Urbanbaby & Toddler Magazine - Summer 2012

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CONNECTING YOUNG FAMILIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

SUMMER 2012 • PRICELESS

SUMMER 2012

i n t h i s i ssue

Edit or’s L et t er Ever notice how many of your favourite family photos are taken in summer? In the backyard. Around the campground.

At the beach. It’s that time of year!

One of our must-read articles in this edition is on planning birthday parties.

Apparently my parents got carried away with my third birthday and invited over 15 little guests. Talk about commotion! Read about when to size up the guest list and other valuable tips for that perfect party.

Check out our UrbanGuide showcasing 25 Summer Fun Ideas – easy and simple ways to entertain the kids and enjoy the summer together.

Wherever the summer takes you, may you and your family enjoy some memorable ‘fun in the sun’!

Editor

We welcome your letters to the editor at editor@urbanbaby.ca on the cover Lorriane Pond and Anisa, 10mths Models Clothing: We3 Clothing, Little Tree Apparel Photo credit: Leina Wade Photography

volume 10 • issue 2

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family: Baby On Board: Expanding Your Ride..................................................... 4 parenting: Well-Planned Birthday Parties: Priceless!........................................... 6 celebrity daddy: Dean McDermott..................................................................... 8 celebrity mommy: Lorraine Pond....................................................................... 9 postpartum: Should I Stay or Should I Go: The Back to Work Debate.............. 10 ages & stages: Potty Training Basics: Tips and Tricks that Work....................... 12 feature: Parent’s Guide to Camping: Making it Easy with Little Ones................. 14 parenting: Getting Your Child to Sleep: Small Steps Make a Difference............. 16 relationships: New Dads: What Every New Mom Wants You to Know.............. 18 URBAN MARKET: Products & Promotions....................................................... 20 education expert: Great Outdoor Activities: That Work the Body and the Brain..22 ceo mom: Blogging Like A Mom: The Real Story............................................... 24 GREAT GOODS: Summer Products!................................................................. 26 URBAN GUIDE: Summer 2012: 25 Ideas for Summer Fun with the Family........ 28 outdoor fun: Family-Friendly Beaches & Outdoor Parks.................................... 30 on the town: Summer Fun................................................................................ 31 spotlight: UrbanMom........................................................................................ 31 EDITOR/AD SALES Lara Leontowich

DESIGN/PRODUCTION Shannon Brownlee

CONTRIBUTORS Kirsty Hill, Carla Wood, Christy Laverty, Wendy Helfenbaum, Chelene Knight, Laura LaRocca, Jennifer Garden, Natacha V. Beim, Daniela Ginta, Michael Boronowski SUBSCRIPTION urbanbaby & toddler magazine available for $20.00* per year (4 issues). urbanbaby & toddler magazine is published four times per year by Local Kids Media, printing 40,000 copies per issue.*Price includes HST Material appearing herein may not be reproduced in print or electronically without written permission of the publisher, and without proper credit. Editorial opinions and viewpoints may not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

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family

| by Kirsty Hill

Baby On Board:

Expanding Your Ride You’ll never forget the first ride home from the hospital with your bundle of joy. Never has driving a car felt like so much responsibility when you have your precious cargo so tiny and fragile in the infant car seat.

It’s in that moment, that driving a fun, cute, or hot car is thrown out of the window and all you care about is safety and space. You say you would never drive a mini van….well, we’ll see about that.

So either you’re pregnant and thinking ahead or you’ve been towing around a toddler in what now seems like the smallest car in the world – but you’ve come to same decision. It’s time to buy a bigger car.

Things to Consider Fuel Economy: Moving to a larger vehicle, whether minivan or SUV, will greatly increase your gas consumption, so it’ll be important to compare the fuel economy of the vehicles you’re considering. And with gas prices rising, this should be a key

factor in considering what vehicle to buy. Looking at a newer car?

Consider a hybrid to save on gas and reduce your emissions.

Canadian fuel consumption is measured by the number of litres of gas a car uses per 100 km, therefore, the lower the number, the better. Commercials or advertising made in the United States measures fuel consumption by the number of miles you can drive per gallon of gas, therefore, the higher the number, the better.

Interior and Cargo Space: The days of going away for a weekend with just a single bag are gone. With babies and young children, you’ll want enough room to get your child in and out without breaking your back. You need room for diaper bags, a stroller, and if it’s long trip, playpen, toys and other gear.

Therefore, a large trunk, or the ability to remove rear seats makes travelling a lot easier. Many new minivans and SUV’s even have

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cargo space under the floor, leaving you with a less crowded interior. Rear-facing car seats can make a tight squeeze in many sedans, as they often don’t fit behind the front seats, so you’ll be grateful for more space between the rows of seats.

Universal Anchor Systems and Used Cars: Nearly all new car seats require a universal anchor system. The universal anchor system is attached to the frame of your car, which the car seat buckles onto. Brand new cars have the system already installed, but older, used cars don’t. But if you are planning on buying used, you’re still okay! You can bring your car into any dealership and get the anchor system installed, absolutely free.

Safety: Beyond just feeling safe in your new vehicle, it’s important to trust that the vehicle will be reliable.

There are many websites and books that evaluate and report on a vehicle’s standing in safety and reliability. Visit consumerreports.org for reports on new vehicles, and lemonaidcars.com for reports on all used cars.

If buying a used vehicle, purchase an ICBC Vehicle Claims History ($20). This report will show any and all accident claims made on the exact vehicle you’re considering. You can buy the report online and get it emailed to you instantly.

For an added sense of safety and comfort, there are new technologies you can add to your vehicle, such as a parking sensor, rear view camera, Bluetooth and more. Many aftermarket car gadgets are available for extra safety and entertainment capability. •

Gadgets for Your Ride Yada Parking Sensor: The Yada Parking Sensor can detect obstacles, cars, people or objects behind your vehicle when in reverse and send clear audio warning alerts. The sensor is installed on the inside of your rear bumper.

Cost: $99.99 Where to buy: Canadian Tire

Boyo Vision License Plate-Mounted Rear View Camera: Boyo Vision’s VTL300c license plate-mounted rear view camera helps you reverse your vehicle safely. Will install on most bumpers and tailgates. Additional purchase of a monitor is required.

Cost: $99.00 Where to buy: Future Shop

Rocketfish™ - Car Mount for Apple iPad: Strap your Apple iPad to the back of your car’s headrest so you can play movies or TV shows. You might have to listen to Dora shout about maps for the whole ride, but it is better than having the kids make a fuss due to boredom. It is also great for longer drives or road trips.

Cost: $29.99 Where to buy: Best Buy

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 5

p a re n t i n g

| by Carla Wood

Well-Planned Birthday Parties: Priceless!

Parents love to celebrate their child’s birthday and often they want to show it by throwing their beloved a big shindig complete with entertainment, bouncy castles, great food, and lots of guests. But beware!

Overly elaborate parties can easily overwhelm your very young child more than you could ever imagine. Instead, plan something low-key with one or two well-chosen highlights. Here are the basics for planning a fun and easy birthday party for your child:

Pick a Theme: First, pick a theme (e.g., pirate, princess, animals, flowers-whatever your child fancies) and plan things around that. Purchase or make invitations to fit the theme, and get decorations, plates and napkins, and goody bags to tie things together.

Limit Guests: How many little guests should you have?

The younger your child is, the fewer guests you should invite.

Try keeping it to close family and friends for babies. Once your toddler has started pre-school, your guest list is sure to grow year after year.

Invitations: Whether you buy themed cards or make them, hand deliver or email them. Include the obvious date, time and place: and RSVP date along with your contact info; if parents should stay: what meals (if any) will be served; and duration of the party. Ask parents to notify you of any allergies you should be aware of as well!

