27 ℃. That’s the perfect temperature for summer camping according to Scouts – Canada’s youngest outdoor experts. So, go check the thermometer. It’s time to answer the call of the wilderness! Scouts learn essential outdoor skills and how to prioritize safety in all activities from day hikes or week long portage tours. Prepare for your next camping trip – whether it’s the first of fiftieth – just like a Scout with Scouts Canada’s Ultimate Summer Camping Guide to make your adventure both memorable and safe. Campfire Construction For many, a campfire is a beloved tradition and the first thing that ..read more

Summer is here and warm weather means cottage, camping, and road trip time. A common question I get asked this time of year is “We’re going away soon. How do I protect my baby’s sleep?” Here are tips on how to have a great summer vacation with a well-rested baby! Consistent Bedtime Routine Practicing a consistent bedtime routine at home is something you can take with you wherever you go. A similar sequence of events can better prepare your child for sleep. Practicing this routine away from home will help give the feeling of security and familiarity to your baby, even if they are unsure of thei ..read more

“Sleep while you can! You won’t sleep again once baby arrives!” How many times have you heard that? If you’re a parent, chances are you heard it at least a thousand times in the weeks and months before your child was born. And as soon as your little one arrived, chances are everyone started asking, “are they a good sleeper?” It’s enough to give anyone a complex! And have you noticed that the makers of baby gear have figured out that sleep is one of the biggest concerns new parents have? I can’t turn around without bumping into a new product that claims to make baby sleep longer, better, quicke ..read more

With the arrival of the winter season, parents are tempted to bundle up their babies as thickly as possible in order to keep them snug and warm. The warmth factor can interfere with the safety factor of the baby car seat. The problem is that this is not the best idea if you are planning to put a baby in a car seat with a five-point harness. The reason is that the harness system then serves to hold the coat in place and not the baby. This defeats the whole safety purpose of the car seat. Unfortunately, rescue workers and police report seeing empty coats strapped safely into baby car seats. This ..read more

Winter offers many opportunities for families to participate in outdoor recreation. Alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross country skiing and snowshoeing are all sports that families can enjoy together and pursue as lifelong hobbies. If your children are young, how do you know if they are ready to begin a snow sport? To help parents make that decision, the following tips were collected from snow sports program managers at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, whose family programs have received a #1 ranking for 14 years from SKI Magazine readers. Alpine skiing Harley Johnson is the director of Smugglers’ Snow ..read more

Every expecting mother hopes and prays that after nine months they will be delivering a healthy and strong baby. It’s vital to eat well, practice appropriate exercises, tend to one’s mental health, and practice self-care. There are a lot of considerations related to preparing your home for your baby, but it is of the utmost importance to make sure you and your baby are healthy and ready for the birth and everything that comes after. Good health starts with good eating habits. It’s called an eating habit because consuming certain types of food becomes an effortless and regular part of your life ..read more

  This condition is caused by a viral infection. It can be alarming and often occurs at night, but usually passes quickly. Your child will have difficulty breathing, and a short, distinctive barking cough when he breathes out. He may be making a crowing or whistling noise. In a severe attack, he may use muscles around his nose, neck, and upper arms in his attempts to breathe. IF HE HAS blue-tinged skin or signs of a severe attack (see IMPORTANT, below), CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMS.     ** IMPORTANT ** If the attack is severe or prolonged, CALL 911 OR YOUR LOCAL EMS. If the attac ..read more

When my twins were born in August 1996 autism was distant thunder on the horizon. I’d heard about it vaguely, but it seemed so mysterious and rare I couldn’t imagine it would ever affect me. Since then, diagnoses of autism increased tenfold and it has definitely shaped my family’s life. People often ask me when I first noticed that my son, Fraser, was different. I struggle with what I knew then and what I’ve come to understand. On a beautiful autumn day, I took my two-year-olds for a walk in the fields at the Ontario horse farm where we lived. Suddenly, in mid-stride, Fraser froze. His head wa ..read more

Ride Una the Trunki Unicorn on mystical adventures! Designed for travelling tots, so attach your spiral horn and shake your rainbow tail and get ready to ride and explore! Little storytellers can gracefully ride, carry, or be towed through magical lands. As with all Trunki ride on suitcases Una the Trunki Unicorn has an 18 litre capacity, a comfy saddle, secure lockable catches, a soft rubber trim, and an internal pocket and teddy bear seat belt. Una the Trunki Unicorn is made and designed in the UK complete with a five year guarantee! https://oyaco.com/trunki-rideon-suitcase ..read more

When you first become a parent you go a little overboard with the ‘essentials.’ The bouncers, the bottles, the bumbos, the ‘stuff!’ As your kids grow, the stuff that you thought was so important dwindles … there’s still ‘stuff’ but now it’s THEIR stuff, the stuff they can’t live without … the dolls, the toys, the crafts, the crayons. But you also learn about the ‘stuff’ that makes a big difference for you as a parent. The day to day stuff that make a difference in your life, that actually makes your life a little easier. For us we have a small but crucial list: the crib rail: we’re not sure w ..read more