The Exergen Temporal Scanner is changing the way we take temperatures. I still remember the old fashion way of sticking a mercury thermometer under my tongue, during a fever. As a child, I always felt it very cold, hard and uncomfortable, trying to keep still for about a minute. And to think, sometimes, I had to retake my temperature over and over again, just because it wasn’t placed properly.

Now, thanks to Exergen’s patented software, the TemporalScanner Temperature provides arterial heat balance. This unique process determines temperature by accurately measuring the balance between the tissues warming from arterial blood and tissues cooling (warming) caused by heat loss (gain) to the environment. All it needs is a gently swipe on the forehead. Yes! It’s that simple!

More about Exergen Temporal Scanner :

The TemporalScanner Thermometer is designed to measure the temperature of the skin surface over the temporal artery, a major artery of the head. The temporal artery is connected to the heart via the carotid artery, directly leading from the aorta, the main trunk of the arterial system. It offers constant blood flow. It is the only such artery positioned close enough to the skin surface to provide access needed to take an accurate measurement. It is easy to use because it is ideally located at the front portion of the forehead. The TemporalScanner is easier and gentler to use than other types of measurement devices such as oral, rectal, underarm and in-ear thermometers because it is truly non-invasive.

Here we have real-life accounts of how the Exergen TemporalScanner works, from our reviewers :

Katydid and Kid :  The thermometer is extremely easy to use, even on a wiggly toddler who was very interested in the device and wanted to hold it rather than let me use it. It takes literally a few seconds to use, and you don’t have to sit there waiting for an accurate reading while your child keeps a traditional thermometer under his tongue or arm.

Stacy Moore : We are thrilled with our new Scanner. It’s such a quick and reliable way to take our little one’s temperature! With one gentle stroke of the scanner over the forehead we were able to determine if our little one had a fever! We highly recommend this great product to everyone!

The Mom Buzz :  The Exergen is my best friend when my oldest spikes fevers to 104 and I just want to give a reading to the pediatrician ASAP. Plus, I can also get his temperature when he is sleeping – he never knows that I am checking up on him again. And those times when your kids feel “warm”, but you aren’t sure if they are feverish – well it’s a lot easier to just grab the Exergen and double check than any other thermometer in the house.

Hotomom : I’ll be honest this takes some getting used to, usually after 5 scans you’ve got it down. I would practice a bit first but then also be sure you are more gentle because the first time I made L’s forehead red. But, seriously I wouldn’t lie, it’s easy.

Reviews & Reflections : Before it even arrived in the mail, I started doing my research.  The thing that really excited me was the speed with which this scanner reads the body temperature.  With just a quick stroke over the forehead, you have a reading.  And it’s amazingly accurate – to within .2 degrees F (that’s POINT 2!)

Three Different Directions : The reason it is so accurate?  In the couple of seconds that it takes to sweep over the forehead to the temple it takes about 2000 readings and it selects the most accurate. It takes some practice to use it right, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll feel like you’re a medical professional.

Short Pump Preppy : Dude, I would have gotten one of these a long time ago.  Everyone in the house gets sick at the same time, and I have never liked sharing thermometers.  Now I’m not keeping up with 4 different thermometers.  (call me crazy, that’s what we did).  To me it’s like sharing toothbrushes.  *go ahead, talk behind my back*

Mom on the Rise : Nonetheless, I didn’t have to worry about changes to the temperature due to drinking, positioning,talking, or moving. An important thing to note is that if your patient is sweating, the temperature should not be taken across the forehead but rather the on the neck behind the ear lobe.

My Quest for Sanity : Honestly this review couldn’t have come at a better time. The day before I received the Exergen temporal scanner, I was diagnosed with H1N1 and 3 days after I was diagnosed my poor sweet Sophia caught it. Now, I would never wish to be as ill as we were but having this God sent product on hand made it a little easier. Like I said before, checking the temperature on a finicky 3 year old is one heck of a job but add in a nasty flu and it is just THAT much harder.