Play Games & Entertainment: Two short games are enough for those under five years. Remember, a toddler’s attention span is limited! Simple games like Pin the Tail on the Donkey work well. For booking entertainment such as clowns, face painters and balloon twisters, remember to book early. Ideal time for your party entertainer to arrive is thirty minutes after all the guests have arrived.

Easy on the Birthday Cake: Don’t sweat on the cake. Your child will be happy with whatever you provide, whether it is store

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bought or something you laboured over. If you decide to make your own, start with a cake mix to make things easier so that all you need to do is decorate. As an alternative to cake, try cupcakes and cake pops. The smaller size makes them easier for younger children to eat without using a fork making clean-up much simpler.

Serve Simple Foods: Prepare kid-friendly foods. The party is primarily for the kids, so focus on foods that will work for them however go easy on the sugar. Remember to have healthy alternatives like fruits and/or veggies with yogurt dip. And keep any allergies in mind when preparing food.

Choosing the Venue: If you plan to host the party at a venue other than your home, try to choose one that is convenient for your guests. Many apartments and condo buildings have party rooms available for residents that is ideal for hosting parties. Such rooms usually come with a well-equipped kitchen. Kids activity centres and party venues catering to children are popular because they offer attractive entertainment value. They provide all-in-one party packages for parents, and best of all most of the clean-up is handled by the staff at the venue. Whichever location you choose ensure that they are easily accessible with clean washrooms and have ample space for strollers and parking for your guests.

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Birthday Party Planning Tips Regardless of your child’s age, arrange the time of the party so your birthday boy or girl is well-rested. For younger children you will want to plan around nap times.

While parties are a great time to celebrate milestones remember that a smaller, wellplanned party will often be much more memorable than one that is overly elaborate with numerous guests.

Celebrating a 1st Birthday: Invite family and a handful of friends. Children this age are typically fond of musical games and puppet shows. Make sure you have a full-size bib on hand for your child so he or she can fully enjoy that first birthday cake. And have the camera charged up so you can take some priceless photos of your little one’s reactions.

During the day of the party, consider assigning tasks to grandparents and aunts/uncles.

Your little one will love all the attention!

Celebrating a 2nd or 3rd Birthday: If weather permits consider hosting the party in your backyard; in the backyard of a friend or relative; or in the neighbourhood park so your little birthday guests have a chance to engage in active age-appropriate games.

Ensure that the children can move around in a safe environment. When you plan months ahead you can scout out unique, child-safe and fun items for the goody bags. Have an assortment of drinks available including a variety of juices as children this age tend to be more active and can easily get dehydrated.

Celebrating a 4th or 5th Birthday: Consider using a birthday party venue and be sure to have a few parents available to assist you in supervising the children. For a home party, you could bring in an age-appropriate musical entertainer, face painter or balloon twister which can be an instant hit! Make homemade invitations and involve your child in the process. They can also help out in creating and handing out the goody bags.

Encourage your birthday girl or boy to say thank you to each guest for their birthday gift. Some families may not be able to afford the latest and greatest gadget and this is a great opportunity to teach your child the value of thankfulness. • Carla is a mom of a four year old and lives in Langley. She owns an online party store and loves helping her customers organize fun birthday parties! Visit her at www.thepartymonkey.ca

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 7

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ce l e b r i t y d a d d y

| by Christy Laverty

Celebrity Daddy: Dean McDermott

Dean McDermott is a reality TV regular these days. He and his wife Tori Spelling live their lives, with their three children (soon to be four), in front of the cameras every week on their latest reality series Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.

The 45-year old grew up in Toronto, Ontario but these days he calls Los Angeles, California home. McDermott has appeared in a number of shows and movies, including playing Constable Renfield Turnbull on the Canadian TV series Due South.

In 2006 he married Tori Spelling and they had their first son Liam in March, 2007. Their daughter Stella followed in June of 2008. Their third child, Hattie, was born in October 2011.

Tori is currently pregnant with their fourth child. McDermott also has a 13 year old son, Jack, from his previous marriage to Canadian actor and television chef Mary Jo Eustace.

I was excited to chat with McDermott about parenting on camera and what appears to be a very demanding and action-packed family and professional life. We had just started the interview when McDermott interrupted to address a question from his five year old son. The pair had a sweet exchange for a few seconds. McDermott ended the short conversation with his son by saying “Love you Buddy”. It was a real “parenting moment”, interrupted by a child, the kind most of us have had while on the phone. It was a rather sweet moment.

Recently Urbanbaby & Toddler Magazine had a chance to chat with Dean about his life behind the camera and about being a Dad. UBT: You and Tori have had several reality shows. You live your life on camera. How difficult is that to do and raise a family?

DM: It is not that difficult. When we signed up to do a reality show it was for real. We have invited these cameras into our home and we are trying to be true and real about it. The kids have grown up with the crew. We have been fortunate to have the same crew since day one so they have become an extended family.

UBT: Is there anything that is off limits when it comes to the children and the cameras?

DM: There hasn’t been anything that has been off limits so far.

We wanted to make it real and our audience really responds well. I don’t see it becoming a problem until they get older. My son Jack is 13, so of course I wouldn’t bring up anything like girlfriends and stuff like that. It is hard enough being 13 as it is. Liam and Stella are still at that age when they love everybody and every thing and you can’t really embarrass them.

UBT: You and Tori have such a busy life, from TV shows, books, book tours and you are both still taking acting roles.

How do you balance it all? How do you keep your life sane?

Or is it?

DM: It is not sane. It is almost easier because our schedule is not 9-to-5 we are able to do more things as husband and wife

8 | www.urbanbaby.ca | summer 2012

with our kids. Our schedule is pretty good because we get to go to more of the things the kids do. It also works the other way too because our schedule is that crazy that we miss stuff. We try to balance things the best we can and embrace the insanity of it all.

UBT: Why do you think your shows have been successful?

DM: We do this for real or we just don’t do it. We have seen produced reality shows and we have seen the difference in how the audience responds. The reality audience is getting savvier.

They are starting to see through the produced stuff. What you see is what you get. Parents can relate to us. I take the garbage out like every guy.

UBT: So you are about to be a Dad of five kids. You and Tori are expecting your fourth child. Are Liam and Stella are excited for another baby?

DM: They were both really excited about the birth of Hattie.

Liam wanted a brother, but he got a sister and he was so happy.

Stella liked the idea of it at the time but now that she is here she is not so crazy about it. Liam wants a brother and Stella will be happy with anything because she won’t be the middle child anymore, she won’t be the youngest and she won’t be the oldest.

UBT: Do you have any new projects in the works? Is there anything that you have on your list as a dream projects?

DM: I have a couple of irons in the fire. I’ve got something that we are putting together so I have to hold those cards close to my chest but it is exciting. It is something that I have dreamt of. I am very excited and scared to death too.

UBT: With Father’s Day approaching what is the best part of being dad?

DM: Liam was about seven or eight months old when we were in New York having lunch. I was wearing a grey flannel cap and I put the cap on his head. He looked up at me then with his little angelic face, seemed to be saying “You are my hero”. It is just the way they look up to you with adoration, questions and a need for guidance.

I thought to myself “Wow, you are putting all your faith into me”. That is such a great feeling to be loved and trusted so much.

Stella does that too.

As for Hattie, when I give her the morning bottle, while she is in my arms, I look down and she looks up at me with that same kind of look that Liam gave me, like “aw you are awesome” and it warms my heart.

We ended our conversation in what appeared to be a natural, fun way that illustrates the kind of loving, involved and “engaged Dad” Dean McDermott appears to be. As we wrapped up our conversation, Dean added “My little guy is sitting here and he just gave me a high five.” •

ce l e b r i t y m o m my

Lorraine Pond Bobs and LoLo

Bobs and LoLo are two local gems and two years ago when Treehouse TV started airing their music videos, parents and kids right across Canada learned what many Vancouver area families have known since 2003. Robyn Hardy (Bobs), and Lorraine Pond (LoLo) have been rocking the kids music scene since they formed their group nine years ago.

