Shopping with mobile device is becoming more commonplace than ever before, as one out of 10 shoppers already prefer mobile apps exclusively for their online shopping, according to an online Contact Solutions shopping habits survey of 1,000 American consumers.
Online shopping is already widespread around three-quarters of shoppers surveyed said they make purchases online, and 30 percent of shoppers shop on a mobile device at least as much as they shop on a computer.
According to Forrester Research, U.S. online sales are projected to top $400 billion in 2018, and nearly $1 trillion worldwide.
The Contact Solutions survey found 30 percent of shoppers choose physical stores for less than half of their everyday shopping, and 30 percent shop on mobile at least as much as they do on a computer.
However, mobile shopping isn't perfect, as 16 percent (1 in 6) of consumers say they struggle with mobile shopping apps at least half the time, and 38 percent of respondents said they are disappointed with the inability to get help within a mobile app.
"You have to design for the mobile experience and the mobile lifestyle. It should be a mobile first shopping experience, and a mobile first customer care experience," John Hibel, Contact Solutions director of marketing, told eWeek. "Today most apps are missing that mobile first customer care experience, and mobile shoppers are very disappointed by this. It's tough enough to get a shopper's attention, and it's even tougher to get a mobile shopper's attention because they're already on the go."
Hibel said it's critical that when a company has a shopper's attention and they have a question, the process don't fracture the moment and send them down a different path to get assistance.
When consumers struggle in the app, they abandon it (and their carts)-- more than half (51 percent) said they abandon the cart and close the app (lost purchase) when they struggle in a retail app, and 20 percent stop using the app entirely.
The study also indicated shoppers consistently struggle to get in-app help, with more than half (55 percent) of consumers complaining they struggle at least once every five visits.
Correspondingly, consumers want in-app customer care--nearly all (92 percent) of shoppers surveyed said it would be helpful to have customer care automatically provided within an app to help complete a task or goal.
"One of the most important things you can do is provide a seamless transition to live agent assistance within the app," Hibel said. "Once you make a commitment to be at least as helpful to customers in your mobile app as you would be in a store, these pieces fall into place."
On the flip side, successful shopping apps can reap big rewards--more than three-quarters (77 percent) of survey respondents said they would return to a good app, and nearly all (95 percent) said it would make them more likely to do business again.
A poor experience, however, can be fatal--70 percent of respondents will tell friends and family when they have a poor customer experience, while 43 percent will post a review on the company's website or mobile app.
A little under a third (29 percent) would share their bad experience on a social network like Facebook, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) said they would post a review to a third party website.
"Customers have high expectations already when it comes to their shopping experiences, and the proliferation of online retailers that offer free shipping and one-click purchases has made it so that people expect to be able to get what they want, when they want - right away," Hibel said. "Today's consumer is moving fast - and retailers need to match that pace."
By Nathan Eddy
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Monday, November 17, 2014
Welcome to the Family
WELCOME!
We at Parent & Child know that most of you have more than one child at home. So when we decided to do a cover story on babies, we thought, "What can we tell our wise readers that they don't already know?" Then it came to us: Let's give our expecting moms and those with recent arrivals some of the latest information on baby care, plus some refreshers, Add new baby products and advice from real moms, and we've got something truly useful, Certainly first-time moms will benefit, too!
BACK TO BABY BASICS
Pediatrician Jennifer Shu, M.D., F.A.A.P., is the co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. Here, Dr. Shu discusses some major themes in the first year of life.
Sleeping and Swaddling
The small bundle in your arms sure can saw wood. During the first month, she'll spend more time asleep than awake — as much as 16 to 20 hours a day. By 6 months, she'll be down to 14 to 16 hours, including three naps.
Your goal early on is to start good sleep habits so she'll fall asleep on her own at night. For example, as wonderful as it is, you don't want your newborn to drift off when she's in your arms too often or she'll learn that being held or fed is her cue to go to sleep. As for your own sleep schedule, night feedings should decrease as your baby gets older. When you do them, keep the room dark and quiet. Don't make a big deal out of it — do a quick feeding and put her back to sleep.
You may want to consider swaddling your baby at night as well. It can help comfort her by preventing the natural startle reflex (you can keep her arms in or out of the swaddling cloth), which can wake her. You'll know your baby doesn't want to be swaddled anymore if she tries to get loose, which will happen around 6 months.
No matter what, your baby should always be put to sleep on her back to reduce the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Also, keep all loose and fluffy items out of the crib. Never place anything like stuffed animals, bumpers, or pillows in the crib.
Weight and Feeding
Like adults, every baby is different. Your infant's size depends on a variety of things, from birth weight to family genes. It's normal for a baby to lose weight in his first week and gain it back by the end of the second. He can lose up to 10 percent of his body weight, but he shouldn't lose more than that. Keep an eye on him in this regard — sometimes when a baby loses too much weight, his metabolism slows down to conserve energy, and he sleeps all the time and doesn't gain the weight back. That's why during the first week, we advise parents to feed their baby every two to four hours during the day.
For premature babies, it's comforting to know that a lot of preemies catch up in terms of growth and development by the time they're 2 years old (the less premature they are, the quicker they'll catch up). Our advice is, don't expect things to happen in a rush.
Sometimes parents wonder about spitting up or vomiting. Is my baby OK inside? Keep in mind that a baby's lower esophageal sphincter, which is located at the top of her stomach, isn't strong yet. If she has a gas bubble or is laid down too soon, what's in her stomach will come up in her mouth. If she's happy except during refluxing episodes, we call her a happy spitter. If she's unhappy, not growing well, and crying often in between feedings, consult your doctor.
Regarding solids, the latest recommendation is that a baby should start them at 4 to 6 months. What's new for some parents is that, in the past, we said a baby should eat fruits and vegetables before meat. That's not true anymore. You can introduce these foods anytime. For allergy reasons, just be sure to wait between introducing each new one. And, because allergy recommendations keep changing, ask your pediatrician any and all food questions. Also, be sure you know your family's allergy history (including eczema and asthma) so you can discuss this with your pediatrician.
If your baby is crying for three hours a day, she may have colic. We know that colic seems to be worse in the evening and tends to last from three weeks to three months before it gets better. Swaddling may help. Some people try homeopathic remedies and medicine, but this really warrants evaluation by a pediatrician to make sure there isn't something medical that needs to be treated.
Diapering and Pacifiers
There are entire chapters devoted to diapering, but the basics are this: You'll want to change your baby after you've fed her or after she's woken up. If you have a baby boy, point his penis downward to avoid being sprayed. If you have a girl, be sure you wipe from front to back to avoid infection. Remember that you don't have to use a wipe after every wet diaper, as this could cause irritation. Just make sure the area dries off before you put the next diaper on. A common irritation, diaper rash can come and go, and some babies are more sensitive than others. If your baby is prone to rashes, you may have to apply diaper cream and change him more frequently.
When it comes to pacifiers, the news is mixed. While recent studies have shown that pacifiers may lead to a decrease in SIDS, it's best not to give a baby a pacifier too early if you can help it, because they can interfere with her becoming comfortable with breastfeeding — if that's your feeding method. If you're bottlefeeding your baby, pacifiers don't interfere much because the shape and feel of the plastic nipples are very similar.
Babies and Siblings
It's natural for a big brother to be curious about his new sister and want to touch her. That's fine, but have him (everyone!) wash his hands first since her immune system isn't strong yet. If her brother wants to kiss her, a peck on the top of the head is the best place for keeping germs away. Always keep sick children and adults out of range.
You're also bound to run into some jealousy toward the baby on the part of your older child. While it's a complex issue, the most important thing you can do now is to spend individual time with your older child — without the baby present. Another tip: Keep your older child's routine the same. With his own fun things to do, he'll spend less time focusing on competing for your attention.
Safety and Sanity
In the car, keep your baby in a rear-facing baby seat for as long as possible — until she's at least 1 year old and 20 pounds. Some studies even claim that rear-facing seats might be beneficial until your child is 3 or 4 because the potential for whiplash is heightened for a child when she's facing forward.
Finally, it's a good idea to get outside. You'll go nuts if you stay indoors the whole time! Use your judgment — limit your outdoor time in cold weather and make sure you bundle your baby's head, hands, and feet, since this is where she can lose heat easily.
Moms Online Bookmark these four helpful websites: DinnerBeat dinnerbeat.com
Organize a family meal schedule and share recipes with friends
— Emily Z., Fort Mill, SC
Mom Logic momlogic.com
Touching lifestyle stories and thought-provoking articles
— Erin W., El Dorado Hills, CA
Stroller Traffic strollertraffic.com
A fun blog for keeping up-to-date on current parenting products
— Nikki C, Summit, NJ
The Cradle thecradle.com
Moms connect with other moms about pregnancy and infancy
— Laurie G., Los Angeles, CA
First-Year Advice Real moms speak
"Cut yourself some slack. If your baby cries, she may just be getting used to the world." — Candace L, Miller Place, NY
"Layer your baby's bedding. If he gets sick or soaks through a diaper, it's quick and easy to pull off the mess." — Liza B., Milwaukee, WI
"The days will seem really long, but the years really short. Enjoy as best you can every moment, even the frustrating ones." — Lucy A., Thomson, GA
"Get out of the house without the baby once in a while. See friends — it's refreshing." — Chelsea G., Encinitas, CA
First-Year Books New parenting ideas TALK TO ME, BABY! by Betty S. Bardige
Learn from a developmental psychologist why engaging talk is the foundation of your baby's language, intellectual, and social-emotional growth. Includes fun activities. Brookes Publishing, $25.
