ML Interest Tag: criterion

These Are the Healthiest Baby Foods, According to Experts

by Erica Loop

What are the best foods to feed your baby? If you’re not sure which products meet your kiddo’s needs, provide top nutritional benefits or the right USDA-Certified organic options, RAVE Reviews has answers.

RAVE Reviews recently compiled a list of the healthiest baby foods, with categories such as the Best USDA-Certified Organic Baby Foods and the Best Stage 3 Baby Foods.

Chosen with criteria such as veggie content, the presence of artificial colors/sweeteners, fat content, protein content, non-GMO or not, levels of pesticides, heavy metals, certified organic (or not) and the presence of dangerous contaminants, RAVE Reviews picked these winners:

Serenity Kids Baby Food (Austin, Texas)
Beech-Nut Organic Baby Food, Stage 2 (Amsterdam, New York)
Once Upon A Farm Organic Stage 3 (Berkeley, California)
Ella’s Organic Kitchen (Union County, New Jersey)
Amara Organic Baby Food (San Francisco, California)
Fresh Bellies Vegan Baby Food (White Plains, New York)
Happy Tot Organic (New York City, New York)
Sprout Organic (Montvale, New Jersey)
First Choice Organic Baby Food
Gerber’s Purees 2nd Veggie and Fruit (Florham Park, New Jersey)

Eleri Miller, Marketing Coordinator for RAVE Reviews, said in a press release, “Deciding what to feed your children is so important, but it can also be so complicated.” Miller went on to add, “This ranking is designed to cut through the overblown marketing claims and questionable science so that parents can easily figure out what baby food they should be buying.”

—Erica Loop

Featured photos: Tanaphong Toochinda via Unsplash 

 

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This Non-Profit Is Helping to Make More Public Places Sensory Friendly

by Erica Loop

Tanya Acosta is a Speech Pathologist, mother and the brains behind the non-profit Sensory City—and organization dedicated to making public spaces sensory friendly.

As the parent of a child with a disability, Acosta wants to help public community spaces (such as hotels, museums, airports, theme parks and other areas) better accommodate people with autism spectrum disorder, dementia, ADHD, PTSD and other sensory processing issues.

Sensory City offers a certification process to designate public spaces as “Sensory Friendly Certified.” The organization also offers sensory friendly kits, tools and disability-friendly recommendations to create inclusive areas.

Certification requires the business/organization/institution’s staff to complete Sensory City’s training and adopt the program criteria. Certified establishments get a door decal (to let families know the business is sensory-friendly). You can find “Sensory Friendly Certified” spaces listed on Sensory City’s website.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Hai Robe via Pixabay

 

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You Can Soon Book a Vacation on the International Space Station—Sign Us Up Now

by Shahrzad Warkentin

Is exploring outer space on your family vacation bucket list? Now it can be. NASA just announced that it will be opening the International Space Station to tourists.

NASA revealed that it will be accepting two private citizens aboard the ISS each year and they would be able to stay for up to 30 days.

Space travel doesn’t come cheap. That once-in-a-lifetime vacation will set you back about $35,000 and that doesn’t include the cost of getting there, which you would have to book through a private company like SpaceX for several more thousand. Visitors also need to meet certain physical criteria to make the journey into space.

The new private travel program is part of NASA’s effort to boost funds to pay for future missions including sending the first woman to the moon.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: WikiImages via Pixabay

 

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This Might Be Our Favorite Costco Perk of Them All

by Erica Loop

We love Costco for many reasons: bulk foods at great prices and a surprising array of non-food goods among them (who knew jeggings could be so comfy?). But one of our favorite Costco perks? Costco vacation deals! Here’s the skinny on how to take advantage of this fantastic perk.

One of the newest perks, Costco members can get up to a 30 percent discount on select luxury hotels. And these aren’t just hotels in the U.S. Stay at a Hilton, Hyatt, Fairmount, Raffles or Swissotel luxury hotel/resort to take advantage of Costco’s discounts. Along with hotel discounts, members can also get reduced rates on cruises and rental cars.