They gained initial success by performing at the Vancouver Aquarium where Pond worked as an environmental educator.

They use music from different genres to teach and entertain. They recorded their first album Sea Notes in 2004 and haven’t looked back since, recording three more albums, including their most recent in 2011 called Connecting The Dots, featuring songs about making connections in our lives. A little more than 10 months ago Lorraine Pond gave birth to her greatest masterpiece, her daughter Anisa.

UBT: Is there anything about being a children’s entertainer that prepared you when becoming a mom?

LP: Yes. It was the immediate support around me, once people started to find out I was pregnant it was almost as exciting for our fans and moms we were connected with as it was for my family. I felt a lot of love from that and, of course, there was a lot of sharing, some advice and also a lot of encouragement.

UBT: How do you think your job affects your daughter Anisa?

LP: She is having a childhood experience that I think is pretty amazing. She is going to new places. The world of children’s entertainment is perfect for a kid. She is going to all the festivals.

I just think about all the “adventures” she is going to have in the next few years.

UBT: What kind of impact do you think being a mom will have on your music? Do you have a different perspective now that you are a mom?

LP: Before, when we were writing and doing creative development, it was always about kids and trying to write things that they would relate to and now I am thinking like a mom.

With our most recent album, Connecting The Dots, we actually wrote and recorded it while I was pregnant. There is even one song, Family Tree, which is all about the stories that make each and everyone one of us individual in our own families. There is a line about a brand new body starting to grow-a new baby on the way- that was definitely inspired by where I was in my life - four months pregnant. I think you will see more influences like that in our music from now on.

It is really interesting having my own little focus group. Anisa responds to music and loves it. She should because I was performing until I was eight months pregnant. I think she knew some of the songs even before she was born.

UBT: What is the best part of being a mom?

LP: I feel like the first year is so crazy; the development is so insane. She (Anisa) is changing every day before my eyes. And now she is at that stage where she is picking up words. One of the best things is feeling like a child again through the eyes of your own child and really appreciating all these things that we take for granted every day. •

p os t p a r t u m

| by Wendy Helfenbaum

Should I Stay or Should I Go: The Back to Work Debate

Having a baby is exciting, exhausting, and can be expensive. At some point between midnight feedings and endless diaper changes, you will need to decide when or whether to return to work.

This choice is often comes with varying degrees of anxiety, doubt and fear because it will affect your family’s future and perhaps your sense of identity as well.

A recent Statistics Canada study revealed that nearly 90% of mothers and 55% of fathers take a leave of absence from work.

Nearly one-quarter never return to work at all. Some mothersto-be who are certain they’ll never want to return to the office after giving birth soon swing the other way, realizing they aren’t prepared to give up that hard-earned spot on the corporate ladder. Others plan on taking a minimal maternity leave, only to find themselves taking 18 months off, or quitting their jobs altogether.

Q: How do You Decide Whether You Want to Go Back to Work Full-time, Part-time, or Not at All?

A: Are you prepared to live on one parent’s salary or work fulltime just to pay skyrocketing childcare costs? We asked a local family to share their wisdom and experiences.

When Sharon Mason and Steve Bellamy started their family six years ago, they came up with their own, rather unorthodox parental leave program. Since they both wanted to stay at home with their new baby daughter, they found a creative solution.“We had just moved to a new city, and neither of us were ‘on leave’ from a job we wanted to return to,” recalls Mason, “We felt no pressure to go back to anything in particular. It was a fresh start.”

While most of their successful friends and colleagues in Vancouver juggled raising children and maintaining expensive, fast-paced lifestyles on two incomes, Mason and Bellamy chose a very different path. Over the next four years, Mason stayed at home with Miriam, now five, and Saul, now three. Bellamy spent

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www.urbanbaby.ca the first six months of his daughter’s life at home then took on a series of part-time sales jobs in order to maximize the time he could spend at home with his family The couple’s family and friends often wondered how they managed, says Mason. After saving enough money before becoming pregnant to ensure a good-sized cushion for the future they bought a small bungalow in the suburbs doing most repairs themselves. Mason breastfed and used cloth diapers which she estimates saved them “thousands of dollars” during that first year of parenthood.

“People get so caught up in this consumer world,” says Mason, “and I think people need to sit back and ask, what do I really need? What is really important to me?”

Michael Preto certainly agrees with that assessment. As a certified financial planner, Preto advises many young parents.

“The most important thing for a couple to know is how much they’re spending in that first year after a baby is born,” explains Preto. “If you keep track of your expenses in that first year, you should have a very good idea of how much money you’re spending, and how much you need.”

Next on the list, says Preto, is weighing the cost of childcare, which runs about $1,000 per month, against your potential earnings. “Often, a parent is working for a difference of $500 per month. But it’s not just a financial decision,” explains Preto. “If you’re a high-income earner and you’ve got a career that you really enjoy, then it’s a no-brainer. If not, it becomes a difficult decision to make.” Don’t forget the other costs associated with going back to work such as work clothes, commuting costs and lunches out.

Bellamy believes anything is possible with the right attitude.

“If having one parent stay at home is something you really want, you have to adapt to it,” says Bellamy, who has been at home full-time with his children for over a year. Mason returned to work full-time last fall, and Bellamy says he’s never been happier. “I’ve just always wanted to be a stay-at-home dad.”

To parents agonizing over whether taking an extended parental leave can hurt one’s career; Mason admits that at first, she wondered how her long absence would affect her opportunities. “People are so afraid that taking time off is going to reflect badly on them or ruin their chances for advancement,” she says. “I think a lot of people don’t do what they really want to do because of that fear. Now, when I tell colleagues I was home with my kids for four years, nobody bats an eyelash.” • The best time to look for childcare is before you need it.

For information, referrals & resources for new parents go to childcareinfo.gov.bc.ca/childcaresearch/search.aspx

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Children explore weekly movement themes, simple games and activities in a relaxed, child-led environment.

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604.568.9690 837 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC Kids Physio Group provides private physiotherapy treatment to babies, children and teens in Metro Vancouver.

Our Baby Milestones Program aims to ensure that your child’s gross motor development is closely followed throughout their first year and a half.

Our physiotherapists are keen to share their specific knowledge of:

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Wendy is a freelance writer, television producer and mother to a six year old boy.

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 11

604.730.6966 www.kidsphysio.ca info@kidsphysio.ca 210-3369 Fraser St | Vancouver, BC | V5V 4C2

a g es & s t a g es

| by Chelene Knight

Potty Training Basics:

Tips and Tricks that Work You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.” The same idea applies to potty training. A child who is truly potty trained, will recognize on their own when they need to pass urine or have a bowel movement, and to be able to get their pants up and down on their own.

Children need a worthwhile reason to cooperate with potty training because they are giving up the convenience of going anytime, anywhere and the personal attention garnered by having their parents change their soiled diapers.

Q: How Do You Know When it is the Right Time To Begin Potty Training?

A: All children reach milestones at different times but on average most children begin to demonstrate signs of readiness between 18 - 24 months of age. Before this age, very few children’s muscles are developed enough for the bladder control necessary for potty training.

Local parent and early childhood educator, Jannel Shute says

her daughter was already displaying signs of readiness at 12 months of age. “She would come to see me the moment she would soil her diaper and want it off. She was very aware of what was in her diaper, so awareness is a great sign to look for.”

Another sign is seeing the child leave the room when they are doing their “business” because they want privacy or feel embarrassed that you are watching them poop. Signs to look for are as follows: your child tells you when they need to go, dislikes wearing dirty diapers, and understands what a toilet is and how to use it.

Modern marriages, dual careers and time-sensitive schedules require new methods to achieve successful toilet training. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and this is very evident when hearing the varying opinions of many parents enduring the process.

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Monique Gonzalez, mother of two toddler girls swears by the reward method. “I let my girls choose a small treat when they use the potty properly.”