HAPPY BABY by Robert W. Sears, M.D.
Simple advice for "going green" to ensure good health and development. Features recipes, nutrition tips for nursing moms, and coupons. Harper Paperbacks, $17.
Find P&C's best new baby picks for day trips, mealtime, baths, and the nursery on page 46.
~~~~~~~~
By Lambeth Hochwald
Lambeth Hochwald is a freelance journalist specializing in health, family, and marriage. She's also an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
We at Parent & Child know that most of you have more than one child at home. So when we decided to do a cover story on babies, we thought, "What can we tell our wise readers that they don't already know?" Then it came to us: Let's give our expecting moms and those with recent arrivals some of the latest information on baby care, plus some refreshers, Add new baby products and advice from real moms, and we've got something truly useful, Certainly first-time moms will benefit, too!
BACK TO BABY BASICS
Pediatrician Jennifer Shu, M.D., F.A.A.P., is the co-author of Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality. Here, Dr. Shu discusses some major themes in the first year of life.
Sleeping and Swaddling
The small bundle in your arms sure can saw wood. During the first month, she'll spend more time asleep than awake — as much as 16 to 20 hours a day. By 6 months, she'll be down to 14 to 16 hours, including three naps.
Your goal early on is to start good sleep habits so she'll fall asleep on her own at night. For example, as wonderful as it is, you don't want your newborn to drift off when she's in your arms too often or she'll learn that being held or fed is her cue to go to sleep. As for your own sleep schedule, night feedings should decrease as your baby gets older. When you do them, keep the room dark and quiet. Don't make a big deal out of it — do a quick feeding and put her back to sleep.
You may want to consider swaddling your baby at night as well. It can help comfort her by preventing the natural startle reflex (you can keep her arms in or out of the swaddling cloth), which can wake her. You'll know your baby doesn't want to be swaddled anymore if she tries to get loose, which will happen around 6 months.
No matter what, your baby should always be put to sleep on her back to reduce the chances of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Also, keep all loose and fluffy items out of the crib. Never place anything like stuffed animals, bumpers, or pillows in the crib.
Weight and Feeding
Like adults, every baby is different. Your infant's size depends on a variety of things, from birth weight to family genes. It's normal for a baby to lose weight in his first week and gain it back by the end of the second. He can lose up to 10 percent of his body weight, but he shouldn't lose more than that. Keep an eye on him in this regard — sometimes when a baby loses too much weight, his metabolism slows down to conserve energy, and he sleeps all the time and doesn't gain the weight back. That's why during the first week, we advise parents to feed their baby every two to four hours during the day.
For premature babies, it's comforting to know that a lot of preemies catch up in terms of growth and development by the time they're 2 years old (the less premature they are, the quicker they'll catch up). Our advice is, don't expect things to happen in a rush.
Sometimes parents wonder about spitting up or vomiting. Is my baby OK inside? Keep in mind that a baby's lower esophageal sphincter, which is located at the top of her stomach, isn't strong yet. If she has a gas bubble or is laid down too soon, what's in her stomach will come up in her mouth. If she's happy except during refluxing episodes, we call her a happy spitter. If she's unhappy, not growing well, and crying often in between feedings, consult your doctor.
Regarding solids, the latest recommendation is that a baby should start them at 4 to 6 months. What's new for some parents is that, in the past, we said a baby should eat fruits and vegetables before meat. That's not true anymore. You can introduce these foods anytime. For allergy reasons, just be sure to wait between introducing each new one. And, because allergy recommendations keep changing, ask your pediatrician any and all food questions. Also, be sure you know your family's allergy history (including eczema and asthma) so you can discuss this with your pediatrician.
If your baby is crying for three hours a day, she may have colic. We know that colic seems to be worse in the evening and tends to last from three weeks to three months before it gets better. Swaddling may help. Some people try homeopathic remedies and medicine, but this really warrants evaluation by a pediatrician to make sure there isn't something medical that needs to be treated.
Diapering and Pacifiers
There are entire chapters devoted to diapering, but the basics are this: You'll want to change your baby after you've fed her or after she's woken up. If you have a baby boy, point his penis downward to avoid being sprayed. If you have a girl, be sure you wipe from front to back to avoid infection. Remember that you don't have to use a wipe after every wet diaper, as this could cause irritation. Just make sure the area dries off before you put the next diaper on. A common irritation, diaper rash can come and go, and some babies are more sensitive than others. If your baby is prone to rashes, you may have to apply diaper cream and change him more frequently.
When it comes to pacifiers, the news is mixed. While recent studies have shown that pacifiers may lead to a decrease in SIDS, it's best not to give a baby a pacifier too early if you can help it, because they can interfere with her becoming comfortable with breastfeeding — if that's your feeding method. If you're bottlefeeding your baby, pacifiers don't interfere much because the shape and feel of the plastic nipples are very similar.
Babies and Siblings
It's natural for a big brother to be curious about his new sister and want to touch her. That's fine, but have him (everyone!) wash his hands first since her immune system isn't strong yet. If her brother wants to kiss her, a peck on the top of the head is the best place for keeping germs away. Always keep sick children and adults out of range.
You're also bound to run into some jealousy toward the baby on the part of your older child. While it's a complex issue, the most important thing you can do now is to spend individual time with your older child — without the baby present. Another tip: Keep your older child's routine the same. With his own fun things to do, he'll spend less time focusing on competing for your attention.
Safety and Sanity
In the car, keep your baby in a rear-facing baby seat for as long as possible — until she's at least 1 year old and 20 pounds. Some studies even claim that rear-facing seats might be beneficial until your child is 3 or 4 because the potential for whiplash is heightened for a child when she's facing forward.
Finally, it's a good idea to get outside. You'll go nuts if you stay indoors the whole time! Use your judgment — limit your outdoor time in cold weather and make sure you bundle your baby's head, hands, and feet, since this is where she can lose heat easily.
Moms Online Bookmark these four helpful websites: DinnerBeat dinnerbeat.com
Organize a family meal schedule and share recipes with friends
— Emily Z., Fort Mill, SC
Mom Logic momlogic.com
Touching lifestyle stories and thought-provoking articles
— Erin W., El Dorado Hills, CA
Stroller Traffic strollertraffic.com
A fun blog for keeping up-to-date on current parenting products
— Nikki C, Summit, NJ
The Cradle thecradle.com
Moms connect with other moms about pregnancy and infancy
— Laurie G., Los Angeles, CA
First-Year Advice Real moms speak
"Cut yourself some slack. If your baby cries, she may just be getting used to the world." — Candace L, Miller Place, NY
"Layer your baby's bedding. If he gets sick or soaks through a diaper, it's quick and easy to pull off the mess." — Liza B., Milwaukee, WI
"The days will seem really long, but the years really short. Enjoy as best you can every moment, even the frustrating ones." — Lucy A., Thomson, GA
"Get out of the house without the baby once in a while. See friends — it's refreshing." — Chelsea G., Encinitas, CA
First-Year Books New parenting ideas TALK TO ME, BABY! by Betty S. Bardige
Learn from a developmental psychologist why engaging talk is the foundation of your baby's language, intellectual, and social-emotional growth. Includes fun activities. Brookes Publishing, $25.
HAPPY BABY by Robert W. Sears, M.D.
Simple advice for "going green" to ensure good health and development. Features recipes, nutrition tips for nursing moms, and coupons. Harper Paperbacks, $17.
Find P&C's best new baby picks for day trips, mealtime, baths, and the nursery on page 46.
~~~~~~~~
By Lambeth Hochwald
Lambeth Hochwald is a freelance journalist specializing in health, family, and marriage. She's also an adjunct professor of journalism at New York University.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Car-Seat Safety
Choosing, installing, and using your baby's car seat correctly can be tricky. How tricky? Believe it or not, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 80 percent of car seats are installed or used wrong. Yet it's so important to get it right. Here, we clear up the confusion and tell you what you need to know, each step of the way.
STEP 1: BUYING BABY'S FIRST SEAT
Selecting the right car seat and learning how to use it properly will take longer than you think. To allow yourself enough time--and to cover the possibility of an early arrival--start shopping around your sixth month of pregnancy. For a newborn, you're looking at two choices: an infant seat, which is always rear-facing, or a convertible seat used rear-facing. Infant seats, most often designed for babies up to 20 or 22 pounds, double as carriers. Most infant seats come with a detachable base, kept in the car, which allows you to remove the baby from the car without disturbing her. Convertible seats can be used from birth to 40 pounds, eliminating the need for an infant seat. If you can afford it, we recommend buying a separate infant seat because they fit small babies best. If you do choose a convertible seat, pick one with a five-point harness, which provides a more secure fit for an infant. Also, look for one that can be used rear-facing to at least 30 pounds.
Once you decide on the type of baby car seat you want, select a brand and model. All new car seats meet federal safety performance standards when used correctly. So the way to decide on a specific model is to figure out which one will fit your car best and will be easiest to install correctly. The key: Try before you buy. If the store allows it, try out a few floor models in the parking lot. If you can't, make sure you can return the seat once the box is opened. When you've got the seat you think is right, make an appointment for an inspection with a certified child-passenger safety technician. Some vehicles are simply incompatible with some car seats. Everyone can benefit from expert guidance, but you'll especially need it if you've got bucket seats, a fold-down armrest in the back seat, or seat belts that are anchored forward of the seat back. Make your appointment sooner rather than later so you can return the seat if the technician finds that it isn't a match for your car. DaimlerChrysler's Fit for a Kid Program (877/FIT4AKID) provides free child safety seat inspections, as do local police departments. Car Seat Data (www.carseatdata.org) has a database that lets you search for which seats work in which vehicles.
