What Are the Best Smartphone Alternatives for Kids?

A guide for parents from a family tech founder. By Russell York, Co-Founder & CEO at COSMO Technologies

These days, parents have a new dreaded question coming from kids. It’s only a matter of time before you hear it:

"When can I get a cell phone?"

It's not surprising that kids start asking about phones (and being handed them) at earlier and earlier ages. For most kids, screens from household TVs to tablets to family smartphones are present from day one. And recent studies have shown that kids are getting phones at earlier than ever:




According to Common Sense Media, “Tech use is aging down as young people get devices earlier. A majority (53%) of kids have their own smartphone by the time they are 11, and 69% have one at age 12.”

Printing Memories with Canvas Champ + Giveaway

I have been working hard on getting better about printing pictures this year. I'm scared that technology will change and I won't be able to see my beautiful memories that I love so much. My favorite gift to give my family members is photo gifts of the kids. That way they can have the pictures they have been asking for, but in a fun new way.

Canvas Champ Review Giveaway

Turn your photos to canvas with CanvasChamp. Their photos on canvas are great for decorating your home or office and perfect as photo gifts! They have a fairly easy to use canvas prints designer. I do wish that it would tell you whether you had a high enough resolution picture to fit the canvas frame that you would like.

Creating Shareable Memories with TreeRing

This post is sponsored by TreeRing Memories. All opinions are my own.

So the mommy guilt is real in our house. Like seriously. My daughter has a beautifully detailed and decorated baby book filled with her firsts down to the exact day included with a picture. Pictures? Yeah I use to print TONS when she was a baby. But my son? I take a ton, but they aren't printed out and his baby book is only half filled because I never wrote stuff down. But I have found a cool app that helps eliminate "mommy/daddy guilt" - we all get so busy and although we snap a ton of pictures of our kiddos, it's often hard to compile them into memory books for them to look back on. TreeRing Memories helps remedy this issue.


TreeRing Memories focuses on helping moms with three specific problems:

Protect Your Phone with IntelliGLASS + Giveaway

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

If you read my blog regularly, then you know that I have two young kiddos. And I think that anyone who has little children needs to protect their phone with a good case and screen protector.


My phone is my livelihood, so I can't have it be broken. I recently put a glass screen protector on my phone and I think they are the greatest thing ever invented. I received the opportunity to review one from intelliARMOR and I knew I wanted my sister-in-law to test it out because she has the WORST luck with cracking her screen.

Need Parenting Advice? Introducing SmartMom!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of SmartMom.


Everyone needs a little parenting advice every now and then. It's okay to admit it. I know I do. When my daughter was a baby we struggled with breastfeeding so much. And I had NO physical support around me. I didn't know where to turn to and although we managed to make it to 14 months, it was a LONG battle. But why? Because I didn't have an access to easy support like SmartMom. Parenting has been easier this time around because now there's an app where advice is available 24/7, right from your smart phone.

A Child-Friendly Sanity Saver from Kidoodle.TV

I participated in a Blog Blast program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Kidoodle.TV. I received a promotional item and a free trial as a thank you for participating.

Kidoodle.TV Child-Friendly Programming
Website - Facebook - Twitter

Although we try to monitor my daughter's screen time, she has been getting more into playing with our iPhones and iPad as sources of entertainment, especially when we are on the go. It can be difficult finding age appropriate stuff for her to watch, and since she just wants to have the freedom to roam, I knew I needed to find a better option.

And that's why I am loving Kidoodle.TV. Designed for children 12 years old and younger, Kidoodle.TV is a service that keeps kids entertained with very little parent involvement. Plus, there is nothing unsafe available to those viewing, so I don’t have to worry about anything inappropriate.

Kidoodle.TV app Review

What I love is that I was able to do 90% of my involvement before I even introduced SweetPea to Kidoodle.TV. Sign up took less than 2 minutes, and then I was taken to the Parent’s Room. Inside, I was able to set up a profile for each child (up to five), so that it could determine what to give her access to based on age. For SweetPea, she can view anything geared towards kids 0-4 years old. Once that was finished, I could select her profile and she was free to choose a show to watch.

