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The Earpeace – noise reducing earplugs, but not yet for kids
I received an Earpeace, a pair of noise reducing earplugs a few weeks ago. The Earpeace are an addition to the field of earplugs for adults to cut down the noise while outside or at a loud event such as a concert. They attempt to lower the overall volume while not muffling sound the way foam earplugs do. Independent tests (Michael and Associates) put reduction of sound pressure at 75%. EarPeace delivers 11+ to 17+ decibels of protection. This means that 80% of people will get more than 11 decibels of protection and 20% of people will get more than 17 decibels of protection.
In my tests at a loud concert, I found that they do decrease volume, but to my ear, there was some loss of crispness in the sound though I was still able to enjoy the music and to relax knowing I wasn’t killing what is left of my ears. I wish they made these for smaller kids since we often take our kids to concerts in the parks where the decibel level is just really painful for young ears.
These make a thoughtful gift at $12.95.
GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.
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Count to ten – holiday stress
The kids are at home this week and next, and it is hard. As much as I’d like to believe in it, there are no “great dads” or even good dads. There are moms and dads who try every day to manage their own demons and stresses to be the best parents they can be. My wife often says I get too preachy about being a good parent, and she is somewhat correct. Because I have a work at home job, and can spend a lot of time with my kids, I do have the moral high ground in helping with homework, forcing them to eat daily carrots (their only vegetable) and keeping them at piano practice way longer than they want to. And I don’t have to do all that after 9 hours of working with a boss I can’t stand. Even so, on long holidays, even I can get testy with them, especially my younger boy who everyday is asking for more GoGo dolls or another LEGO because he’s bored (and this 4 days before he’s zooming in on the big Christmas score).
The big challenge for me is to keep reminding myself that a 7 year old isn’t the same as an 11 year old and neither are the same as an adult. Each person, toddler, child, teen, mom and dad are seeing the holidays through their own prism, expectations and rose-colored glasses. I have to kick myself several times a day to not yell, not get impatient, not be empathetic since they are not all Zen Buddhist monks with no worldly cares or wants.
But some days, all you can do it count to ten and try not to be the least mature of the bunch. That’s my personal goal for today, tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. Then I can go back to trying to be supremely patient and understanding once the stresses or Christmas are over and all that is left is the glow, and the wrapping paper to toss out.
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Best iPad gifts I’ve seen this year
For the iPad lover in your life, here are some things that should be on his or her wish list:
1. SuiteGear Kit from Bracketron – this is just a simple package for protecting the iPad. It comes with a protective case that fits on the back of the iPad, as well as cleaning fluid, a microfiber cleaning cloth, and a stylus. A stylus is really handy if you need to present or show things on your iPad and don’t want it to be covered with fingerprints. Price right now is $9.99 (50% off MSRP!) on Amazon, making this a perfect companion gift if an iPad is already going in the stocking.
3. Style-iT 2-in 1 Stylus – Another stylus from Braketron, but this one includes a pen. These styli come in bright, fashionable colors and brighten up a desk, again if you need to keep paw prints off your screen. Around $16 on Amazon.
4. Fling Game Controller – If you play a lot of games on your iPad, or even just have an addiction to Angry Birds, you need a little helper. The Fling Game Controller will give you an edge. It’s just a little piece of carefully designed plastic, but it gives you an edge because you have more control, but also because you keep your fingers on the controls even when you’re looking elsewhere. At $19.95, it makes a good stocking stuffer.
5. Toddy Cloth – The Toddy Cloths are brightly designed microfiber screen cleaners that are treated with a microbial shield that is supposed to help keep your iPad bacteria free. I don’t know about that, but they do have nice designs and are a good replacement for the hospital blue cloth that came with your bottle of iKlear. The only reason to really have one of these though is if you need to show things on your iPad. There’s nothing that makes a bad impression faster than handing someone your greasy, oily iPad. Actually, everyone’s iPad is greasy and oily, but no one like’s someone else’s greasy oily. The Toddy Cloth elegantly takes care of that.
6.
REV360 for iPad & iPad 2 (formerly known as the Handstand)
- If your iPad lover needs to hold on to his iPad for long periods, at trade shows, for example, he needs a REV360. The REV360 is an iPad holder that makes it easy to hold an iPad in your outstretched hand for long periods. Swing your arm around, and the iPad stays put and is far safer than if you have to juggle it or stick it under your arm while talking.