One House Schoolroom Review : We have had quite a few opportunities to test the Temporal Scanner during this flu season and we have had wonderful results.  It is so quick that my little ones didn’t even know we were taking their temperature.  We often had to hold my youngest child still while taking her temperature under her arm, causing her even more discomfort and tears.  With the Temporal Scanner this was not any issue at all.

Buy It! : This is a fantastic gift for any new and been-there-done-that parents. With its’ ease of use, during a difficult time, I’m pretty sure your name will be blessed a thousand times, for sending the perfect gift. Or, you can just get it for yourself, and bless yourself a thousand times.

Here’s where you can get them (retail and online) : ToysRUs, Costco, Walmart, Walgreens, Shoppers Drug Mart, BabyCenter.com, Sam’s Club.

Disclosure of Material Connection : http://cmp.ly/0

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

Finally! The much waited Don’t Bite Me! Patch arrived at our doorstep and I quickly read through the literature (which was quite an interesting read). It is completely kid-safe and does not contain any DEET or toxins! Isn’t that amazing? For the whole of my adult life, whenever I comb the chemist’s aisles for a mosquito repellent, it would always always contains DEET. The Don’t Bite Me! Patch contains only natural ingredients, and that’s why it’s safe for kids. Not only that, it was purported to be waterproof!

Is that amazing or what? But does it work?

Here’s the crunch. Yes! My kids and I love the outdoors. Well, mostly my kids. I just tag along. Kids + Outdoors = Bites. Trust me. All the time. So, I slapped on one patch each on each kid…and went out for a very long and tiring play, in one of our wonderful reserves.

I got home, wondering if they would be scratching their itch, but I could not find a single bite on them. Now..that is fantastic!

You can also check out Elina’s review of the patch posted on our sister site.

About Don’t Bite Me! Patch’s creators :

The “Don’t Bite Me! Patch” is operated in Houston, TX, where insects are a huge problem. The owners of the company are not chemists, just parents who wanted to make a difference. “We stumbled onto a similar product on the internet, but discovered that it needed some improvements and had some legal liability issues. We then decided to go forward with our own patch and make the improvements needed. The result is the “Don’t Bite Me! Patch!”, says Chari Kauffman. “The effectiveness of the product and its ability to help so many people worldwide is what has made us so passionate about our product. We are driven to make this product available worldwide.

BUY IT! : Here’s a video clip that teaches how to apply this :

WIN IT! : The generous sponsor is giving away a pack of 20 patches to 3 lucky readers! Here are the rules :

I was jumping with excitement when offered the chance to review the Kodak Theatre HD Player.  I have never considered myself an expert when it comes to tech gadgets but hey, someone values my opinion. How cool is that! Proves that mommy power rocks! Ok, I am digressing….let’s get back on track. Check out my review below:

The Kodak Theatre HD Player, powered by Hillcrest Labs‘ HOME software system and Freespace® motion-control technology, is amazingly compact, almost fooling a first-time user at the first glance with its deceptively simple appearance. The unit is compatible with a variety of input formats such as USB, SD, SF and also has the usual outputs such as RBG and USB. Here is what I used to test this device:

• LG 52” Plasma 1080i TV
• Wireless router
• Laptop

Setting up is quite easy. I elected to use wireless (secured – encrypted network) because that is the most convenient way to connect this device to any computer that is connected to the router. Setting up wirelessly requires some knowledge on your internet connection. It is not much different than setting up you laptop to the router. After the device is set up, you can view basically anything from anything connected to the router.

Before you can view the contents on the big screen, you have to go through another set up process in your PC/laptop where the contents reside. Putting your movies, pictures and music that you want is not difficult but it may be a little time consuming. The drag and drop function makes it more manageable. The software needs to be installed in each computer where you want to view contents from.

There is a selection “All Pictures & Videos” which will search your hard drive for all pictures and video contents. Contents can be transferred to the folder that has been created under your C drive during the software installations.

This device allows you to send and receive photos via the EASYSHARE software under Kodak Gallery. The menu mentioned the ability to connect to online web channels but for the few days I have to play with it, I could not find the function that was stated in the menu. It would be nice to have that feature because users would be able to watch online flicks with it.