Praise, encouragement, laughter, lots of love, hugs and kisses work well too but according to Jannel Shute, letting her daughter choose her own panties is what worked best for her.

“When children are rewarded for doing tasks, they begin to expect it all the time. My daughter loved princesses so I knew that letting her choose her own panties was beyond exciting for her.”

There is so much to take in when it comes to how and when to potty train your child. Most parents agree that boys train a little later than girls but this isn’t always the case. “My son was very eager to learn, and I taught him by allowing him to watch and imitate me while I was using the toilet, says Miguel Guandique. I taught him that it was important to aim at the center of the toilet, and bought a small seat attachment for the toilet because he was scared about falling in.”

When it comes to training boys, it is very helpful when daddy can demonstrate and allow them to copy what daddy is doing. It is also very helpful to have older siblings who have been there before to encourage their younger siblings!

Summer is a great time to try potty training. The weather is warmer, and your child can play outside without a diaper.

Allowing your child to be bottomless provides them with the feeling of when they need to use the potty.

When it comes right down to it, potty training your child is serious business, but be sure to add a little fun, a ton of patience and remember to always stay positive. There are many ways to get the job done, find what works for your child and stick with it! •

Parent Approved Tips and Tricks • Provide special “potty books” that they can read only when sitting on the potty.

• Try rewards like stickers, small treats, big kid underwear, and lots of praise • Purchase a musical potty or toilet seat in fun kid themes • Set a timer to remind them to try to go potty when the timer buzzes • Let them play target practice, aim and shoot!

• Try the coloured water trick: add red or blue food colouring to the toilet and when they pee, the water turns green or orange • Boys can start out sitting on the toilet backwards, helping them to automatically aim in the right place

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Chelene is a freelance writer living in Vancouver. She enjoys watching movies with her ten year old daughter Desiraye when not working on her first novel.

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 13

Call 604.539.8322 www.happynappy.ca

fea t u re

| by Laura LaRocca

Parent’s Guide to Camping: Making it Easy with Little Ones

Before my husband and I had kids, we’d load our camping gear into our canoe and paddle for hours in search of an isolated site to spend our weekend. Our expectations changed when we became parents.

Small children hardly sit still in a car, never mind in a tippy canoe.

So we found campsites close to home that catered to their needs and we learned that while nature provided enough for us, being prepared helped us on camping adventures with the little ones.

while you are camping, especially if you are only away for a day or two and if there are onsite laundry facilities. For potty training toddlers invest in a portable potty to keep up with potty training routine while away from home.

Plan for the Drive

Getting Baby Around

If your child sleeps in the car, time your drive for nap or bedtime. Otherwise, build in extra travel time for frequent breaks and dealing with the unexpected, such as surprise diaper changes or a fussy baby. If possible, have someone sit in the backseat to provide entertainment.

Campground paths are often too narrow and bumpy for traditional strollers. Jogging strollers easily handle the rough terrain; while a sling or back carrier will help you carry a toddler for long periods of time.

The Campsite Most parents will have better time at a family-oriented campground, preferably with a playground. Look for a flat site that’s free of big rocks that could trip up a wobbly toddler or a parent carrying a child. Check for mushrooms and toxic plants such as poison ivy.

Tent or Trailer?

If you’re going to tent it, make sure your tent is big enough. You won’t want to be cooped up with an active tot in a tiny sleeping tent if it rains. A two-room tent will keep your gear out of baby’s sight and increase your chances that it will stay packed.

A mosquito-netting enclosed dining tent shelter is another must-have if you are tenting, and desirable even with a trailer.

The tent shelters around the dining area; gives your toddler somewhere to run around even when it’s rainy and wet; and also provides protection from the sun and insects.

Meal Times Food safety is even more important when you’re feeding your little ones. Purchase baby food in the smallest containers, to limit leftovers. A portable highchair or baby seat can help with meal time. For formula-fed babies, pack pre-measured powdered formula in individual portions, and bring enough water to mix with it.

Diapers or Potty Training Babies always need more diapers when you’re away from your main stash. Estimate how many diapers you’ll need, and then throw in an extra supply just in case. You can use cloth diapers

14 | www.urbanbaby.ca | summer 2012

Entertainment Bring some toys such as dump trucks to push around the campsite, and plan for rainy day/quiet time activities having a stash of colouring books, blowing bubbles and storybooks.

Insect Repellent Protect your tyke from annoying-and possible harmful-insect bites by dressing them in a hat (preferably with a neck protecting sun flap), light-colored clothing, long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Keep your tot indoors or in a dining tent shelter as much as possible during peak mosquito hours: dawn, dusk, and early evening. Bug lights will reduce insects around your campsite.

Sun Protection Babies under six months of age should be kept out of the direct sunlight. Move your baby to the shade, under a tree; under an umbrella, or use a stroller sunshade to cover your baby. Cover baby with a hat that has a sun flap, sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection, long sleeves and long pants where possible, and keep him shaded between 10am and 2pm. For older babies and toddlers, apply cream containing SPF 30 or higher to all exposed areas, including nose, ears and tops of feet. Be alert for signs that a child is experiencing heat illness and needs to go inside.

Safety Around Water Should your camping trip take your family near water of any kind, bear in mind that young children can wander off very quickly - when you least expect it. Toddlers especially can move superfast and are often intrigued with lakes, rivers, oceans, beaches and swimming pools. When meeting up with family or friends ensure that a few adults are assigned to closely monitor the little

tykes. All children should be supervised by an adult when they are in or around water.

Consider putting your little one in a playpen when loading or unloading the car and for those times you are rather preoccupied with meal prep. Bring along a few new smaller toys for the playpen on camping trips so your child can enjoy the great outdoors and you have more peace of mind. You can also purchase a netting cover for the playpen in case insects are a concern.

Pack lots of extra socks and if your toddler is walking, be sure to pack a rain jacket and boots, along with splash pants. Keep in mind that temperatures often drop at night when camping, and your tot may need a warm hat, sweater or jacket, and even mitts in the evening. Bring sleepers with feet for bedtime. If your tot is pulling up or walking, they’ll need shoes that protect the soles of their feet from pebbles and sticks in your campsite.

Sleeping Arrangements

Clothing Bring enough clothing to keep the little one dry and semi-clean.

Camping is about having fun, enjoying nature and getting dirty.

Layers of light clothing will keep your child comfortable. Loosely fitted long-sleeved shirts and pants will protect them against the sun’s rays and insects.

Plan ahead so your young children have a safe and comfortable spot to sleep. Keep baby’s routine as close as possible to the one you’ve established at home, and bring any favourite bedtime storybooks and comfort items they need to make their home away from home as cozy as possible. •

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summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 15

p a re n t i n g

| by Jennifer Garden, B.H.K., MClSc. OT, MSc.

Getting Your Child to Sleep:

Small Steps Make a Difference In the quest for more sleep, there is no shortage of opinions from friends, family and even perfect strangers.

This article will provide you with some facts backed by research about your child’s sleep. It will identify what is realistic to expect and provide you with small steps to help your child sleep – so you can too!

Literature shows that if you are pregnant and obtain correct information about sleep before your baby is born that your baby is 50% more likely to be a better sleeper. Researchers compared two groups of parents, those who received correct sleep health information for infants before having a baby and those who received none. What is the secret to a better sleeping baby?

intervention is the key to helping a child obtain more solid sleep as they do not just ‘grow out of it’.

Steps to Help Your Newborn Sleep

•

•

Make certain your baby knows night from day. Offer night feeds in a dimly lit room, change his/her diaper and put back to sleep.

During the daytime, make sure they are brought into a brightly lit room and get outside for a walk if possible.

•

Try cluster feeding your baby (bringing them to the breast more often in the afternoon/evening) so they can store up on the rich milk which your breasts produce more of during the evening hours.