STEP 2: INSTALLING THE SEAT
Do this in advance. You don't want to have to figure it out in the hospital parking lot.
According to the NHTSA, the safest position in the car is whichever rear position allows the seat to be installed as tightly as possible and at the right angle. Generally, the middle of the rear seat is considered safest, but if there is a indentation or bump in that position, or some other factor that makes it difficult to install the seat properly, then move the seat next to a window.
Your main objective is to get the seat in tightly. Push down on it with your full weight with one hand while tightening the seat belt with the other. Lock the seat belt according to the vehicle's owner's manual instructions. The seat shouldn't jiggle more than an inch in any direction. If it does, check to see whether the buckle is fastened right at the place where the belt turns to go through the slot in the safety seat. In this position, the belt may be able to loosen. Unfasten the buckle, twist the shorter end of the belt once, and reattach it. This will keep it tightly locked in most vehicles.
If your seat belt has a free-sliding latchplate, one through which the belt can slide even when it's buckled, you'll need a locking clip. All new car seats come with one. If you lose it, you can buy a replacement from the manufacturer, or from retail stores such as Babies R Us. Here's the right way to use it: 1) Install the seat tightly; 2) hold the two parts of the belt together at the latchplate and unbuckle it; 3) thread the belt through the locking clip, no more than one inch from the latchplate; 4) buckle the belt again.
Harness straps on a rear-facing seat should come through the slots that are at or slightly below your baby's shoulders.
STEP 3: SECURING BABY IN THE SEAT
The big moment has finally arrived. Baby is going home, and he's ready to ride in his new seat. Points to remember:
--The harness straps should be tightened so that you can't get more than two fingers between the harness and the child's collarbone.
--The harness retainer clip should be at the level of Baby's armpits.
--The seat should be reclined at a 45 degree angle. Many infant seats come with a level indicator, which shows you when the seat is reclined at the right angle. If your infant's head is flopping forward, the seat may not be reclined enough. There are a few tricks that can help you achieve the right angle if your seat doesn't have a level indicator. If you're using the detachable base that comes with the seat, try installing the seat without it (check the manufacturer's instructions). Don't worry; the seat is just as safe used alone as it is with the base. If the seat is still too upright, wedge a tightly rolled towel under the end of the seat closest to the rear of the car.
STEP 4: WHEN BABY GOES FRONT-FACING
Simply put, your baby should be rear-facing as long as possible. Many parents think that Baby should be turned around when he weighs 20 pounds and has celebrated his first birthday. Actually, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that the 20-pound/1-year mark is the absolute earliest point at which you can consider turning your baby's seat forward. Baby's spine is better protected in a head-on collision--and, some experts say, in a side-impact collision--when he's facing the rear of the car. If your baby is in an infant seat and has outgrown it (when his weight has exceeded the seat's limit or when the top of his head is less than two inches from the top of the seat), it is safer to buy a convertible seat that faces rear until 30 or 35 pounds than it is to buy a combination convertible/booster seat. Although the latter accommodates babies as light as 20 pounds, it can't be used rear-facing. You'll have to buy a booster when the convertible seat is outgrown (when your child hits 40 pounds), but the trade-off in peace of mind will be worth it.
Since some convertible seats go up to 35 pounds in a rear-facing position, your child can ride rear-facing well past his second birthday. The time to switch your child to a forward-facing position is when he has exceeded the rear-facing weight limit for his convertible seat, or when the top of his head is less than an inch from the top of his convertible seat.
When Baby goes front-facing, the harness straps should be rerouted to come through the slots that are at or slightly above his shoulders.
Since September 1999, most forward-facing seats for children up to 40 pounds have had top tethers. Cars sold after September 2000 have been equipped with corresponding anchors. A top tether is a webbed strap on the back of the seat that hooks into a bolt anchor in a vehicle's rear deck, floor, roof, or seat back. With most child safety seats, the top tether is attached when Baby goes front-facing. (There is one convertible seat on the market that is equipped with a rear-facing top tether.) Check your seat instructions and your vehicle's owner's manual for specific information.
A big reason so many seats are untethered is that so many of us drive pre-2000 cars and assume we can't use tethers. But many automakers will install the anchors for free. Contact your car manufacturer for details; you'll find a list of the major car manufacturers' customer service numbers at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
You may have heard of LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, a system designed to simplify correct car-seat installation by eventually eliminating the need to use seat belts. In September 2002, the second phase of LATCH begins. Cars will have two sets of lower anchors in the back seat, and all infant and convertible seats will have a set of straps that attach to those lower anchors.
FOR MORE HELP:
--National Safe Kids Campaign: 800/441-1888; www.safekids.org --National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): 800/424-9393; www.nhtsa.dot.gov
--American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org
--Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association: www.jpma.org --Safety Belt Safe USA: www.carseat.org
--Consumer Reports recently rated 33 seats in all price ranges for ease of installation and use and for crash protection. Ratings and full report can be accessed free online at www.consumerreports.org
--International Association of Chiefs of Police: 800/843-4227
STEP 1: BUYING BABY'S FIRST SEAT
Selecting the right car seat and learning how to use it properly will take longer than you think. To allow yourself enough time--and to cover the possibility of an early arrival--start shopping around your sixth month of pregnancy. For a newborn, you're looking at two choices: an infant seat, which is always rear-facing, or a convertible seat used rear-facing. Infant seats, most often designed for babies up to 20 or 22 pounds, double as carriers. Most infant seats come with a detachable base, kept in the car, which allows you to remove the baby from the car without disturbing her. Convertible seats can be used from birth to 40 pounds, eliminating the need for an infant seat. If you can afford it, we recommend buying a separate infant seat because they fit small babies best. If you do choose a convertible seat, pick one with a five-point harness, which provides a more secure fit for an infant. Also, look for one that can be used rear-facing to at least 30 pounds.
Once you decide on the type of baby car seat you want, select a brand and model. All new car seats meet federal safety performance standards when used correctly. So the way to decide on a specific model is to figure out which one will fit your car best and will be easiest to install correctly. The key: Try before you buy. If the store allows it, try out a few floor models in the parking lot. If you can't, make sure you can return the seat once the box is opened. When you've got the seat you think is right, make an appointment for an inspection with a certified child-passenger safety technician. Some vehicles are simply incompatible with some car seats. Everyone can benefit from expert guidance, but you'll especially need it if you've got bucket seats, a fold-down armrest in the back seat, or seat belts that are anchored forward of the seat back. Make your appointment sooner rather than later so you can return the seat if the technician finds that it isn't a match for your car. DaimlerChrysler's Fit for a Kid Program (877/FIT4AKID) provides free child safety seat inspections, as do local police departments. Car Seat Data (www.carseatdata.org) has a database that lets you search for which seats work in which vehicles.
STEP 2: INSTALLING THE SEAT
Do this in advance. You don't want to have to figure it out in the hospital parking lot.
According to the NHTSA, the safest position in the car is whichever rear position allows the seat to be installed as tightly as possible and at the right angle. Generally, the middle of the rear seat is considered safest, but if there is a indentation or bump in that position, or some other factor that makes it difficult to install the seat properly, then move the seat next to a window.
Your main objective is to get the seat in tightly. Push down on it with your full weight with one hand while tightening the seat belt with the other. Lock the seat belt according to the vehicle's owner's manual instructions. The seat shouldn't jiggle more than an inch in any direction. If it does, check to see whether the buckle is fastened right at the place where the belt turns to go through the slot in the safety seat. In this position, the belt may be able to loosen. Unfasten the buckle, twist the shorter end of the belt once, and reattach it. This will keep it tightly locked in most vehicles.
If your seat belt has a free-sliding latchplate, one through which the belt can slide even when it's buckled, you'll need a locking clip. All new car seats come with one. If you lose it, you can buy a replacement from the manufacturer, or from retail stores such as Babies R Us. Here's the right way to use it: 1) Install the seat tightly; 2) hold the two parts of the belt together at the latchplate and unbuckle it; 3) thread the belt through the locking clip, no more than one inch from the latchplate; 4) buckle the belt again.
Harness straps on a rear-facing seat should come through the slots that are at or slightly below your baby's shoulders.
STEP 3: SECURING BABY IN THE SEAT
The big moment has finally arrived. Baby is going home, and he's ready to ride in his new seat. Points to remember:
--The harness straps should be tightened so that you can't get more than two fingers between the harness and the child's collarbone.
--The harness retainer clip should be at the level of Baby's armpits.
--The seat should be reclined at a 45 degree angle. Many infant seats come with a level indicator, which shows you when the seat is reclined at the right angle. If your infant's head is flopping forward, the seat may not be reclined enough. There are a few tricks that can help you achieve the right angle if your seat doesn't have a level indicator. If you're using the detachable base that comes with the seat, try installing the seat without it (check the manufacturer's instructions). Don't worry; the seat is just as safe used alone as it is with the base. If the seat is still too upright, wedge a tightly rolled towel under the end of the seat closest to the rear of the car.
