Tag Archives: safety

7 Great Cars for Young Adults: Safe and Reliable

Young adults are faced with many decisions when it comes to cars. They have to decide what kind of car they want if they want a new or used one, and how much money they’re willing to spend on one. One decision that isn’t usually considered is safety- which makes sense because most young adults think that their car will be safe no matter what.

In this post, we’ll talk about some excellent models so you, too, can stay out of harm’s way!

parenting, dad with kid at lake, cars, driving

Via Pexels

Toyota RAV4

The Toyota RAV is an excellent car for young adults. It’s reliable, safe, and affordable. The RAV has been one of the most popular cars on the road for over two decades, and with good reason. It’s perfect for city driving, and its small size makes it easy to park. The RAV also gets excellent gas mileage so that you can save money on your commute.

Mazda CX-5

This car is an excellent choice for those who want to drive something that looks stylish but doesn’t cost as much as the typical luxury-style vehicles. The Mazda CX-5 gets decent gas mileage and has a powerful engine, so it can get up to speed quickly on highways or steep roads. It’s also called plenty of room inside for passengers and is great for road trips with friends.

Toyota Corolla

This is the best-selling car of all time, so it’s no surprise that it’s among one of the most reliable cars available right now. This is because it has a vast amount of space inside, and its engine gets good gas mileage while still being powerful enough to drive comfortably. In addition, it has a low center of gravity, which makes it very safe in an accident.

Honda Accord

This is another excellent choice for young adults who need to be responsible with their money while still having fun traveling around town or on road trips! This car gets good gas mileage, and its engine can go well over 100,000 miles without too much trouble.

Ford Escape

This car is perfect for young adults who need a lot of space. The Ford Escape has plenty of legroom and cargo space, making it great for extended trips or days when you have to transport a lot of stuff. This car also gets good gas mileage for its size. The upside is you can find Ford car parts quite quickly for this car if you ever need them.

Toyota Prius

This is an excellent choice for young adults who want to save money on gas since it runs from an electric engine, and hybrid engines are known for their efficiency! In addition, this car can go up to 50 miles solely on its battery, so no more worrying about finding the nearest charging station for this car! It is also effortless to maintain and has an excellent warranty for repairs.

Volkswagen Jetta

If you’re looking for something sportier, the Volkswagen Jetta is for you.

The Volkswagen Jetta offers a sporty, elegant look for young adults while still providing a safe and reliable car for driving on the road. In addition, the 2022 model includes features that will help keep your wallet healthy as well!

In conclusion, when looking for a reliable car to buy as a young adult, many great options are available. Consider one of the cars on this list, and you’ll be sure to enjoy years of safe and dependable transportation.

Is Sunscreen Safe for Kids?

Did you know the Friday before Memorial Day is National Sunscreen Day (aka “Don’t Fry Day”)?

I used to forgo sunscreen all of the time. Going Mom would always get on to me about needing to protect my skin, but I would just wave it off and go about my day ignorant to how the sun affects me. At least I played it safe for my kids when they were babies and kept them covered our Onya Baby carrier.

sunscreen, baby carrier, summer, memorial day, sun, protection, baby wearing
Covering our precious cargo before walking with the original sunscreen.

If sunscreen were food, I would’ve spent hours researching it trying to decide what is good, what’s bad, and the ingredients that make it so, but this is an area I overlooked. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m very peculiar about what I eat, but I need to be more aware of other things that threaten my health as well. Like, for instance, sunscreen!

After a run.....and no sunscreen.
After a run…..and no sunscreen.

Kelley did her research and bought Organic Badger Baby Sunscreen to put on Avery. You’d think I would’ve just put some on myself at the same time, but that’s part of my stubbornness.

I hate rubbing it in because it gets caught in my arm and leg hair too much. Good reason, right? Since my dear wife is persistent about getting me to use sunscreen (I guess she loves me or something!), I thought I’d be smart and just buy a spray version; problem solved!

Nope, problem not solved! Now she was on to me about how bad the spray kinds are, especially for kids! Well crap, will I ever get it right?! I blindly argued that there’s no difference even though I had no clue about sunscreens. Kelley, on the other hand, had been reading several sources on the subject.

Needless to say, Kelley sent me links to prove why certain sunscreens are harmful and I finally admitted defeat. Note to self, don’t argue about things you have no clue about for so long; it gets you nowhere! Double note to self; just don’t argue with your wife….EVER!

I promptly returned the toxic spray sunscreen.

Here’s a quote from the link Kelley sent me regarding sunscreens:

Could nanoparticles cause internal damage if they penetrate skin or are inhaled?
Yes.  Though sunscreen lotions do not pose penetration concerns, inhalation of nanoparticles particles is dangerous for many reasons.  EWG strongly discourages the use of powder or spray sunscreens using titanium dioxide or zinc oxide of any particle size.

Read the full article from the Environmental Working Group here.

Now, on to the question of this post; is sunscreen safe for kids? Like most answers out there, yes and no. There hasn’t been enough research to definitely say sunscreen is harmful, but the effects are greater on a babies than older children and adults.

From what I read, it’s best not to apply sunscreen to babies under 6 months and to avoid the sun as much as possible. Sorry, Avery, we already messed up there. Forgive us, please?

