The Tech That Is Making Car Driving Safer Than Ever Before

The driving of cars, especially when done with the kids in tow, needs to be safe. Simply, cars need to be safe to handle and they need to be kept safely away from all the dangers that the road throws up at them, whether these be other vehicles or faults of nature. And, there is a host of differs pieces of technology that are helping to make car driving safe in this manner. To see just a few pieces of this tech, make sure to read on.

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Adaptive cruise control

Finding and then maintaining a safe driving speed is vital for drivers, and these days their cars can help them do this with ease. Yes, cars can help in the finding of a good and safe cruising limit through the adaptive cruise control technology that is now built into them. What such technology offers those drivers who own cars with this technology built into them is the chance for them to find a driving speed that is safe for them in regards to the road that they are using. Plus, this technology goes even further still as it also adapts to the demands of the road by sensing things around the car, such as traffic, so is also able to calculate a safe speed in regards to that as well.

Lane keep assist

Another piece of technology that uses sensors to create a safe driving experience is lane keep assist. What this particular piece of technology does, well, is pretty obvious after you’ve read it’s name, it keeps you in lane. And, despite sounding like a pretty easy thing to do already even without technology, it’s seriously not. It’s seriously not because any number of things can make a driver deviate from one lane to another, whether it be a distraction or whether it be them falling asleep at the wheel (if that were to ever be the case, the driver should pull into the next service station, grab a coffee, and wait for the boost of energy to kick in). What LKA does specifically is react to the car moving into a lane it shouldn’t be in, notifying the driver straight away should that be the case.

Backup cameras

Another piece of sensory tech that is helping to change the safety of the driving, or in this case the parking, of cars is backup camera technology, such as that offered by vdashcam. What such technology does is alert the driver to anything that is behind their car on in their blindspot thanks to strategically placed cameras around the car and video technology that these cameras feed a feed to. So, no longer would you have to worry about the neighbors cat every time you pull off your drive to go to work of a morning!

Driving needs to be safe, and that is why it is only ever a good thing when another piece of tech makes it that little bit safer. So, embrace this tech, and any more of it that may come in the future!

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

Beautiful Kids on Canvas

Canvas Factory reached out and offered to send me a canvas with my two beautiful kids printed on it in exchange for a review and a giveaway. So be sure to stay tuned for the Canvas Factory giveaway, USA and Canada residents only.

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The canvas I received from Canvas Factory is very high quality and looks amazing on our wall. The kids don’t look too bad either. What I really liked about this canvas print is how easy it was to get. You just go to the website, upload your photo, make some adjustments if you want. They even have different filters for your pictures so you can make something color into a black and white photo or sepia, or whatever!

Having photos of our family up on the walls reminds us about the important things that bring us all together. In the photo we had printed, we chose our children. They are the world to us and seeing their love for each other is exactly what we need on our walls to see everyday. Being able to take a simple photo and then uploading it to the internet so I can get a beautiful canvas print in just a few days is amazing. I remember when it would take weeks or months to have something like this done. Now in just a few clicks it can happen almost instantly.

I love our new canvas print. The quality is perfect and it just makes me smile every time I see. I can imagine that I will be picking up a few more of these canvas prints from Canvas Factory once that refund check comes in.

WIN YOUR OWN CANVAS FACTORY PRINT!

To win your own 16×20” / 40x50cm canvas print from Canvas Factory you have to like St. Louis Dad on Facebook and comment on this blog post below and tell me what kind of photo you would print at Canvas Factory. I will randomly select a winner on Friday, February 23rd. So be sure to use a valid email address so I can contact you! If the winner does not contact me in 24 hours I will select a new winner. Giveaway only available to U.S. and Canadian residents. No purchase necessary, like and comment to win!

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This post and giveaway is sponsored by Canvas Factory.

Hands-free Baby Entertainment for Busy Days

Babies need near-constant supervision to ensure they don’t get hurt. However, that doesn’t mean they need constant attention. If you never put your baby down or spend all your time entertaining them personally, you won’t ever get anything else done. Sometimes, you need to leave them to their own devices so they can explore the world and you can tidy up, get some work done, cook dinner, or have a shower. If you need to entertain or soothe your baby for a while, but you want both hands free, you can use a range of techniques to keep them busy.

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Toys and Entertainment on the Floor

Put your baby down on the floor is one of the easiest things you can do, especially if they haven’t started moving yet. If they haven’t learned to roll over yet, they will mostly stay put, apart from a bit of wriggling. A baby activity mat is ideal, giving your baby somewhere comfortable to lie and lots of fun things to look at and touch. Even if your baby has started moving, they can still have lots of fun sitting on the floor or traveling around, as long as you’re watching them. The right toys can keep them entertained while you’re busy with other things, and you can keep them in the same room as you so that you can check on them.

Soothing Your Baby Hands-free

Sometimes you baby needs soothing or entertaining, but you have things to do. Maybe it’s time for a nap, but the baby is taking a long time to fall asleep. One of the options you might choose is to use a rocker, bouncer or infant seat. These seats will rock or bounce your baby (or can just hold them), so they can have fun or feel soothed without you having to hold them. If you want something that combines these options, check out the review of the mamaRoo at http://theburpcloth.com/mamaroo-reviews. The product has a range of settings, including one that simulates going on a car ride, which is ideal for babies who sleep best in the car. You can even connect it to a Bluetooth device so that you can control it from anywhere.

