilty of course, nor any less panic-stricken as I thought of all the even worse situations we could have been in when he broke free and ran like a wild stallion.

Baby reins are an absolute essential when it comes to letting youngsters enjoy their legs whilst keeping them safe at the same time. The trouble is a lot of toddlers just don't agree and let's face it, who wants a nice trip out to begin with a tantrum or upset? Even if you can get a safety rein on without too many tears (be they your child's or yours!) children are clever little monsters and will (believe me on this!) find a way to slip out the very second your attention is diverted by paying a cashier, digging a sippy cup out of your bag or checking the traffic before crossing a road.

So what would the ideal baby reins be? Well for a start, something children actually wanted to wear! Secondly it would need a strong leash attachment that was child “evil genius” proof. And if I were really going to ask for the moon? I'd want them to be able to carry some of their own stuff around and make it much more accessible for those urgent moments in the middle of outings when only that particular green sippy cup or silky edged blankie is good enough!

Luckily, mums these days have just such a thing (well, not only lucky but a good job being as those mobility scooters seem to be everywhere now!) I've seen the cutest plush animal backpacks that have a safety leash attached as the tail. Kiddies love wearing a cuddly monkey, bear or unicorn on their back with all their own favourite toys, drinks and snacks inside while Mum gets to hold onto the tail that's cleverly attached out of reach of little hands and know that riders of motorised wheelchairs need not worry about escaped toddlers!
I do believe the baby rein just stopped being a pain!

Tester Post from the New Baby Bluebird Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Accessories Info) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 14:05:00 +0000

Is this working via networked blogs?

Things I would never say as a parent.....(oh yeah.....)

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Bluebird) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:26:00 +0000

(First published Times Online, October 20, 2009)

9 things I swore I would never say as a parent

Reading Expat Mum's list about Things I Say All the Time (including "sit down, you haven't finished eating" and "there are two types of vegetable on your plate, pick one and eat it") reminded me of all those things my mother said to me that I vowed I would never subject my kids too. Ha ha. That's one of the joys of being a parent - you can change your mind because you set the rules.

1. I'm going to count to three...: And then I actually do it. I actually do.

2. Come on or I'm going without you: This one has limited shelf life. Once my daughter realises that I can't go to school for drop-off without her, the jig is up.

3. If I have to tell you one more time...: I never finish this one. If I did, it would go, "If I have to tell you one more time, I'm going to give up, go pour myself a glass of wine and read my novel and you can stay up all night for all I care."

4. Because I'm the mum: It's incontrovertible, this one. But necessary in emergencies.

5. Where did you leave it?: This one works for both children and spouse. Invariably the answer is, under something, in whatever part of the house is least convenient.

6. Three more bites and then you can get down from the table: Admittedly this was a tougher edict when I was growing up - the vegetables were likely to be overcooked okra, iceberg lettuce or a horrific "vegetable medley".

7. I don't like this attitude, young lady: Always with the attitude. Bad attitude may win you a music deal or a reputation as the bad girl of the art world, but around the family dynasty, it cuts no ice.

8. This place is a pigsty: This one - unfortunately - can also apply to my bedroom, because deep inside I still harbour my own teenage illusion that clothes somehow hang up themselves.

9. What's the magic word?: Good manners are good and well, but I'd be better preparing her for the real world by teaching the magic phrases, which include "I'll be calling my solicitor", "I need it in writing" and "I'd hate for the press to get hold of this".

Source: TimesOnline

Doing your best for Baby's diet

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Bluebird) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:43:00 +0000

(First published 19th October, 2009)

DOING YOUR BEST FOR YOUR BABY'S DIET:

Q: My friend is very health-conscious. Since her baby boy started on solids, she cooks quantities of chicken, meat and vegetables, divides it into meals in ice-cube trays and freezes it. She takes some out of the freezer every day and thaws it for her little boy's meals. What's a bit worrying is that my friend heats every meal in the microwave, which means everything her little boy eats has been microwaved. Could there be any danger in this, or am I worrying unnecessarily?

