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Toddler Proof iPhone Case Review
I have been waiting since February 2011 – nearly 7 months – when MSNBC reported on the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Apptivity iPhone Case that supposedly would be toddler proof iPhone case that would become available to the general public. My son had just turned one and never used the iPhone before, but I knew that it was only a matter of time before he was introduced to it. I do not view the iPhone as a parenting substitute, but a tool to help maintain control and provide a piece of mind for moms and dads while traveling with a baby and/or toddler – which we do a lot. Here it is! Finally the second week in September, I received the Fisher-Price catalog in the mail and it highlighted the Apptivity iPhone case. I was so excited – not only because it was released – but it was only $15. The next day, I ordered directly from the Fisher-Price website and received it a couple of days later. With shipping and handling it cost $20.99 ($15 for the case and $5.99 for shipping). This product can also be ordered from Amazon for $14.99 not including shipping & handling and will be available in retail stores in October 2011. This case has been tested by my 19 mos. old son. This Apptivity iPhone case has not let me down; I am in love with it and so is my toddler. Here are some of the highlights that I love. 1. With the Apptivity iPhone case it eliminates any fear that if your toddler drops the phone that the glass will break. Most cases, including mine, do not have a protective front cover. 2. You do not have to worry about your toddler constantly touching the home screen and knocking them out of the audio book or other toddler game app they are playing. The home screen is protected by a think piece of plastic; whereby the home screen cannot be pushed. 3. You do not have to worry about your toddler drooling, or grubby fingers getting your iPhone dirty; it has a protective plastic over the top. Even with the protective cover, you can use the apps properly. Now, if they could only make one for husbands. 4. The volume works very well through the Apptivity iPhone case, so there are no worries that your toddler will not be able to hear the audio book or music. Though, the volume must be turned up before putting it in the Apptivity iPhone case. On the other hand, while flying it might be a difficult to hear initially, but after a few minutes you become attuned to it and so does your toddler. Please note, when I flew I asked the people in front of and behind me if they could hear the iPhone and they said no. 5. While my toddler was using it, I was able to respond to text messages that popped up. I was uncertain about this, but it did work. Of course, you cannot use the phone because you cannot speak into the microphone. 6. It does have a mirror on the back. My son is too old to really care about the mirror because he knows how to work the iPhone. However, if I was...
read moreRestroom Advertisements. What?!?!
Don’t you think a great place to advertise would be in a public restroom, especially in the women’s restroom on the stall doors? Can you say, “Captive audience.” What a better place to pitch a product to a consumer? It is great ad space that can be sold at a premium in high traffic areas. Restroom advertisements, why not? According to Brandchannel, a 2006 study shows that around three-quarters of diners in a restaurant will go to the toilets at some point during their meal. Clubbers go around 2.9 times during an average evening at a nightclub. I am sure in the past five years this number has increased. Unfortunately, I can count on one hand how many times I seen a company utilize this space. Prior to writing this post, I did several Google searches for ‘bathroom advertising’, ‘restroom advertising’, ‘bathroom stall advertising’, and ‘indoor advertising’, and I only found two posts that were relevant from this past year and five post that were relevant in the past six years. So I ask, “What is a better place to pitch a product to a consumer?” Of course, there are quite a few factors that go into determining if this unconventional medium is for a company, but I believe consumers would be receptive to messages in the bathroom. During the short period of time people are in there, they tend to concentrate more, ruminate in their thoughts, and enjoy momentary peace and quiet. And I believe it is better to have people reading and taking in a company’s message versus using their phones while in the public restroom and announcing to everyone their private business. If you agree with me on this idea, in order to advertise properly and ensure the correct message gets across, a company should consider the following four steps. 1. Identify their target audience by realizing that restroom advertisements are geared towards specific genders. Place advertisements in such an arena if you want to market your product or service specifically to men or women. “Restroom ads also allow companies to target a gender with 100% accuracy.” – Fortune 2. Ensure that the advertisement is appropriate for the venue in order to successfully reach your target audience. According to a Rice University Study, “Retention of impressions generated by restroom advertising was found to be on average 40% stronger than impressions generated by other media.” 3. Employ innovative advertising techniques to acquire and then retain the public’s attention. Extend your product promotions from stall walls and position bathroom advertisements on paper towel holders, mirrors, urinals, door handles and toilet paper rolls. For example, in March 2011, CNN reported that companies such as Pepsi, Geico, Illy coffee, Microsoft, Pledge cleaning products, Zappos.com, Spanx women’s undergarments and Dove men’s care products are beginning to advertise in airport restrooms starting in O’Hare International Airport. The advertisements are displayed on 40 inch digital display mirrors produced by Mirrus, a North Carolina company that manufactures and markets the mirrors. The high-definition screens display both short films and still images. Recently I flew in and out of O’Hare and I am bummed that I did not see any of the ads. 4. Initiate feedback to determine the success of your bathroom advertisements. Inquire where new customers learned of your services. Watch the...