•

If your baby is ‘fussy’ (other terms used are colicky, purple crying, etc.) you should know that this is a normal phase that all mammals (including humans) go through, some just more than others. It is usually in the afternoon and evening that they become increasingly fussy. Strategies to help calm them include to offer deep pressure, to give him/her a nice massage with some oil/ cream, to have a deeper bath (with extra vigilance and never leave a baby unattended), and to take a walk outside in a baby carrier which offers both comforting and calming deep pressure for a newborn baby. You can find more information about this at www.purplecrying.info

Steps to Help Your Baby (over five months old) Sleep By five months of age a baby should be ‘sleeping through the night’. This means that they should be sleeping at least six hours consecutively, or what researchers call ‘a long sleep trajectory’.

Canadian researchers have looked at when a baby typically demonstrates this skill and it is at five months of age. Research also shows that approximately 25 - 30% of infants by five months do not sleep a continuous six hours. They indicate that

16 | www.urbanbaby.ca | summer 2012

•

Make sure you have a bedtime routine that is predictable (perhaps a bath, change into PJ’s, feed, clean teeth, story, song, put to bed).

Keep bedtime at around 7:00pm - 7:30pm. Melatonin, the ‘sleep’ hormone, is typically released by the body at this time which helps your baby get off to sleep.

•

Keep wake up time in the morning and put to bed time at night consistent. This consistency sets the circadian rhythm (the body’s natural clock that tells us when to wake and sleep).

•

It is unrealistic to expect your baby to sleep long stretches without night feeding until about seven or eight months of age (this depends on the baby and is variable). Some children sleep longer stretches than six hours at a young age but most do not.

The gold standard is to achieve six hours by five months.

•

Changing your baby’s diet, e.g. supplementing with formula or starting solids before six months does not help baby sleep longer.

Research indicates there is no change in a baby`s sleep patterns who received solids before bedtime when compared to babies who were not given solids. In fact, early introduction to solid foods maybe associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, adult-onset celiac disease, and eczema.

Steps to Help Your Toddler Sleep Most children try to miss naps. This generally happens sometime after two years of age. This does not mean they are ready to stop napping; they are exerting themselves more as independent little beings, which is exciting, they are growing up!

Most children need to nap until the age of four or five years. Keep persistent with the schedule and you will find your toddler will fall back into the routine of needing their nap.

•

Lack of sleep in children pre-disposes them to health risks such as obesity and mood disorders. Researchers discovered

that some school aged children were misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when in fact they just were not getting enough sleep!

•

Bedtime resistance is one of the most common problems C at this age. Try using some positive behavioural approaches, M e.g. get down to their level when talking to them. Avoid getting Y into a power struggle; use empathy and redirect them to the CM desired activity e.g. brushing teeth, putting on pyjamas. Set limits to the number of stories or songs you will have and make MY sure to stick with this agreed upon limit.

CY CMY

•

The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends no television K for children under the age of two. At three years children will be at the most physically active stage of their entire life. Make sure you embrace this active fun time and provide them with lots of opportunities during the day to run, jump, swim, hang from monkey bars, and slide down slides. This will help them achieve the daily movement their body craves and also helps with night time sleep. If your child watches television or plays on the computer or iPad, limit their exposure to 20 minutes and make sure this activity is at least two hours prior to bedtime.

•

Preparation for bedtime should be a calming, relaxing time of the day when you unwind with your child. So often it can be a struggle and strain on a family. It takes patience to help your children learn to get to sleep by themselves. Additional patience can be found through getting some more sleep yourself. Just like when you are on an airplane and you don your own oxygen mask first, you need to care for yourself so that you can care for another. Turn off the television, computer, iPad, and smartphone early to rest your mind and try to get additional physical exercise which helps kids and adults alike with sleep. •

Hiring a Sleep Professional In Canada, there is no certification or regulatory board to provide information to the public on sleep qualifications for consultants. As such, anyone “licensed” is not licensed by any governing health body. It is important to inform yourself of whom you hire to work with your family and child with respect to their sleep health. Asking the sleep professional if they are registered may reduce costs that could be covered by your extended benefits. Some health plans cover occupational therapy and psychology.

Jennifer is a registered occupational therapist and mom of twins living in Vancouver. She specializes in sleep for infants and children. Visit her at www.sleepdreams.ca

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 17

re l a t i o n s h i ps

| by Lara Leontowich

New Dads: What Every New Mom Wants You to Know

With Father’s Day approaching we thought we’d take the time to give every new dad the inside scoop.

Think of this article as Dad’s Guide for being “the ultimate partner” after having a new baby. While you may feel like the glorified sperm donor - and by now accustom to - being continually “upstaged” by mom and baby, make no mistake your presence down the road called Parenthood could never be more important!

What She Wants You to Know (if she could only find the time to tell you) As a new mom, I feel blessed to have found someone whom I love, cherish and desire to start a family with. I am also excited to share this time with you and will be relying on you even more - in ways too numerous to count. With the birth of a new baby there can be some unique stresses and struggles whether the new baby is our first or fourth. If we have another child or two, besides our precious new baby, know that I may need a different kind of support each time our family expands. Don’t be fooled. Even if we survived our first baby’s first year, realize that every baby is different. What works once may not work for the second or third child. Taking care of two or more children makes the simplest of tasks much more complicated.

Here is an Eye-Opener to Her World and How You Can Help Out I Am Busy While you may work 9 to 5, as a new mom, my job never ends.

Naps, feedings, diaper changes, playtime, loads of laundry and erratic sleep patterns affect me too. For most new moms the first three to five months are a complete blur.

I Am Listening Communication is key as we adjust to our new baby. I love to hear about your day and I get excited for any chance to have adult conversation. Instead of grabbing the remote, putting your feet

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up on the couch and watching TV or spending time in the garage, remember I am longing for your attention. Ask me about my day.

Offer to take baby for an hour or two. Change a diaper. Give me some quality “me time”. Better yet, spend quality time with me (with the TV off) even if it is just for an hour.

Let’s Address It Sex, yes I know it’s on your mind. It’s on mine too but not in the same way. Medical guidelines suggest to reserve sexual activity until six weeks after giving birth, but really it depends on how I’m feeling and it’s important that I don’t experience any pain. Truth is I may often experience a lack of desire due to fluctuating hormone levels, increased exhaustion and my ever-changing appearance (yes, those extra pounds don’t magically disappear after baby is born) plus there is added sensitivity (in every region) due to breastfeeding and recovery after delivery. And then there is the problem of simply finding time! When I have little sleep for the fourth night in a row, guess what is on my mind? You guessed it.

Sleep!

Our To-Do List Juggling all the routine and ever-increasing new chores can be a source of contention for new moms. Imagine as a new mom, finding out that because you are home all day, you handle the majority of household chores. Many young families don’t have the

“The most important thing that a father can do for his children is to love their mother”.

- Theodore M.Hesburgh

Subscribe to our e-newsletter at

www.urbanbaby.ca

luxury of hired cleaning help so we need to talk openly about dividing up crucial tasks. Rest assured having you help out with the household to-do list will cast you in a whole new light to a sleep-deprived, stressed-out new mom. Consider it to be a new and effective form of foreplay.

I Need “Me Time” One of the best gifts you can give me is some time for self-care, rest or relaxation. Giving me the chance to take a quick, hot shower knowing you are taking care of baby is a real treat. Sometimes a two-hour soak in the tub is just what I need. Imagine my surprise when you have the hot bath ready (complete with candles) and you take baby from my hands so I can literally soak away any stresses of the day. Then there are those times when I’d enjoy the opportunity to grab a latte with a girlfriend; go to a fitness class; and shopping without baby strapped to my side.

We Need “Couple Time” No doubt about it, our family dynamics have changed forever – but in a good way. Having a “precious” new baby should not mean we forego our couple time. Plan a picnic/ coffee date/date night so we can get some “precious” one-onone time together (and have a reliable adult all set to take care of baby while we are out).