NUTRITION ADVISOR REPLIES:

A: Microwaving foods can help to maintain their nutrient value because they heat food rapidly and don't require added water. Retention of heat-sensitive and water-soluble vitamins, in particular B vitamins and vitamin C, is better compared with other methods such as boiling, where water-soluble vitamins are often thrown away with the water.

Most health professionals don't advise heating foods in a microwave for babies or young children. This is because microwaves can heat food unevenly and form hot spots, which could cause scalding. This means that one spoonful of a food could be cold, while the next spoonful could burn a baby's mouth. Allowing one or two minutes standing time for the heat to even out and stirring foods before feeding will reduce the risk of hot spots, but other cooking methods are usually advised for young children.

Any cooking method that minimises the time, temperature, and amount of water needed will help to preserve nutrients, so steaming, stir frying and baking will help to preserve the vitamin content.

Parents also need to be careful about defrosting foods for babies and young children in the microwave if foods are not going to be cooked and eaten straight away. When food is defrosted in the microwave it can get warm enough to allow harmful bacteria to grow.

It is also important to ensure that containers are labelled as "microwave safe" as there has been concern about the possibility of some plastic containers not intended for use in the microwave melting and potentially leaking chemicals into foods.

The clever Wean Machine makes easy work of making fresh meals for your baby any time, anywhere.

Sleeping Risks

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Bluebird) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:26:00 +0000

(First published October 14th,2009, Source: BBC News / Health)

Parents 'doubt cot death risks'

Studies have concluded that half of cot deaths are linked to bed-sharing but many parents are sceptical about the risk.

A quarter of 500 mothers polled by the UK's Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) doubted that sharing a bed with a baby put them at undue risk.

But a Bristol University team's study published online in the British Medical Journal found that co-sleeping is a factor in more than 50% of cases.

Many of the deaths occurred when parent and infant slept together on a sofa.

"We know that those at greatest risk of experiencing a cot death are very young mums, often single, and still in their teens, and this group is the most likely to reject safe sleep advice " Joyce Epstein of FSID.

Much of this risk was linked to parents' smoking and alcohol or use of sedating drugs before bedtime.

A fifth of the cot death infants were found with a pillow and a quarter were swaddled, which may be new risk factors, say the authors.

Although cot death rates in the UK have fallen dramatically since the "Back to Sleep" campaign in the early 1990s, specific advice is still needed to help reduce these deaths even further, say the Bristol University researchers.

REDUCING THE RISK

Place your baby on the back to sleep, not on the front or side
Don't let your baby get too hot - no bonnets
Sleep your baby with their feet to the foot of the cot
Never sleep with your baby on a sofa or armchair
Sharing a bed raises the risk, especially if you or your partner smokes, drinks or takes sedating drugs
A dummy can reduce the risk, even if the dummy falls out while your baby is asleep

"Parents need to be advised never to put themselves in a situation where they might fall asleep with a young infant on a sofa."

And they should never sleep with an infant in any environment if they have consumed alcohol or drugs, the team warned.

But they said some parents might still want to share a bed with their baby, particularly if they needed to feed their infants many times in the night, and that this practice should not be demonised.

It could lead to increased numbers of tired parents nodding off on their sofa with their baby, they warned.

FSID's director, Joyce Epstein, said the findings were alarming.

"We know that those at greatest risk of experiencing a cot death are very young mums, often single, and still in their teens, and this group is the most likely to reject safe sleep advice."

The charity has launched a social networking website, http://www.bubbalicious.co.uk/, aimed at supporting teenage parents.

Findings challenged

However, Rose Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said the study had found that there was no increased risk of bed-sharing for babies whose parents had not drunk alcohol, taken drugs, smoked, or fallen asleep on the sofa.

She said: "It is not appropriate to tell all parents not to sleep with their babies.

"It is clear from many surveys that around half of parents sleep with their babies at some point in the first six months, and around a quarter do so routinely, so we need to help them to do this in the safest way possible.

"If we demonise the parents' bed we may be in danger of the sofa being chosen. A better approach may be to warn parents of the specific circumstances that put babies at risk."

The FSID poll findings are published in Community Practitioner.

