Safety Alert Bracelets and Allergy Alert Bracelets – Well on Their Way

Mabels Labels Are There When You Can’t Be!

Keeping kids safe when they’re away from home is a challenge. From “stranger danger”to life-threatening allergens, peril seems to lurk around every corner. Experts recommend teaching kids their full name, address, phone number, parents’ names and workplaces, and how to call 911. But what if your kid is too confused or shy to pass info on to that uniformed adult they’ve been advised to seek out if lost? Or too intimidated to explain to their friend’s mom that just breathing in that peanut filled treat could send them to hospital? There are many times when we’re not going to be there to protect our kids.

Information is key. While peanut-free school lunches are the norm, lack of awareness about other common anaphylactic-shock producing foods is a concern. Health Canada identifies these as tree nuts, shellfish, fish, milk, egg, wheat, soy and sesame. Almost 6% of Canadian children suffer from food allergies according to McMaster University’s Dr. Susan Waserman and this number is growing. A recent study showed that kids’ emergency room visits for serious food-allergy reactions may be rising while asthma, which allergies can trigger, continues to be a major cause of hospitalization of children.

Protecting kids (and moms’ peace of mind) is possible with Safety Products from Mabel’s Labels. As company co-founder and mom of six, I rely on these daily. My kids don’t hit a theme park, mall, field trip, party or play-date without their “My-411 Wristbands”. These durable, disposable bands come in five cute designs and are customized with names, contact info and other vital information. They speak if my kids can’t so if anything goes wrong, I’m contacted quickly. And for school, camp or trips, dishwasher/microwave-safe Allergy Alerts labels remind care givers and lunch buddies of dietary restrictions. Kids really shouldn’t leave home without these!

So the bottom line is:  teach kids safety awareness but prepare for worst-case scenarios. As a busy mom I find it very reassuring that Safety Products from Mabel’s Labels are there when I can’t be. And I have no worries that they’ll tear or come off. My built-in test group from toddler to tween prove daily that super tough Mabel’s Labels can take on whatever the big, sometimes bad, world throws at them!

Visit Mabel’s Labels website to find out more about Kid Safety Products.

Protective Surfacing for Children Gym

Protective surfacing is intended to cushion falls and prevent serious injuries from any children gym used indoors and outdoors. The amount of a consistent type of surfacing required is based on the critical height or fall height of the equipment, which is the height of the highest designated play surface on the equipment.  Common indoor surfaces (such as rugs, tumbling mates, or carpet) are not adequate cushioning for gross motor equipment with a fall height greater than 18 inches even.

The following information has been extracted from the website www.safekidscanada.ca (section “For Parents – Safety Information by Topic – Playground Safety – Design and Surfacing).  There are currently no Canadian standards or guidelines for indoor playground surfacing. Ideally, the best surfacing would be material that was tested for use under play equipment, such as the rubber-like tiles designed for outdoor playgrounds. There is only a small amount of research available on indoor surfacing, but it points to some suggestions on what kind of surface material can (and cannot) be used indoors to cushion children’s falls.

Dense foam mats and interlocking foam tiles: One Canadian study found that dense foam mats (1¼ inch or 3 centimetres thick) adequately cushioned falls of 6 feet (1.8 metres). Interlocking foam tiles (such as those found in building centres or toy stores) were found not to be safe for heights of 3 feet (0.9 metres), but when double-layered did cushion falls of 4 feet (1.2 metres). These tiles measure 2×2 feet (0.6 metres x 0.6 metres) and are 5/8 inches (1.5 centimetres) thick. Therefore, two layers of tiles will create a surface similar to the dense foam mats.

Gymnastics mats: Two studies have tested gym mats and found that if mats are at least 4 inches (10 centimetres) thick, they can cushion falls of 3 feet (0.9 metres). Six-inch (15 centimetres) mats can be safe for falls of 6 feet (1.8 metres). Unfortunately, such thick mats create an unstable base for children’s climbing equipment and increase the risk of equipment tipping over.

Carpet, safety floor tiles, and resting mats: None of these materials provide adequate protection against head injury, even for falls of just one foot (0.3 metres), according to a US study that tested 24 samples of surfacing materials being used under indoor play equipment at childcare centres.

Hammocks are Great Father’s Day Presents

Hammocks, hammock chairs and loungers are great Father’s day presents. Every man would love to have a place to relax on a backyard or even inside a house.

Camping hammock – great portable hammock for your next travel

Along with Currambera Lounger we have another product coming from Germany. “Ticket To The Moon” hammock is a must-have for all campers. This was developed by travellers for travellers. It is made from breathable parachute silk and is extremely robust. The total weight of this hammock is only 570g and the fabric size is 220 x150cm great for kids and adults. Furthermore it is lightweight and doesn’t need much space. This hammock with lots of flair and astonishing comfort shouldn’t be missed in any backpack.