How do the Costco vacation discounts work? You’ll need an active Costco membership, then visit Costco Travel website. From there, select your destination, region, size of your travel party, departure and return dates and Costco works its magic to show you a list of available, discounted accommodations to meet your criteria.

Along with luxe hotels, you can also book a totally family-friendly vacation package at the House of Mouse: Costco members can get featured deals on Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort packages. While individual deals can vary and change depending on availability, members can score a variety of package deals, such as a double room upgrade (with free eats for the kiddos) with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Package (complete with park tickets) to up to a $245 Disney gift card with the Disneyland Resort Hotels Package.

You can also get members-only deals from Adventures by Disney Vacations and Universal Orlando Resort. Check out the Orlando: Universal’s Family Suites at Cabana Bay Beach Resort with Universal Tickets deal—it comes with a Costco cash card and early park admission!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BBCEehILMz7/

Keep in mind, the prices are subject to change and different deals may pop up and then go away. Snag these deals while they’re good, and book your family’s next amazingly awesome—and wallet-friendlier—vacation while you can.

—Erica Loop & Keiko Zoll

featured image: iStock 

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New Research Says More Screen Time Can Raise the Risk of an ADHD Diagnosis

by Erica Loop

How much screen time is too much? New research, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada, found that preschoolers who spent more time looking at screens were more likely to have an ADHD diagnosis.

Using data from nearly 2,500 children and parent groups (from the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development or CHILD study), the researchers compared the amount of time preschoolers spent using screens with the likelihood of meeting ADHD diagnostic criteria. While they didn’t find a complete cause-and-effect relationship between screen use and ADHD, the data can help parents to better understand the reasons for limiting this type of tech-time.

photo: Bruce Mars via Pexels

What exactly did the researchers find? Five year olds who spent two plus hours a day in front of screens were over seven times more likely to meet ADHD diagnostic criteria than kiddos who watched screens for less than half-an-hour per day. Before jumping to the conclusion that screen-time equals a behavioral disorder, stop and look at what the research (and the researchers) really say.

Again, this study didn’t find a clear cause-effect between screen use and ADHD. But it does provide some pretty compelling evidence for paying close attention to how much screen time your tot gets. Dr. Piush Mandhane, lead researcher of the study and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Alberta, told ABC News, “Children should develop a healthy relationship with screens as young as 3 to 5 years of age.”

Mandhane also added that, according to the study’s data, “Between zero and 30 minutes per day is the optimal amount of screen time.” So how can parents reduce screen time? With the current research in mind, Mandhane suggests using built-in apps to limit screen exposure, turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime and encourage your child to engage in physical activity.

—Erica Loop

 

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Is My Child Ready for Summer Camp?

By Audrey Monke

Over my three decades as a summer camp director, I’ve been asked thousands of questions about summer camp from parents, campers, and young adult counselors. Here are some commonly asked questions parents have when deciding on summer camp.

What’s the best age for overnight summer camp?

You probably want a number here, and if I have to pick, I’ll go with age nine. But my real answer is a bit more complex. When to start sending your child to sleep-away camp is a decision that depends on you, your parenting st‌yle, and your child’s temperament.

Is my child ready for camp?

Every child is different. But you as a parent must be ready to partner with the camp team, providing honest information about your child’s individual needs and being willing to come alongside us as we work to provide your child with the best experience possible. Watch this video for more information.

Should I make my kid go to camp?

Deciding to send your kid to camp for the first time can be scary, and—especially if you’re an anxious parent—it’s easy to come up with a never-ending list of why not to send your kid to camp. The key is to evaluate how both you and your child are feeling about camp: anxious or confident?

Am I (and is my child) emotionally ready for camp?