The Parent’s Room has pin-protected access, so there is no way the kiddos could go snooping around or change settings. As our daughter get older, it will be nice to keep the older-aged stuff from baby #2 due in March. I could even decide which individual titles either kid could watch by changing access in the Parent’s Room. There is also a time limit feature so your children don’t spend all day staring at a computer or tablet!

I was happy to see that there was an iOS app, meaning I could download and access Kidoodle.TV on my iPhone or iPad. This makes it the perfect solution when traveling, especially during the busy holiday season. It’s also been known to help us at dinner, when she is done eating she wants to leave then there (please tell me my child isn't the only one who does this?).

Kidoodle.TV Holiday Giveaway

Try Kidoodle.TV for FREE and enter by December 31, 2013 to win 1 of 10 tablets or 1 of 10 Kidoodle.TV year-long subscriptions! To enter the giveaway, go to Kidoodle.TV to sign up for a free trial. Follow the on-screen directions and submit!

Wordless Wednesday, Week #35 + Linky

Remember that break I took from Wordless Wednesday a couple weeks ago? Well this is what we were doing. The Hubby was on vacation so we went to Zoo Atlanta with his family and then went to eat at the Varsity afterwards. The girls were obviously exhausted afterwards. :)
BTW I can't help but think that picture of Sweet Pea on the carousel is anything but hilarious! She looks like she is about to vomit. She was a little uneasy when it first started, but really enjoyed it. They also rode the train, but there are no cute pictures as they both were uneasy the entire time. HAHA!

Atlanta Zoo and Varsity Wordless Wednesday

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Attention Bloggers! How was your week?
I would love if you'd share your picture posts with me.

And please make sure to keep up with us on Instagram:
Instagram
Leave a comment so I can follow back.

Also don't forget to check out the side bar and enter some awesome giveaways. :)

Please share the linky:




Please add this badge to your post or side bar before linking up.
These are not requirements, just greatly appreciated. :)
You can see where I link up HERE.

Wordless Wednesday Picture Blog Hop Linky


If you're having trouble adding a badge, click HERE.

I never thought I would have to make a rule to my WW Linky,
but PLEASE do not link up your main blog URL but a direct link to your post.
Thank you.

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday! :D



*Please note that you are NOT required to enter your email, by doing so you may receive a weekly link-up reminder email that you can unsubscribe from at any time.*



Click To Vote For Us @ the Top Baby Blogs Directory! The most popular baby blogs


Memorial Weekend Recap {Wordless Wednesday Linky}













We were featured in the #WakeUpWithStonyfield Newsletter! :D








SweetPea's first JetSki ride, random VW bus boat thing, and playing with friends. My father fought in Vietnam and his cancer was believed to be cause by Agent Orange. Gone but Not Forgotten.
How was your weekend?


------------------------------------

Attention Bloggers! How was your week?
I would love if you'd share your picture posts with me.

And please make sure to keep up with us on Instagram:
Instagram
Leave a comment so I can follow back.

Also don't forget to check out the side bar and enter some awesome giveaways. :)

Please share the linky:




Please add this badge to your post or side bar before linking up.
These are not requirements, just greatly appreciated. :)
You can see where I link up HERE.

Wordless Wednesday Picture Blog Hop Linky


If you're having trouble adding a badge, click HERE.
I never thought I would have to make a rule to my WW Linky,
but PLEASE do not link up your main blog URL but a direct link to your post.
Thank you.

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday! :D



Click To Vote For Us @ Top Baby Blogs Directory!



Casetagram - Great for Father's Day {Review & Giveaway}

This is a sponsored post, written by me, on behalf of Casetagram. All opinions are 100% my own.

I have been a huge fan of Instagram since before it was available for Androids (I hadn't yet converted to iPhone when I first joined). And as soon as it became available, I downloaded it. I have been in love ever since. It is a great way to share pictures with all your social networks easily and you can edit as well.

With the growing popularity of IG (as we socialites call it), many companies are making it easier to use those beautiful pictures that you have taken time to shoot and edit. Casetagram has made it very easy to share your pictures by letting you add them to your phone case! How cool is that?



Sorry my picture does not do it justice.