read moreWhat Do You Know About Reading To Your Child?
I received my weekly email from Baby Center on tips and tricks in dealing with my toddler. Today’s email focused on how to ensure your toddler is happy, how to keep your toddler engaged and stimulated. The email had a link to a quiz on how much do know about reading to your child. I thought, I am educated person, both my husband and I read a lot to C2 and we are always encouraging any form of reading. C2 loves books and at any given time of the day, he will walk over to the books and just sit and “read”. So, I figure I knew a great deal about reading to my child. I take the quiz pretty confidentially that I am going to get an 8 or 9 out of 10. I am an over achiever and always did well in school. I got 6 out of 10; 60% correct what? If this was a school quiz I would have received a D-. After taking the quiz, Baby Center provides the answers with an explanation. So, what did I learn? 1. Although I knew you should read to your child daily, I did not know you should read preferably at a regular time of day. Of course every night before C2 goes to sleep he gets 4 or 5 bed time stories, but like I stated above he has access to books all day and regularly visits them. 2. “Children younger than 18 months often find it difficult to understand complicated illustrations that adults recognize easily,” says Jim Trelease in the Read Aloud Handbook. Young toddlers aren’t quite able to grasp the idea that a small flat picture of an apple represents the shiny red three-dimensional fruit they saw on the kitchen counter; uncomplicated illustrations make it easier for them to make sense of what they’re seeing. 3. Toddlers have so much they’re trying to learn that they may need to hear a story many times before they really understand it and are familiar with it. And familiarity leads to self-confidence. 4. An early emphasis on teaching letters, sounds, and syllables can sap a child’s enjoyment of story time. Although, I only got 60 percent correct, the quiz provided valuable information that I obviously was not aware of. If you are interested in learning about how much you know about reading to your child, challenge yourself by taking the quiz. Quiz: What do you know about reading to your child?...
read moreTrade In Your Pack-N-Play
My husband and I travel a lot with our toddler. After doing numerous road trips, triathlon weekends and hotel stays, we got tired of lugging around our Pack-N-Play. Pack-N-Play’s definitely serve a purpose especially for babies under 12 mos. old, but we realized once C2 could roll over and move around without any worries of SIDs, that the Pack-N-Play could be replaced. The reason for the realization is we were taking our two week vacation to California and didn’t want to have fly with the Pack-N-Play. We already had a BOB jog stroller, Deuter Kid Comfort II Child Carrier, three suitcases and other baby equipment and if we could find something more compact and safe for C2 to travel with we were bound to find it. I did research and found two other viable options that we felt comfortable with other than the Pack-N-Play. 1) Tuck-Me-In Travel Bed with Removable Mattress & Accessories – $79.99-$89.99 From One Step Ahead travel bed bigger and cozier! One Step Aheads kids’ inflatable bed features a larger, fully-detached mattress, for snugglier sleepovers and easier linen changes. Soft and cushy, with a flocked surface and built-in safety bumpers. Pump and tote included. Coordinating travel blankets, linens, and accessories sold separately. 