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Best Kids Camera For Your Next Family Vacation

November 3, 2017 by Christine Leger

Why you need a kids camera for your next vacation!

There are many reasons why your kid wants a camera while on vacation; experience the location, copy mom and dad as they take images, free souvenirs, amongst other things. But should you give the kids a camera? They are kids, after all, they’ll just break it or lose it.

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Curious – children are naturally curious about the world. They want to explore the world like we do, and capture those images for a later date
Individuality – being allowed to control their own entertainment is important to kids. They want to be in charge and since I believe in picking my battles, having a simple kids camera on hand makes it that much easier.
No “photography rules” – unlike adults, kids don’t care about photography rules. They don’t even care if the photo turns out or not, they just like the act of taking a picture.
Accessible – no need to read or write. Kids don’t need to be able to know much in order to use a simple digital camera. Just point and shoot and away they go.
Instant gratification – while I don’t generally preach “instant gratification”, showing the children that their hard work has paid off – they learned the functions of the camera, found an image-worthy subject, aimed and held the camera still long enough to capture the picture. Now they can see their work on the screen, to be saved for years to come.
Observation skills – children have a way of noticing things that adults may miss. Intricate patterns in the stone, for example, or the various shoes fellow travelers are sporting that day. Being that much lower to the ground has a way of changing a persons perspective of the world.

Best Digital Cameras for Kids

Camera	Megapixels	Weight	Rating
VTech Kidizoom Camera Pix	2.0	7.7 ounces	4.3
BIBENE Digital Video Camera	5	0.3 ounces	4.8
Koowoo Kids Camera	12	Lightweight	5
Kidz Digital Camera	0.3	5.6 ounces	2.6
VTech Kidizoom DUO Camera	2	13.8 ounces	4.4
Powpro Kfun PP-J52 Underwater Action Camera	5	9.1 ounces	4.4
Bonna Student camera	21	9.6 ounces	4
Discovery Kids USB Compatible Digital Camera	0.3	17.6 ounces	3.5
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 Instant Camera	60mm f/12.7 Lens	10 ounces	4.6
VTech Kidizoom Action Cam	0.3	9.6 ounces	4

Types of Kids Cameras

Kids Underwater Camera

It’s the perfect travel companion, ready to capture all your adventures and fun selfies – even under water. Rugged, compact, and lightweight, it goes anywhere and can handle every challenging journey, from the bumpiest, dustiest desert road tour to underwater selfies amid the coral reefs.

Pro: Since they are waterproof, they can be taken on many more adventures and no one has to worry about the camera’s functionality afterward. Also, this means parents don’t need to be afraid of the toddlers dropping their camera in the tub or a mud puddle while they take practice pictures.

Con: The housing can leave audio files a little “tinny”, or sounding boxed in. Unless the camera can come out of the waterproof housing for non-water based pictures, there is no way around this feature. However, cameras with an external housing have a risk of leaking, even if that risk is small, compared to a camera that is solid waterproof.

The Ivation Underwater Shockproof Digital Camera is another example of a fully waterproof, droppable camera.

Practice Camera

Pro: Allows kids to learn the various functions of a camera; pressing buttons, centering the image, posing the subject, and being responsible with their property, without costing a small fortune should something happen to it. Training wheels for digital photography.

Con: The quality of the images is something to be desired and may put off a child from photography. These cameras are not meant for older kids, as they are more about the quality of their work, instead of the act of taking photos and doing the same as mom and dad.

Video Cameras for Kids

Pro: I also advocate for multipurpose products. If I can get 1 product that does the same as 2 or 3, why not? Practice photography and videography at the same time, without having to buy a separate unit.

Con: Because it can do more, these units tend to cost more than a standard practice camera. There are also a few more options for the children to learn, so it is best recommended for the older kids as they will be less likely to be frustrated with so many options.

Don’t forget to grab an SD Card, from here, or some batteries, found here. Not all cameras come with these accessories and having a spare isn’t always a bad thing.