A nice stroll on the beach can give us both a new perspective and help the two of us stay connected. Imagine my delight when you surprise me with flowers. Even a single long-stemmed rose can brighten my day and add a romantic sizzle to our night. And who knows what that might lead to?

For those times when you catch baby and I curled up sleeping on the lounge chair at the end of the day take the time to press pause and savour the moment. And while we sleep, consider quietly picking up the baby blankets on the floor, soup cans on the kitchen counter, dishes on the table, empty baby bottles, bibs, soothers and toys here and there and everywhere.

Welcome to the world of Parenthood.

For the new moms out there who read this article: Keep in mind having a new baby is an adjustment for both of you.

Don’t be too tough on your partner. Chances are, he is trying his best to support you in many ways. He might just need an encouraging nudge from time to time and tons of gratitude when he has it right. •

Father Support Groups & Organizations Father Involvement Network - www.bccf.ca Parent Support Society of BC - www.parentsupportbc.ca BC Men’s Resource Society - www.menbc.webs.com

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 19

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ed uca t i o n ex p e r t

| by Natacha V. Beim

Q: “Dear Natacha, I am wondering if you could recommend some educational activities for our baby who just turned two. She loves spending time outside!” Adele, New Westminster

Great Outdoor Activities:

That Work the Body and the Brain

A:

Dear Adele, with the warm weather finally here, there are plenty of fun outdoor activities for our little ones to enjoy! Here are a few ideas that will benefit not only your child’s growing body, but will also develop their intellect and imagination.

Smart Outdoor Activities for Babies Playing with Sand Sand play provides your baby with great sensory experiences, which set the path for learning to write. It also teaches them pre-mathematical concepts such as, measurement, weight, and even addition and subtraction. Sand play encourages scientific thinking, and with the addition of scooping and pouring, you can enhance all of those skills!

Playing with Water Similarly to sand play, water provides great stimulation for the senses. It also creates a number of opportunities for your child to reason, by observing the temperature of the water, by mixing sand or dirt into the water, observing if objects float or sink, and by manipulating its course with their body. Even a tiny puddle of water provides endless experiences, hours of fun, and great opportunities to learn. Always stay at arm’s length however, as children can drown even in a puddle.

Exploring the Grass Babies love to feel and explore with their entire body. Help your baby walk on the grass with their bare feet. To add more sensory stimulation, go from a soft blanket, to cool grass, or dirt and mud if you dare, and walk over different textures. Remember to talk about how each one feels; even if your baby can’t put it into words yet, this is still great for their language and science development.

Smart Outdoor Activities for Toddlers Building with Mud or Sand Take sand play a step further by introducing your child to tools they can use to build with. Appropriate tools include, spoons, pails, shovels, and containers of different shapes and sizes. Your child will learn early mathematical concepts by working with various shapes and weights; they will also learn science, and creative thinking while comparing results and techniques as they

22 | www.urbanbaby.ca | summer 2012

discover the best way to build their structures. As a parent you can enhance their learning by talking about their observations whilst they are playing. Bring a friend for added social skills.

Observing Insects For a mere two dollars, you can buy plastic aquariums with perforated lids at pet shops and dollar stores. Bring them along with you and help your child carefully collect bugs to observe for the day. Discover with your child what the insects need in their habitat and what they need to eat. Encourage them to take photos and/or draw their observations. This teaches them science, reading and writing. You can further enhance their learning by reading about insects. This exercise is twice as much fun when you find tadpoles instead of ants!

Collecting Shells Explore the ocean with your child, from dipping your feet in the water, to looking for crabs and shells. Look at sand with a magnifying glass, collect water to look at it later under the light, look at the plants that grow in the water, and group your treasures by types. For added adventure and learning, make a treasure map and follow the clues with your child until you find it together.

Nothing is more delightful than digging out a buried treasure chest (these can also be purchased at the dollar store and filled with anything you like), and the treasure hunt’s added treasures are increasing reading, writing and math skills!

Smart Outdoor Activities for Young Children Building a Fort Use rocks, branches, and other natural elements around you to build a fort together. Figuring out how to build enhances your child’s reasoning and mathematical skills. While weaving string, leaves and other elements together are wonderful for fine motor skills, and are precursors for writing. Explaining the process out loud adds vocabulary skills, and doing it with a friend adds another level of complexity and social development.

Make a Mini-Habitat for your Favourite Toys For example, one day at the age of four, my son spent over six hours outside playing with his dinosaurs. We found a garden of tall grasses and leaves, which was the perfect habitat for twenty of his dinosaurs. He made them a lake, a volcano, a hiding

ASK: Natacha Do you have an educational

q uestion for Natacha? Email her at

a sk natacha@ur ba nbaby.c a

place and even a place to sleep. Days like this are wonderful opportunities for dramatic and imaginative play, which is crucial in any discipline.

Plant a Garden Gardening teaches your child about science and about life, and gives them a great amount of responsibility. It also teaches them about food and where it comes from (if you plant vegetables, for instance), this can also lead to good nutritional habits. Start from the very beginning by growing roots on an avocado, a potato or an onion, and plant them in glass jars to allow for better observation of the roots as they grow.

There are endless activities that your child can both enjoy and learn from; these are just a few examples. Spend time outside, rain or shine, and discover the world around you from your child’s perspective.

Good tips to keep in mind are; always talk with your child about what they are experiencing, and re-capture it again once you are inside. You can do this by drawing what they saw or by making up a story with those new elements, looking at the photos and exchanging thoughts and questions, and taking those experiences a little further in as many ways as you can. If your child is interested, start a journal where every day, you can either draw or write about your outdoor experiences. This will be something that will not only extend their learning greatly, but also become a treasured keepsake throughout the years. •

2191_Artspace_QuartPg_UBaby_Ad.pdf

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Bring out the best in your child young

Natacha is a writer, speaker, teacher, and the founder of Core Education & Fine Arts Junior Kindergarten schools (www.cefa.ca). You

transforming

can reach her at www.natachabeim.com

Coming in our

Next Issue Daycare Options Choosing the Right Preschool Learning Toys

lives

[ colour your child’s world and shape their future ] artspace is a brand new centre in Burnaby Heights for children ages 6 months to 12 years.

• Weekly visual arts, music, theatre, and dance classes • Art Adventures and Drama Adventures birthday parties • Half-day and full-day summer arts camps [Learn more and register at artspaceforchildren.com]

Our Favourite Children’s Books Babysitting Basics Brain Developing Foods 4588 Hastings St, Burnaby | 778.989.9051 | info@artspaceforchildren.com

CE O m o m

| by Daniela Ginta

Blogging Like A Mom: The Real Story

Blogging for a living seems like the perfect job. A cup of coffee in the morning, sitting down (in your pajamas, if you’re so inclined) and writing. Making money was never easier. There’s more to blogging than the fairy tale side. If you’re determined to make money, you can make it happen.

For the Love of Writing First, Money Second Motherhood seems to bring along a need for writing. Laughing, crying, sharing, building a community, you name it, it can give you a reason to write. That’s a good start for a blog, mom blogger Rebecca Cuneo (www.playgroundconfidential.com). “A blog gives you something to do other than the usual chores, it offers some external validation,” Keenan says. Choose a specialty if you plan to earn an income with your blog. There are many things to consider when starting, Keenan explains. Will it be a resource blog, a personal one with or without real names, will it be discussing a particular issue whether parenting-related or otherwise? Specializing makes it easier to establish a community of faithful readers who will enjoy the information you offer and the quality of it. High, consistent traffic means that both specialized

businesses and advertisers will find your site and offer to pay you to host ads. If the offers don’t pour in soon after you’re open for business, fear not, hosting web ads is not the only way to make money when you have a blog.

