Popping the Bubble Wrap

The holidays look a little different for everyone. For some it may include cozying up next to the fireplace with a good book or a movie. For others it may be visits with family and friends with lots of coming and going. If one thing is true for most, it’s that when you’re on holiday, routines often are disrupted and you may be distracted by the festivities. We want everyone to enjoy the season. To...

The holiday season is upon us once again! Wish lists in hand, you wander the toy aisles searching for the gifts that will bring a smile to your kids’ faces. You might be thinking about safety – trying to assess which of the many options will be appropriate and fun. Maybe you have older children as well. Or you’re buying for family members. How do you buy for different ages? Why do age recommendati...

Did you know that 20% of your TikTok feed is highly likely to contain misinformation? That’s one in every five TikToks you watch! In our world today, it’s so easy to rely on social media, such as Instagram and TikTok, as sources for information – including information that impacts our health and wellbeing. The important thing to keep in mind: advice can sound good, but it can actually be harmful....

By this point, you’re well into the journey of car seat safety for your child. You’ve wrangled rear-facing and forward-facing car seats into the car and your child into those seats. Well done! We have just one final stage left to take on: the booster seat . So, what are the special considerations you need to be aware of when it comes to booster seats? Since they look different from other seats, ho...

So, you’ve kept your little one rear-facing for as long as possible, and it’s time to move to forward to a forward-facing car seat. Deep breath! You’ve already done it once: choosing the right car seat for your vehicle and your child. On this episode, we’re tackling the forward-facing car seat. When is your child ready to turn forward-facing? Are there any special considerations you need to be awa...

Car seats: we know they’re important for our baby’s safety but one trip down a shopping aisle filled with them, or scrolling through an online store, can be confusing and frustrating. The first car seat you’ll need after your child is born is rear facing, which is what’s recommended for infants and younger children. But what kind? How do you install it? How long do you keep using it? Why is rear f...

It’s one of those milestones that we don’t want to miss – the moment our toddler takes their first steps. It’s such a special moment. All at once, the world is theirs to discover! And suddenly, your home looks a lot different than it did only moments before – your home looks like a maze of hazards and potential injuries for your newly mobile little one. Today we’re going to talk about it. What exa...

On this episode, we’re going to talk about what types of products are out there that can keep our kids safe during sleep, and what might be out there that might be more risky than beneficial. Joining us today for the conversation are parents Erica Stone and Scott Beaudin, and our expert, Dr. Daniel Rosenfield, Paediatric Emergency Physician with SickKids and specialist in child injury prevention....

The Canadian Paediatric Society recently released a position statement on outdoor risky play that recognizes that risky play is essential to children’s development, and physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. You might think that injury prevention and encouraging risky play don’t go together but they do! Key takeaways: There is a difference between a risk and a hazard. A risk is thrilling and ex...

Ever wonder what the warranty card is for, if you should fill it out and send it back? Would you be surprised to learn that not every product you buy has already been tested for safety? And what are those age recommendations on toys actually for? Today, we’re diving into the sometimes-confusing world of consumer product safety - standards and recalls – like where to find information and how to rep...

Wiping the sweat from your brow, you let out a sigh of relief. Finally, the crib is assembled and ready for baby – due any day now! You’ve put together the changing table; you’ve got the diapers and the tiny onesies. So close to being prepared for the little one to arrive! Just one last task to take care of – buying a car seat and getting it installed for the ride home from the hospital. You’ve be...

Today we’re going to talk about poison prevention, the things our kids put in their mouths that are more than just “icky” – the things that could actually harm them. What are those products and how can we reduce the chances of our children coming across them? I’m guessing that if I asked you to count on one hand the number of times you’ve had to intercept your child as they were about to put somet...

Season 2 of Popping the Bubble Wrap is returning on March 19, 2024, with more kitchen table chats with parents and safety experts. Are you the person in your family who worries about the safety of others, about buying safety products and using them? Then this is the podcast for you. Join Pam Fuselli this season we’ll answer parents’ questions – and learn from each other – all while popping the myt...