Best Kids Camera Reviews

VTech Kidizoom Camera Pix- Best First Camera For Kids

One of the great features is auto-detect; just turn the camera to take a picture of yourself and it will automatically detect faces for a perfect selfie! I love the audible electronic shutter sound that plays when a photo is taken. It’s a good indicator for the kids on when they can move the camera. I could do without the games programmed into this, though. It is a little distracting for the in-between kids – old enough to figure out how to use it but too young to ignore it when it’s time to focus on picture-taking.

When editing a photo, the original photo is preserved and your edited version is a new, separate photo. I was after a camera that wouldn’t immediately break and with few enough buttons that the kids would be able to operate them without throwing off settings. This definitely fits that bill. We have even bought it for a few friends on their kids’ birthday; it’s always a hit when we host play dates. We’ve owned ours for 2 years and it’s still going strong.

Check out the latest prices here

BIBENE – Best Digital Camera For Kids

This item is great for a toddler. The size of it makes it easier for little hands to hold. It is also difficult to break, which is a huge pro since it will probably be dropped several times. The only thing that I wish was a bit different, is for the button to be in a different location. It is a bit awkward for them to push. You can download the photo’s onto a computer anytime to make more room but they can still take many photos with a 32G SD card

Check out the latest prices here

Koowoo – Best Underwater Camera For Kids

Deemed one of the best waterproof cameras for kids as outdoor gifts for those that are adventurous, surfers, snowboarders, for swimming, diving, and breaching. As a waterproof, dustproof, drop-proof camera, it is practically indestructible, which is perfect for little hands that tend to drop just about anything, pretty much anywhere you don’t want it to be dropped.

This camera is more than a toy. The colour was bright so great for kids – and it doesn’t look like those cheap toys we usually see for kids. It comes with the camera itself, lanyard, USB cable and the manual. Note: It requires 2 AAA batteries and an SD card which are not included.

Check out the latest prices here

Kidz Digital Camera- Best Cheap Camera For Kids

The screen is a bit small but my 3-year-old does not mind. It does not take a lot of pictures – maybe 75 or so, but it is perfect for little children who just want a camera to play and practice with. It can double as a webcam on your computer, which is great for communicating with loved ones, not on vacation with you.

Digital Concepts camera allows you to take up to 75 quick photos to go and shoots video clips. Simply plug the digital camera back into the USB port and download and edit your photos. The camera includes a neck strap, PhoTags Express photo editing software for fun and cool pictures.

This camera, unlike the others in this list, does not protect from dropping and is not waterproof. It is a real “adult” camera, but smaller and less expensive. Overall this product is not the best camera out there but it served its purpose for the price.

Check out the latest prices here

VTech Kidizoom- Best Tough Camera For Kids

Great for older and younger kids.

Bought two – one for each boy (ages 4 and 6) for a long 20-hour road trip. They loved taking photos (about 300 of in the inside of my van….) and played with all the special effects and learned all about the world of selfies! They took great pictures on our trip and the games were great for spurts of boredom on the road trip when they needed something to keep quiet (while their siblings were napping). I didn’t find the games to be a nuisance at all because they’re basic games (think Frogger)

You can disable or set a time limit on the games (the shortest limit is 15 min/day), which is a great feature to have, as they are not exactly educational games. It is drop-proof, I want to say splash-resistant (will survive a splash of juice, but not submersion in the tub) and durable. The colour is great for kids’ imaginations.

Check out the latest prices here

Powpro Kfun – Best Underwater Action Camera For Kids

This waterproof shockproof camera for kids has worked great. It is a very simplistic waterproof camera which is great for young kids. You can take pictures and record videos. You are also able to view both the photos and videos and delete any you don’t like directly on the camera. Setting up the camera is super easy and to download the pictures or videos you just plug it in the computer and they pop right up!