7. The
and
Ringo System – Both of these systems are designed to display or mount an iPad in a car or to a wall or cabinet. They allow you to easily affix the iPad in different situations, while making it easy to remove and take with you. The solution doesn’t come cheap though. Expect to pay over $100 for a starter kit. If your iPad lover needs this type of thing though, these are well-designed solutions that work.
Each i-device spawns thousands of accessories and cases. IPad users don’t need all of them, but some are certainly more fun or useful to have and make the i-device that much more useful.
GreatDad.com Review Policy: The featured product for this review was provided to us, at no cost, by the manufacturer or representing PR agency for the sole purpose of product testing. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.
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I’m growing a mustache for men’s health!
It’s back…the moustache you remember me wearing up until 1991! But this time for a good cause; to increase awareness for men’s health care and to raise money for prostate and testicular cancer research.
Please support my growing efforts and the 33,000 men who will die of prostate cancer and the nearly 8,300 men who will be diagnosed with testicular cancer this year.
If you can, take a moment to support the cause at http://mobro.co/GreatDad.
Okay, I’m not running a marathon or biking to LA, but it still has been a hardship on my family and itchy as hell.
Thank you!
http://mobro.co/GreatDad
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Treat kids’ coughs and colds naturally this winter
Young children commonly get about 6 to 8 colds and upper respiratory tract infections each year. And now, bcause the FDA and Pediatricians recommend not giving over the counter cough and cold medicine to children under the age of six, parents need alternative remedies to give to their kids, and studies now say that the dextromethorphan-based cough syrups just don’t work as well as simple home remedies (actually less well than a placebo). These include old-fashioned, but very effective, tricks like honey and lemon in hot water, the trusty vaporizer or humidifier, and a “nose teapot.”
We also like Maty’s All Natural Cough Syrup, which is similar in key ingredients buckwheat and honey. Maty’s also has a lot of other natural “stuff” like cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, marjoram and even cayenne pepper. In our experience, adults like this flavor more than kids, but it does the trick as well. It’s anyone’s guess whether the extra ingredients have an effect, but I’d take Maty’s if you’re not sure you want to add Vitamin C to the mix. Maty’s does also include zinc, an ingredient unproven to stimulate the immune system.
Loosen nasal congestionHumidifiers (and vaporizers) can help to naturally:
· Ease Dry Coughs
· Soothe Itchy Dry Skin
· Moisten Chapped Lips
· Prevent Nose Bleeds
For cold and flu symptoms the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend a cool mist humidifier, saline nasal solution, and a bulb to suction the nasal mucus. A cool mist humidifier is preferred over a warm mist because the water does not boil. We recently tried the range of cool mist humidifiers from Crane. This is a company that has decided to differentiate itself by using fun or cool designs rather than typical medicinal white and grays. And why not? Especially when you’re sick, it’s fun to look at a penguin or a kitty rather than some strange purely functional object. Cool mist humidifiers are about twice as expensive as vaporizers. Unfortunately, they still have the same frustrations though. You have to clean them daily and the water inevitably spills after you fill them or while loading the water chamber.
The Neti Pot
Ah yes, the Neti Pot. If you’re the kind of adult that suffers from multiple winter colds, you’ve probably tried the Neti Pot. It looks like a tea pot and you use it to gently pour warm water through one nostril and out the other. It does clean the gunk out, and many doctors recommend them as completely natural and safe. We’ve tried the Neti Pot from NeilMed. It’s a simple plastic pot and very lightweight, which isn’t a bad idea if you’re sharing it with kids. You can’t disinfect it in the dishwasher, but you can easily wash it with soap and water since nose gunk isn’t actually going through it.
These are what we’ve found to be simple, natural and helpful during cold seasons. There’s not much you can to do stop a cold one it’s started, but a combination of these three tools can help ease the symptoms without loading a kid up on strange drugs that experts say don’t work any better than simple lemon and honey.
GreatDad.com Review Policy: Manufacturers sent us samples of Maty’s, Zarbee’s and the Crane Humidifier for this review was at no cost for the sole purpose of product testing. We purchased the Neti Pot and Vicks Vaporizer. We do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. We only review products that we have personally tested and used in our own homes, and all opinions expressed are our own.
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