How does your child adapt to new environments or experiences? How does your child cope with sadness, anger, or disappointment? These are a few of the questions that can help you evaluate the emotional readiness of you and your child. Read more.

How do I choose a camp?

There are resident camps, day camps, specialty camps, and more. Some camps last one week, others a month. To determine which camp is right for you, take some time to think through some of the questions in this article.

Where can I search for an American Camp Association (ACA) accredited Camp?

You can search through ACA accredited camps here. The detailed search engine will help you find camps that fit your criteria, whether you’re looking for a camp within a select location or if there are specific activities you’d like your kid to try.

Why should I select an ACA (American Camp Association) accredited camp?

ACA Accreditation means that your child’s camp cares enough to undergo a thorough peer review of its operation—from staff qualifications and training to emergency management. Camps and ACA form a partnership that promotes growth and fun in an environment committed to safety.

What are good questions to ask when selecting a sports camp?

Sometimes it’s hard to know the right questions to ask when selecting a camp, and when it comes to sports camps—which can become especially competitive—it’s important to ask the right questions to be sure your kid ends up in an environment in which they thrive. Listen to this podcast for more information.

How can I afford camp?

There are various scholarships available to help send kids from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to camp. Read more to learn about how to apply for scholarships and what the process looks like.

Is there a camp for my child with special needs?

The short answer: yes! You can find more resources about sending children with special needs to camp here.

Why should you feel okay about sending your child to camp?

Sometimes kids worry that they’ll miss out on what’s happening at home with family or friends during their time at camp. As kids become teenagers, they also may worry that a summer job or internship is a better choice. Read this story on why one camper chose to keep coming back to camp year after year, and why she believes camp has equipped her with the resilience and grit to succeed in college and beyond.

What are some good questions to ask when choosing a camp?

If you’re new to the camp world, you may not know what to ask when researching different programs. This simple list of questions can help guide you on your search.

This post originally appeared on Sunshine Parenting.

I'm a summer camp director and mom of five who's worked with thousands of campers, counselors and parents over the past 34 years. Check out my new book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults. 

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Here’s How Amazon Might Open More Whole Foods Stores Across the U.S.

by Shahrzad Warkentin

If you’re hoping for a new Whole Foods location in your area, you might be in luck. Amazon is reportedly planning a Whole Foods expansion, but they’re not building new spaces, instead leasing out the empty buildings after the closures of other retailers. Amazon did not immediately return Red Tricycle’s request for comment.

According to sources who spoke to Yahoo Finance, Amazon is eyeing the sites of former Sears and Kmart stores for possible new Whole Foods locations. While there are currently more than 470 Whole Foods stores across the country, there are still several states that have none, or very few, Whole Foods stores. Recently closed Sears and Kmart stores in several of those states, like Wyoming and Montana, could serve as good locations for a Whole Foods expansion.

Photo: Courtesy Whole Foods

“There are lots of vacant retail space that they can take advantage of, and that gives them access to reasonable retail locations,” Neil Saunders, managing director of retail at GlobalData, told Yahoo Finance.

Whole Foods has not officially announced any plans for an expansion, but at a retail real estate event in Dallas, Texas, Jim Sud, Whole Foods’ executive vice president of growth and business development said, “First and foremost, we’re looking for the best location we can find. So if that’s an existing center—second generation space—that meets all of our criteria… we’ll jump all over it.”

