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SavvyMom Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2010

Time flies, and it’s time to choose the newest SavvyMom Entrepreneur of the Year! This year, there are many wonderful mom entrepreneurs to choose from, and such a great prize pack! Not only does the winner receive a year-long mentorship with Shirley Broback with the Mabel’s Labels from 2007, and Shirley Broback, founder and producer of the SavvyMom Media on the advisory panel. Together, we will review the hundreds of mom-run businesses that have entered this year, and select the winner from the thousands of votes that will come in.

Go to http://momentrepreneur.savvymom.ca/gallery to view the nominees and cast your vote today! Voting closes September 12, 2010, and for each vote you cast, you get an entry to WIN $500 to your PayPal account! There are lots of great nominees, so visit the gallery and cast your votes!

Good luck to everyone!

Posted by Joni @ 3:45:40 PM

• 1 comments

Family Nightmare at the Airport

For months now, my family and I have been planning a trip to Belize. In the past, we’ve tried beach vacations, but they’re just not our cup of tea. We love ADVENTURE on our holidays! With two daughters, age 8 and 10, they’re all for it!

Just like many travelling Canadians, we decided to fly from Seattle            to take advantage of cheaper flights. As we learned, that may have been a mistake!

My husband, two daughters and I arrived as the SEA-TAC airport to fly from Seattle to Belize. After entering our information into their system, an airline representative came over to talk to us. He asked if we had permission from the children’s mother to fly. I replied that while I did not change my name when we got married, I am indeed the children’s mother. He then directed us to a different counter.

The next representative asked for the children’s paperwork; we provided them with their passports we had ensured we packed. She then asked the same question, whether we had permission from the children’s mother to fly. I explained again. My last name is Scully, but I am the biological mother of the two children and the wife of the man I am travelling with. After asking me if I had read the travel instructions of the Continental Airlines website, which I had, she informed me that Belize had very strict regulations, and they would not allow us to board the plane.

In the past, I have travelled with the girls to the US, Mexico, and Costa Rica without issue.

Now, since we were taking the first flight out, this is all happening virtually in the middle of the night. It’s 4:00 am and the girls are so upset that our vacation is over before it even started. We’re frustrated and are very ready to come to a resolution on this. With all the commotion, security had actually approached us to be sure that everything was ok.

At this time, the representative we were dealing with was on the phone, talking with another representative in Houston, where we had a stop-over. They were both trying to find the policy we had allegedly missed in our research. When we tried to talk to her, she kept putting her had up to stop us from talking. For 45 minutes we stood there – not being helped, but so that they could prove why we couldn’t get on the plane.

Finally, she tells us that we have to get someone to find the girls’ birth certificates in our home in BC. It’s not even 5:00am, seriously? So my husband calls is 70 year old mother to retrieve the documents. Of course, she can’t figure out the fax machine, so we have to call our neighbour to help her out. The fax came through, as requested, and it wasn’t good enough.

By now, the representatives have figured out that it actually doesn’t say anywhere of this policy they are talking about - the policy that informs travellers that if the mother has a different name than the children, she must have a notarized letter from a lawyer confirming that she is indeed the mother. I argued that we had no way of preparing for this; therefore we should be allowed to board the plane. We’re still told “NO”.

With a short 25 minutes left before departure time, the supervisor appears. She makes a call and somehow, the documentation we have provided is enough and we can get on the plane. We’re all tired, exhausted, and in tears as we board the plane. So our long-awaited vacation begins.

We entered Belize with no difficulty. It was all because I didn’t change my name when I got married and the girls have my husband’s last name. If you are a Canadian, your name isn’t on you child’s birth certificate or their passport.

Lesson – If you are a Canadian flying from the US to anywhere, and have a different last name than your children, bring a notarized letter with you!

Posted by Joni @ 10:13:22 AM

• 3 comments

Summer Sun Safety

Parents and caregivers alike, be sure to brush up on your knowledge of sunscreen this year! According to Health Canada, “Exposure to UVA and UVB radiation can cause skin damage, eye damage and weaken the body's immune system.” Although, exposure to UV rays also helps us pump up our vitamin D too.

Parents and caregivers play a vital role in the development of sun-safe habits. Keep playing outside and enjoy the weather, but be sure to take steps to protect yourself and the kids for the future.

• Try to time your outdoor time before 11am or after 4pm, when the sun is the most harmful
• If you’re out in prime-time, stay in the shade as much as possible; if you’re in the sun, cover up to protect your skin
• Use sunscreen that’s SPF 15 or higher and ‘Broad Spectrum” for protection against UVA and UVB rays
• Apply 20 minutes before you go out, and reapply 20 minutes after you’re out to ensure proper coverage
• If you go swimming or work up a sweat, reapply often to ensure you’re always covered
• Make sure you get all the sensitive parts: lips, ears, nose… and feet if you’re like me!

Remember these tips to ensure that you can have fun all summer!