STEP 4: WHEN BABY GOES FRONT-FACING
Simply put, your baby should be rear-facing as long as possible. Many parents think that Baby should be turned around when he weighs 20 pounds and has celebrated his first birthday. Actually, the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasizes that the 20-pound/1-year mark is the absolute earliest point at which you can consider turning your baby's seat forward. Baby's spine is better protected in a head-on collision--and, some experts say, in a side-impact collision--when he's facing the rear of the car. If your baby is in an infant seat and has outgrown it (when his weight has exceeded the seat's limit or when the top of his head is less than two inches from the top of the seat), it is safer to buy a convertible seat that faces rear until 30 or 35 pounds than it is to buy a combination convertible/booster seat. Although the latter accommodates babies as light as 20 pounds, it can't be used rear-facing. You'll have to buy a booster when the convertible seat is outgrown (when your child hits 40 pounds), but the trade-off in peace of mind will be worth it.
Since some convertible seats go up to 35 pounds in a rear-facing position, your child can ride rear-facing well past his second birthday. The time to switch your child to a forward-facing position is when he has exceeded the rear-facing weight limit for his convertible seat, or when the top of his head is less than an inch from the top of his convertible seat.
When Baby goes front-facing, the harness straps should be rerouted to come through the slots that are at or slightly above his shoulders.
Since September 1999, most forward-facing seats for children up to 40 pounds have had top tethers. Cars sold after September 2000 have been equipped with corresponding anchors. A top tether is a webbed strap on the back of the seat that hooks into a bolt anchor in a vehicle's rear deck, floor, roof, or seat back. With most child safety seats, the top tether is attached when Baby goes front-facing. (There is one convertible seat on the market that is equipped with a rear-facing top tether.) Check your seat instructions and your vehicle's owner's manual for specific information.
A big reason so many seats are untethered is that so many of us drive pre-2000 cars and assume we can't use tethers. But many automakers will install the anchors for free. Contact your car manufacturer for details; you'll find a list of the major car manufacturers' customer service numbers at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.
You may have heard of LATCH, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, a system designed to simplify correct car-seat installation by eventually eliminating the need to use seat belts. In September 2002, the second phase of LATCH begins. Cars will have two sets of lower anchors in the back seat, and all infant and convertible seats will have a set of straps that attach to those lower anchors.
FOR MORE HELP:
--National Safe Kids Campaign: 800/441-1888; www.safekids.org --National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA): 800/424-9393; www.nhtsa.dot.gov
--American Academy of Pediatrics: www.aap.org
--Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association: www.jpma.org --Safety Belt Safe USA: www.carseat.org
--Consumer Reports recently rated 33 seats in all price ranges for ease of installation and use and for crash protection. Ratings and full report can be accessed free online at www.consumerreports.org
--International Association of Chiefs of Police: 800/843-4227
Thursday, November 13, 2014
The new home improvement
On
Tuesday nights, Dan Quigley's house pipes a not-so-subtle snippet from
The Coasters tune "Yakety Yak" over the speakers in his son Richard's
room: "Take out the papers and the trash." From the networked PC in the
utility closet, the house monitors the back door to see if it opens,
says Quigley, founder of Premise Systems, a Redmond, Wash. company that
helps people make their homes smarter. "If it doesn't, the system sends
[an E-mail] reminder at 6 the next morning," he says.
Like
the TV and the telephone (stories, Pages 52 and 56), the house is
getting an Internet-based upgrade. By plugging a house's heating and
cooling, electrical, and security systems into a computer and the
Internet, tech-savvy homeowners are giving the once static shelter a
mind of its own. Worried that you left the lights on? Call your house
with your cellphone and turn them off. Need to let a friend into your
house but can't leave the office? Open the front door over the Internet
and watch who enters via a webcam. In the near future, smart houses
could also be fitted with smart appliances. Researchers are now at work
on closets and refrigerators that would match information from the Web
with your personal data to advise you on daily dilemmas such as what to
wear or what to cook.
Smart
houses have been slow to catch on. Homeowners have been daunted by
costs that could run to thousands of dollars for nothing more than
remote-controlled lighting and by the know-how needed to set up these
systems. "The problem has been that it takes too much time to save you
time," says Glover Ferguson, chief scientist at the Accenture consulting
firm, which has built prototype intelligent wardrobes and medicine
cabinets. But companies ranging from Whirlpool to Motorola are betting
that more homeowners will soon become converts. The Internet, affordable
home computer networks, and wireless systems are making the technology
simpler and smarter, and vendors like GM's OnStar and Sears are trying
to ease the setup by offering standard packages. Already estimated to be
a $1.1 billion industry, the home automation market could climb to $3
billion by 2005 as more companies jump in, according to the Allied
Business Intelligence research group in Oyster Bay, N.Y.
Phone home.
Automating a house's infrastructure allows a central PC to adjust the
thermostat, set or disarm security systems, turn lights on or off, and
perform other functions on a preprogrammed schedule. Add motion sensors,
and a smart house can also tailor these functions to the level of
activity in a room. Set up properly, an automated home can save energy
by turning off gadgets when you leave for work in the morning, yet greet
you with the perfect temperature, lighting, and your favorite song when
you return. And by logging in to a secure Web page, you can control
these functions wherever you are.
Near
Detroit, GM's OnStar at Home pilot program has already automated a
handful of houses, allowing owners to use the Web to "find out if an
errant baseball went through your window or if someone is really
breaking in," says Tony Barra, head of the Internet Home Alliance, which
coordinates the service. The home system incorporates the same
voice-recognition technology as the OnStar systems found in
top-of-the-line GM car models. It allows homeowners to send one- or
two-word voice commands from a car equipped with the OnStar service or
from any phone. Returning from a summer vacation, a driver can dial up
OnStar, say "home" to trigger a preprogrammed thermostat setting, and
return to a frosty air-conditioned house without wasting energy for
weeks.
Do it yourself.
OnStar plans to expand the test to 100 homes before deciding whether
the service should be marketed widely, says Barra. Sears, which has
partnered with Morrisville, N.C.-based Home Director Inc., has started
to offer a similar Connected Home package, with less-extensive
voice-command control, to new-home builders in Atlanta and Denver.
Prices range from $1,500 to $4,000, or about 1 percent of the cost of
the home.
For
those who merely want to smarten up a few things around the house, an
affordable option is open to anyone with a little bit of tech savvy. X10
is a communications language that lets home systems and appliances
network with each other via wireless signals or a house's electric power
lines. In general, users plug the device they want to control, such as a
lamp or a coffee maker, into an X10 module, available from companies
including X10 Wireless Technology--the people behind those annoying Web
pop-up ads. The module plugs into the wall. The device can then
communicate with a PC that has its own X10 connector. By logging on to a
special Web page, you can access your PC to control the lights or
appliance remotely, or, as the ads promise, monitor your front door with
an X10 webcam.
Beyond
its adaptability, the X10 system is affordable, with starter sets
available for $50 and expansion modules for as little as $13 apiece. But
it also has significant problems. The radio frequency at which the
devices communicate often travels farther than it should. As a result,
neighbors using the gadgets can trigger one another's devices
inadvertently. More worrisome, the wide-ranging signals from the
wireless X10 cameras offer a peek inside your house to anyone who wants
to hack the signal.
The
fixes for these problems--changing frequencies or adding
encryption--hint at the barriers slowing home automation from becoming a
mainstream hit. "You have to be a bit of a geek to make it happen right
now," says Ferguson. "But once a few more companies come together, it's
going to take off very quickly."
This house thinks of everything
It's
not at the level of The Jetsons, but the Internet and gains in PC-based
home networks are helping people make their houses smarter. Typically,
an Internet-linked PC monitors and controls infrastructure including
heating and cooling, lighting, and security along with appliances and
gadgets. Here are some of the smart-home features available now and in
the near future.
TALKING TO THE WALLS
An
owner can check in remotely by communicating with his home PC or a
home-automation company's server, via the Web or voice commands.
Personal digital assistant
Wireless or landline phone
Laptop
GARAGE
Call from the road to check that the garage door is closed. One system, from GM, lets you use your car to command your home.
LIVING ROOM
Smart windows change tint on command, eliminating shades and blinds. Need music? The stereo zaps music to wherever you are.
KITCHEN
This prototype fridge tracks the expiration date of products inside and can reorder from an online grocer. No more bad milk!
FRONT DOOR
Knock,
knock! A motion-sensitive webcam sends a peek of who's at the door to a
PC or PDA, and the intercom calls your cellphone. Buzz your visitors in
remotely.
BATHROOM
Wondering
about a prescription's side effects? This prototype medicine cabinet
can check on the Web. It also uses face recognition to make sure you
don't take someone else's pills.
BEDROOM
Dress
smarter with this prototype closet, which checks an Internet weather
site and your PDA schedule to suggest what you should wear.
GATEWAY
Your
home PC is the boss of your house, controlling thermostat, lights,
security system, and other gadgets according to a schedule you set or
commands you send in.
DIAGRAM: This house thinks of everything
~~~~~~~~
By Kenneth Terrell.
Battle of the balls: Nike refuses to let Adidas take all the glory
With
much fanfare, Adidas last week unveiled Brazuca, the official match
ball of the 2014 World Cup. The ball boasts a an all-over swirl of red,
blue, green and black. The pattern suggests the traditional multicolored
wish bracelets often seen on the wrists of Brazilians. It's also meant
to reflect the fun and energy associated with the sport in Brazil.
Adidas
already has a number of integrated efforts to promote the ball, a film
showing Brazuca in action on the field and in the streets, set to The
Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night." It's accompanied by a 360-degree
interactive version. Also as part of the ball's introduction, Adidas is
indoctrinating new football fans extremely early on with a promotion out
of MSLGroup Espalhe that promises free Brazucas to newborn babies.
