Mommy Hack: Having a KidSafe Halloween

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.

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.

This one's available in Amazon.com

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®. 

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. 

Fibrella baby
(Top) Zippy; (shorts) Gingersnaps; (Shoes) Tough Kids 

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. 

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. 

Cotton on Kids (top) H&M (jeans) and Florsheim (doll shoes) 

Owl Tees from SM Kids 

Have a safe Halloween, Mommies and Babies! 

Bath Time Fun with Baby Care Plus

Bath Time Fun with Baby Care Plus 

If there's one thing Charley and I have in common is our love for water. We enjoy going to the beach almost every week if our schedules (yes, Charley has her own schedules, too!) allow us. So, if we're stuck in the city for the week, Charley takes her time to enjoy her bath.

Long weekends mean beach time!

During Charley's first trip to the beach - she was barely a month old!

@ Rockwell Club, Makati 

Charley is one of those babies who are obsessed with bath. She simply adores her bath time. The bubbles...the play time...the clean squeaky feeling it gives her afterwards. I, on the other hand, love how Charley smells the baby-feeling Charley has after every bath time.

Look who's excited to try the pool? Charley at 8 months 

This is why it saddens me when her favourite bath time turns to cry-time. As a new mommy, I'm still trying out different brands for Charley's bath. Sadly, I have made a few mistakes, too.

There are some popular brands that smell really good but hurts Charley's eyes. When this happens, she's getting very anxious for bath and refuses to use the shampoo and baby bath.

Sometimes, we gave her Baby Bath and Shampoo that claim to be gentle on her skin, but Charley ends up with several rashes after a week use. Her soft delicate skin turns rough with patches of wound that Charley scratches often.

Of course, there are really excellent brands that are gentle on her eyes and skin, but is terribly expensive. No matter how often we wish to use them on her, we simply can't afford them.

Thankfully, someone introduces Tupperware's Baby Care Plus products to me. The set includes Baby Care Plus (Bath, Shampoo, Lotion, Powder)

 Kids Plus (Bath, Shampoo, Lotion, Powder, Cologne) 

Mom Plus (Soothing Balm, Anti-Stretch Mark Cream, and Bath Soap). It was an ultimate package for Mommy and Baby!

I simply love the whole set! However, there are still so much more to love about Baby Care Plus. 

• Dermatologically-Tested. Charley's sensitive skin is paramount to us; that's why we love that Baby Care Plus  products are hypoallergenic and will never irritate baby's sensitive skin. Also, it moisturises leaving baby's skin silky-smooth.  

• Fresh powdery-scent and fruity scent. Baby Care Plus leaves babies smelling fresh like a powder while Kids Plus gives the fruity scent, so there'll surely be more gigil moments after bath! 

• Affordable. Freshness and moisture need not to be expensive. Baby Care Plus and Kids Plus are way more affordable and convenient than the leading bath sets. 

Charley and I love bath time. Thanks to Tupperware Baby Care Plus and Kids Plus, we're enjoying bath time even more! 

Mommy Hacks: Why VitaCubes is Too Good for Kids (and Mommy's Sanity)

Mommy Hacks: Why VitaCubes is Too Good for Kids (and Mommy's Sanity)

Early this October, Charley and I both got sick at the same time; she with a viral infection and I with a bacterial one. So, for almost a week, we made Makati Med our family tambayan. It was a terribly exhausting week (physically, emotionally, and financially) for everyone, and we just couldn't wait for the time to realy bond as a family...without the tusok-tusok in Makati Med of course.

Coincidentally, Mommy Bloggers Philippines, invited Charley and me to attend an event hosted by VitaCubes - VitaCubes 2 Good Fun Day - at one of our favourite places, Active Fun in BGC. Why, it's where the 9th Avenue School and Urban Ashram are.

Look who's excited for the VitaCubes 2 Good Fun Day?

The event was loaded with Mommies, Daddies (yes, Daddies!), kids of all ages, and fun games and surprises from our generous sponsor, VitaCubes! 

A Take Your Own Photobooth welcomed the guests and surprisingly, Charley enjoyed having her picture taken. That was a good sign that she's really feeling better already.

Modelling my favouring Fruit-flavored Jelly Candy 

Also, there were red, green, yellow, orange, and violet balloons everywhere - representing each yummy flavour of VitaCubes - strawberry, green apple, mango, orange, and grape in cube-shaped jellies.

Mommies and Kids having fun! 

A food table set-up just for the kids 

 Soon, games have unfolded for the kids...and ehem! kids at heart. There were Twister, Battle of the Brains, Bring Me, and lots of Parlor Games for the kiddos! Of course, each kid got to bring home VitaCubes goodies while the winners were generously showered with so much more.

Baby Charley was too young to join any of the games, so she was just happy popping the balloons, and yes, having more of her pictures taken.

While the kids enjoyed decorating their cakes, Mommies got to listen to a small talk from another Mommy-blogger. Here, we learnt why VitaCubes is way too good for our children.

Kids love having them without getting over-dosed. Plus, it's not another candy disguised as a vitamin supplement because VitaCubes is really loaded with essential nutrients our kids need!

It has lysine for proper growth, zinc to boost their immunity, Vit. A for the eyes, Vit. B for memory enhancement, Vit. C for healthy body and gums, and Vit. E to help fight germs and infections.

I'm sure Mommies won't have a hard time giving these to their kids because VitaCubes look and taste really good!

It's also exciting to know that Mommies can use VitaCubes to spend more quality time with their kids. Charley and I love naming the five (5) different colours of VitaCubes. Sometimes, we use these to learn counting, too. The possibility is endless - all we need is Mommies' creativity.

Sick baby no more! 

Guess who enjoyed the free cake from the VitaCubes 2 Good Fun Day? 

After the event, all Mommies took home a bag of goodies from VitaCubes. 

On the other hand, kids enjoyed an hour of playtime at Active Fun. Charley enjoyed the 5 and below section although I was secretly dreaming of going down the huge slides!

VitaCubes 2 Good Fun Day was indeed an exceptional day for Charley and me. Surely, we both went home happy. We can't wait to spend more time together...maybe to the groceries to buy more VitaCubes!