The FDA has an informative post on the topic of sunscreen for babies along with useful tips on keeping baby safe in the sun.

  • Keep your baby in the shade as much as possible.

  • Consult your pediatrician before using any sunscreen on your baby. If you do use a small amount of sunscreen on your baby, don’t assume the child is well protected.

  • Make sure your child wears clothing that covers and protects sensitive skin. Use common sense; if you hold the fabric against your hand and it’s so sheer that you can see through it, it probably doesn’t offer enough protection.

  • Make sure your baby wears a hat that provides sufficient shade at all times.

  • Watch your baby carefully to make sure he or she doesn’t show warning signs of sunburn or dehydration. These include fussiness, redness and excessive crying.

  • Hydrate! Give your baby formula or breast milk if you’re out in the sun for more than a few minutes. Don’t forget to use a cooler to store the liquids.

  • Take note of how much your baby is urinating. If it’s less than usual, it may be a sign of dehydration, and that more fluids are needed until the flow is back to normal.

  • Avoid combination sunscreens containing insect repellants like DEET. Young children may lick their hands or put them in their mouths. According to the AAP, DEET should not be used on infants less than 2 months old.

  • If you do notice your baby is becoming sunburned, get out of the sun right away and apply cold compresses to the affected areas.

The Badger sunscreen only has zinc oxide as an active ingredient and works great for everyone in our family. The EWG rates this sunscreen very high on their list.

EWG Badger Baby Sunscreen Rating

Unlike chemical-based sunscreens that are absorbed into the skin, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin. A benefit of this, besides not soaking into your skin (did you know your skin is your biggest organ and absorbs so many chemicals each day?), is that they start working upon application. The chemical kind needs 15 – 20 minutes to allow time for absorption before they begin to protect.

An article on BabyCenter.com explains this in detail and is yet another post worth reading. As mentioned in the article, never trust the label on products and make sure to scrutinize the list of ingredients. Hey, that’s like I do with food; now we’re talking my language!

The takeaway from all of this can be summarized in a few bullet points:

  • If possible, avoid exposing a baby under 6 months to the sun altogether.
  • If not possible, keep baby under shade and/or use a sunscreen with only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the main ingredient.
  • Do not, under any circumstances use a spray sunblock on yourself or baby.
  • Don’t trust the labels! Please read the ingredients and know what you are slathering all over yourself and your precious child!
  • I’m an idiot for doubting my wife and taking so long to acknowledge that she was right.

Thank you, Kelley, for “exposing” me to the reality of sunscreen! Now we’re having fun in the sun and keeping safe!

#MySundayPhoto, swimming, cold thermogenesis, pool, kids, parenting

Please, have fun and keep yourself and your little ones safe out there!

For a full list of safe sunscreens for the entire family, check out the EWG’s list. And, last link, here’s a list of ones to avoid.

Do you use sunscreen for yourself or your baby?

Have you strained to find the right kind or are you like I was and never thought much of it?

How To Keep Your Child Safe Online

safe, online safety, parenting, kids, internet
Image Credit

When it comes to your children, like most parents you’d do anything you can to keep them safe, and in the world they’re growing up in this can sometimes seem more and difficult to do.

However, it’s important for parents to remember that the world is actually a lot safer than it was 30 or 40 years ago, it’s just that we now know what’s going on everywhere because we have more technology that allows to us to get information quickly, such as the internet and social media – and much of the mainstream media likes to only feed us with the negative news out there, so it can certainly seem like the world is a scary place.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that precautions shouldn’t be taken when it comes to children, and especially when they’re going to be using the internet or getting a phone, so in this post we’re going to share with you how to keep your child safe online.

Communicate:

Communication is one of the best skills you can ever have, and being able to communicate with your child about things like safety or having other difficult conversations with them about things that are perhaps uncomfortable for you is really crucial to helping them understand that it’s not them who you don’t trust, but other people, and that you simply want the best for them. When communicating with your child the dangers that exist online, you should be speaking to them, not at them or down to them, and it’s important that you let them know that they can and should always come to you with any problems – even if it’s embarrassing for them.

Monitor use:

Technology isn’t all bad, and this is proven through the invention of apps and software that allow you to monitor the devices your child is using. You can do things like track their location, check what they’re looking at online, and view things like social media activity and even text messages. There are multiple places you can buy iPhone Monitoring online, for example, so it’s really just about finding the right one for you. However, it’s important to remember that this should only be done with your child’s knowledge, otherwise it’s a complete invasion of privacy, and if they find out about it, you can be assured they will never trust you with anything.

Set ground rules:

As much as trust and communication are essential, it’s important to remember you’re still the parent and the rules you set are the ones they have to follow, so if you’re considering getting them a laptop for school work, it’s important to set rules around how this should be used. Or if they want a phone, you can state that it shouldn’t be used during school hours, what social media apps they’re allowed, etc.

Stay eductaed:

Education is always the best way to combat something you’re afraid of or don’t understand, so when it comes to safety online, then it’s a good idea to stay on top of what’s happening in the world in terms of new social media apps, trends and what children may be looking at online.