But
in what's coming to be a World Cup tradition, Nike all but streaked
across the pitch. It too unveiled its own new ball. The launch spot for
Nike's Ordem ball stars soccer player Wayne Rooney going head to head
with pro golfer Rory McIlroy-on a golf course. For unfamiliar ground,
the soccer athlete has impressive skills, even skipping the ball over a
water trap. Throughout, both players are pretty neck and neck until the
final shot is made-by none other than Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo.
--------------------
See also more team sports resources here!
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Sport nutrition for young athletes
Nutrition is an important part of sport performance for young athletes, in addition to allowing for optimal growth and development. Macronutrients, micronutrients and fluids in the proper amounts are essential to provide energy for growth and activity. To optimize performance, young athletes need to learn what, when and how to eat and drink before, during and after activity.
La nutrition sportive des jeunes athletes
La nutrition est une partie importante de la performance sportive des jeunes athlètes, sans compter qu'elle favorise une croissance et un développement optimaux. Il est essentiel de consommer la bonne quantité de macronutriments, de micronutriments et de liquides pour fournir l'énergie nécessaire à la croissance et aux activités. Pour optimiser leur performance, les jeunes athlètes doivent apprendre quoi, quand et comment manger et boire avant, pendant et après l'activité.
Keywords: Adolescents; Athletes; Children; Nutrition; Sports
Proper nutrition is vital for child and adolescent athletes to attain proper growth and perform optimally in sports. Young athletes need to learn what foods are good for energy, when to eat certain foods, how to eat during an event, and when and what to eat to replenish after activity. A well-balanced diet containing appropriate amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is essential to provide enough energy for growth and activity. Fluids are also essential for hydration to support growth and athletic performance.
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
Basic nutrition is important for growth, achieving good health and scholastic achievement, and providing energy ( 1). Sports nutrition enhances athletic performance by decreasing fatigue and the risk of disease and injury; it also enables athletes to optimize training and recover faster ( 1). Balancing energy intake with energy expenditure is crucial to prevent an energy deficit or excess. Energy deficits can cause short stature, delayed puberty, menstrual dysfunction, loss of muscle mass and increased susceptibility for fatigue, injury or illness ( 2, 3). Energy excess can result in overweight and obesity ( 4).
Before puberty, minimum nutritional and energy requirements (caloric needs) are similar for boys and girls. Energy requirements for adolescents are more variable, depending on age, activity level, growth rate and stage of physical maturity (Table 1) ( 1). These recommended energy allowances are the minimum necessary to ensure proper growth and bodily functions. Extra calories are needed during growth spurts and to replenish energy expended during athletic endeavours ( 1, 5, 6). For example, a 30 kg girl playing soccer for 60 min would expend an average of 270 calories, or a 60 kg boy playing ice hockey for 60 min would expend an average of 936 calories ( 6).
MACRONUTRIENTS
Macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein and fats, provide the fuel for physical activity and sports participation.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the most important fuel source for athletes because they provide the glucose used for energy. One gram of carbohydrate contains approximately four kilocalories of energy. Glucose is stored as glycogen in muscles and liver. Muscle glycogen is the most readily available energy source for working muscle and can be released more quickly than other energy sources ( 1). Carbohydrates should comprise 45% to 65% of total caloric intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 1, 7). Good sources of carbohydrates include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and yogurt.
Protein
Proteins build and repair muscle, hair, nails and skin. For mild exercise and exercise of short duration, proteins do not act as a primary source of energy. However, as exercise duration increases, proteins help to maintain blood glucose through liver gluconeogenesis ( 2). One gram of protein provides four kilocalories of energy. Protein should comprise approximately 10% to 30% of total energy intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 7). Good sources of protein include lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans and nuts, including peanuts.
Fats
Fat is necessary to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), to provide essential fatty acids, protect vital organs and provide insulation. Fat also provides the feeling of satiety. It is a calorie-dense source of energy (one gram provides nine kilocalories) but is more difficult to use. Fats should comprise 25% to 35% of total energy intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 7). Saturated fats should comprise no more than 10% of total energy intake ( 1, 3). Good sources of fat include lean meat and poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, dairy products, and olive and canola oils. Fat from chips, candy, fried foods and baked goods should be minimized.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Although there are many vitamins and minerals required for good health, particular attention should be devoted to ensuring that athletes consume proper amounts of calcium, vitamin D and iron. Calcium is important for bone health, normal enzyme activity and muscle contraction. The daily recommended intake of calcium is 1000 mg/day for four-to eight-year-olds and 1300 mg/day for nine-to 18-year'olds ( 7, 8). Calcium is contained in a variety of foods and beverages, including milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli, spinach and fortified grain products.
Vitamin D is necessary for bone health and is involved in the absorption and regulation of calcium. Current recommendations suggest 600 IU/day for four-to 18-year-olds ( 8). Normal values of vitamin D also vary depending on geographical location and race. Athletes living in northern latitudes or who train indoors (eg, figure skaters, gymnasts, dancers) are more likely to be vitamin D deficient ( 2). Sources of vitamin D include fortified foods, such as milk, and sun exposure. Dairy products other than milk, such as yogurt, do not contain vitamin D.
Iron is important for oxygen delivery to body tissues. During adolescence, more iron is required to support growth as well as increases in blood volume and lean muscle mass ( 1). Boys and girls nine to 13 years of age should ingest 8 mg/day to avoid depletion of iron stores and iron-deficiency anemia ( 7). Adolescents 14 to 18 years of age require more iron, up to 11 mg/day for males and 15 mg/day for females ( 7). Iron depletion is common in athletes because of diets poor in meat, fish and poultry, or increased iron losses in urine, feces, sweat or menstrual blood ( 2). Therefore, athletes, particularly female athletes, vegetarians and distance runners should be screened periodically for iron status ( 2). Iron-rich foods include eggs, leafy green vegetables, fortified whole grains and lean meat.
FLUIDS
Fluids, particularly water, are important nutrients for athletes. Athletic performance can be affected by what, how much and when an athlete drinks. Fluids help to regulate body temperature and replace sweat losses during exercise ( 8, 9). Environmental temperature and humidity can affect how much an athlete sweats and how much fluid intake is required ( 1, 9, 10). Hotter temperatures and higher humidity make a person sweat more, and more fluid is needed to maintain hydration. Dehydration can decrease performance and put athletes at risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke ( 1, 9, 10).
Proper hydration requires fluid intake before, during and after exercise or activity. The amount of fluid required depends on many factors, including age and body size ( 9, 10) (Table 2). Before activity, athletes should consume 400 mL to 600 mL of cold water 2 h to 3 h before their event ( 1, 2, 10). During sporting activities, athletes should consume 150 mL to 300 mL of fluid every 15 min to 20 min ( 1, 2, 10). For events lasting less than 1 h, water is sufficient ( 4). For events lasting longer than 60 min, and/or taking place in hot, humid weather, sports drinks containing 6% carbohydrates and 20 mEq/L to 30 mEq/L of sodium chloride are recommended to replace energy stores and fluid/electrolyte losses ( 3, 4, 5, 9). Following activity, athletes should drink enough fluid to replace sweat losses (Table 2). This usually requires consuming approximately 1.5 L of fluid/kg of body weight lost ( 1, 10). The consumption of sodium-containing fluids and snacks after exercise helps with rehydration by stimulating thirst and fluid retention ( 1, 2, 10). For non-athletes, routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks can result in consumption of excessive calories, increasing the risks of overweight and obesity, as well as dental caries and, therefore, should be avoided ( 4).
RECOVERY FOODS
Recovery foods should be consumed within 30 min of exercise, and again within 1 h to 2 h of exercise, to help reload muscles with glycogen and allow for proper recovery. These foods should include protein and carbohydrates ( 2, 6). Examples include graham crackers with peanut butter and juice, yogurt with fruit, or a sports drink with fruit and cheese ( 6).
MEAL PLANNING
One of the trickiest things to manage is meal planning around athletic events. The timing of meals is very important and needs to be individualized. It is important for athletes to discover which foods they like that also help to maximize performance. They should not experiment with new foods or new routines on the day of competition.
General guidelines include eating meals a minimum of 3 h before an event to allow for proper digestion and to minimize incidence of gastrointestinal upset during exercise. Meals should include carbohydrates, protein and fat. Fibre should be limited. High-fat meals should be avoided before exercise because they can delay gastric-emptying, make athletes feel sluggish and thereby adversely affect performance ( 2, 6). For early morning practices or events, having a snack or liquid meal 1 h to 2 h before exercise, followed by a full breakfast after the event, will help ensure sufficient energy to maximize performance ( 2, 6).
Pre-game snacks or liquid meals should be ingested 1 h to 2 h before an event to allow for digestion before start of exercise ( 2, 6). Snacks can include fresh fruit, dried fruit, a bowl of cereal with milk, juice or fruit-based smoothies. During an event, sports drinks, fruit or granola bars can be ingested to help refuel and keep energy levels high.
REACHING THE FINISH LINE
A well-balanced diet is essential for growing athletes to maintain proper growth and optimize performance in athletic endeavours. An ideal diet comprises 45% to 65% carbohydrates, 10% to 30% protein and 25% to 35% fat. Fluids are very important for maintaining hydration and should be consumed before, during and after athletic events to prevent dehydration. Timing of food consumption is important to optimize performance. Meals should be eaten a minimum of 3 h before exercise and snacks should be eaten 1 h to 2 h before activity. Recovery foods should be consumed within 30 min of exercise and again within 1 h to 2 h of activity to allow muscles to rebuild and ensure proper recovery.
