How to make your living space child proof

Once we become parents, our dreams of having a stylish, designer home often go out of the window. Instead of living in a house fresh from the pages of the latest edition of Homes and Gardens, we find ourselves co-habiting with our children in rooms that end up looking like a toy shop at the end of a busy day. But it doesn't have to be this way! There are lots of ways that we can childproof our homes so that we can still  have lovely things and live in a house that is equally suited to grown-up dinner parties as it is to toddler play dates. Take a look at this infographic for some simple, but effective ideas for making our living space work for both the adults and the children.

Arlo & Jacob is a designer furniture company that promotes the idea of affordable yet high quality furniture that comes with a lifetime guarantee. Their luxury fabric sofas and chairs are beautifully designed and made for life, so whether they are being used as somewhere to rest and relax or as a cushiony castle for little ones to play on, they are made to last, bringing comfort and style for years to come. With 120 fabrics to pick from, with warm woolens, rich velvets or cool linen fabrics to choose from, there is something to suit all tastes. Whether you want a classic, retro or modern look, their furniture will fit into your home and your lifestyle perfectly - even after the kids come along.


* Infographic provided by Arlo & Jacob

The Importance of Tyre Safety in Winter

Back in October over 1000 Mumsnetters were surveyed on the subject of tyres and tyre safety for a survey commissioned by Michelin. The findings revealed that in the majority of cases, men take on the responsibility for buying and fitting tyres, but 97% of the mums surveyed agreed that all drivers should take responsibility for their vehicle and its safety. 

Ian is generally the one who takes the main responsibility for our car maintenance and tyre safety in our house, putting us in the 73% of households where the man assumes this role. Even though I let Ian do the 'dirty work', I do take an active role in decision making and take an interest in the car's safety. After all, as the main driver of the daily school run, I am responsible for my children's safety and I want to be sure we are as safe as we can be.

                                                   

Safety and longevity emerged as the most important criteria to Mumsnetters when choosing tyres, but car handling and fuel saving were important too. Only 19% referred to the importance of tyre labelling, even though tyre labels include important information such as the tyre's rating for wet braking stopping distances. This suggests that we are generally not very familiar with the labeling system even though it could improve our awareness and help us make better informed choices when it comes to buying tyres for our cars.

When it comes to the law, 38% of those surveyed didn’t know the legal tread depth and 67% were unaware of the penalty for having bald tyres. None of us want to fall fowl of the law and the penalty of 3 points and a fine per tyre is easily avoided by making sure our tyres are safe and meet legal requirements.

38% only checked their tyre pressures twice a year or less. I have to admit, we only check the tyre pressure if we think the tyre looks like its going a bit 'puddingy'! 

66% said that they would consider or be prepared to buy winter tyres in the future. Only 7% of Mumsnetters currently own winter tyres, which is above average when compared with the UK as a whole.  We swear by ours, so I was surprised that this figure was so low.

Ian is an absolute advocate of fitting winter tyres to our cars once the weather gets colder.  Winter tyres are not just designed for snow covered roads, they improve the car's performance on wet roads too, making braking distances shorter by 4m at 50mph. My school run is a three mile trek down a very windy, narrow country road.  If it's icy or wet, the journey can become quite treacherous, so anything that can help me to have better grip enabling me to stop safely is a bonus.  The safety of the kids is paramount, and for us, investing in winter tyres is worth every penny.

65% are prepared to pay extra for a quality tyre brand which confirms that the majority of Mumsnetters recognise its worth paying for the improved performance and safety associated with a recognised premium brand. Not all tyres are the same, and it's worth getting the best that you can afford.

When it comes to buying tyres, we use a local, independent tyre retailer, because they are always very helpful, honest and accommodating. I think having a good relationship with a reliable shop gives me the confidence in my ability to take the lead when it comes to dealing with tyre issues.

Here is an infographic of the main findings of this survey:

“Michelin Total Performance brings together an optimum mix of performance areas such as grip, long-life and fuel saving without a trade-off. Michelin tyres are the best match for the daily driving challenges that Mumsnetters face.”

            


This post is in collaboration with Mumsnet and Michelin to help spread awareness of tyre safety. I have not been compensated to write this post but have been entered into a prize draw. Find out what other Mumsnet Bloggers have to say about tyre safety here.