Using the pointing device needs a little getting used to. Having said that, it is actually a very simple point and click application. From selecting photos to music stations, it provides a wide range of functionality and flexibility to the user. Since the device is wireless enabled, it allows connection to Internet radio stations and Skype.

Pros :

• Sleek and compact
• Wireless connection enabled
• Multiple inputs and outputs option
• Self explanatory device set up
• Point and click feature
• Images are very clear
• Fast response time
• Provide a point of connection for all your devices instead of dragging out your wires and connectors

Cons :

• No wireless set up instructions provided
• Had to install software and set up on each PC/laptop to share the contents
• HDMI cable was not provided

Conclusion:

The advantages of using the Kodak Theatre HD Player are many and wonderful, and easily balance out its few weaknesses. I strongly felt that when using such a device, the quality of the image is of the utmost importance. This expectation is completely upheld when using the Kodak Theatre HD Player. The pictures are perfectly displayed with no blurring or disruption.

Many thanks to Hillcrest Labs for this review opportunity. If you’re interested to WIN A KODAK THEATRE HD PLAYER, be on the lookout for this opportunity when we announce our Best Review Blog Award 2009 Contest.

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

When it comes to kids and computers, it’s without a doubt that they start at a very early age. Most young kids, who don’t even know how to read or count, would know how to navigate their way through the web! It can be quite surprising to see how such kids at a young age, would know exactly how to get to their desired websites.

Anyway, for every parent who wants to protect their children from online predators, PC Pandora has a great solution. There are so many benefits of using PC Pandora, I could go on and on but I’d be writing a book ……so, let me share with you one of its greatest features that just blew me away!

What totally amazes me about PC Pandora is that it takes actual screen shots of ALL the activity that your kid does both on and offline! For example, emails read, written, sent AND even the login and full password of every one of those email accounts as well as chats on any instant messengers. Believe me when I say nothing can escape PC Pandora and I really mean NOTHING (though I’m definitely not going to tell the hubs that. Heh!). 

Another interesting feature that parents love is the ability to block the kids from viewing any inappropriate websites or content that you’ve preselected. You can also select what type of data (e.g.: keystrokes, IM chats, emails, websites visited, etc.) you’d like PC Pandora to capture and email directly to you, at every hour of the day! Very excellent for us working parents!

BUY IT! PC Pandora provides a very valuable and effective solution for monitoring your kids’ online activities. It’s very user-friendly and without a doubt, the easiest software to install and stealthiest to use!

WIN IT! Thanks to PC Pandora, Parent Reviewers is giving away a PC Pandora Power Pack (with a single license) worth $80 each to 4 readers. To enter this great giveaway, here are the requirements :

• Visit www.pcpandora.com and tell us one of the benefits of the PC Pandora Software (apart from what was mentioned in this post).
• Three additional entries if you have our Mega Xmas & New Year Giveaway Bash button up on your blog. You can grab the button from our sidebar AND/OR
• Three additional entries if you Stumble this post with a review AND/OR
• Three additional entries if you subscribe to Parent Reviewers 
• If you qualify for additional entries, please comment separately and let us know which option you’ve used.
• Contest is open to everyone who has Internet access. We will ship the PowerPack to each winner, which contains an installer and the program, but you will need Internet access to complete the installation and get software updates.
• Giveaway will run for one month, as 4 winners will be picked. Giveaway closes on 12th Dec 2008 and winners will be drawn using the Random.org number generator.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT CHECKING OUR MEGA XMAS & NEW YEAR GIVEAWAY KICK OFF WITH 6 AWESOME PRIZES TO BE WON!!!

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

When I’m totting a  Ju-Ju-Be bag, I  feel like a savvy  mom! LOL. That’s because Ju-Ju-Be’s range of diaper bags are beautifully styled while having the functionality to carry a baby or toddler’s must-have items.  They are definitely not the typical boring looking diaper bags that you will roll your eyes at.  Simply put, fashion bags with smart function is what Ju-Ju-Be is all about.