Show Yourself Writing good, specialized and consistent blog posts is but the first step. There are countless blogs and some are simply remarkable yet not all have high traffic, which is a measure of success when blogging. As any seasoned blogger out there knows, there’s a secret ingredient that ties it all together: Promotion. That means being active in the social media playground, making yourself known and build network of likeminded people. “Promotion is huge,” says Keenan “and that

www.urbanbaby.ca/blog Reviews of baby/child products; parenting issues; advice; personal stories; crafts – all the stuff we can’t pack into the pages of the magazine.

means getting in touch with other people, from city to country-wide and beyond.” If social media is a tall order for you, start with reading blogs and commenting on posts. Introvert or not, take a deep breath and have your say. Bloggers love it when you comment – you’ll get to know the feeling once you’ll get there – and it gives you a chance to get to know people and promote your blog.

Be a Good Guest and Market Yourself You write well, ideas abound, there’s a fair stream of visitors, many of whom have since become followers, but if it feels like something is missing it’s because it is. Money making with blogs is a complex issue. One way to make your name and skills known is to write blog posts for established successful blogs. Whether you get paid or not for a particular post, you’ll get something huge in return: exposure! Writing for a group blog is also a good way to gain exposure and followers.

Show Me the Money A fair request if I’ve ever seen one. By now you have a couple of well chosen ads and are able to get some cash for guest posts. Every little bit counts. Add some affiliate links to your website or become an Amazon associate. You may also want to consider writing an e-book. Succinct useful information that complements what you offer with your blog may be just what some people need. You can also put together a product review blog and make money solely based on the ads big businesses will want to place on your website.

Bottom line? Blogging is not necessarily an easy way to make money but if you have a knack for business it can definitely work. “Approach it like a job. Give the time and energy and it will pay off,” says Keenan.

Kate Inglis, mother and writer (www.sweetsaltykate.com) blogged for a few years before becoming a published author. Her website has no ads but honing her skills during blogging led to Inglis publishing a children’s book and gathering a crowd of followers. If you’re looking to become a published author, a blog is a good platform, Inglis says. But, she adds, “you have to do what you can to get your voice heard and get interactive with readers. The most important part of blogging, Inglis says, is writing lots. Write about what’s relevant to you and good things will come from it. In other words, keep it real. •

Our Favourite Mom Blogs HipBaby – connecting moms with new baby and children’s products. www.hipbabynews.blogspot.ca

Mama in the City – sharing stories of raising a family in the city. www.apartmentbaby.com

Monkee Mama – perfecting the art of monkee-ing around with the kids. www.monkeemama.com

Simply Stylish Mommy – refects the personal style and passion for all things style, kids, parenting, maternity, thrifting and Vancouver. www.simplystylishmom.com The Survival Guide for Rookie Moms – everything from surviving

the first year as new mom. www. survival4moms.com

Daniela is a freelance writer in Vancouver. Her two sons ages five & nine, are her greatest inspiration.

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 25

Great Goods: Babiator Sunglasses Every child needs to have protection from the elements.

Babiators Sunglasses offer 100% protection from dangerous UVA and UVB rays. Unlike typical plastic sunglasses, Babiators pliable rubber sunglasses can withstand whatever your child throws at them.

IN-STORE: Westcoast Kids, Richmond Dandelion Kids, Port Moody & Vancouver ONLINE: www.mylittlegreenshop.com

Green Toys Sand Play Set Build a castle. Dig for buried treasure. No matter how ambitious the project, the world’s most eco-groovy sand play set always leaves a light footprint.

Like all Green Toys the Sand Play Set is made from advanced environmentally-friendly materials, helping to reduce fossil fuel use and emissions, all in the name of good green fun!

IN-STORE: Granville Island Toy Company, Vancouver ONLINE: www.bumblebeetoys.com

Water Wings Schwimmflugel Water Wings are made from heavy gauge laminated PVC, featuring dual air chambers and safety valves. With no scratchy plastic seams they are the most comfortable in water wing design.

Added feature includes choosing the degree of inflation to match your child’s size, comfort, and level of swim competence.

IN-STORE: Mountain Baby, Nelson ONLINE: www.mountainbaby.com

Grow-With-Me Sun Hats Every sun hat is designed for maximum sun protection and guaranteed to fit perfectly with fully adjustable head straps, great for active kids or babies in the stroller.

Made of breathable cotton fabrics that are 50+UPF sun protection, detachable break-away clip for safety, and toggle for easy adjustment. Available in boy & girl styles.

ONLINE: www.twinklebelle.net

Summer Products!

Stroller Sunshade The Bermuda Babies UV Sunshade is ideal for parents who want both UV protection from the sun’s harmful rays yet visibility for their little ones while in the stroller. Bermuda Babies UV Sunshades attach easily to any canopied stroller or car carrier; its outer fabric is made from 98% UV reducing fabric, providing both protection and full air circulation.

IN-STORE: Baby`s World, Coquitlam ONLINE: www.bermudababies.com

Ubbi Diaper Pail With the warm summer weather who wants a stinky diaper pail. Ubbi Diaper Pail made of powder coated steel does not absorb odors like plastic and is easy to clean. Rubber seals prevent any odors from escaping and can be used with everyday kitchen garbage bags.

IN-STORE: Westcoast Kids, Richmond Crocodile Baby, Vancouver & S. Surrey

ONLINE: www.oyaco.com

Gate Check Bag Travel with baby or tot for holidays with this airline travel bag. Protects your car seat from dirt and germs while in transport.

Bright red color bag with large graphics easily identifies your item. Fits most car seats and folds easily into its attached pouch when not in use.

IN-STORE: Baby On Board, Richmond Active Baby, North Vancouver

ONLINE: www.oyaco.com

Mai Tai Dress

Make the most of your summer wardrobe by purchasing this multiple use dress that will fit you before, during and after baby.

Easy to wash and wear. With over 25 ways to wear it, you’ll never get bored. Dress it up or down, perfect for summer weddings or a day at the park. Designed and custom made in Vancouver, BC.

IN-STORE: Babydoll Boutique, Maple Ridge ONLINE: www.maitaidress.com

UrbanGuide: Summer 2012

25

Ideas for Summer Fun with the Family

Having fun this summer doesn’t have to be boring or break the bank! Entertain the kids and yourself with these fun creative ways to spend time together this summer.

1. Take a hike or nature walk – enjoy the fresh air and explore some of the best parks and nature trails. All you need is a baby carrier or jogging stroller and you are set.

2. Plan a picnic – kids love going to new places. Let them help you pack the picnic basket with sandwiches, fruit and drinks for the whole family.

3. Backyard camping – pitch a tent steps from your backdoor, snuggle up in a sleeping bag and share your very own ghost stories.

4. Lights, camera, action – make your own homemade movie. Have the kids think of a short play and act it out in front of the camera.

5. Cool off and get wet – set up the kiddie pool or jump through the sprinklers on a hot summer day.

6. Plant a garden – kids are natural gardeners who learn by doing and love to play in the dirt.

7. Family movie night – let the kids watch their favourite movies, make some popcorn and curl up on the couch together.

8. Make a trip to the local library – borrow some books for summer reading fun.

9. Attend a festival or fair – enjoy the summer at a festival, fair or street party. Many are free and provide lots of entertainment for young families.

10. Celebrate Canada Day – make a homemade flag that can be waved at Canada Day celebrations on July 1st.

11. Fly a kite - a windy summer day in the park is perfect time to put Dad’s kite flying skills to the test.

12. Play ball – bounce it, throw it, hit it, and catch it.

Playing ball will keep the kids engaged and having fun.

28 | www.urbanbaby.ca | summer 2012

13. Bake together - kids love being involved in the cooking process, give them a wooden spoon and let them stir.

14. Bike ride – kids love to ride a bicycle especially with the entire family.

15. Go to the Drive-In - take a drive to Langley and enjoy the only drive-in movie theatre in the Lower Mainland.

Best of all, kids under five get in free.

16. Organize a scavenger hunt – kids love to find things. Hide toys or objects in the backyard and have your kids play pirate and find them.