Secrets Behind Beauty - An Infographic

Escape and unwind by creating a real pamper session at home with indulgent bodycare products.

This post is a PR Collaboration.

Kids and Technology - High Tech Babysitters or Educators?

Research into the smartphone and tablet habits of the youngest members of UK families has revealed that seven in ten parents feel their children are brighter because of early exposure to technology.  Nine in ten believe that using gadgets can be educational for their kids, and a third of parents with two or more children said they'd noticed a difference in the development of younger children who have become adept at using new technology.  A quarter of parents report that their children are already far more proficient at using a smartphone and tablet than them and a further three quarters believe that the ability to engage with technology is a crucial part of their child’s development.

The results of the study commissioned by LifeProof, award-winning maker of all-protective, everyday cases for smartphones and tablets, also show that more than half of the 2,000 parents studied allow a child aged three years or younger to use their phone or tablet, with a third of parents remarking that their child is increasingly interested in using technology so they can ‘be like mum and dad’with nearly two thirds of parents saying that their children would choose technology over their usual toys if given the choice.

The average parent hands over a gadget to their kids at least three times a week because they themselves are exhausted and need a break, while six in ten use time on a smartphone or tablet as a way of rewarding their young ones for good behaviour.  While four in ten parents admit that they sometimes use their smartphone or tablet as a high-tech babysitter to keep their kids entertained.

I must admit that Freddy is a regular tablet and smartphone user, and has been since he was around 2 years old.  On car journeys, in supermarkets or in restaurants, it was helpful to keep him entertained and we found that Angry Birds was the app to do it!  Nowadays, we specifically download educational apps so he is learning as he plays.  But I'm glad to say, he still has a healthy love of playing with real toys, running around outside, socialising with friends and hitting things with sticks!!  I think he's got the balance right.

Baroness Floella Benjamin, OBE commented on the research: 

“Gadgets are a part of everyday life and are here to stay – but should be used as part of a child’s creative development along with other stimuli.  There has been much written about the use of gadgets by children, and technology is becoming a vital part of everyday life – but of course, as with everything, should be used by children and teens in moderation. Children shouldn’t be passive when it comes to technology, they need to be in touch with it, and learn to be creative and inventive, because ultimately there are many long-term benefits."

Steve Daverio, MD of LifeProof said: 

“It’s great to see how many parents are using their smartphones and tablets as educational tools for their children - and that even the very youngest members of the family have something to gain from using these devices.  With over half of parents revealing their children use apps better than they can, the study shows a real trend towards children using gadgets as part of their learning and development.”

Inevitably though, the damage toll to gadgets across UK households is high with a fifth of parents having had a phone or tablet broken or screen cracked after handing it to their children.  The average parent has spent £110 fixing gadgets, and has had two electrical devices broken by kids in the last 12 months alone.  The most common cause of damage is items being dropped or having things spilled on them.

My teenagers are actually the worst culprits for breaking gadgets.  We have had an S3 with a cracked screen and an iPhone dropped out of a moving bus in the last few weeks alone.  Ian's iPhone has thankfully been protected with a LifeProof Case, which is water proof, dirt proof, snow proof, shock proof ... and Freddy proof, so his phone has survived remarkably well!  Take a look at this video to see just how kid proof the LifeProof cases make your iPhone 5.

        


LifeProof cases are designed to be slim and sleek, ensuring users have access to all of the functions on their smartphone or tablet.  This means you can take photos underwater, use the device as a recipe book in the kitchen, set up a GPS unit on a bike ride, use fitness apps on the run – or hand your phone or tablet over to the kids without worrying! There’s a case to suit your needs suitable for a multitude of devices. Don't learn the hard way.

For further information on KidProofing your gadgets and to explore the full range of LifeProof cases visit: http://www.lifeproof.com/en/kidproof

Baby Names Infographic

I always enjoy seeing what names are popular and how trends are influencing what we call our babies.  Bounty have produced this infographic showing baby names for 2012.  I was interested to see Kizzie appear in the Unusual Names category, making an appearance for the first time in any list anywhere (although I spell it with a Y)   Joseph and Megan have both finally dropped out of the Top 10 and there is no glut of Freddys or Ellas on the horizon.  Not even the film Ted or the popularity of How I Met Your Mother,  has lead to an increase in baby Teds, making my baby grandson's name quite unique!  Are your children's  names in the lists?

Brought to you by Bounty.