by nenetteam on January 18, 2010
When my 7-year-old son saw the Listerine® Agent Cool Blue TV commercial for the first time, he immediately declared, “I think I should try that.” I, consumed with a non-TV activity (I believe I was on my laptop or something), assumed he was talking about just another video game, and replied, “Well, you’ll have to save your allowance for it.”
“You want me to save up for mouth wash, Momma?!!!”
What?! My son wants me to buy him a dental hygiene product?! So, you can imagine my confusion.
After verifying that the little boy was in fact my son and not some alien replacement, I went to Listerine’s website to find out what this miracle product was that had suddenly made its way into our unsuspecting lives.
According to the site, Agent Cool Blue is “a pre-brush rinse” that tints plaque blue, giving kids visual feedback on where the nasty stuff is. It’s basically like giving them a sign that says “brush here more” and giving parents an effective indicator on how well, or how poorly, their kids clean their teeth.
And yeah, I needed something like that, because despite the fact that my son does brush his teeth, he doesn’t always brush them well.
I liked that it didn’t have fluoride, which I already avoid in toothpaste because our tap water here in our city is already treated with fluoride*. And it didn’t have alcohol. So, I bought us a bottle.
Now, my son is no spaz, but he is 7, with the finesse of, well, a 7-year-old. He didn’t squeeze hard enough, then somehow tipped the bottle. (Huh, maybe he does take after me after all.) Anyway, Holy Hannah, blue everywhere!
And after “swish and spit”-ing for 30 seconds, he said his teeth were barely blue. My husband verified that, indeed, the bathroom sink and counter — and the washcloth we used to clean up — were bluer than his teeth. And my son hadn’t even started brushing yet!
Needless to say, we were all disappointed in the product. Our bubble was burst. And we haven’t used it since.
The bottle is still there, in the cabinet under the bathroom sink. We may try it again in the future. After sufficient time has passed and we forget how bad the experience was. Maybe.
Product: Listerine Agent Cool Blue
Flavours: Glacier Mint, Bubble Blast
For: Adults and Kids 6 and older
Frequency of Use: Daily
Price: under $7 at any drug store or big box store in the dental aisle
Pros: fun kid flavours, measuring dispenser attached, no fluoride, no alcohol
Cons: didn’t really turn plaque blue, stains fabrics.
Special Note: This product had been recalled in 2007, but the problem has been fixed, and the product has since been re-released.
* – For information on the Dangers of Overexposure to Fluoride, please read this.
by nenetteam on July 21, 2009
I always thought that, when my kids were toilet-trained and out of diapers, I could go back to carrying a tiny purse — with only keys, wallet, cellphone, and lipstick — like I did before I had kids.
And now when I got out on my own, I do, in fact, have just a small purse in hand.
But when I have the kids in tow, I want to make sure they’re safe and comfortable, and for me, this means always carrying along a bigger bag, complete with a First Aid Kit.
Ready-made kits are available at your local drugstore or big box store, but I find that they usually contain a lot of things I don’t need or want to lug around with me on a day-to-day basis. I’ll be in the city — skinned knees and cuts are the worst we can expect without needing to call 911. Plus, my kids have certain needs that have to be addressed, so I end up making my own kit anyway.
It’s so easy to throw one together for yourselves. Yes, it is! As an example, I present you mine, which is very basic. You can customize yours for your own needs.
1: A container.
I use a zip-top freezer bag. I like seeing what I have — and what I need to restock — without opening it. I prefer the freezer bag because the plastic is thicker and stronger. And the fact that it’s so cheap is a BIG bonus! You can also use a pencil case or a small plastic food container.
2: Sterile band-aids.
I have about 10 band aids in my kit — mainly medium-sized but a couple of small and a couple of large band aids.
3: Cleansing pads.
You can buy these in individually-sealed packs. I pack about 5 instead of 10 (the same number of band aids) because I’ve found some to open and dry up over time.
4: Antiseptic spray or ointment.
A small tube is all you need. I put mine in a tiny plastic bag in case of spills — my bag can get stepped on or sat on by my little people.
5: Pain reliever.
Okay, this is more for me. I just throw in a couple of ibuprofen in another tiny plastic bag, and I can handle anything.
6: Anti-nausea tablets.
My son gets a terrible case of motion sickness whenever he gets into a car or bus… no matter the length of ride. Popping one of these fast-acting tabs makes it easy for my son (and me!) to enjoy any kind of excursion.
Bonus: Allergy medication.
With my daughter allergic to peanuts, we always have her epi-pen with us. But we may also have to deal with reactions to insect bites and pollen.
For more information, and additional first aid supply ideas, visit the Canadian Red Cross site.
Image by Telstar Logistics
by nenetteam on June 1, 2009
Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of parents more than learning that one of your child’s classmates has lice. After inspecting every square centimeter of his/her head and finding it lice-free, how do you make sure it stays that way? Before you decide that your child will be bald until high school graduation, try these easy, natural, less-extreme ways of hair lice prevention.