Posted by Joni @ 1:47:16 PM

• 0 comments

Road Trips with Babies

To Grandmother’s house we go! And you’ll be in the car for five whole hours ¾ how can you make the trip enjoyable with a baby along?

Learn about it

There’s no question: Marathon car trips with a baby on board take a good amount of planning and organization. But it can be done ¾ and yes, it can even be fun!

Planning the trip

In the hustle that precedes a trip, it can be easy to let things happen, instead of make things happen. Be proactive in making your trip decisions. Contemplating these questions, and coming up with the right answers, can help make your trip more successful:

• Does your baby sleep well in the car? If yes, plan your travel time to coincide with a nap or bedtime so your baby can sleep through part of the journey. If not, plan to leave immediately after a nap or upon waking in the morning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking your baby will behave differently than usual in the car just because it’s a special occasion.
• Is it necessary to make the trip all at once, or can you break it up with stops along the way? The longer your baby is strapped in the carseat, the more likely he’ll become fussy. Planning a few breaks can keep everyone in a better frame of mind.
• When estimating an arrival time, have you factored in plenty of extra time for unplanned surprises? A diaper explosion that requires a complete change of clothes or a baby whose inconsolable crying requires an unexpected 20-minute stop are just two of the things that can easily happen.
• Do you have everything you need to make the trip pleasant? Items like:
• Window shades to protect your baby from the sun and create a darker, nap-inducing atmosphere.
• A cooler for cold drinks; a bottle warmer if needed.
• Plenty of toys that are new or forgotten favorites saved just for the trip.
• Baby-friendly music on tape or CD.
• A rear-view baby mirror to keep on eye on baby (unless a second person will be sitting with your little one)
• Books to read to your baby.

Preparing the car

Take plenty of time to get the car ready for your trip. If two adults are traveling, consider yourself lucky and arrange for one person to sit in the backseat next to the baby. If you are traveling alone with your little one, you’ll need to be more creative in setting up the car, and you’ll need to plan for more frequent stops along the way.

Here are a few tips for making the car a traveling entertainment center for your baby:

• Use ribbon or yarn and safety pins or tape to hang an array of lightweight toys from the ceiling of the car to hang over your baby. An alternative is to string a line from one side of the car to the other with an array of toys attached by ribbons. Bring along an assortment of new toys that can be exchanged when you stop the car for a rest. Just be sure to use small toys and keep them out of the driver’s line of view.
• Tape brightly colored pictures of toys on the back of the seat that your baby will be facing.
• If no one will be sitting next to your baby and your child is old enough to reach for toys, set up an upside-down box next to the car seat with a shallow box or a tray with ledges on top of it. Fill this with toys that your baby can reach for by himself. You might also shop around for a baby activity center that attaches directly to the carseat.
• If you plan to have someone sitting next to baby, then provide that person with a gigantic box of toys with which to entertain the little one ¾ distraction works wonders to keep a baby happy in the car. One of the best activities for long car rides is book reading. Check your library’s early reading section; it typically features a large collection of baby-pleasing titles in paperback that are easier to tote along than board books.
• Bring along an assortment of snacks and drinks for your older baby who’s regularly eating solids, and remember to bring food for yourself, too. Even if you plan to stop for meals, you may decide to drive on through if your baby is sleeping or content ¾ saving the stops for fussy times.
• Bring books on tape or quiet music for the adults for times when your baby is sleeping. The voice on tape may help keep your baby relaxed, and it will be something you can enjoy.
• If you’ll be traveling in the dark, bring along a battery-operated nightlight or flashlight.

Car travel checklist

q       Well-stocked diaper bag

q       Baby’s blanket

q       Carseat pillow or head support

q       Window shades (sun screens)

q       Change of clothes for your baby

q       Enormous box of toys and books

q       Music or books on tape or CDs

q       Baby food, snacks, and drinks for your baby

q       Sipper cups

q       Snacks and drinks for the adults

q       Cooler

q       Wet washcloths in bags, or moist towelettes

q       Empty plastic bags for leftovers and trash

q       Bottle warmer

q       Cell phone

q       Baby’s regular sleep music or white noise (if needed, bring extra batteries)

q       First aid kit/prescriptions/medications

q       Jumper cables

q       Money/wallet/purse/ID

q       Medical and insurance information/emergency phone numbers

q       Maps/driving directions

q       Baby carrier/sling/stroller

q       Camera and film

q       Suitcases

During the journey

If you’ve carefully planned your trip and prepared your vehicle, you’ve already started out on the right foot. Now keep these things in mind as you make your way down the road:

• Be flexible. When traveling with a baby, even the best-laid plans can be disrupted. Try to stay relaxed, accept changes, and go with the flow.
• Stop when you need to. Trying to push “just a little farther” with a crying baby in the car can be dangerous, as you’re distracted and nervous. Take the time to stop and calm your baby.
• Put safety first. Make sure that you keep your baby in his carseat. Many nursing mothers breastfeed their babies during trips. This can be dangerous in a moving car, even if you are both securely belted: You can’t foresee an accident, and your body could slam forcefully into your baby. Instead, pull over and nurse your baby while he’s still in his carseat. That way, when he falls asleep, you won’t wake him up moving him back into his seat.