USEFUL WEBSITES
American Society for Nutrition: www.nutrition.org
Australian Sport Institute: www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition
The Canadian Nutrient File is a searchable database containing average values for nutrients in foods: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fichenutri-data/user%5Fguide%5Fd%5Futilisation01-eng.php
Coaching Association of Canada: http://coach.ca/fueling-the-young-athlete-p140142;http://coach.ca/sport-nutrition-tips-s13426
Dietitians of Canada has a table of iron-rich foods: www.dietitians.ca/Nutrition-Resources-A-Z/Factsheets/Minerals/Food-Sources-of-Iron.aspx
Gatorade Sport Science Institute: http://gssiweb.com
KidsHealth (Nemours), Feeding your child athlete: www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition%5Fcenter/dietary%5Fneeds/feed%5Fchild%5Fathlete.html
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This practice point has been reviewed by the Canadian Paediatric Society's Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee.
CPS PAEDIATRIC SPORTS AND EXERCISE MEDICINE EXECUTIVE
Neil Cooper MD (Member at large); David Fecteau MD (Secretary-treasurer); Erika Persson MD (Member at large); John F Philpott MD (Presidentelect); Laura K Purcell MD (President); Eric Koelink MD (Liaison, CPS Residents Section); David W Warren MD (former Liaison, CPS Emergency Medicine Section)
Principal author: Laura K Purcell MD
The recommendations in this document do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate. All Canadian Paediatric Society position statements and practice points are reviewed on a regular basis. Retired statements are removed from the website. Please consult the Position Statements section of the CPS website (www.cps.ca) for the full-text, current version.
TABLE 1 Recommended energy requirements, Kcal/day
------------------------------------------------------
Age, years: 4-6
Male: 1800
Female: 1800
Age, years: 7-10
Male: 2000
Female: 2000
Age, years: 11-14
Male: 2500
Female: 2200
Age, years: 15-18
Male: 3000
Female: 2200
Adapted with permission from reference 1
TABLE 2 Recommended minimal fluid intake during and after exercise in child athletes, based on the calculation of 13 mL/kg during exercise and 4 mL/kg after exercise
------------------------------------------------------------
Body weight, kg: 25
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 325
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 100
Body weight, kg: 30
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 390
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 120
Body weight, kg: 35
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 455
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 140
Body weight, kg: 40
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 520
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 160
Body weight, kg: 45
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 585
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 180
Body weight, kg: 50
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 650
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 200
Body weight, kg: 55
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 715
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 220
Body weight, kg: 60
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 780
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 240
Adapted with permission from reference 9
REFERENCES
1. Hoch AZ, Goossen K, Kretschmer T. Nutritional requirements of the child and teenage athlete. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2008;19(2):373-98.
2. Dietitians of Canada, the American Dietetic Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine. Joint position statement: Nutrition and athletic performance. Can J Diet Pract Res 2000;61(14):176-92.
3. Meyer F, O'Connor, H, Shirreffs SM ; International Association of Athletics Federations. Nutrition for the young athlete. J Sports Sci 2007;25 (Suppl 1):S73-S82.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? Pediatrics 2011;127(6):1182-9.
5. Unnithan VB, Goulopoulou S. Nutrition for the pediatric athlete. Curr Sports Med Rep 2004;3(4):206-11.
6. Litt A. Fuel for young athletes: Essential foods and fluids for future champions. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 2004.
7. Otten JJ, Hellwig JP, Meyers LD, eds. Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide to nutrient requirements. National Academies Press, 2006: < http://nap.edu/openbook.php?record%5Fid=11537> (Accessed June 28, 2012).
8. Institute of Medicine Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Consensus Report, November 30, 2010: <www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D.aspx> (Accessed June 28, 2012).
9. Rowland T. Fluid replacement requirements for child athletes. Sports Med 2011;4K4):279-88.
10. American College of Sports Medicine. Position stand: Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007;39(2):377-90.
PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE)
~~~~~~~~
By Laura K Purcell, Canadian Paediatric Society, Paediatric Sports and Exercise Medicine Section, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario KIG 4J8. E-mail info@cps.ca, website www.cps.ca
La nutrition sportive des jeunes athletes
La nutrition est une partie importante de la performance sportive des jeunes athlètes, sans compter qu'elle favorise une croissance et un développement optimaux. Il est essentiel de consommer la bonne quantité de macronutriments, de micronutriments et de liquides pour fournir l'énergie nécessaire à la croissance et aux activités. Pour optimiser leur performance, les jeunes athlètes doivent apprendre quoi, quand et comment manger et boire avant, pendant et après l'activité.
Keywords: Adolescents; Athletes; Children; Nutrition; Sports
Proper nutrition is vital for child and adolescent athletes to attain proper growth and perform optimally in sports. Young athletes need to learn what foods are good for energy, when to eat certain foods, how to eat during an event, and when and what to eat to replenish after activity. A well-balanced diet containing appropriate amounts of macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) is essential to provide enough energy for growth and activity. Fluids are also essential for hydration to support growth and athletic performance.
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
Basic nutrition is important for growth, achieving good health and scholastic achievement, and providing energy ( 1). Sports nutrition enhances athletic performance by decreasing fatigue and the risk of disease and injury; it also enables athletes to optimize training and recover faster ( 1). Balancing energy intake with energy expenditure is crucial to prevent an energy deficit or excess. Energy deficits can cause short stature, delayed puberty, menstrual dysfunction, loss of muscle mass and increased susceptibility for fatigue, injury or illness ( 2, 3). Energy excess can result in overweight and obesity ( 4).
Before puberty, minimum nutritional and energy requirements (caloric needs) are similar for boys and girls. Energy requirements for adolescents are more variable, depending on age, activity level, growth rate and stage of physical maturity (Table 1) ( 1). These recommended energy allowances are the minimum necessary to ensure proper growth and bodily functions. Extra calories are needed during growth spurts and to replenish energy expended during athletic endeavours ( 1, 5, 6). For example, a 30 kg girl playing soccer for 60 min would expend an average of 270 calories, or a 60 kg boy playing ice hockey for 60 min would expend an average of 936 calories ( 6).
MACRONUTRIENTS
Macronutrients, such as carbohydrates, protein and fats, provide the fuel for physical activity and sports participation.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are the most important fuel source for athletes because they provide the glucose used for energy. One gram of carbohydrate contains approximately four kilocalories of energy. Glucose is stored as glycogen in muscles and liver. Muscle glycogen is the most readily available energy source for working muscle and can be released more quickly than other energy sources ( 1). Carbohydrates should comprise 45% to 65% of total caloric intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 1, 7). Good sources of carbohydrates include whole grains, vegetables, fruits, milk and yogurt.
Protein
Proteins build and repair muscle, hair, nails and skin. For mild exercise and exercise of short duration, proteins do not act as a primary source of energy. However, as exercise duration increases, proteins help to maintain blood glucose through liver gluconeogenesis ( 2). One gram of protein provides four kilocalories of energy. Protein should comprise approximately 10% to 30% of total energy intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 7). Good sources of protein include lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, dairy products, beans and nuts, including peanuts.
Fats
Fat is necessary to absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K), to provide essential fatty acids, protect vital organs and provide insulation. Fat also provides the feeling of satiety. It is a calorie-dense source of energy (one gram provides nine kilocalories) but is more difficult to use. Fats should comprise 25% to 35% of total energy intake for four-to 18-year-olds ( 7). Saturated fats should comprise no more than 10% of total energy intake ( 1, 3). Good sources of fat include lean meat and poultry, fish, nuts, seeds, dairy products, and olive and canola oils. Fat from chips, candy, fried foods and baked goods should be minimized.
MICRONUTRIENTS
Although there are many vitamins and minerals required for good health, particular attention should be devoted to ensuring that athletes consume proper amounts of calcium, vitamin D and iron. Calcium is important for bone health, normal enzyme activity and muscle contraction. The daily recommended intake of calcium is 1000 mg/day for four-to eight-year-olds and 1300 mg/day for nine-to 18-year'olds ( 7, 8). Calcium is contained in a variety of foods and beverages, including milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli, spinach and fortified grain products.
Vitamin D is necessary for bone health and is involved in the absorption and regulation of calcium. Current recommendations suggest 600 IU/day for four-to 18-year-olds ( 8). Normal values of vitamin D also vary depending on geographical location and race. Athletes living in northern latitudes or who train indoors (eg, figure skaters, gymnasts, dancers) are more likely to be vitamin D deficient ( 2). Sources of vitamin D include fortified foods, such as milk, and sun exposure. Dairy products other than milk, such as yogurt, do not contain vitamin D.
Iron is important for oxygen delivery to body tissues. During adolescence, more iron is required to support growth as well as increases in blood volume and lean muscle mass ( 1). Boys and girls nine to 13 years of age should ingest 8 mg/day to avoid depletion of iron stores and iron-deficiency anemia ( 7). Adolescents 14 to 18 years of age require more iron, up to 11 mg/day for males and 15 mg/day for females ( 7). Iron depletion is common in athletes because of diets poor in meat, fish and poultry, or increased iron losses in urine, feces, sweat or menstrual blood ( 2). Therefore, athletes, particularly female athletes, vegetarians and distance runners should be screened periodically for iron status ( 2). Iron-rich foods include eggs, leafy green vegetables, fortified whole grains and lean meat.