About Ju-Ju-Be:

Ju-Ju-Be, makers of diaper bags and diapering necessities, is the epitome of technology, style, and attitude. These diaper bags are intensely intelligent while still being fashionable and fun. Although you may be traveling with such unglamorous items as formula, ointment, wipes and lots of diapers you can still show the world that parenting hasn’t dulled your fashion sense. You needn’t be a celebrity but you can feel like one carrying these high-end baby bags stuffed with innovation from TEFLON® fabric protector to AgION™ Technologies, Inc. microbial linings that kill germs, mold & mildew, to a memory foam changing pad.

My current favourite from Ju-Ju-Be is the latest addition, the BeLight bag. This bag, as appropriately named, weighs only 6.4 oz,  looks like a sling bag and is able to fit in two diapers and  one wipes.  I love the flexibility of the strap which can be lengthen or shorten according to the style you prefer to wear.  For the fashion conscious mommies, you can check out the various strap tying options here. But that’s not all! Be-Light is also reversible, so just flip it over and Hey Presto!  You’ll get the same style of bag in another color.  Other smart and fun features include:

• Zippered pockets that work inside out
• Crumb drains that keep away mess
• A magazine pocket

BUY IT : Can’t wait to own one? Choose your Be-Light bag from 11 colours available at Ju-Ju-Be. Alternatively, you can browse through their other range of bags which include WannaBe, BePrepared, BeRightBack, BeSmall, BeTween, BeChanged and more. Don’t you just love the names of their bags?

WIN IT : We’re giving away a BeLight Bag of your choice worth $35. To enter, here are the requirements:

• Contest is open to US shipping address only
• Visit Ju-Ju-Be and let us know in the comment section below your favourite choice of colour for the BeLight Bag
• Three additional entries if you Stumble This Post With A Review OR
• Three additional entries if you subscribe to Parent Reviewers 
• If you qualify for additional entries, please comment separately and let us know which option you’ve used.
• Giveaway closes on 19th September 2008. A winner will be drawn using the Random.Org number generator and result announced on 20th September 2008.

When hubby and I first became new parents, we found out that the responsibilities were simply overwhelming. Due to the lack of experience, there was so much to learn and even more so to be afraid of. Many a times, we were not even sure whether we were doing the correct things.

Like any other new parents, one of the most challenging task was night feeding. So, to ensure that each of us got a couple of hours sleep, we took turns feeding Ryan, our baby at that time. I remembered we had this little notepad that we used to jot down how much milk Ryan had consumed and at what time he was fed. This made it easier for the person doing the next feeding so that we did not have to wake each other to check on this information.

This little notepad continued to be used as a record book when we sent Ryan to my mother in law for babysitting. At the end of the day, when we picked Ryan up from her place,  it was an easy way for us to have a feel of his milk consumption level or occasionally when needed, the time he last took his medication.

Now, with the availability of Baby Insights, Babble Soft’s baby software, tech savvy parents and caregivers can easily track everything from sleep periods, breastfeeding times, bottle feeding times and amounts, pumping times and amounts, medicine doses to diaper changes and more! Parents just need to log on and input all the necessary information about their baby and they will be readily available and easily accessible from anywhere around the world via the laptop, the portable PDA or even the smart phone.

Imagine being able to share access with your paediatrician and view daily graphs and reports that can help you make well informed decisions. Without a doubt,  Baby Insights will make a great tool for every new parent looking to ease the first few months of learning about child care. Take a tour of Baby Insights and find out how amazingly useful it is!

Besides Baby Insights, Babble Soft also provides Baby Say Cheese, which allows parents to create and share an online baby album. Parents are able to incorporate their new born baby’s photos, provide captions on their milestones as well as include a family tree. This way, family and friends can easily go online to experience your baby’s memorable events.

BUY IT : You can sign up for Babble Soft’s 15 days’ FREE TRIAL HERE!. Babble Soft’s Mobile Software promises to make transition into parenthood a little easier and will make a great gift idea for new parents. Why not Purchase the subscription here as a gift for your friends or loved ones? Trust me, they’ll still thank you for it many years down the line

Check out the experience of our Parent Reviewers who had reviewed a trial version of Babble Soft’s Parenting Software:

Mott’s Island - I tried the 15 day trial myself, as I had been having problems with breastfeeding. With my mastities and tendency to get blocked ducts, I had to ensure that I fed from each breast and emptied them. I sometimes, forget which side I fed last from because of tiredness/lack of sleep. A quick check with Babblesoft’s™ “Baby Insights”, helped me get the feeding on track, and now, my boobs have so far been ‘free-flowing’.