1: Keep Hair Not-So Squeaky Clean
Lice love hanging out in immaculately clean hair. There’s nothing to block their breathing or stop them from moving around. Wash their hair only once a week, preferably on Friday night, so they can build up some natural oils just in time for school on Monday.
2: Shampoo/Spray with Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil kills lice and nits like nothing else! And tea tree shampoo is available at all natural health stores these days. For extra lice killing power, add a few drops of tea tree oil directly into the shampoo just before lathering.
You can also add a few drops of tea tree oil to a spray-bottle of water, and lightly spritz your child’s head just before heading to school.
3: Use Hair Product
Hair gel and hair spray clogs up lice airways causing them to suffocate. Spray a little bit before they head off to school to keep critters from surviving long enough to lay nits on their heads.
4: Try a New Hair Style
Braiding, cutting hair short, and keeping it close to the scalp are all excellent ways of preventing lice from taking hold. Finding any lice would be easier too.
5: Avoid Sharing Hats and Other Hair Accessories
The next time you go shopping, remember that you don’t know who tried on that hat before your child did. Same goes for costumes. Luckily, more and more schools avoid cloth-based costume hats and hair ornamentation in their classrooms. And be sure to tell your kids not to share hair brushes, combs, or clips.
The most important thing to remember is to not panic and stay calm. Lice in the classroom may be more common these days, but it doesn’t mean your child will get it.
Image by chefranden
by nenetteam on May 5, 2009
Wash Those Hands!
When it comes to protecting ourselves against communicable disease, from the common cold to influenza, hand-washing is our first line of defense.
But when we tell our kids to wash their hands, we can never really be 100% sure they’re doing a proper, thorough job of it.
So, here are 3 quick tips to help them along and make their job (and ours) a little bit easier…
1: Antibacterial soap is not necessary. Regular soap is more than enough to clean dirty little hands, and it won’t kill off the good bacteria that live on our skin all the time. But if you want to use Antibacterial Soap, be sure to chose one without triclosan, a known carcinogen.
2: Not sure how long to wash? Sing the Alphabet Song! This should be long enough to scrub everything, even the often-neglected spots: (1) Under the nails (2) Between fingers (3) Wrists.
3: Ditch the community drying cloth. Every time you dry your hands, you could also be picking up germs that the previous user left behind! Instead, use face clothes! Buy them cheap at one of the big-box store, and stack them beside the sink. After a hand wash, use one to dry, then pop it in a laundry bin. Easy!
For more on washing little hands, check out kidshealth.org
Image by Nick Nguyen
by nenetteam on April 16, 2009
Babies don’t come with care and maintenance manuals.
That fact became glaringly clear for me when my first child was born almost 7 years ago. The day I was discharged from the hospital, I looked at my beautiful new son, this gorgeous little person who completely depended on me for his very life, and it was then that the enormity of my duties truly hit me. I then looked at the nurse, and heaven help me, I almost shouted, “You’re letting ME take home this baby? Are you nuts?! I know NOTHING!”
Of course, I kept my mouth shut because, you know, I didn’t want them to think they were sending the baby home with a lunatic!
Then the same thing happened 2 years later, when I brought home my daughter. Now I had A GIRL!!! And she was nothing like her brother. A whole new little person — a whole new set of rules! Oy!
Thanks heavens I had helpful family members, experienced girlfriends, and books by childcare experts like William Sears, Ann Douglas, and La Leche League. Most of the time, one of them would have the answer I needed. And if they didn’t, I’d do whatever I could. We, moms, have to, right?
Now here, at Daily Care, I share with you the things I’ve learned.* I’ve been there, in the trenches, elbow-deep in baby poop, battling diaper rash. Think of me as an experienced girlfriend — the one to keep you from screaming like a lunatic. 
And whatever I don’t know, I’ll always do my research.
Here…
- we’ll explore time-tested methods, as well as new discoveries, in health, wellness, and hygiene for kids from birth to puberty.
- I’ll compare, review, and recommend products to clean, protect and nourish new teeth, hair, skin from the outside, staying as natural and organic as possible.
- I’ll help you deal with life’s little emergencies, such as scrapes and cuts, allergies, even lice, as naturally and as painlessly as possible.
- I’ll share methods to lovingly care for our children, to give them comfort as well as teach them good habits that they can take into adulthood.
- And much, much more…
Lastly (for now), I would love to hear from you. What would you like to read here? Is there a problem that concerns you that you want answers for? Do you have a tip or two you’d like to share? Just give me a shout!
Thanks for coming to KIDoosh, and I look forward to sharing this Daily Care journey with you.
* Please remember that the information we present here is NO substitute for the advice of a health care professional. See your preferred medical practitioner for accurate diagnoses and remedies.