2) Kidco PeaPod Plus Indoor/Outdoor Travel Bed, Red – $84.99 KidCo’s PeaPod™ the travel bed that does it all for the on-the-go parent! The inflatable air mattress helps protect baby from cold, damp floors while providing a comforting place to sleep. Great for outdoors because of its UV protection and wind screens. Zippered panels allow parents quick and easy access to baby from virtually any angle. The slick, easy to fold design makes it ideal for storage and use anytime. Weighs 4.75 lbs. Ultimately, we chose to go with the KidCo’s PeaPod™ for several reasons. 1) It folded up and looked as if it would fit in our luggage, which it does. 2) There were better reviews from other parents. I read several parents say that the Tuck-Me-In Travel bed said their kids were rolling off the bed a lot. 3) Our son has never slept in anything other than his crib or his Pack-N-Play and I was concerned he would not sleep if he had the freedom to get up whenever he wanted. 4) I could zip him up and know exactly where he was at all times. 5) I recently read that toddlers loves small, cozy spaces that give them a sense of privacy and proprietorship. We purchased the KidCo PeaPod from Amazon about a month before leaving to go on our trip. Once we got it, we set it up in the living room for C2 to play in. He immediately loved it because it was something new and he could lay in it. Then a couple of days later, we put it up in his bedroom so he knew it was meant to be in there and it was his. Every day, he would go and lay down in it and play with it as well. We tried to put it in his crib to sleep in, but he was not having it; he screamed, he cried until we took the tent out of the crib. As you can well imagine, this caused me some concern and left me...
read moreTrike Bike National Championship – Go Team Z
Family road trip to the Finger Lakes of NY for a triathlon weekend with Team Z. My hubby and I really enjoyed Musselman weekend last year, so we ensured that we put it on the calendar for this year. We left early on Friday morning for our 7 hour road trip because we had to ensure I registered for my race on Saturday, but most important that my husbnad could register for the Trike bike national champions that took place on Friday evening. Yes, I said Trike bike. We searched for about a week to borrow a Big Wheel or a Trike bike for my husband to borrow, but unfortunately we do not have friends that still own Trike bikes. So Thursday evening, hubby headed to Target and bought an original Big Wheel. Once hubby put it together and C2 got wind of it, he was beside himself. Hubby told C2, “If Daddy does not break it, it is definitely yours.” We made it just in time for Hubby to register for the race, get to the hotel and get prepared for the Trike Bike nationals (Swim 100 yards, Trike Bike 0.6 miles, and Run 0.2 miles). We arrived at the race site, the race was taken place at 7:00 PM. Racers brought their costumes and Trike bikes; what a scene. C2 and another future Team Z’er P. (18 mos. old) were so excited to see all these bikes that they believed were for them. C2 had a blast playing with them until they called time for the race to start then C2 had a minor melt down because Daddy took his “bike” away. The rules for the bike; a helmet was required and the racers bottoms had to stay on the seats the entire time. This ruined Hubby’s plans to cheat. The race started well for Hubby, but about 50 yards into the bike Hubby dropped out. Unfortunately, the bike really was not moving and Hubby’s legs were hitting the handle bars. But, Hubby joined C2 and me to watch the finish. We saw some very clever ways of cheating. One fellow Team Z’er held the Trike bike to his bottom while he ran around the course; too bad Hubby did not think about that before the race started. A fun evening and now, it was time for me to prepare for my Saturday race. Here is Team Z at the Triathlon Trike Bike Nationals. Our team mate won the national title, check out the video!...
