Having a KidSafe Halloween
For most Filipinos,
Halloween (All Souls Day & All Saints Day) means mini family reunions…in
the cemetery. Growing up, I also looked forward to such events because that
means I could play with my cousins all day and all night long – scaring each
other with silly ghost stories, creating giant balls made from candles’ wax,
and playing different games.
Now that I am a Mommy
myself, I can’t wait to let Charley experience the same thing, too. But ooops!
Charley is still a toddler, and I’m pretty sure I was a lot older than her when
my Mom brought me to the cemetery to visit our departed loved ones.
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| Top: Big &;Small Co., Leggings: Guess Kids; Shoes: Minnie Mouse; Hat |
This year, my roommate
(my husband, btw) and I decided not to bring Charley with her cousins to the
cemetery. We both felt she could be a little too young to truly understand what
was going on. Now, before anyone calls me kill joy for our
decision, we decided to just pay our respect before everyone
in the province does. That way, the whole family (Charley, husband, me) could
pray in silence without having to go paranoid if Charley was kidnapped already.
Or if she has terrorised someone else’s tombstone.
Here are some hacks I
wanna share to ensure your kid's safety and your sanity this Halloween if ever bringing the baby out is inevitable.
- Provide
an identification for your child. This is
especially true for kids whose jobs are to give their Moms and Dads a
panic attack. We’ve all heard of kids getting lost in public places, and
sometimes it’s just frustrating (and scary) if the child is too young or
too scared to remember who he/she is. To avoid such, have your child wear
an ID with your contact numbers, or make one yourself. Write your child’s
name (could be a nickname, too), your and your hubby’s names and contact
numbers, too. I’m not very comfortable with putting our full names and
address, but such info could be at your own discretion already.
You can also make matching ID’s that you can show the Help Desk. I
truly understand if the Help Desk refuses to give my child right away when I
pick her up without proper identification. That way I know they’re really
looking after my child’s safety.
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| This one's available in Amazon.com |
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| You can order this from tottoos.org |
There are so many kids identification products online, and I'm not sure if they are already available in the PHilippines. Well, we can always make our own and laminate them, right Mommies?
- Always have someone with your child. If you cant be with your child 100% all the time, designate your husband or a househelp, or a responsible elder cousin to be with the baby all the time. Elder cousins usually enjoy having such responsibilities because it means they are trustworthy. Grab that opportunity and don't forget to praise them afterwards or offer longer screen time if that works for you.
- Dress your child comfortably,
but easy enough to be seen. Forget
those silly costumes; everyone else is wearing one anyway. What you need
your kid to wear is something that will easily catch your eyes if you ever
lose sight of him or her.
Comfort is of course paramount. Charley loves wearing her
favourite tees from Big and Small Co., Cotton on Kids, Zippy, or Barbie®.
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| Comfy wear from SM Kids |
- Prepare for all kinds of
weather. It has been quite erratic
lately; you'll never know if it's gonna rain or be extremely hot all day.
That's why we always bring our trusted umbrella from Fibrella wherever we
go. With its easy to open and close system, I can chase Charley while
having it ready.
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Fibrella baby
(Top) Zippy; (shorts) Gingersnaps; (Shoes) Tough Kids |
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| Rain coat from Zara Kids |
- No matter what time of the day
it is, have him/her wear a mosquito patch. When
Charley got sick for almost a week mid October, I feared it could be
Dengue. I don't wanna take chances especially if it's Charley's health;
that's why she always wears her MoskiShield Anti-Mosquito Patch we buy from SM. It
has cute designs, so Charley doesn't mind wearing it...not that she has a
choice. I think this is also available in National Bookstore, Hypermarket,
and Mercury Drug Store.
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| 24 Patches for Php200 |
My roommate, on the other hand, prefers using Kiel's on her. You
can buy this from our favourite online store, Mommy's Little
Boss. Read all about this amazing Mommy shop here.