The biggest card you can use with the camera is a 32GB, which is more than enough space for a budding photographer. The Powpro Kfun pretty shock proof as well. Just don’t expect the audio to be anything special. Its not, especially in the waterproof housing. If you speak directly toward the speaker its great. From the side or behind, not so much

Check out the latest prices here

Bonna – B est Point and Shoot Camera For Kids

It’s a little bit smaller than expected but is very convenient to carry around as it is super light, great size & weight for kids to play with, and fits well in pockets. Taking the price into account, it does deliver amazing image quality, pics look great on its 2.7″ TFT LCD display screen, brought lots of joy to the kids. And the photo quality is pretty good as well after transferring onto the computer. Very easy to operate, one button control with essential options. I would recommend this as the best point and shoot camera for kids.

Does not come with an SD card, however.

Check out the latest prices here

Discovery Kids – Best Starter Camera For Kids

It’s easy for toddlers to use and very durable- it’s been dropped numerous times. The internal memory tends to wipe clean if the batteries are allowed to die before exporting the files, so it’s best to check often.

My only issue with it is the quality of the pictures it takes, but I wasn’t expecting a high pixel count for something meant for kids, and how easy it is for the pictures to get deleted by a kid exploring the buttons.

Check out the latest prices here

VTech Kidizoom – Best Video Camera For Kids

I would compare this to a Baby Go Pro. While this isn’t a perfect action camera by far, this is the perfect action camera for kids. It’s easy to use. You can take it pretty much anywhere: in the air, underwater, you name it. It floats, and it’s just about indestructible.

The video quality is about as low as it gets, but that doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that this is a great toy and that it gives little kids a chance to use a cheap action camera without any fear that it might break?

It is recommended to purchase a 32GB SD card with speed class VI.

Check out the latest prices here

Fujifilm Instax Mini 9 – Best Instant Camera For Kids

The camera quality makes you feel like you’re in the 90s, it’s great as long as you’re not expecting crystal clear, see every one types of pictures. Great for when you hang out with friends, and perfect for scrapbooking.

As a kids polaroid camera, it takes the cutest pictures ever, a lot of people may not like the quality of the picture but I love it because it gives it this old fashion look and feeling to it. It’s so much fun to see a printed photo right after you take it. This is the best instant camera for kids and adults.

Check out the latest prices here

Hopefully, I’ve helped you find the Best Kids Camera for your needs! If you are looking for more kids or baby products for travel, you can also read our guides to best travel stroller, the best toddler travel bed and many other useful travel products here.

10 Best Toddler Travel Gear

April 29, 2017 by Christine Leger

10 Best Toddler Travel Gear

In order to be considered the Best Toddler Travel Gear, it needs to satisfy a few categories; small, lightweight, long-lasting and can either be passed on to future children or have a decent resale value. Each and every one of these products have been tried and tested by our in-house Toddler staff and have passed the test with flying colors.

1- Kidz Gear Headphones

Kidz Gear offers headphones as both wired and wireless (Bluetooth). At first, it was hard to understand by Bluetooth was necessary for children’s headphones, until the 2-year-old starts ripping the headphones off the 5-year-old. Ah, Strangulation! As parents, we can’t always have an eye on the kids, at all times. Knowing that there was no risk of cords wrapping around little body parts, on purpose or by accident, made the choice to leave them with headphones in the backseat of the car that much easier.

Kidz Gear Headphones are also adjustable. This means they will last as long as the kids need them to last. They are flexible and durable; even the strongest of willed 2-year-olds have yet to break it. And the padded earpiece means they won’t have sore, red ears by the end of screen time.

2- Snack Container

Taking snacks outside of the house is always a chore; plastic bags or original packaging? Container or bag? But which container do I not mind losing at least once a month? The price point on this container is perfect for those toddlers that insist on throwing things outside of the stroller, and the busy mom that doesn’t notice it’s absence until 2 miles later.

The flexible rubber lid lends itself great to little hands helping themselves to the snacks. It can be a little firm at first, great for keeping the snacks where they belong, but it can be frustrating for little ones. This container is best for slightly older toddlers, as the packaging mentions 12 months plus, or younger if they are using an older container with a well-loved lid from an older sibling. The main benefit of the Twist ‘N Click snacker is it’s easy to handle and twist on lid. Not even the most skilled of toddlers will be able to fully release the contents without a parent noticing.