Guiding Your Baby - Timeless Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Bluebird) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:08:00 +0000

(First published in November 28th, 2009: www./www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/your_kids/babies_guiding.shtml)

It's a learning curve

A young baby is unable to work out that crying can annoy you and they can't decide to stop because you're upset or angry.

When your baby touches the video or TV controls, it's because they're exploring and trying to learn how things work - they've no idea it might irritate adults.

Even as your baby gets a little older, she'll still have a very short memory. Once something has happened, it's 'over' for babies. They won't remember that yesterday you told them not to do a particular thing.

It's natural for babies to be curious about the world around them. They'll do most exploring by touch and can't resist touching TV sets, photo frames, ornaments or anything within reach. ''Babyproofing' your home is a good way to prevent accidents and help you keep your sanity in their early exploring days.

Key points about guiding your baby

It's not possible to 'spoil' young babies - when they cry they need immediate attention, so don't hold back.

Babies cannot be 'naughty' in the sense of doing things on purpose to upset you.

Under-ones do not have very long-term memories. Just because you told your baby yesterday not to do something, it doesn't mean she won't be tempted to try it over and over again today - she simply can't help herself. She may be interested in your reaction... over and over again.

If you want to stop your baby doing something, the best way is quickly to distract and divert her on to a different activity. If you offer a toy, she should happily hand over the keys you need. If you take her to the window to see what's happening outside, she'll quickly forget that the video was her next adventure. If your baby is trying to eat your cat's food, pick her up and offer something more suitable!

Actions always speak loudest. Distraction works better than shouting, telling off or smacking.

Introducing limits and guiding

As babies get a bit older - about nine months to one year - you can start to guide them. You can begin to teach your baby the behaviour you expect and the difference between right and wrong. Even when your baby begins to understand what is meant by "no", she won't always do what you want. She won't really understand how others feel for a long time yet, and can't work out that what she's doing could make you cross - so there's absolutely no point in punishments.

Praise your baby - she still won't understand why certain things seem to upset you. Giving plenty of praise and attention to the behaviour you do like and want to encourage works better than telling off about behaviour you don't like. If you have to say "no", keep it to times when you need a quick reaction - for example, when your child is about to touch something hot. If you say "no" a lot your baby will get used to it and won't react. Remember, babies will think "no" is a game if you end up laughing when you say it.

Be consistent - keep rules and limits the same from day to day. Build routines, such as regular mealtimes and bedtimes; these help your baby understand what you want.

Be positive - your baby will learn how to behave and get on with others by copying you. Here's your chance to teach your child how to be kind and friendly just by being that way yourself.

Keep a sense of humour - it can be hard to be amused when you see your keys being thrown down the toilet, or the toilet roll being unravelled halfway around the house. Your patience will be tested when your baby goes back to the TV knobs for the 100th time, or tips the vegetable purée on the floor. Where possible, try to see the funny side of your older baby's antics. Take a photo and think about saving up these memories to share at your child's 18th birthday party. Remember, this phase is over all too soon.

Be realistic - Don't expect too much, too soon. It's normal for a six-month-old baby to mess about with food, and it's normal for a baby enjoying being on the move to want to touch everything. Babies will make lots of 'mistakes' because of their immaturity and lack of experience, it's all part of how they learn.

All children gradually need to have limits set for them. It's never OK, for example, to bite a brother or sister or to pull a friend's hair.

For some babies it's enough to say "don't touch the video" or "please stop doing that". Others will have to be physically lifted away. Always explain why the behaviour is not OK.

Remember, your baby learns by trial and error. She doesn't know behaviour will annoy you. She only thinks "if I try doing this I wonder what will happen", not "if I do it, I can make mummy and daddy mad".

Quick tip:

Guiding and setting limits is not the same as punishment - it's gradual teaching about how to behave, and it all takes time.

Testing times for parents

noreply@blogger.com (Baby Bluebird) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:07:00 +0000

Anna Maxted tests a new device that enables parents to track their child via satellite from a computer or mobile 'phone.

(First Published: 19 Oct 2009)

Testing the NuM8 GPS

The last time I mislaid a child - my four-year old, in the park, for 15 endless minutes - I wished unashamedly that he could be chipped, like the cat.