I have an Otter box and although this case is no Otter box, it is an adorable way to proudly display your pictures. I take pictures constantly, so this is a huge plus for me.


Casetagram is available for the iPhone 5, iPhone 4S / 4 (which I have), iPad Mini, iPad 4 / 3, iPad 2, iPod Touch 5, iPod Touch 4, Galaxy S III, Galaxy S II, Galaxy Note II and Galaxy Note. To upload photos, you can use Facebook, Instagram or photos from your computer, too. Once photos are uploaded, you can customize your Casetagram. They even also have a free app that can be used on your mobile devices to make uploading pictures even easier.

They even have virtual gift cards and with Father's Day right around the corner, they are such a great gift idea.



Not only did Casetagram send me a case to review but they are also offering one very lucky Nanny to Mommy reader the opportunity to win one for themselves! This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE. All entries are verified.



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Click To Vote For Us @ Top Baby Blogs Directory!



{Dance Like No One's Watching} Wordless Wednesday, Week #31 + Linky

I am so grateful for the warmer weather. It has been beautiful here in Georgia. And we have been soaking up the rays and enjoying every minute of it.

Disney CD Review
{♥ on Instagram}

Dancing to Disney Channel's "Shake It Up: I ♥ Dance" that I received to review through Child Communications. She loves to dance and we love Disney, so it was a perfect combo.

Thred Up Review

[♥ on Instagram}

This was taken on Mother's Day. We went over to my in-laws and had a wonderful dinner with the family. I got her dress on ThredUP and another for less than $2 including shipping! :D

------------------------------------

Attention Bloggers! How was your week?
I would love if you'd share your picture posts with me.

And please make sure to keep up with us on Instagram:
Instagram
Leave a comment so I can follow back.

Also don't forget to check out the side bar and enter some awesome giveaways. :)

Please share the linky:



Please add this badge to your post or side bar before linking up.
These are not requirements, just greatly appreciated. :)
You can see where I link up HERE.

Wordless Wednesday Picture Blog Hop Linky


If you're having trouble adding a badge, click HERE.
I never thought I would have to make a rule to my WW Linky,
but PLEASE do not link up your main blog URL but a direct link to your post.
Thank you.

Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday! :D

If you linked up already, thank you so much. Linky Tools is down so I had to switch to Simply-Linked. Feel free to link up again. Thank you for understanding and I apologize about the confusion.


Click To Vote For Us @ the Top Baby Blogs Directory! The most popular baby blogs


Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About iPhone Cases {Technology Tuesday}

Tiny Prints iPhone Case Infographic


Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory


The Best Gift Ever {Shutterfly Giveaway}

I am so excited to work with Shutterly for this giveaway. As some of you may know, my sister-in-law had her first child very early this morning! I am so excited and have been scouring Pinterest looking for the perfect gift but then I realized I don't need any other site! Shutterfly is the perfect gifting destination and their Best Gift Ever Page allows you to make meaningful personal gifts that deepen connections to family and friends.

I have had the most wonderful experience with Shutterfly. My favorite coffee mug is one that says "World's Best Mother" that I received for Mother's Day last year from SweetPea (through Hubby, of course). And I love getting desk calendars for my Hubby each year so he can proudly display pictures of our family at work. I love buying photo books to share with my family and I am definitely eyeing one of those iPhone cases!

Shutterfly Best Gift Ever


Want to win #8? Shutterfly's Customizable 16oz Stainless Steel Travel Mug? All you have to do is enter the RaffleCopter below! The only required entry is to comment on this post letting me know your favorite item you’d like to give or receive as a gift. Giveaway open to where ever Shutterfly ships to. If you are interested in trying to win even more fun stuff from Shutterfly, @ResourcefulMom is having a Twitter Party on Monday, April 22nd! All party info can be found HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Although I will receive free product from Shutterfly through Resourceful Mom Media to provide this preview and giveaway, all opinions are my own.

Vote for me @ Top Mommy Blogs - Mom Blog Directory


Monday Instagram Hop

Today I am co-hosting a very new blog hop for Instagram!