read moreNestlé’s BabyNes
Recently, Nestlé’s launched a new baby product BabyNes, basically a formula dispenser similar to the K-cup coffee machines. According to their May 25, 2011 press release: BabyNes is the world’s first comprehensive nutrition system for infants and toddlers, and is based on Nestlé’s latest scientific achievements in baby nutrition and systems technology. With BabyNes, Nestlé builds on its unmatched expertise in baby nutrition gained over 145 years since the invention of Farine Lactée by Henri Nestlé. Nestlé supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, and continued breastfeeding thereafter for as long as possible. For babies who are not breastfed, Nestlé provides high-quality breast milk substitutes, such as BabyNes. BabyNes offers single-serve formulas for infants and young children up to the age of three years. The composition of the six consecutive formulas meets the evolving nutritional needs in the first three years of life: four formulas in the first year, and one formula for each of the following two years. The customised composition of these products is tailored to suit the growth pattern in early life and the baby’s changing nutritional needs, while taking into account the steady introduction of solid food into the infant’s diet. The single-serve portions are sealed in capsules, used in the proprietary BabyNes machine, which recognises each capsule and prepares the bottle with precisely the right dosage and temperature, at the push of a button, in less than one minute. The BabyNes machine combines state-of-the-art technology with the utmost safety and convenience, and ensures a hygienic, quick and easy bottle preparation. Now, this isn’t a necessity by any means, but from pure marketing point of view, this is brilliant. Let me defend why I say this before I am shot down. The baby product industry globally continues to grow even in the midst of economic down turn. Cashed up 30-somethings are buying up big for their newborns, with only the best in mind. This attitude, combined with rising birth rates to older parents is giving rise to a new area of growth: high-end baby products. As a result Nestle’s is targeting the 30 somethings that have disposable income and are willing to spend their money on only the best for their babies. There is a great debate and dissatisfaction with this new product for reason varying from not eco or economically friendly, and according to some groups they feel it doesn’t adequately promote breastfeeding. First, I do not believe Nestlé claims this product is for everyone. Yes, this product is expensive with a price tag of $295 for the machine, but their main target audiences aren’t individuals with no disposable income or considered “poor”. Second, it is Nestlé’s right to sell products that cater to individuals that cannot or choose not to breastfeed for whatever reason. Yes, as we know breast milk is best for babies, but it’s every woman’s choice whether they choose to breastfeed or not – not the baby product industry. And if I read it correctly, the second paragraph in the press release states, “Nestlé supports exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, and continued breastfeeding thereafter for as long as possible.” Third, I...
read moreStrategy. Strategy. Strategy.
In late April, I had a great opportunity to speak to members of a local Chamber on Social Media in Government Contracting. I found that based on my experience and research, government contractors are slow adopters of social media, unknown or any untested ideas for that matter. Now, for those active in social media, you might be wondering why? Like most companies and even individuals who have not yet adopted Facebook, Twitter, Quora, etc., most government contractors do not know where to begin. How to measure what they are doing and who is going to do this? Oh, and do not forget the security concerns. My recommendation before employing any new marketing and communication strategy is decide what your company wants to accomplish. If you are a government contractor, do you want to be seen as experts in security? Or are you trying to keep a handle on what your competitors are saying or doing? If you do not have an objective(s), it will be very difficult to determine whether all these new efforts are adding value to your company, the bottom line and providing you any return of investment. Even though this notion seems like common sense, it would surprise you how very few companies have a social media strategy. According to Market Connections, Inc. in the 2010 Government Contractor Social Media Survey out of the 167 government contractors 59 percent employ social media and out that group only 36 percent actually have a social media strategy. Most companies are Twittering, posting on Facebook and updating LinkedIn statuses ad hoc. These numbers should concern you. This should concern you because you wouldn’t buy a house without any research on the structural integrity of the house, the neighborhood or not knowing the price? Or you would not purchase a franchise without understanding what needs to be done, who is the person that will be managing the operation and what is in it for you? This is basically what companies are doing; making a large investment – not necessarily money – but time without any strategy in place. If you are one of these companies, or a company just starting to dabble in social media, I would recommend in developing a strategy and the framework and the one I find most useful is Forrester’s Approach to Developing Your Social Media Strategy, POST (People, Objectives, Strategy and Tools). People. Who are you trying to reach? Assess the social media use and conversation of your customers, potential customers or other stakeholders the parent strategy needs to reach. Objectives. Pick one. Are you starting an application to listen to your customers, or to talk with them? To support them, or to energize your best customers to evangelize others? Or are you trying to collaborate with them? Decide on your objective before you decide on a technology. Then figure out how you will measure it. Strategy. Strategy here means figuring out what will be different after you’re done. Do you want a closer, two-way relationship with your best customers? Do you want to get people talking about your products and/or services? Do you want a permanent focus group for testing product ideas and generating new ones? Imagine you succeed. How will things be different afterward? Imagine the endpoint and you’ll know where to...