Wear Your Baby

Some babies just don’t want to be put down. It’s hard to deny your baby when they want some comfort, and sometimes you need to walk around the house and don’t want to leave them alone. If you want to have both hands free and carry your baby at the same time, baby wearing is the best option. A carrier, sling or wrap allows you to have your baby with you, while you get on with other things. There are different types that offer various benefits, and some might feel more comfortable than others. Before buying one, see if you can try some out to find which one’s right for you.

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Kitchen Fun While You’re Cooking

If you’re making a meal while you’re entertaining the baby, there are lots of things slightly older babies, in particular, can have fun with. If they are already eating solid foods or you’re in the process of weaning them, they can sit in their high chair and explore some different foods. Baby-led weaning encourages babies to pick up food for themselves and experiment with textures and tastes. If it’s not time to eat, pots and pans are fun to bang on with spoons or other utensils. A few toys on the tray is a good idea too, especially if you don’t want the noise of your baby getting musical.

Get a Walker

If your baby is starting to travel around, a walker is a great way for him or her to move safely. They can get around without bumping into anything (or, at least, with a barrier to protect them) and they won’t fall over. You could set your baby up in their walker while you’re busy doing something in one room or let them follow you around if you’re going from room to room. Instead of a walker, you might also consider a doorway bouncer, which can be a lot of fun if you stay in the room with your baby. They can use these from around four months, when they can hold their head up on their own.

Set Up a Playpen

If you want to put your baby down on the floor but you don’t want them to get far, a playpen could be a good idea. It keeps your baby within a defined area that you can make sure is safe, so that they can have fun and you don’t have to worry too much about them suddenly climbing something or finding an object to put in their mouth. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can leave them entirely alone. If you’re worried about confining your infant too much, you can use baby gates instead, which you can put in doorways and at the top and bottom of staircases.

Screen Time

Time in front of a screen might be a controversial way to entertain your baby, but many parents agree that it’s one of the best ways to capture their attention. Moving shapes and sounds from a TV can be endlessly fascinating. If you’re worried about too much passive television time, you might also consider an infant tablet, which gives them an interactive toy to play with instead. You don’t have to ban screens completely. Instead, you can limit the amount of time you put your baby in front of one. For some advice on baby screen time check out https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/.

Get Baby to Join In

Your toddler can even help you do things if you want to keep them entertained. If you have chores around the house to do, you can get little ones to join in. Give them a cloth to dust a table or ask them to help you pick things up. It doesn’t matter if they do a good job. Just let them copy you and feel like they’re helping.

There’s no need to sit and entertain your baby all day. With the right techniques, you can still get on with other things around the house.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.

Big Family Problems: Saving Time Where It Counts

Having a large family is a blessing that many parents hope for. Bringing them into the home, newborns take up such little space at first. But as they grow older, taller and heavier they do more than just take up a lot of room. Having big family is a bit of a burden in disguise. It’s nice to know you have multiple children with their own personalities and wants. But in terms of the household, the trouble starts with supplying everyone with what they need. Running a hectic household while also being a proactive person in your own personal life, be it work or otherwise, means time is of the essence. It’s incredibly important to run a squeaky clean, tight ship that runs on time; sometimes to the second. So where is it possible for the modern household to save time where it actually matters?

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Family meal prep

Most of the time it takes longer to prepare a full-size meal than it does to cook it. You have many mouths to feed, so everyone must get their fill appropriately. Complicating this might be the fact that you have children of different ages; therefore, portions won’t always be the same. Where you can save time in this concern is to get the children to help you prepare the meals. Give them tasks that involve chopping up the vegetables, bringing the meat out of the freezer or fridge at the right time, making sure they keep an eye on something you’re trying to boil etc. When this is being done, then you can ask what size portions they want, what they do and don’t like to eat regarding the recipe you’re making. You can of course also prepare ingredients before dinner by simply getting the kids to do the aforementioned chores and putting the food in the fridge. Put them in bowls with cling film over them until you’re ready to cook.

Hot at every faucet

The early bird catches the worm when it comes to shower time in a large household. However with older technology hot water can literally run out. You then have to stand there either in the shower or waiting outside for the water to heat up again. Even then, if you have a tank that needs to be filled that means despite the water is hot, it’s only a certain amount. This can be incredibly frustrating because there’s literally nothing you can do but wait it out. This isn’t acceptable in the modern world so instead take a look at an electric tankless water heater that will save you time. The water is heated up as it’s flowing through the heater itself and then goes onto wherever or whoever is using it. This means that two people can have showers at the same time without either experiencing a sudden drop in temperature. Read the reviews and figure out your price range and the capabilities your family needs.

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The joy of a large family can be offset by the logistical demands you need for your household to function in a timely manner. If you’re sick of always being late and rushing everything, consider shortening these two vital time-hogging parts of every day.

This post is a collaborative effort by St. Louis Dad.