“Ticket To The Moon” hammocks are made of high quality breathable parachute silk with great care and well-balanced in their dimensions. The seams are made extra strong, the integrated hooks are stainless steel. In brief: the construction is simple and convincing. It’s the perfect combination of lightweight, easy use and highest comfort, which is extraordinary for lightweight hammocks.

The packaging bag is attached to the hammock with an extra strong seam. This has two advantages at once: you can not loose the bag and you also have an inbuilt storage bag for drinking bottles or travel literature.

“Ticket to the Moon” camping hammock will soon be available at our online store.

Lounger – Therapy swing for the whole family

Due to Iceland’s volcanic ash spread across Europe we are experiencing a delay with delivery of shipments from Europe. But we would like to give you a preview of new products coming soon.

This Brazilian lounger made by La Siesta is the biggest hammock chair on market. It is made from 100% cotton fabric. The cloth size is 130X210cm – there is enough room to stretch out the whole body. Swinging gently in this hammock lounger is a perfect way to relax. And there’s plenty of space for all the family too. Hammocks are not just great fun. They are also important for the physical and mental development of a child.

This lounger hangs very easily from one suspension point.

I bet this lounger will become a favorite place to relax for many families in Canada and US. It will be soon available in our online store

Doorway Swing or MiniGym

We would like to thank a very talented photographer from LivePixels Photography in Oakville for photographing our doorway swing last week. We will be updating our website with new pictures next month. For now we would like to show how you can use our doorway swing. This product comes with trapeze bar and rings combo, but to make it more fun you can switch between other accessories: rope ladder, gym rings, cuddle swing, belt swing etc.

Cuddle Swing – Therapy swing for autism – on SALE 25%off

Arsalooly Cuddle Swing is a great Christmas present for a child with Autism.  And now this product is ON SALE (25%off). There is still time to get it before holidays.

It is made of stretching soft fabric (92% cotton, 8% lycra). It is machine washable and can be used indoors and outdoors.  The therapy swing is available in 3 different colors: navy blue, red and green.

The cuddle swing will give children experience of being in a cocoon, it will provide a feeling of womb-like safety and comfort. Children will really enjoy bouncing and spinning or relaxing in this cuddle hammock swing. It is a great tool for vestibular stimulation in children with Sensory Processing Disorder.

Please visit our online store to make a purchase.

Do-It-Yourself Home Gym for Kids

DreamGYM is very happy to announce that our basic model of the home jungle gym is now available as a Do-It-Yourself kit. The kit includes all the necessary hardware, illustration plans for building and easy-to-follow assembly instructions with 3D drawings. There are over 110 hardware pieces. There are 8 eye bolts and 8 quick links included in this kit; to make it easy to switch between jungle gym accessories, swings and hammocks.

About this model:

New Cuddle Swing – Joki Hanging “Crow’s Nest”

In October we are adding a new cuddle swing to our online store with a cute name “Crow’s Nest”. The Joki hanging crow’s nest is the perfect refuge for children aged three to nine. Hovering and calm it offers relaxation and stimulates imagination. Wrapped in the soft fabric, sitting on the large and soft seat cushion, children find peace and quiet! It will delight any child. It can be mounted in the child’s room, in the backyard or even taken along on trips. It comes with a large and detachable soft pillow.

Parents will appreciate its ability to calm down and quiet overwhelmed tots on the verge of a tantrum. This cuddle swing will give children experience of being in a cocoon, it will provide a feeling of womb-like safety and comfort. Swaying develops the sense of balance, and cuddle swings are often used in child therapy.

Unlike similar cuddle swing from other brands this cuddle swing made of high quality 100% cotton fabric. It has soft and natural feel.

The maximum weight capacity is 175 lbs (80 kg).

Please email us (info@KidsDreamGym.com) if you would like us to contact you when this item is in stock.

New Therapy Swing for Children with Autism

It has been a very busy summer for us. Due to union strike in Toronto, kids could not go to city-run camps and they kept us occupied. That is why we haven’t updated our blog for a while, but we have several announcements.

We have been asked numerous times if we have a large hammock chair that can be used as a therapy swing for children with autism. And now we are happy to announce that we have in stock Modesta hammock chair available in ecru and Currambera Hammock Chair available in 4 bright juicy colors: orange, red, blue and green.

Both therapy hammock swings are made of 100% cotton. They provide a unique way to be seated. A modern and mobile chair that can be hung up or taken down in seconds. When you don’t need it, just fold it and put it away until next time – it doesn’t take more space than an umbrella. It is used indoors just as much as outdoors. All La Siesta hammock chairs are delivered with a duffel bag. This makes the chair really practical and easy to carry. Sling it over your shoulder, and find a good place to hang it up, to relax and drift in your thoughts. This therapy swing is great for people seeking deep proprioceptive sensory input. It can instantly calm any person.

For more information please go to our website www.KidsDreamGym.com: Modesta Hammock Chair and Currambera Hammock Chair.