Other containers have too wide of an opening, to keep the little hands comfortable. This always ends up meaning that food can get out with just a little tapping of the container by said little hands. The lid doesn’t easily come off just by throwing the cup around so the snacks are safe inside, and not all over the floor.

3- Kids Backpack

There aren’t many vacations that we undertake without these backpacks. The kids hold their own entertainment, change of clothes for the plane and diaper needs for the little one. It may sound heavy but the weight is evenly distributed across their shoulders and the chest and waist straps distribute it even further around their back and hips. This also means the kids aren’t likely to overpack, as they are in charge of carrying everything. They are now able to think critically about what they want, what they can leave behind and how much to really want that extra coloring set in their backpack.

The front pocket is a great hiding spot for band-aids, polysporin and other mini-first aid requirements. Daddy always carries the real kit but they feel better knowing that their favorite character bandaids are waiting for them in this little pocket. Two side pockets are also great for holding on to water bottles or other items not suitable for inside the backpack. We never leave home without these backpacks.

4- Travel Potty Seat

Potty breaks happen and the even the biggest of toddlers get scared when sitting on the big-kid potty. And can you blame them? That toilet boil is waiting for their little tushy to just fall in and soak their adorable behinds in less than hygienic waters. The Jerrybox Foldable Travel Potty Seat even comes with its own travel bag so the actual seat doesn’t need to come into contact with the other contents of the diaper bag. Its unique folding action means it will compress to actually fit in the diaper bag, then fit perfectly on the toilet for the little bums in the house. Potty training no longer needs to be a battle, as they will feel safe and comfortable using the toilet in any public restroom. Parents have the added advantage of knowing their little bums aren’t actually touching the toilet seat – if only we were all so lucky.

Other toilet seats don’t fold as well, or stay put when a wiggly child is sitting against their will. Portability means you aren’t limited to hotel restrooms or the children’s toilet at the mall. Every washroom is now child-friendly. Only dislike; every washroom is now child-friendly and they will take advantage of that – NEEDING to pee in each and every toilet in the world.

5- CARES Harness

The CARES Child Aviation Restraint System is the world’s first passenger restraint system for children approved by Transport Canada and the FAA for use on all registered aircraft.

Designed for children old enough to be in their own airplane seat age one year old and over weighing between 22 and 44 lbs (10 and 20 kg), CARES is engineered to the highest aviation safety standards.

It takes only a minute to install using the existing, standard airplane seat belt and can adjust to fit virtually every size airplane seat.
Send the bulky car seat with checked luggage and carry CARES on board.

6- MiFold

According to MiFold: During one in five journeys, children do not have a car seat: in carpools, with grandparents or other relatives, in taxis, on vacations, in rental cars, with three-in-a-row and so on. And this does not include bigger kids on the border of the regulatory limits, who do not want to appear babyish to friends, who have already outgrown child restraints.

With MiFold, there is no longer any excuse. With a compact and portable device, a child can easily carry one with them. It’s possible to have a spare without cluttering up the car and losing precious seating or luggage space. The unique size and shape of the MiFold lend itself to discretion, space-saving, portability, and convenience, without sacrificing safety. This means a child will always have a car seat with them, no matter where they are or how last-minute the arrangements are.

Alternatively, when booking a vacation, as this is one of the “Best Toddler Travel Gear” items, parents no longer need to pay up to $15 per day to rent a shady car seat from the dealership or attempt to haul their own on to the plane. This safe and tested kids folding mobile car seat is the answer to any traveling parenting dilemmas. Other systems have yet to pass rigorous testing or appear too flimsy. Others still have yet to come close to the space-saving technology that MiFold has created. If your looking for safety and compact design MiFold is the answer.

Our full review of the Mifold can be found here

7- Bob Revolution

Before investing in a stroller, you need one that is going to last for the lifetime of your stroller-needs, be it one child or multiple children. BOB Gears line of jogging strollers fits the bill.

Not only are parents able to push with one hand (coffee break or hand-holding), but the benefit of shocks provide your child with a smooth ride especially during nap time.

