meta-dad

Modern Trundle Bed

With the third child on the way, my wife and I have decided we now need to start stacking the kids, and this mod trundle bed is just the solution. With a twin bed on casters tucked underneath, this simple geometric design is just the solution for a growing family like ours.

Smart design is green design. Argington uses 99% wood products in it’s furniture, that means no particle board, flake board or other similar wood-like products. The wood comes from managed renewable forrests established specifically to provide long-term responsible solutions towards the growing demand of timber related products – FSC certified. The finishes are non-toxic and can withstand the test of time. Aside from the solid wood components, the birch plywood used in all Argington products are made with low emission glues which nearly eliminate long term emissions and off-gasing.

Here’s a few places to buy the Argington line;

• DesignPublic.Com
• ModernNursery.Com
• Retailer Near You

(Via Argington.Com)

Kid Sized Aston Martin

Move over kids, Dad’s gonna be on the floor playing cars if one of these beauties is part of the mix. I’m really not even a “car” guy but his car is truly a thing of beauty. Looking at the level of detail and finish put into these automobiles is unprecedented.

So I will consider the next best thing, a 1:18 or 1:43 scale die-cast model version of their full line of cars (between $42-$50 U.S. dollars). It’s guaranteed to bring smiles to the lil’ James Bond in your life.

You may want to curb them from playing “smash’um” with this one though.

(Via AstonMartin.Com)

Retro Rocket from Radio Flyer

The Retro Rocket by Radio Flyer brings nostalgia back. This thing is so cool and fun to watch your child play in.

• 3-2-1 Blast Off feature puts kids “in the driver seat”
• Vibrating motor action for take off simulation
• Working lights
• Realistic astronaut and space sounds
• Rolling wheels activate lights and sounds
• Light up after burner
• Fun storage under seat
• Clicking nose cone
• Cool retro styling

(Via Kazoo Toys)

Award Winning Wheely Bug Rider

Here’s a totally new fresh concept to encourage gross motor skills, strengthen legs muscles while having hours of fun. Bright, soft, friendly, unisex design; this Wheely Bug Toddler Ride from toymaker, Prince Lionheart, will work for both little girls and boys alike. Easy to clean. Padded with a layer of soft sponge, inner body core of non-compressible foam, which is entirely non-toxic and contains no PVC.

Although it is only designed for smooth surfaces it has multi-directional casters, no more getting stuck against obstacles. Stainless steel spring mounted “feelers”, which wobble much to the delight of children, have an internal cord to prevent pull out. Plywood base made from renewable plantation timber.

• Winner Practical Preschool Awards 2005 Bronze
• 2005 Baby and Toddler Gear GOLD AWARD
• HIGHLY COMMENDED Mother and Baby Award BEST TOY (1-3yrs)
• OLD AWARD TOP GEAR, FQ Magazine

(Via Jeannie’s Kids Club)

Baby Cashmere Receiving Blanket

For the new little Prince or Princess in your life.

Modern. Quality. Design. Enough said.

Let the spoiling begin.

(Via Dwell Studio | Baby)

Sun Exposure and Your Kids

We all know during the hot summer months you need to keep the kids covered and in the shade. It’s not easy to do but the facts show that little kids need some type of safe and effective UV barrier to protect their skin now and in the future. The sunburns and over-exposure they experience under the age of twenty have a lasting affect on the health of their skin later in life so by protecting their skin now you are helping their odds against types of skin cancer later in life. But this is all the tip of the sandcastle when it comes to forming a good understanding of how much exposure, if any, is good for you kids and how you should protect them from it.

We all know that skin cancer is on the rise. Over 60,000 individuals will have it this year alone and over 8,000 will die from it. On the flip side of the argument, there is proof that your body metabolizes vitamin D when your skin is exposed to natural sunlight. Vitamin D, of course, helps your body absorb calcium which is super important for growing boys and girls. Also, links have been made between healthy amounts of sun exposure in children and lower incidents of type 1 diabetes.

And the third angle of this discussion is regarding the potentially harmful ingredients in that sunblock you’re basting your kids with throughout the day. Does that Coppertone sunblock that you got on sale have definitive links to neurotoxicity, cancer or developmental/reproductive toxicity? The short answer is probably. So how is a parent supposed to navigate through all this? Should we just keep little Timmy and Sally inside with a grow lamp on them, probably not, besides I imagine cabin-fever would set in mighty quick.

Experts say you should mind local UV ratings (watch the weather on the news or check the paper) and limit exposure during the peak UV hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This means allowing your kids a few minutes at the beginning of the day and/or the end of the day to get some of that nutritious sunshine would be a good and relatively safe thing.

Regarding the sunblock dilemma, read the ingredients. If it doesn’t say chemical-free it isn’t. Don’t buy the cheap stuff. The folks over at the CosmeticDatabase.Com have a good breakdown of most sunblocks available, what’s in them and what is safest to use for the young ones. One of their highest scoring products that I have found is California Baby (on a scale of 0-10, 0 being the safest, California Baby sunblock products got between an 0-1) but it’s not the cheapest on the shelf and one of the worst is Coppertone (on the same scale their baby products scored between 4-7).

I am not saying you should buy one and avoid the other, rather that it is in your best interest to be an informed Consumer and know that not all sunblocks are the same.

When using sunblock remember a few things;

• Put it on at least 30 minutes before exposure to the sun. Personally, I put it on the moment I get up and re-apply throughout the day.
• Put on enough sunblock, people tend to put too little on. Dermatologist suggest using a tablespoon for children and a shot glass full for adults.
• Use more than SPF-15 (which is what is recommended) that will compensate for the thin coat problems
• When they get out of the pool, re-apply

The best protection from the sun is shade and clothing. There is no indication that either shade or long sleeve shirts are linked with endocrine disruptors, carcinogenics, or vitamin deficiencies. So when the kids are playing in the sandbox throw an umbrella between them and the sun and go out of your way to find some sunglasses and/or baseball cap that your tikes really-really like wearing.

SITED LINKS:
MSNBC | Kids Exposure May Be Key to Deadly Cancer
CosmeticDatabase.Com
Science Daily | Sun Exposure and Vitamin D Levels May Play Strong Role in…
National Institute of Health | Vitamin D Fact Sheet