It certainly seems like the opportunity is there, based on Sud’s comments. We’ll just have to wait and see.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

 

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The Name Game: Picking the Perfect Name for Baby

by Suzanna Logan

Choosing a name for your baby is one of the most special parts of parenthood—and one of those most daunting. For starters, you are naming a human being. For life. You want something unique, but not too unique, a name that will suit baby from infancy through childhood, adolescence and adulthood. The pressure is on, but there are surefire ways to rock this baby-naming business. Read on for our best tips.

photo: Laura Logan Photography

Look to Family Ties
Begin your search by considering your own family tree. Choosing a family name has a number of benefits, from carrying on a legacy and honoring a loved one to imparting extra special significance to your little one’s name right from the start. Just be ready to navigate a common pitfall: Naming baby after a family member can create mixed feelings among others in the family. Tread lightly and use compassion, but remember, in the end, it’s your baby, your choice.

photo: Marty Haddig via Flickr

Seek Inspiration
If finding the perfect name seems overwhelming, think of it like a treasure hunt instead. It’s an adventure, and the treasure could be anywhere! Try a quick Google search or browse a naming website like Nameberry. Or, thumb through your favorite book, look up historical figures, or consider personally significant people or places. One mom we know stalked the TV credits of her favorite shows. Another browsed the keychains at Walt Disney World.

Create Criteria
Because you’ll be attuned to every name you hear, establishing a list of moniker must-haves will keep your list from getting too lengthy. Do you want a name that has a specific meaning, like “peace” or “strength”? Only want a name that starts with the letter J? A name with three syllables? Use your criteria both to find potential names and weed out others.

photo: Christy Lynne Photography

Consider the Classics
A safe way to avoid trends and reach baby-naming success is to look to the top 100 list put out by the Social Security Administration. The names include the 100 most-popular names for boys and girls every year in the past 100 years and include classics like James, David and William for boys and Elizabeth, Emily and Grace for girls.

Play Favorites
Once you and your partner have settled on potential names, ask yourself if you both absolutely adore each name. Not just like the name, but love the name. Once you have a set of faves, continue to narrow down the list the old-fashioned way: Write them down. (Or go high-tech and create an Excel spreadsheet.) Next, look up the meanings, say them each out loud (a name that sounds great on paper may not be as appealing when spoken), check out the initials and monogram, and try the first and middle names together to see how they sound.

photo: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr

Talk It Out
In a perfect world, your child’s name would appear in the stars, and both parents-to-be would immediately agree it was The One. If only. Baby naming can be a hot topic between parents-to-be that can leave both parties feeling a little tense. Set ground rules at the start:

1) Be kind and open-minded.

2) Don’t belittle a partner’s choice.

3) Rules out names with any negative connotation for either partner (we’re looking at you, exes and 7th grade gym teachers!).

4) Enjoy the process!

Once you’ve agreed to the rules, create a list of favorites separately, and then compare. Don’t love any of the same ones? Compromise by having one choose the first name and the other choose the middle name. (Then, switch that order if there is ever a baby #2.) Or, choose baby’s name the very easiest way of all—by downloading an app! Babyname is the Tinder of the baby world. You both swipe right on names you like, left on names you don’t. When you have a match, it alerts you.

Celebrate
Breathe a sigh of relief and celebrate. You just named a human.

What do you think if the best way to choose a baby name? Share your advice below!

— Suzanna Palmer

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Do This Now: Throw a Cool Ice Cream Play Date

by Erin Feher
Partner Content

Nothing says summer like ice-cream covered faces. But we’re betting every kid in town is having the same craving, and as the days get longer, so does the line at your local ice cream shop. We suggest ditching the crowds and serving up some scoops yourself with a sweet ice cream play date. In addition to making your kids’ day, you’ll get to make memories to last long after the last bite of cone has been crunched. Read on to find out how to throw the perfect ice cream playdate, and be inspired by the slideshows we created with our friends in a snap using the RealTimes app!