Remember: Never, ever leave your baby alone in the car ¾ not even for a minute. 

On the way home

You may be so relieved that you lived through your trip that you sort of forget the other trip ahead of you: the trip home. You’ll need to organize the trip home as well as you did the trip out. A few days in advance, make certain that all your supplies are refilled and ready to go. Think about the best time to leave, and plan accordingly. In addition, think about what you learned on the trip to your destination that might make the trip home even easier. Is there something you wish you would have had but didn’t? Something you felt you could have done differently? Did you find yourself saying, “I wish we would have…”? Now’s the time to make any adjustments to your original travel plan so that your trip back home is pleasant and relaxed.

This article is an excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003) 

Posted by Joni @ 11:07:02 AM

• 0 comments

Canadian Product Recall: Baby Slings

On March 23, 2010, Health Canada Consumer Product Safety issued a product recall for baby slings. Slings affected by the recall are the Infantino SlingRider™ and Infantino Wendy Bellissimo™ sold between January 2003 and March 2010 at Walmart, Babies “R” Us, other retail stores, and online at Amazon.com.

The slings are being recalled due to risk of suffocation or smothering of a child under 4 months of age between the parent/caregiver’s body and the fabric of the sling. At this time, Health Canada has not received any reports of injury or death caused by the sling, but the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has received 3 reports of infant death.

Health Canada advises consumers to stop using this product immediately and contact Infantino immediately for a replacement product. For full information on the recall and steps to return the defective product and receive a replacement, please visit Health Canada’s recall website at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1001.

*This information is reported by CanadianNanny.ca for informational purposes only.

Posted by Joni @ 5:13:58 PM

• 0 comments

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Posted by Joni @ 4:45:57 PM

• 0 comments

Nanny Background Checks, References and Police Record Checks

Recently, we got an email from a Hamilton nanny asking if it is appropriate for nannies to ask for references and a police record check of the parents that are interviewing them.

Martha Scully, owner of CanadianNanny.ca and Joni Gilmour, recruitment manager at CanadianNanny.ca were discussing this and found they couldn’t agree; Martha being an employer and Joni being an employee. Read the discussion they had and weigh in on your thoughts!

Martha: As a nanny, you are the employee of the parent. It is appropriate, and generally regarded as required, for the parent to ask for references and a police record check / nanny background check , because the nanny is dealing with their children and working in their home. It is common practice for parents, church groups, child care centres, girl guides, coaches, etc to ask for this information.

Joni: Yes, it is obvious why parents should ask the potential nanny for this. However, the nanny is working in the home of the parent, and could be putting themselves at risk. There are a lot of great nannies out there that will come out clean in these nanny background checks, and some that won’t, which is why you really should ask for this. However, among all the wonderful families there can also be parents out there that aren’t great and the nanny could be putting themselves at risk if they don’t look out for themselves.

Martha: From an interview, it is impossible to determine if a child will be “safe” under the care of this individual. The best way to determine the abilities of the nanny is to do screening from the beginning, to ensure the person you are hiring is the right person.

Joni: Similarly, it is impossible to tell if there are any ‘skeletons in the closet’ of the parents. It’s hard to tell if the nanny will be safe in the family’s home. What if there is a history of abuse – verbally, emotionally, physically – towards nannies working in the home? What if the parent has an aggressive nature that’s only revealed in times of high stress, or perhaps when accelerated by certain activities? If a nanny is living in the home, this could be a potential risk for them, as they reside with the family all the time.

Martha: As an employer, I would reconsider the decision to hire the nanny, or employee, if they asked me for a reference and police record check.

Joni: Doesn’t this show that the nanny has some sense to look out for dangers, and that they will then look out for the child with just as much caution? The parent’s are looking out for the safety of their family, both themselves and their children. So by the nanny doing the same thing, it shows they have the same concern for safety.

Martha: The odd time a parent will offer a reference of a past nanny to the nanny they are interviewing. At that time, it would be acceptable to speak to the past nanny. A police record check may show things that do not relate to the nanny’s employment, and therefore isn’t the business of the nanny.

Joni: But the police record may show things that are also not relevant to the job, but it could still affect the chances of getting hired.

Martha: The nanny can ask some questions of the parent(s) during the interview to get a sense for the type of family they are, but it should remain professional. If there is something that makes the nanny feel at ease with the family, therefore feeling the need to “check them out”, they should politely decline the position and continue searching for the right family for them.

Joni: Similarly, the parent should look for these cues when they are interviewing the nanny. I agree that a reference check and police record check should still be done for employment, but if something is giving you the “no feeling”, it’s not the right fit.

It seems that Martha and Joni have come to some sort of agreement, but the question still remains, is it appropriate for the nanny to ask for this of the parent? What do you think? Leave your comments here!

Posted by Joni @ 1:42:12 PM

• 7 comments