When Steve Salmon's young daughter vanished during a family pub lunch (later found petting a pony in the adjacent field), he doubtless wished the same thing. Two years on, Salmon, chief executive of communications firm Lok8u, launched the equally tongue-twisting NuM8, the world's first GPS locator for children.

To all appearances, it's a chunky, child-friendly wristwatch, worn by the subject, that enables the fond parent to track their darling via satellite from a computer or mobile 'phone. But this is not a gadget for the morally squeamish. Behind the bright colours - choose from aqua blue, hot pink and lime green, or neutral black - the rubber strapf contains a "web of reinforced steel". If anyone - rebellious child or dastardly adult - attempts to remove the locator from its assigned wrist, Mummy or Daddy is alerted from their cappuccino via text.

According to the charity Missing Persons, formerly National Missing Persons Helpline, an estimated 140,000 children and young people run away or go missing every year in the United Kingdom. This, coupled with mothering three boys, has eroded my principles. I cannot wait to tag my kids.

Guilt forces me to opt for full disclosure. I tell the seven-year-old, "This is like a Ben 10 watch. You wear it, and I track you, like the police track baddies who try to escape from prison." Happily, as the NuM8 is a "wrist device", not an asbo-style ankle lock, Oscar is touchingly thrilled, imagining himself a secret agent on a mission, as opposed to, say, a burglar under house arrest.

I hunch over my phone in the park café, compulsively following the blue balloon on the screen's Googlemap that proves that Oscar is safe beyond the trees, racing down the hill on his scooter without a helmet.

It's a luxury to sit for five minutes and know that one's offspring has not been dragged out of the park by a predator or, more likely, wandered off with a friend. I know he is fine, because my husband has marked a "safe zone" on the map - if Oscar breaches the park perimeter, I receive a warning text, and 'live tracking' will commence. I can also text WRU - which I imagine is lazy, SMS-speak for "Where are you?" - at any time, and the device will send me his coordinates.

Yet, as the locator doesn't record heights, there's always the chance that he might climb a tree - and, sipping espresso while staring at the screen balloon on my phone, if he fell out, I'd be none the wiser until the ambulance arrived. Suddenly, I feel NuM8's reassurance is insufficient. I'm ready to step surveillance up a level. Might I suggest the next generation wristwatch comes with a hidden micro-camera, angled at my child's face?

This may be why, when I describe my new toy to Honor Rhodes, director of development at the Family and Parenting Institute, she is unimpressed.

"Is this," she says, "a symptom of panic-stricken but lazy parenting? I wonder what it is that we are trying to guard against, and I think it is that we don't want our child to be Madeleine McCann. While that was so terrible, the worst thing that could possibly occur, it happens incredibly rarely. Your child is more likely to be struck by lightning."

Against the dreadful but minute possibility of abduction stands the child's right to explore, says Rhodes. "Children need to wriggle out of from under the parents' gaze and encounter the world in their own way. Children like a bit of risk, and part of our job as parents is to be able to bear this rather than respond, because we can, with a bit of kit."

Rhodes is correct, of course. But, I empathise with Salmon's "blind panic", on realising his eight-year-old had vanished. At such a moment, you'd sell your soul to ensure your child's safety.

Rhodes remains unmoved. "Could we not find better ways to keep our children safe that are about our relationship? If your children aren't chipped and pinned, you have to talk to them about where they can and can't go. Parenting is about negotiating and relinquishing degrees of control, so that by the time your child is a young teenager, they can make their way in the world."

I may have to resort to words whether I like it or not, for while the software works, it is slow - not quite 24, more like 12. I am a technological halfwit, and Salmon emphasises that the locator is an 'extension' to, not a replacement for, parenting. Yet an 18-month contract for a safety aid dependent on a mobile 'phone signal and a charged battery has its flaws.

My resolve is tested when the three-year-old disappears into a school playground. He eventually turns up, happy and breathless, after a game of chase with the big children. I say sternly: "I didn't know where you were, and I was frightened. Do not run off again!" He apologises, then speeds out of sight. One day, I fear, I'm going to have to trust him.

Source: Telegraph online

Simple safety products to help safeguard your little ones while out and about.