read moreThe Toddler’s Creed
This is poem that most parents will be able to relate to. The Toddlers Creed If it is on, I must turn it off. If it is off, I must turn it on. If it is folded, I must unfold it. If it is a liquid, it must be shaken, then spilled. If it a solid, it must be crumbled, chewed or smeared. If it is high, it must be reached. If it is shelved, it must be unshelved. If it is pointed, it must be run with at top speed. If it has leaves, they must be picked. If it is plugged, it must be unplugged. If it is not trash, it must be thrown away. If it is in the trash, it must be removed, inspected, and thrown on the floor. If it is closed, it must be opened. If it does not open, it must be screamed at. If it has drawers, they must be rifled. If it is a pencil, it must write on the refrigerator, monitor, or table. If it is full, it will be more interesting emptied. If it is empty, it will be more interesting full. If it is a pile of dirt, it must be laid upon. If it is stroller, it must under no circumstances be ridden in without protest. It must be pushed by me instead. If it has a flat surface, it must be banged upon. If Mommy’s hands are full, I must be carried. If Mommy is in a hurry and wants to carry me, I must walk alone. If it is paper, it must be torn. If it has buttons, they must be pressed. If the volume is low, it must go high. If it is toilet paper, it must be unrolled on the floor. If it is a drawer, it must be pulled upon. If it is a toothbrush, it must be inserted into my mouth. If it has a faucet, it must be turned on at full force. If it is a phone, I must talk to it. If it is a bug, it must be swallowed. If it doesn’t stay on my spoon, it must be dropped on the floor. If it is not food, it must be tasted. If it is food, it must not be tasted. If it is dry, it must be made wet with drool, milk, or toilet water. If it is a carseat, it must be protested with an arched back. If it is Mommy (or Daddy), it must be hugged. I am toddler! — Author unknown...
read moreGift Registries, Are They Worth The Drama?
I am writing about this because I recently witnessed a mom getting barraged on Twitter about being an “unfit” mom because she had a registry for her son’s first birthday. Abusive, not providing for your child, not educating your children can classify as unfit, but a gift registry. This is the site she used. Now, I do admit back before I had C2, I might have thought the concept of a gift registry was a bit greedy, but no longer. The practice of registries has been around since 1924, when Chicago-founded department store Marshall Field’s first instituted the bridal registry as a means for the engaged couple to indicate chosen china, silver and crystal patterns to family and friends. As some might recall, I made C2 Amazon Wish list public for his 1st birthday and the reason why is because I had so many people ask me what C2 wanted and I found myself copying/pasting the links into an emails and repeating that process several times. So to be more effective, save time and reduce frustration, we made the decision to go “public”. I did have a lot of hesitation about this because I knew some people would view it as being greedy. Or people would think we expect everyone to purchase him a gift. Or this may be considered rude or tacky by some people. Yes, as I suspected I did receive some comments. But, before I move on, I do want to make this clear. We were, are and always will be grateful for any gift C2 receives and by no means do we expect anything or everything from anyone. Now my question, is why ask for suggestions then make a “to do” out of it when a website with gift ideas is created? Yes, there are pros and cons to creating a gift registry, but I believe the pros outweigh the cons. If a wish list was created for my nieces and nephews – that I do not see often – my life would be so much easier. Even if I do not pick something from the list, the list gives me an idea of the type of toys, activities, clothing style they like or are currently into. Also, if clothes are on the registry, it generally has the size to order, which even if I do not buy those exact clothes I know the size to order – with as many nieces and nephews as I have this would help me keep sizes correct. In addition, if a registry was created it would provide me an opportunity to get a gift both the parents and the child both agree upon instead of buying a gift that is a duplicate or something that is played with once and then is never touched again. More than 85% of the world’s online population has used the internet to make a purchase – increasing the market for online shopping by 40% in the past two years – according to the latest Nielsen Global Online Survey on internet shopping habits, so why not create a registry and make it easier for those buying the gifts. “When The Nielsen Company conducted its first global survey into internet shopping trends two years ago, approximately 10% of the world’s population (627 million)...
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