What's the vibe today . . .

A few of our favourite summer things – part one

Throughout the summer, we are attempting to present to you our lowdown of summer essentials. This week, we are spreading the vibe on some of our favourite seasonal products for little munchkins.

Sunscreens

As the sun shines ever so brightly, it’s hard to pass up the opportunity to take our little kidlets outside to enjoy summer. A little sun exposure like 15 minutes a day, the experts say, is actually a good thing as it’s a source of vitamin D.

Sunscreens are becoming a controversial subject these days – are they safe or not? As parents, it’s up to you to decide what type of sun protection, if any, you think your children will need. A good source to check out to see how safe your sunscreen is is Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) Skin Deep cosmetic safety database. Here, you’ll be able to find great information about sunscreens.

Our two favourite sunscreens are by Trukid and Badger. Both brands rate well with the EWG. Trukid Sunny Days sunscreens are available at Bug and Blossom, and Nayla Natural Care, and Badger SPF 30 is available at Capers, Marks Pharmacy in Vancouver, and online at www.ecomama.ca. Great thing about the Badger sunscreens is that they are water resistant for up to 40 minutes. For more information on sun safety, check out the article we ran last summer.

Bug repellent

Ah, yes, bugs. How we loathe the ones that feverishly buzz while we try to sleep in our rustic cabin by the lake during our perfect family summer vacation. Mosquitoes happen to be one of our most favourite bugs to repel. Last summer, we offered our insight into bug repellents including both natural and what the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends.

We recently heard about a bug repellent that is very interesting. It’s called the Baby BUZZ Patch by Cer8. The patches contain eucalyptus citriodora and citronella essential oils, and look like stickers, which usually means kids will like wearing them. The patches are natural and the essence does not penetrate the skin through the adhesive so it’s safe for the whole family. It’s recommended to put a patch behind your neck and one behind your knee, or you can stick the patch on a stroller to protect your baby. Please note that we have not yet tested the buzz patch as, luckily, we have yet to come into contact with mosquitoes in our new urban home. We have tried the ladybug theory (see last year’s article) and we truly believe it works.

Hats

Sunhats are a tricky thing. Some children like to wear them and others like to toss them out of the buggy. Here at Babyvibe, we love cute hats, but not all funky, fashionable hats offer proper sun protection. Tilley hats for children are the way to go for serious sun goers. The fabric used has the highest certification of UPF 50+, and the hats have a wide brim to protect the face, ears and neck.

Clothing

For active kids, clothing that offers UPF protection is the way to go. Locally-made Milk Factory offers UPF 40 sun protection in all their great gear, and they recently launched the sport short and sport pant for toddlers up to five. We actually like putting on Babyvibe product tester Kaylee’s Milk Factory gear when we go for a run in the morning. She’s dressed sporty, protected from the sun, and ready to hit the park as soon as we finish our daily run.

Shoes

Without a doubt, we are fans of Robeez, especially their new adorable Tredz sandals for girls and boys. With both Babyvibe product testers growing out of the soft sole shoe phase, we thought that their new soft sole design would not be a hit. However, when Kaylee, 16 months, started wearing her new pair of the Robeez weekend shoes, we were shocked that she did not want to take them off. After wearing them inside and outside all day, she did not have any marks on her chubby ankles.

B.C. archives | Calgary archives

baby walking

Sponsor link:

One Day Sale

Monkey Business Kids Boutique is holding a ONE DAY SALE Tuesday, July 15. 50% off ALL spring/ summer clothing and shoes, from brands including Mexx, Blu, Roxy, Quicksilver, Calvin Klein. 11947 224th St., Maple Ridge, 9am – 7pm. Shop early for best selection.

Mothers needed - BC only

The UBC school of nursing students are looking for volunteers to take part in a study about mothers’ feelings about being a mother and premature infants’ night sleep patterns. To be eligible, you are the mother of a preterm infant (Singletons and multiples) who is 5-6 months corrected of age and born between 28-36 weeks of gestation (± 6 days), with a birth weight of more than 1,000 grams; your preterm infant has NO medical diagnoses of congenital or neurologic problems or serious developmental delays; your preterm infant is NOT currently receiving therapy for sleep problems from health care providers; and you are NOT currently diagnosed with depression.

If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to answer an anonymous survey questionnaire that takes about 30 minutes. In appreciation, you will be entered in a draw for four gifts each worth $100. For more information about this study, or to volunteer for this study, please contact Reem Ali, RN, PhD candidate, 604-221-4938, e-mail: reemjuma@interchange.ubc.ca or Wendy Hall, RN, PhD, Professor, School of Nursing, at Wendy.Hall@nursing.ubc.ca.

What's the vibe today . . .

Social media . . .

About babyvibe . . .