The Location
Big backyards (in close proximity to the freezer) are the obvious choice—the chocolate and vanilla of venues. But this could be the perfect time to set up in your local park (the starwberry balsamic of play date spots, maybe?), where kids can run and spin off that sugar high while exploring a new locale. We chose the San Francisco Botanical Gardens because they meet a few important criteria: There’s a pretty, spacious lawn for picnicking; there is no playground in sight (playgrounds mean lots of other kids who can detect ice cream and sprinkles from a mile away. Unless you plan on bringing enough to feed the neighborhood, a more secluded place is better); there are literally acres of trails, paths and forests for them to explore; and finally, it’s pretty much impossible to take a bad photo against such a gorgeous backdrop. (We used the RealTimes app to create fun slideshow combining all of our pictures and videos)

The Set-Up
The thought of hauling in your own sundae set-up may make you want to melt, but if you keep it simple, it can be as easy as any normal playdate. Ask each parent to bring a topping, and minimize the trash by packing a couple sturdy bowls, spoons and cups. We teamed up with Mrs. Peasy, a local party in a box purveyor who threw together a no-fuss crate filled with everything we needed: picnic blankets, bowls, napkins, spoons and even cute mason jars for water.

The Supplies
Ice cream may be the star, but it’s the supporting characters that really make an ice cream play date shine. We went with whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate sauce and dye-free maraschino cherries. For the ice cream, we dropped by our favorite scoop shop, La Copa Loca, before the afternoon rush and picked our six favorite flavors. Most shops can fill pints or even half pints with your flavors of choice. We went with smaller containers and a bigger variety of flavors. We even scored half-a-dozen waffle cones. To transport the ice cream, we just used a couple of the countless insulated lunch bags we had laying around the house, paired with a cooling pack. Once at the park, we stashed the cooler in a shady spot, and never suffered any ice cream soup catastrophes.

And Don’t Forget to Take Pictures!
We had five photo-happy moms at our playdate, and all the slurping and strawberry-covered smiles had us snapping ourselves silly. Because we were all using the RealTimes photo story creation app, we were able to easily combine all of our best shots to create a handful of slideshows that capture the whole sweet experience. The best part? Because we were able to share photos with each other seamlessly, our slideshows actually included pictures of us moms, too! Try the free app for yourself by downloading it here. And happy scooping!

Download the Real Times app: realtimes.real.com

Do you have any tips on pulling off an extra sweet play date this summer? Let us know in the comments below! 

—Erin Feher

Images by Anna Chiu, Vanessa Wauchope Walstead, Terra Andrews, Jennine Jacobs (aka Mrs. Peasy) and Erin Feher

Bring your memories to life with RealTimes. Easily create montage Stories from your photos and videos. With RealTimes you can customize these Stories with your own music and titles, and share them with friends and family either privately or through social media. RealTimes also lets you safely store all of your media and Stories in a secure cloud that you can access from any device or computer, anytime – your moments are always with you. Share your moments, tell your story.

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Ginger Ale Braised Beef

by scott wardell

When it comes to braised beef, what’s the secret ingredient to melt-in-your-mouth tenderness? Ginger ale! Not only will this fizzy addition make the meat unbelievably tender, but the pickiest eaters will get a kick out of knowing there’s soda in their meal. Recipe creator, Liza of Salu Salo Recipes, decided to simmer the meat instead of grilling, which gives you an hour and more to play the kids or do a little cleaning. Now that’s perfect meal planning.

Serves 4

Ingredients
2 lbs. boneless beef short ribs, cut into chunks
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 c ginger ale
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sea salt
1/2 c brown sugar
1/2 c vinegar

Method
1. Place all ingredients in a heavy pan and bring to a slow simmer. Cover, lower the heat and simmer for 1 1/2 hours or until the beef is very tender. Stir constantly and add more water as needed. If preferred, skim off excess oil before serving.

2. Serve with steamed rice.

Simple to cook, easy to find ingredients, and delicious dishes. These are the criteria that Liza uses when she’s in the kitchen. Food and family go hand in hand for this cook, so that’s why she started a food blog all about sharing in communal meals. Salu Salo Recipes is Liza’s way of cataloging and sharing the recipes of her own childhood, with influences from the Philippines and China. Find more of her culinary creations over at Salu Salo Recipes. 

Recipe and photo courtesy of Liza at Salu Salo Recipes

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