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Monday Instagram Hop


Happy Monday My Blogging Buddies!
I hope that you guys were able to have a nice productive week!
I know that i always wish i had one more day in the weekend to relax

Well, Today is Monday so you know what that means?
Its Monday Instagram Hop Time!!

This week I have yet another great co-host!
I would like to introduce to you guys Diana!
You can find her blog HERE
AND you can also find her on Instagram HERE

Diana has a great mommy blog. She share a lot of great pics of her kids. She shares some great product reviews as well as some great tips for those new mommies out there! So if you have a free second please feel free to go check out her blog!

So here is your chance to reach out and meet some new people! Add YOUR Instagram name below and hop around to a few other! If you find a few that you like please feel free to follow them.

This week I REQUEST (but you do not have 2 if you do not want 2! I can't/won't make you do anything that you do not want to do!!) that you go and follow me and my co-host via Instagram
After all...this is a Instagram hop!

So...Ready...Set...GO HOP! :-)
Have a marvelous Monday!!

**P.S. Looking for Co-Host for this Instagram hop! So please contact me if you are interested!**


Click To Vote For Us @ the Top Baby Blogs Directory! The most popular baby blogs


Great Free Apps for New Moms

Free Apps for New Moms



My Cycles iPhone Android App

MC app on my phone to keep track of my menstrual cycles because for the LIFE of me I can never remember when my last cycle was when I go to the doctor PLUS it gives you a guesstimate to let you know when you are ovulating if that is what you need. ;)


Gerber iPhone Android App

Gerber app (now the Toddler 2+) so I can keep up with Sweet Pea's weight plus it will send you a reminder to take a photo everyday. Also as your child gets older, there will be different games on there. They even have a pregnancy app. I am a pro-breastfeeding friendly mama and believe in waiting until six months to start solids, but I still loved these apps.

Groovebook iPhone Android App

Groovebook is a great app to help save all those mobile pictures. Great way to give pictures to relatives or to make sure you have hard copies. You get 100 pictures each month delivered to your mailbox for just $2.99 shipping! And if you use promo code CHASTAIN1 you get your first month free. Plus you can cancel your subscription at any time!

Shutterfly iPhone Android App

Shutterfly to automatically upload all those photos so you have them forever. And Shutterfly provides unlimited storage space so you forever have the app at you finger tips. If you sign up HERE, you can get your first 50 prints FREE! :D


Pampers Gifts to Grow iPhone Android App

Pampers Gift to Grow is great to save all those codes from the best newborn disposable diaper, Pampers Swaddlers. Gifts to Grow rewards program is as simple as 1, 2, free.
1 – Register online 2 – Purchase Pampers products and earn points 3 – Redeem your points for free gifts! Simply join Pampers today and get started with 100 bonus points. Click Here!

My Fitness Pal iPhone Android App
My Fitness Pal to help with that post-pregnancy poundage. I love this app. I have been on the chunky side before I even got pregnant. I have lost 35 lbs (most of which was pregnancy weight) and this app helped tremendously. You count calories, record exercises (which can be connected to other apps), and encourage others who you are friends with through this app! Click HERE to friend me on MyFitnessPal!

Baby Nursing iPhone Android App
Baby Nursing is so great to keep up with how longed you nursed, which side your baby last nursed on, and it keeps tracks of diapers, which is the key when determining if baby is getting enough. And you are most likely thinking, "I will remember, I don't need an app to help remind me", I thought that too. Once you pop a baby out, you lose pregnancy brain and have what we call in the biz mommy brain.

Grocery IQ Coupons.com iPhone Android App

Coupons.com created the Grocery IQ app to help you organize your shopping list based on available coupons. You can also create new items and share your list with someone. So if you need the hubby to pick something up for you, he can know exactly what to buy!


Social Media Instagram iPhone Android App

I have had Instagram ever since it became available for Android. Now I have an iPhone (which I feel is a more superior phone), but I loved this app. Actually any social media app is good for new moms, because it is so important to stay in touch. With Instagram, you have the ability to share photos of your new cute bundle of joy very easy. Click HERE to follow us on Instagram.



I hope you find these apps as helpful as I did. What apps do you recommend for new apps? Which app are you interested in trying out? I would love to hear your feedback!



This post's sponsor:

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