A big thumbs up for this site, and if you are a new parent and for whatever reason, seem to be finding it hard to keep track of your baby’s feeding/sleeping, this is a great baby software in making sure all the information is at your fingertips!

Cheeks To Cheeks – Has your baby’s Pediatrician asked you this question before, “How much does (baby’s name) consume each day?” I’m sure 10 out of 10 parents have been asked and most likely some of us guessed out the answer. With this baby software, you can track the amount your baby is consuming and the amount you pump each day. By the time your baby is up for her next check up, you have a report on hand to show the doctor.

I would highly recommend it to first time parents only if the parents are 1) Stay at home Mom/Dad 2) Work from home Mom/Dad 3) Who has a caretaker who is savvy with computer.

The Pond – BabbleSoft is an ingenious software program that allows you some sanity. The Baby Insights section allows you to make notations like diaper changes and when your baby sleeps. You would not believe how much simpler your day can be when you keep track of feedings and other natural occurrences. It is a life saver if your baby develops a rash. By logging in to your caregiver account, you can see what your baby had to eat, and make adjustments to keep the rash from happening again. A simple glance at your Baby Insights caregiver account tells your baby’s story. The software is also helpful to moms who are breastfeeding and want a record of times etc.

Quiverfull Family – All trackable items include ample space for comments, and a handy graph to view the last week for each item.  I’ve never seen such comprehensive reports and tracking features for baby care before!

While this software is definitely useful for sorting through the confusion of the first months with a new baby, it will be particularly helpful for those whose babies experience health challenges such as reflux, prematurity and any other issues where careful attention must be paid to feeding schedules, pumping and medication.  It will truly shine, and be a life-saver in these circumstances for new parents.

Rockin Mama - When I was first introduced to the company I was so impressed with the philosophy behind it.  Do you know how many nights I scribbled something down only to wake up wondering what in the world I had written?  

Baby Insights helps parents and caregivers communicate about their newborns care and patterns.  Once inputted, parents can review the information and make crucial decisions about sleep, breastfeeding support and feeding. The software allows tracking of sleep periods, breast and/or bottlefeeding times and amounts, diaper changes, pumping, medications, and immunization schedules.

Julian & Morin’s Photoblog – Recently I tried out Babble Soft online software which parents track among many, sleep periods, breastfeeding times, bottle feeding times and amounts, immunizations, medicine doses as well as diaper changes. At the moment, I keep track of my kids in a spreadsheet but this baby software helps me keep them online and I can access them from anywhere, whether at home or at work. With a spreadsheet, unless you keep them in a thumb drive, you tend to forget where you keep the file. I personally think it is a great parenting software especially for parent like me who likes to keep track of such information.

Cass Knits – Babblesoft has created Baby Insights, a program that allows you to track feeds, pumps, meds AND sleep schedules for your infant. Sleep schedules? That was about the only thing I didn’t track, LOL! And then when you need to talk to the doctor or midwife, all the info is right there at your fingertips.

Sassy Frazz – Babble Soft is a great new site that allows me to keep track of everything with this new baby! I will be able to track both my schedule and my newborns schedule with Baby Insights. I can type in when I breastfed, pumped, or if I took medicine. Baby Insights keeps track of Daily Summaries, as well as a weekly summary. I can also keep track of my baby’s feeding schedule, diaper changes, medicines taken, and if my baby has a bottle, I can track how many ounces. I love this baby software to help me keep track of everything with my new baby. It is a great way that my husband and I can look at anytime, or we can share this site with our care provider, so they know what our baby has been up to.

Montessorimum – There’s this special column for mum as well as for baby. Under the mum’s session, you get to key in your breastfed schedule and pumping schedule as well as what time and when to feed your baby’s medicine. It’s great especially for working mum who breastfeed , when these mums need to express breastmilk during office hour for their babies. With this software, it’s easy to keep track how many times to pump as well as how many time each pumping session can yield.