FLUIDS
Fluids, particularly water, are important nutrients for athletes. Athletic performance can be affected by what, how much and when an athlete drinks. Fluids help to regulate body temperature and replace sweat losses during exercise ( 8, 9). Environmental temperature and humidity can affect how much an athlete sweats and how much fluid intake is required ( 1, 9, 10). Hotter temperatures and higher humidity make a person sweat more, and more fluid is needed to maintain hydration. Dehydration can decrease performance and put athletes at risk for heat exhaustion or heat stroke ( 1, 9, 10).
Proper hydration requires fluid intake before, during and after exercise or activity. The amount of fluid required depends on many factors, including age and body size ( 9, 10) (Table 2). Before activity, athletes should consume 400 mL to 600 mL of cold water 2 h to 3 h before their event ( 1, 2, 10). During sporting activities, athletes should consume 150 mL to 300 mL of fluid every 15 min to 20 min ( 1, 2, 10). For events lasting less than 1 h, water is sufficient ( 4). For events lasting longer than 60 min, and/or taking place in hot, humid weather, sports drinks containing 6% carbohydrates and 20 mEq/L to 30 mEq/L of sodium chloride are recommended to replace energy stores and fluid/electrolyte losses ( 3, 4, 5, 9). Following activity, athletes should drink enough fluid to replace sweat losses (Table 2). This usually requires consuming approximately 1.5 L of fluid/kg of body weight lost ( 1, 10). The consumption of sodium-containing fluids and snacks after exercise helps with rehydration by stimulating thirst and fluid retention ( 1, 2, 10). For non-athletes, routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks can result in consumption of excessive calories, increasing the risks of overweight and obesity, as well as dental caries and, therefore, should be avoided ( 4).
RECOVERY FOODS
Recovery foods should be consumed within 30 min of exercise, and again within 1 h to 2 h of exercise, to help reload muscles with glycogen and allow for proper recovery. These foods should include protein and carbohydrates ( 2, 6). Examples include graham crackers with peanut butter and juice, yogurt with fruit, or a sports drink with fruit and cheese ( 6).
MEAL PLANNING
One of the trickiest things to manage is meal planning around athletic events. The timing of meals is very important and needs to be individualized. It is important for athletes to discover which foods they like that also help to maximize performance. They should not experiment with new foods or new routines on the day of competition.
General guidelines include eating meals a minimum of 3 h before an event to allow for proper digestion and to minimize incidence of gastrointestinal upset during exercise. Meals should include carbohydrates, protein and fat. Fibre should be limited. High-fat meals should be avoided before exercise because they can delay gastric-emptying, make athletes feel sluggish and thereby adversely affect performance ( 2, 6). For early morning practices or events, having a snack or liquid meal 1 h to 2 h before exercise, followed by a full breakfast after the event, will help ensure sufficient energy to maximize performance ( 2, 6).
Pre-game snacks or liquid meals should be ingested 1 h to 2 h before an event to allow for digestion before start of exercise ( 2, 6). Snacks can include fresh fruit, dried fruit, a bowl of cereal with milk, juice or fruit-based smoothies. During an event, sports drinks, fruit or granola bars can be ingested to help refuel and keep energy levels high.
REACHING THE FINISH LINE
A well-balanced diet is essential for growing athletes to maintain proper growth and optimize performance in athletic endeavours. An ideal diet comprises 45% to 65% carbohydrates, 10% to 30% protein and 25% to 35% fat. Fluids are very important for maintaining hydration and should be consumed before, during and after athletic events to prevent dehydration. Timing of food consumption is important to optimize performance. Meals should be eaten a minimum of 3 h before exercise and snacks should be eaten 1 h to 2 h before activity. Recovery foods should be consumed within 30 min of exercise and again within 1 h to 2 h of activity to allow muscles to rebuild and ensure proper recovery.
USEFUL WEBSITES
American Society for Nutrition: www.nutrition.org
Australian Sport Institute: www.ausport.gov.au/ais/nutrition
The Canadian Nutrient File is a searchable database containing average values for nutrients in foods: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fichenutri-data/user%5Fguide%5Fd%5Futilisation01-eng.php
Coaching Association of Canada: http://coach.ca/fueling-the-young-athlete-p140142;http://coach.ca/sport-nutrition-tips-s13426
Dietitians of Canada has a table of iron-rich foods: www.dietitians.ca/Nutrition-Resources-A-Z/Factsheets/Minerals/Food-Sources-of-Iron.aspx
Gatorade Sport Science Institute: http://gssiweb.com
KidsHealth (Nemours), Feeding your child athlete: www.kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition%5Fcenter/dietary%5Fneeds/feed%5Fchild%5Fathlete.html
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: This practice point has been reviewed by the Canadian Paediatric Society's Nutrition and Gastroenterology Committee.
CPS PAEDIATRIC SPORTS AND EXERCISE MEDICINE EXECUTIVE
Neil Cooper MD (Member at large); David Fecteau MD (Secretary-treasurer); Erika Persson MD (Member at large); John F Philpott MD (Presidentelect); Laura K Purcell MD (President); Eric Koelink MD (Liaison, CPS Residents Section); David W Warren MD (former Liaison, CPS Emergency Medicine Section)
Principal author: Laura K Purcell MD
The recommendations in this document do not indicate an exclusive course of treatment or procedure to be followed. Variations, taking into account individual circumstances, may be appropriate. All Canadian Paediatric Society position statements and practice points are reviewed on a regular basis. Retired statements are removed from the website. Please consult the Position Statements section of the CPS website (www.cps.ca) for the full-text, current version.
TABLE 1 Recommended energy requirements, Kcal/day
------------------------------------------------------
Age, years: 4-6
Male: 1800
Female: 1800
Age, years: 7-10
Male: 2000
Female: 2000
Age, years: 11-14
Male: 2500
Female: 2200
Age, years: 15-18
Male: 3000
Female: 2200
Adapted with permission from reference 1
TABLE 2 Recommended minimal fluid intake during and after exercise in child athletes, based on the calculation of 13 mL/kg during exercise and 4 mL/kg after exercise
------------------------------------------------------------
Body weight, kg: 25
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 325
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 100
Body weight, kg: 30
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 390
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 120
Body weight, kg: 35
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 455
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 140
Body weight, kg: 40
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 520
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 160
Body weight, kg: 45
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 585
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 180
Body weight, kg: 50
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 650
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 200
Body weight, kg: 55
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 715
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 220
Body weight, kg: 60
Fluid replacement during exercise, mL/h: 780
Fluid replacement after exercise, mL/h: 240
Adapted with permission from reference 9
REFERENCES
1. Hoch AZ, Goossen K, Kretschmer T. Nutritional requirements of the child and teenage athlete. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2008;19(2):373-98.
2. Dietitians of Canada, the American Dietetic Association, and the American College of Sports Medicine. Joint position statement: Nutrition and athletic performance. Can J Diet Pract Res 2000;61(14):176-92.
3. Meyer F, O'Connor, H, Shirreffs SM ; International Association of Athletics Federations. Nutrition for the young athlete. J Sports Sci 2007;25 (Suppl 1):S73-S82.
4. American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: Are they appropriate? Pediatrics 2011;127(6):1182-9.
5. Unnithan VB, Goulopoulou S. Nutrition for the pediatric athlete. Curr Sports Med Rep 2004;3(4):206-11.
6. Litt A. Fuel for young athletes: Essential foods and fluids for future champions. Windsor: Human Kinetics, 2004.
7. Otten JJ, Hellwig JP, Meyers LD, eds. Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide to nutrient requirements. National Academies Press, 2006: < http://nap.edu/openbook.php?record%5Fid=11537> (Accessed June 28, 2012).
8. Institute of Medicine Dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D. Consensus Report, November 30, 2010: <www.iom.edu/Reports/2010/Dietary-Reference-Intakes-for-Calcium-and-Vitamin-D.aspx> (Accessed June 28, 2012).
9. Rowland T. Fluid replacement requirements for child athletes. Sports Med 2011;4K4):279-88.
10. American College of Sports Medicine. Position stand: Exercise and fluid replacement. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007;39(2):377-90.
PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE)
~~~~~~~~
By Laura K Purcell, Canadian Paediatric Society, Paediatric Sports and Exercise Medicine Section, 2305 St Laurent Boulevard, Ottawa, Ontario KIG 4J8. E-mail info@cps.ca, website www.cps.ca
Does This Make My Hair Look Fat?
No
matter how fine or thin your mane, with the right products and styling
solutions, the answer to that question can be a resounding yes.
Botox.
Faux tans. Eyelash extensions. In an era in which formerly taboo
cosmetic topics have become mainstream, another is finally coming out of
the beauty closet—and it's about time. "Hair loss used to be whispered
about, because many women believed they were alone," says Stephen
Pullan, a hair expert at the Philip Kingsley Clinic in New York City.
"But as more people start to discuss it, others are encouraged to do the
same and, ultimately, seek treatment. At the clinic, I see more women
than men dealing with hair loss." Stats back him up: 40 percent of
Americans who have thinning hair are women, according to the American
Hair Loss Association. Clearly, it's no longer a problem only for
middle-aged dudes.
Genetics,
hormonal changes, and even how often you blow-dry can cause your hair
to peace out. But no matter what's making you lose it (in more ways than
one!), these tests will help you get to the root of your skinny-hair
issue. Then follow our advice to fatten up fast.
1 Your Hair Is So Fine(and not in a good way)
Maybe
she's born with it…or maybe it's aging? Some women have had baby-fine
hair since pre-K; others watch their strands wither over time. (FYI:
That's considered normal. As we age, our hair follicles shrink and
produce thinner strands.)