Getting in a vehicle and driving from place to place is a normal part of everyday life for many of us. We go from point A to point B without incident. But unfortunately for many others, a trip in their vehicle results in a lifechanging crash. This episode will be a different format from the others and a warning to listeners that we’ll be sharing information on and details about a vehicle crash inv...

Children can seem like tireless balls of energy at times. It’s a beautiful part of childhood, that almost boundless will to move, laugh and, most importantly, play. It’s tremendously good for children to engage in movement and play. Equally, it’s important for us as parents to allow our children to tire themselves out – how else will we ever get those precious moments of peace and quiet after bedt...

On a summer afternoon, there is no better way to cool off than to head to the local pool or lake and go for a swim. It’s a joy to watch young children discover water. Good family fun all around! It’s not news, though, that water can pose a risk to people of any age, and this is especially true for young children. Even just at home in the bathtub, the risk of drowning is present. In this episode, w...

Parents - you need information and news you can use, but not in the boring way a typical website gives you information, in text and static images. At Parachute, we're exploring a new way for you to connect with us, to share visual, credible, and timely information that gets your specific questions answered. We need your help to design this tool, so that it works for you! Tell us your thoughts by c...

You did it! You’ve guided your kid through childhood successfully and they’ve made it to adolescence - safe and sound. They’re at the age now where they can get their license and start driving for the first time. And…. a whole new challenge is on the horizon. This can be a scary time as a parent and as a young driver. We know well the dangers of driving under the influence: add to that the fact th...

As parents raising children in the age of technology, thinking about how we can get our children to put down their phones and get outside is top of mind. ATVs are a lot of fun, and they can certainly motivate a child to get away from screens. This is true whether you’re a family who lives in an urban environment and rides the trails on weekends or holidays, or a family who lives in more rural area...

One of the most wonderful things about having children is watching their unbridled curiosity about the world around them. As a parent though, this wonder comes with an equal dose of worry about hazards our children might come across. Especially very young children who are vulnerable and have yet to develop motor skills that play a key role in issues like choking, strangulation and suffocation. The...

Admit it, you’ve watched your child or children stuff something in their mouths, and time seems to stand still as you launch yourself across the room yelling ‘noooooooo’ to stop them from swallowing it. It’s a natural way that children explore items, through taste, smell, and touch. Most items won’t hurt them but there are a few that will. How do you tell the difference? Joining Pam on this episod...

One of the leading causes of injury to children and young people are motor vehicle crashes. A major cause of these crashes is speed. Even a small reduction can make a big difference. A pedestrian struck by a car traveling at 50 km/h is almost six times more likely to be killed than a pedestrian struck at 30 km/h. Children are more likely to be struck by a car in areas with higher speed limits. Tod...

Home is a place that kids spend most of their time. But our homes ares designed for adults: there are things that can harm kids. However, we’ve seen many changes over time that we might take for granted that have eliminated or significantly reduced injuries. Joining Pam on this episode are Kim, Jenn, and Mandy as well as our expert Robyn Stewart from Saskatchewan Prevention Institute. Changes to p...

Stay in a dark room. Wake them up every hour. Absolutely no screen time. These are outdated pieces of advice that are still being offered about concussion. Researchers and experts know infinitely more about concussion than they did just 10 years ago. But is that information getting through to parents? And what do parents really need to know? Joining Pam on this episode are Adam, Heather, and Jenna...

Whether you’re a “Wine Mom” or a “420 Mom”, you can enjoy grown-up relaxation and keep your child safe by following a few simple routines. Cannabis legalization has resulted in an increase in legal products and illegal products containing cannabis are more widely available, items such as candies/ gummy bears, cookies, chocolate bars. An adult, never mind a child, is hard-pressed to identify produc...