- Always bring an extra pair of clothes for change. Charley is a dirt-magnet. I think she has reached that age when everything is a playtoy and she simply attracts dirt wherever she goes. That is why we always make sure to bring her an extra pair of clothes cos people usually schedule family pictures when my daughter already looks sabog.
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| Cotton on Kids (top) H&M (jeans) and Florsheim (doll shoes) |
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| Owl Tees from SM Kids |
Have a safe Halloween, Mommies and Babies!
You're not KJ, you are the mom so you know what is good for your child. We always visit cemetery even my son was still a baby pero hindi kami nagtatagal, as in quick visit lang. Now lang kami hindi nakadalaw.
ReplyDeleteCharley is such a cute kid :) We don't go to the cemetery during Undas but we bring the kids whenever we visit my father's grave. We do it on ordinary days.
ReplyDeleteI badly need that identification. Whenever we go out, we never let our eyes away from our son even he's with a yaya. Mahirap na. I've found this gps watch somewhere online, perfect for kids to wear nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand skipping the cemetery for your toddler. I would rather be called kj or over protective, but thats better than being sorry after.
ReplyDeleteI really dont like the idea of bringing small kids at the cemetery. My kids have experienced going there just lately when they were grown ups already. I dont feel safe and clean out there for kids. By the way, i like the tattoo which says please call # when lost! I want that!
ReplyDeleteHow cute little kids
ReplyDeletean identification card for kids talaga is a must especially when going to crowded places.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips you got here. I always bring another bag with us when we go out containing extra clothes, extra nappies, snacks and water. It doesn't matter if we will be out for just an hour or the whole day. :D
ReplyDeleteI haven't bring my kids too at the cemetery. Besides that they are too young pa, they will not be able to understand it. The ID is a great idea even if you are not going to cemetery. It can also use whenever you go basta ung madameng tao na kasama mu ang bagets. Nakakatakot na mawala ang mga bata ngayon.
ReplyDeleteWe have Kiele too! We like it's scent and doubles as a mosquito repellant kaya sulit! I like the sticker tattoo tip. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI think that sticker tattoo is a must-have for every events a child will attend. Bringing extra things for your child is necessary. I do bring extra bag for my son's things. Else, I'll put everything in my bag.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips! Another suggestion regarding their identification is to write their names on the back of their underwear, that way it will never get lost. I wish I had read these tips before Halloween!
ReplyDeleteAgree on giving them mosquito patch. And ID. :)
ReplyDeleteI think he is two years old na when I brought him to the cemetery pero hindi kami nakikisabay sa dami ng tao,
ReplyDeleteWe weren't able to visit the cemetery last November 1. I am pregnant kasi and hindi ako up for walkathon inside the cemetery. But yeah, these tips are surely helpful if you plan to bring your kid with you when you visit your dearly departed ones. Lalo na yung ID with contact number ng parents!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of an identification card for my kids. It may be funny to others but I find it real helpful. Lovs that sticker or tattoo, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, we mommies should be prepared always!
ReplyDeleteI prefer going before or after but not on the day itself, too stressful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips sis! Better nga naman safe than sorry and yes we prefer visiting during the non-holidays
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I so agree with having someone watch your kid all the time. They're really so fast that you look one way and they're gone.
ReplyDeleteNice tips, I agree with letting them wear comfortable outfit. Minsan kasi ang OA ng damit kawawa yung bata lalo na pag di naman nya gusto.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! Minsan we forget and we get over confident when we are in the party. Pag may maliit na bata, or even older ones, it will be best to have plans in case magkawalaan.
ReplyDeleteI rarely let my kids join Halloween parties, except in school. Haha! I'll let them join when they're a bit bigger na :) Thanks for these tips!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips! Ako naman I let them wear dogtags hehe. And the mosquito patch! Dapat laging meron. I also let them wear bright clothes para ma-identify ko sila agad sa crowd. :)
ReplyDelete