The addition of a swivel front wheel allows you to turn on a dime. The solid frame allows for jogging with the stroller and “off-roading” anywhere you might travel with kids.

Find our full review of the Bob stroller and other travel strollers here.

8- GO-GO BABYZ TRAVELMATE

Ever seen a stroller on wheels? This is how they do it. Just secure the stage 2 car seat to the GO-GO BABYZ

TRAVELMATE, then secure the child into the car seat.

Voila! Parents are now free to hull around the little ones in their car seat, which need to get to the check-in, without carrying the car seat around and chasing after running toddlers in a busy airport. This will also double as your much-needed, pre-check-in stroller.

Most international airports have complimentary strollers available passed security and do not allow gate-checked strollers. Now all one has to do is survive the security line and all is good.

9- Mommy Hook

There really is no greater feeling than walking down the street, hands-free, because everything you have just purchased is attached to your stroller.

The mommy hook by Attmu allows you to hang just about anything off of the stroller handlebar, using your own child as a counterweight (don’t forget to remove the item before the child, or the stroller can tip over). The weight and size of the package is only limited by your strollers capacity to carry it.

Don’t forget to remove it when leaving the stroller at gate check or stroller parking; they are universally a huge hit and sticky fingers happen everywhere.

10- Travel Cot

Instead of fighting over who gets to sleep with mom and watch dad sleep on the pull-out couch, bring along a bed your toddler can call there’s. The Regalo My Cot Portable Bed is small enough to allow your toddler to carry it up to the hotel room, set it up and make the bed. At only 7 inches off the ground, there is no worry about your little “mover” rolling off the cot, unlike on a sofa bed or traditional hotel bed. This is also a great sleep-over alternative to a sleeping bag. Great for your child’s first camping trip. No need to worry about them accidentally popping the air mattress with their impossibly sharp fingernails either.

Check out our full review of the Best Toddler Travel Beds

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BOB Revolution 2016 FLEX Jogging Stroller

December 31, 2016 by Christine Leger

Jogging Stroller | Tough enough for running

This rugged all-terrain stroller is perfect for daily adventures and suitable for children from 8 weeks old and up to 75 pounds. The BOB Revolution FLEX 2016 is the ideal all-terrain stroller from BOB, the #1 jogging stroller. The front wheel can swivel for top manoeuvrability or lock for added stability. The state-of-the-art adjustable suspension system takes bumps in stride and the adjustable handlebar provides a perfect fit for all parents. Pair it with the BOB B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat by Britax to create the best travel system for your lifestyle.

Why do I own a Bob Revolution?

Before investing in a stroller, we wanted to make sure it was something that was going to last us for the lifetime of our stroller-needs, be it one kid or multiple kids. While the price point has dropped since our initial purchase, I don’t regret it for an instant. Not only am I able to push it with one hand (coffee break or hand-holding), but the shocks mean my child will have a smooth ride – very important especially during nap time – but the swivel front wheel means I can practically turn on a dime, the solid frame allows me to take this jogging stroller off-roading while traveling in new countries, and the air filled tires means I can easily replace an inner tube when I get a flat tire – just like my bike.

As seen on ; Best Travel Strollers

Product description

Swiveling-locking front wheel swivels to maneuver tight turns with ease or locks forward for increased stability when jogging or on rough terrain.
Adjustable padded handlebar offers 9 positions to create the perfect fit for parents of all heights.
State-of-the-art adjustable suspension system offers 3 inches of travel and 2 stages of weight support for an ultra-smooth ride.
Easy, two-step fold for convenient transportation and storage.
Travel system ready when using the BOB Infant Car Seat Adapter (sold separately). Pair with a matching BOB B-Safe 35 Infant Car Seat by Britax or with any other major brand car seat.

Accessories

There is an endless number of accessories available to customize your stroller. From Handlebar console (cup storage) with tire pump to car seat adapter and snack tray. There is custom fit wind/rain cover, as well as a sun shield. Inner tubes and tires are easily purchased online and just as easily replaced or repaired at home.

Check out more Travel Gear by clicking;

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