Announcement, events, giveaway alert

Babypalooza’s Sand Puff + Sophie the Giraffe Giveaway

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events, announcement, giveaways, children toys

Don’t you just love going to baby bazaars. They are convenient as they have everything a mum might need under one roof. They are also one perfect bonding activity for mums and kids, as well as the entire family, as most of them have activities and entertainment, like programs, performances and giveaways, lined up for the day. Some are even equipped with breastfeeding sections and soft play area for our toddlers! They truly are a one-stop shop for families who clamor for interesting activities during weekends.

The good news is that Babypalooza Bazaar is just right around the corner and what’s even better is we are giving away a Sand Puff Set and a Sophie the Giraffe teether to 2 of mum’s lucky readers on their behalf as a treat to our dear, loyal readers ! Details on how you can win these delightful items are at the bottom of this post! 😀

All about the 3rd Babypalooza Bazaar

events, announcement, giveaways

The next Babypalooza Bazaar is happening on Saturday, 17 August, 2013 between 10am-7pm at the Walter Hogan Conference Center, ISO, Ateneo de Manila University, QC Campus. Up on its 3rd run, Babypalooza will still highlight the same features that sets the first 2 bazaars apart from its contemporaries, not to mention making it unique and successful, equal exposure for brand new and pre-loved {i.e. gently used} items for babies, young children and expectant parents.

The Babypalooza Vendor Protection Program (VPP) will still be enforced to ensure that no two vendors of brand new items will be selling the exact same thing to help ensure that shoppers will not get bored from seeing the same merchandise over and over. Items that will be sold are necessities of parents and their children, including clothing, shoes and accessories, gear, strollers/baby furniture, feeding bottles, nursing wear, breast pumps, skin care and cleaning products. Yummy, drool-worthy food products will also be sold during bazaar hours. All these at negotiable, easy-on-the-pocket prices!

To continue providing a family-friendly bazaar experience, special function areas will still be available for free for all visitors, these are the following: The Sulit Breastfeeding station, The Maya Kitchen play area, 88DB Daddy Waiting Lounge and the Mega Soft diaper change area. Venue is fully air-conditioned and clean rest rooms are also just a few steps away from the bazaar stalls for added convenience. Besides Sulit and 88DB, this event is also graced by the participation of WhenInManila.com as one of its online media partners. And did I mention that entrance and parking are FREE? 🙂

For more details about the event, you can visit the Babypalooza website, www.babypalooza.com.ph or follow them on Facebook, www.facebook.com/babypalooza.com.ph.

On to our giveaway

As I have mentioned earlier, Babypalooza was generous enough to sponsor prizes for 2 our lucky readers. We are giving away the following items that I am sure you and your little ones will love!

Sophie the Giraffe
Sand Puff set

1st prize: 1 set of Sand Puff

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Tips and Tricks

Tips to Choose the Perfect Bike for Your Kids

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tips + tricks, children, children toys

Buying your child their first bike is an exciting milestone! Follow the following tips will help to ensure that your child has a great first time on two wheels!

Size and Fit

Head into a specialty bike shop to get your child professionally fitted for their first bike. Avoid the temptation to get a bike that they can grow into, as it can be dangerous, as well as unenjoyable for your child, as they will find it difficult to control the bike.

Price

To purchase a bike for a 3 – 5 year old with training wheels of reasonable quality will cost approximately 140 – $200, whilst for a 12year old a bike can cost upward of $240. If these prices are out of your reach, then consider a good quality second hand bike that would still be safer for your child than a poor quality “new” cheap bike.

Brakes

The Australian standard requires that children’s bikes should have at least two braking systems, of which one must be a back-pedal brake (where brakes are activated when you pedal backwards). In any case, pedal brakes are usually recommended for beginners, especially very young children who don’t have the hand and arm strength to operate handbrakes safely. There’s usually a handbrake for the front wheel too — check its quality and make sure it’s not a flimsy plastic lever that bends when squeezed.

Wheels

Choose aluminium rims over steel rims as the braking distance with steel rims is 5 times greater than with aluminium. Use a magnet to determine if the rims are steel or not (a magnet won’t stick to aluminium). Avoid quick release wheels, as they are not necessary and may be dangerous, if not installed properly.

Training Wheels

Training wheels have a number of pros and cons for young riders. Training wheels may cause the bike to tip, when turning corners at speed; however, for children having difficulty balancing, the aid of training wheels is invaluable.

Chain Guard

All children’s bikes should have a chain guard, which covers the chain wheel, as well as the upper run of the chain. If the bike does not have this, insist that one is put on.

Gears

Whether you purchase a bike with or without gears depends on the experience your child has with riding, along with the terrain they are going to be riding on. Beginners are better with no gears, however those who will be tackling rough terrain would benefit from this addition.

Pedals and Handlebars

Both sides of the pedal should have tread and the ends of the handle bars should be covered so raw metal is not exposed and the handgrips should be secure.
As you can see there is a lot to consider when choosing a bike that is safe for your child, so never be afraid to ask for help and head on into your nearest bike store to get some friendly advice.

Author Bio

Trent is the Manager at the leading bike shop Melbourne, Australia, has to offer. He is an expert in bike fittings and often helps parents choose the best bike for their children.

image is from https://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

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mum musings

The Importance Of Dollhouses

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Having a dollhouse has been part of the prototypical young girl’s dream since the 1800s. Classic dollhouses built by hand still exist today, having weathered the long years in basements, attics and antique shops. Dollhouses have come a long way since those days, manufactured and branded for Barbies and other childrens’ dolls rather than built entirely by hand but that doesn’t diminish the importance of the dollhouse to the children of today. In fact it’s the current generation that needs things like dollhouses more than anything.

More and more the youth of today spends an increasingly frightening amount of time in front of a computer screen or staring at a cell phone. The times may have changed from how children used to communicate and play but children should still be encouraged to play with their own imagination and with others. Dollhouses can be a great way for young girls to broaden their imagination and discover parts of themselves by playing in a dynamic setting with their friends. By socializing with dolls, young girls can help themselves to develop their identity far more than they could by spending time on a computer or sending endless text messages to one another.

Having a dollhouse can help girls in another way. By having something special and unique to themselves, they learn the value of owning something special. Especially if their house has been passed down in the family. Having an heirloom to look after can give them something to look forward to when they have children of their own and have something to give to them that has belonged generations prior. Dollhouses aren’t just a nice looking antique to have in your home as a conversation piece, they are as important to our children now as they were to us and our parents before us as an invaluable toy to helps them grow.

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