17. Plan a mommy day – gather the moms from your prenatal class and meet at a local park to spend the day together.

18. Create some sidewalk art - bring out the sidewalk chalk and host an neighbourhood art show.

19. Catch some bugs – enjoy a fun afternoon and a great way for the kids to learn about these tiny creatures.

20. Be a city tourist - find great local attractions in your city that are inexpensive or free.

21. No “bored” game day – dig out the old board games: Scrabble, Uno cards or play simple games like Go Fish or Memory. Take turns playing the winner for a friendly challenge.

22. Make a fort – use a couch, chair and lots of bed sheets to create the perfect hideaway.

23. Lie on the grass – look up at the sky and count everything you see – clouds, birds, bugs and even airplanes.

Keep track of who sees the most.

24. Trip to the farmers market - teach your kids about local fruits & vegetables and how they grow.

25. Day at the beach - splashing in the water, looking for shells and building sandcastles can create memories to last a lifetime.

summer 2012 | www.urbanbaby.ca | 29

ou t d o o r f u n

| by Michael Boronowski

Family-Friendly Beaches & Outdoor Parks With the sun high in the sky and the long days of summer upon us there’s no better time to slather on the sunscreen and explore the shorelines and waterparks of our gorgeous region.

The following represents a sample of parks and beaches ideal for summer outings:

Beaches and Coastline From Third Beach to Spanish Bank, you will find nearly 18km of gorgeous beach where the City of Vancouver meets the ocean. On nice days such popular locations can be absolutely packed with sunworshippers and students on summer break.

Comparatively the quiet beaches (Locarno, Spanish Bank West, and Sunset Beach) where amplified music isn’t allowed, tend to be the most family-friendly.

Just off the beaten path, you can explore Pacific Spirit Park which borders UBC and the ocean and offers a fantastic opportunity for kids to wander the tideline looking for “treasure.”

Although it is not stroller-friendly, if you’ve got a carrier or backpack (or don’t mind doing some piggybacking for about 30 minutes during the trek) you can be a world away from busy Vancouver.

I’ve previously written about Iona beach in Richmond. It is a great summer spot for some quite paddling in tidal-pools, bird watching, and showing your little ones where “water meets land”.

Though it is not ideal for swimming, it offers much more serenity as compared to the bustle of Vancouver’s popular beaches.

Farther to the south - about as far south as you can go without crossing the border- discover Centennial Bay Beach in Boundary Bay Regional Park. This family-friendly beach boasts some of the

warmest swimming water you’ll find without leaving the mainland.

This prime location offers long stretches for walking and biking paths plus playgrounds, picnic spots and other facilities.

Other Parks and Pools To the East in Port Moody lies Belcarra Regional Park and Sasamat Lake. White Pine Beach on Sasamat Lake is an intensely popular and family-friendly beach. The warm water is great for wading, and the natural setting is a great break from the buzz of urban life. It is highly recommended that you plan your trips to Belcarra so you can arrive as early as possible as parking will fill up on hot summer days and you risk being turned away at the gates.

Trout Lake in East Vancouver is a great community setting with a lifeguard on duty from Victoria Day through until Labour Day. An added bonus for this area is a summer farmers markets on Saturdays from 9am – 2pm.

The Lower Mainland hosts dozens of man-made outdoor pools and spray parks of all shapes and sizes. Whether you’re in the Vancouver region or in one of the beautiful ‘burbs, your city or local parks board website is a great resource for searching out prime summer spots for your family to enjoy.

Keep in mind, bigger isn’t always better. If your child is nervous or new to playing in the water, your little local spray park might be just the place to get their feet wet. • Michael lives in Burnaby and enjoys exploring the westcoast with his two year old daughter.

Salsa Babies & Tots Classes at

Brentwood Town Centre Free to Attend • EVERY Wednesday Salsa Tots: 11:00 am • Salsa Babies: 11:30 am

To register call

778.285.6265

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o n t h e t ow n

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Summer Fun!

June 2012

July 2012

July 2012 cont.

Jun 3, 9am:

Jul 1, 10am – 10:30pm:

Jul 7, 12pm – 3pm:

27th Annual Child Run

Canada Day Celebrations

Pioneer Fair

Family Fun Run 5K or 1K run to help fight childhood cancer childrun.com

Canada Place, Van Stage performances, workshops, circus performers, giant board games, face painting, water park & fireworks. canadaday.canadaplace.ca

Historic Stewart Fair Old-fashion fair, homemade treats, live music, sports and games. surrey.ca/heritage

Jul 1, 10am – 4:00pm:

Waterfront Park, N.Van Outdoor music festival, parade, food and dancing. caribbeandays.ca

Jun 2 - 14: Day Out with Thomas Railway Heritage Park Ride Thomas the Tank Engine. Enjoy storytelling, live music, arts & crafts.

Tickets: $22.40 wcra.org

Jun 16, 10am – 5pm:

Caribbean Festival Canada Day Celebrations McLeod Athletic Park, Lang Family-oriented event to celebrate Canada Day. langleycanadaday.ca

August 2012

Jul 1, 10am – 10:30pm:

Aug 10 – 12:

Canada Day Celebrations

Maritime Festival

Cloverdale Amphitheatre Fun-filled day with live music, exhibitors and entertainment. surrey.ca/canadaday

Britannia Shipyard, Rmd Maritime exhibits, live music. richmond.ca/britannia

Aug 12, 10am – 4pm: Jun 17, 9am – 2pm:

Jul 1, 11am – 4:30pm:

Family Farm Fair

Father’s Day Walk/Run for Prostate Cancer, Bby

Canada Day Celebrations

London Heritage Farm Petting zoo, pony rides, bouncy castle, face painting entertainment and bake sale. londonfarm.ca/familyfarmfair

Celebrating men and their families 2K, 5K, 10K & Tot Run to raise funds for prostate research. walktolive.ca

UrbanMom

Jul 28 – 29, 10am – 7pm:

Fraser Valley Kids Fair Bakerview EcoDairy, Abby Live performances, crafts, games, exhibitors, farm tours, petting zoo.

Admission: $2 fraservalleykids.com

SPOTLIGHT

Burnaby Village Museum 1920s backdrop for families, children’s entertainment, demos, parade and birthday cake. burnabyvillagemuseum.ca

Aug 18 – Sept 3: The Fair at the PNE

Jun 22 – 24:

Jul 1 – 31:

Point Grey Fiesta

Summer Night Market

4300 - 4600 W 10th Ave, Van Enjoy a pancake breakfast, decorated bike contest, parade, live music. pointgreyfiesta.org

12631 Vulcan Way, Rmd Street food, shopping, mini-festivals. summernightmarket.com

Pacific National Exhibition Kiddy rides, live entertainment, food and musical guests. pne.ca/thefair

Janice • Burnaby, BC

Erik, 3 years old & Elyana, 2 years old

1. What is the best part of about being a mom?

The hugs and kisses.

2. What is your favorite activity to do with your kids?

We love having family movie nights.

3. What is your favorite television show?

I love Grey’s Anatomy and the kids love Super Why. 4. What is the last book you’ve read?

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak.

5. What is one product or service you can’t live without?

I absolutely can’t live without my Melaleuca products, safe for my family, the environment and good for our budget.

6. How do you find some “Mommy Time”? (able to find a break from the kids or take time for yourself?)

I love that my husband understands how busy I am and lets me go for a walk or coffee date with a girlfriend.

Want to be our next UrbanMom?

email us at urbanmom@urbanbaby.ca

Saturday

JUNE 16 2012 Come Join Us at the Bakerview EcoDairy in Abbotsford, BC.

for a full day of fun, live entertainment, learning, arts & crafts, a bouncy castle park, farm fresh food, a petting zoo, EcoDairy tours, and 50+ exhibitors for mom and dad!

www.fraservalleykids.com