THE TRESS TEST
Pull
your hair into a ponytail and look at the size. "If its base diameter
is the width of a penny or less, your hair is probably fine," says
Tresemmé hairstylist Tyler Laswell. If your tail has shrunk so much that
it could be a contestant on The Biggest Loser, you might have
age-related thinning. "If you can wrap a hair tie around your ponytail
base three or more times, and it used to go around once or twice, your
hair's probably growing in thinner than it used to," says Jill Crosby, a
Los Angeles hairstylist.
BULK UP
> Have a cocktail party.
Nope,
not the boozy kind. "My all-time favorite products for boosting fine,
thin hair are mousses and salt sprays, because when used together, they
give hair a light, airy volume that lasts," says Laswell. Before
blow-drying, mist a few spritzes of salt spray onto damp hair, then rake
a golf ball–size blob of mousse into roots and massage down to ends
(halve that mousse amount if your hair is shorter than shoulder-length).
Try R+Co Rockaway Salt Spray ($25, randco.com) and Tresemmé 24 Hour
Body Foaming Mousse ($5, at drugstores).
> Be a tease.
Teasing
isn't just for rat's-nest runway looks; it's a trick Laswell uses often
to make scrawny hair look big. His top tip: "Don't just tease the
roots, as many women do. Gently backcomb the entire head with a
fine-tooth comb, starting at the top and working to the ends. Then use a
boar-bristle brush to smooth the outermost layer." Voilà—fullness sans
flyaways.
> Curl small.
If
hair is straight, add insta-oomph with a curling iron. "The secret here
is to wrap small, one-inch sections of dry hair around a 1½-inch
curling iron and alternate directions—wrap some around the barrel away
from your face, and some toward it. You'll get a higher number of waves
for a fuller look, and the random directions prevent a flat,
clumped-together uni-curl," Laswell says.
2 Your Hair Is Thin at the Tips
From the ears up, your hair is commercial-caliber. sadly, look as if they belong on a scarecrow.
THE TRESS TEST
Toss
your hair over one shoulder and tilt your head to the side. See some
weird spacing and sparseness at the bottom few inches? Oh, hey, damage.
"Hair grows around six inches per year, so if it's shoulder-length, it's
seen winter, summer, cold air, dry air, sun, lots of blow-drying, hot
tools, and lots of brushing," says Pullan. "This combination may cause
dryness and split ends that can snap off, making ends look scraggly." A
thinner-at-the-ends ponytail may be another marker that you've reached
the breaking point.
BULK UP
> Get a trim.
Hanging
onto hair that's hanging by a thread? Not the best idea. "Cutting off
the dry split ends to even out the density at the bottom and top can
make hair appear thicker," says Nioxin hairstylist Danielle
Caputo-Estorino.
> Condition and rebuild.
Adding
moisture back into hair that is both thin and damaged is a catch-22,
because many ultra-moisturizing conditioners contain oils and waxes that
can make hair limp, causing it to look even wispier, says Pullan. Once a
week before shampooing, use a treatment like Philip Kingsley
Elasticizer ($50, philipkingsley.com), which contains castor and olive
oils, silicone, and elastin that strengthen and hydrate inside the
cuticle, rather than sit on top. And before blow-drying, work a mixture
of equal (dime-size) parts heat-protective cream and body-enhancing gel
or mousse through lengths and ends. (If you air-dry, skip the cream.)
Try Bumble and Bumble Repair Blow Dry ($30, bumbleandbumble.com) and
L'Oréal Paris Advanced Haircare Volume Filler Densifying Gelee ($7, at
drugstores).
> Beat the heat.
Good
news for flatiron-philes: It's not the tool that's to blame; it's how
you use it. "Most women set the iron to 400°F or 410°F, which can dry
out and eventually break the ends of the hair. You aren't trying to fry
eggs here," says Caputo-Estorino. Start at 200°F to 250°F, and go a bit
hotter only if that temperature doesn't work. When styling, spray on a
heat protector, then pass the iron over each section slowly, and no more
than twice. If a curling iron is your weapon of choice, hold the hair
for five to 10 seconds, max.
3 Your Hair Is Falling Out
Stop
envisioning yourself as Homer Simpson. "Around 30 percent of my
patients are women experiencing hair loss, or androgenic alopecia, and
it terrifies them. They think they're eventually going to go bald—but
that's usually not the case," says Doris Day, M.D., a New York City
dermatologist. Excess shedding can be related to a slew of lifestyle
factors, such as stress, hormonal imbalances, and nutritional
deficiencies. While many of these can be reversed (say, with meditation
or dietary changes), a few products can also regrow your strands.
THE TRESS TEST
Hair
loss on you looks different than it does on your dad, so rather than
check for a receding hairline, scope out your part. "If it's widening in
an evergreen tree–like pattern, that's a marker of female pattern hair
loss," explains Day.
BULK UP
> Look for minoxidil.
It's
the magical ingredient that has helped grow millions of hairs since the
'80s. And as the only FDA-approved topical treatment to stimulate hair
follicles to reverse hair loss, why the heck wouldn't you use it? "We're
starting to talk about minoxidil for the scalp the way we talk about
retinol for the face," says Day. One to try: Women's Rogaine 5%
Minoxidil Topical Aerosol ($50 for a four-month supply, at drugstores).
Massage the product into a clean scalp once daily, at least four hours
prior to shampooing. "Hair may fall out for two more weeks, a signal
that new hair is right behind it. It's like teeth—you have to lose your
baby ones so the adult ones can grow in," says Day. (Another promising
sign that hair loss isn't the silent issue it once was? Rogaine now has
some minoxidil-containing friends on the shelves, from brands like
Pantene and Redken.)
>Try combo therapy.
Dealing
with the trifecta of fallout, thinness, and damage? Supplement
minoxidil with Redken Cerafill Defy Instant Thickening Kit ($70,
redken.com for salons), which comes with a shampoo, conditioner, and
daily toner to prevent breakage, thicken strands, and inhibit DHT—the
hormone-related chemical that leads to hair loss.
> Choose to diffuse.
When
blow-drying, lose the brush and add a diffuser head, which won't put
tension on your hair's cuticle and make it flat, says Crosby. Then fill
in sparse spots with a product that deposits fibers onto your scalp
temporarily, making hair seem more dense. Try Viviscal Hair Filler
Fibers ($25, viviscal.com).
FEED YOUR SCALP
Herbivores,
take note: "Hair follicles can be sensitive to nutritional imbalance,"
says Pullan, who notices that many of his female clients experience hair
loss when they go vegetarian. That's because they might lack protein
and iron. Healthy hair growth requires protein, and iron could improve
blood circulation, which may also help.
To
get a meatless fix, add nuts and beans to your plate, suggests
nutritionist Keri Glassman, R.D. And if you juice, keep it up! Leafy
greens have vitamins and minerals that may promote circulation to the
scalp—just add a scoop of plant-based protein powder for a big-hair
boost.
WH Online
Learn how to add more va-va-voom to your hair with must-try tips at WomensHealthMag.com/November.
~~~~~~~~
By Jill Percia
BIGGER IS BETTER
The
style that's blowing up at Drybar, a nationwide blow-dry-only salon?
The Southern Comfort—its most voluminous option! To DIY: Distribute
mousse evenly through damp roots and hair, then blow-dry with a large,
ceramic round brush, lifting it upward as you smooth each section, says
Drybar founder Alli Webb.
Saturday, October 11, 2014
How Online Shopping Made an Impact to Consumers in 2013
How Online Shopping Made an Impact to Consumers in 2013
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eileen_Saw]Eileen Saw
If retailers were certain about anything for Christmas 2013, it had to be that online shoppers were going to pull in more revenue than ever. Online retail sales were predicted to grow from $225.5 billion in 2012 to $434.2 billion in 2017 according to data from eMarketer. It's not only that people are spending more time shopping online for gifts or that specially priced bike helmet on Amazon. People are buying groceries, toiletries, movie tickets, video games, electronics and hotel rooms. Today's consumers have the advantage of not only shopping at home but also on the go with their smartphones and tablets. As more people turn to the Internet to purchase their everyday and specialty products, it's also become much easier for retailers to focus on impulse buyers and deal shoppers with email promotions and skillfully placed online advertisements. While it's clear that online shopping will continue to grow, it's unclear what trends will have a great impact for shoppers and if rumors of WiFi LED refrigerator screens can actually become popular. These are some different ways that online shopping changed consumers in 2013.
Faster, One-Click Checkouts
Online retailers have really perfected the art of impulse buying for consumers. They advertise a product, offer a promotion and make it irresistible with one-click shopping. Shoppers can store their payment information, or if they are shopping on a mobile phone, they can even charge it to their cell phone provider account. With faster, secure checkouts, consumers can make their purchases quickly, which is important to the on-the-go online consumer who is browsing with a tablet or mobile phone.
All Payment Methods Accepted
While it used to be that credit cards were the typical payment method allowed, major companies began adding other online payment capabilities. While credit card still remains king, many retailers allowed for consumers to use online payments from PayPal or even choose their mobile phone provider. This made it even more convenient for consumers who didn't want to enter their credit or debit card information online.
A Holiday Worth Researching For
Accenture reported that 65 percent of online shoppers planned to "webroom" over the Christmas holiday shopping season in 2013. this means that shoppers browsed online and conducted research before going to the store to make their purchases. Many shoppers wanted to avoid waiting for shipping and shipping costs around the holidays, but they also wanted to touch and feel the product before committing to a purchase. In addition, 36 percent of shoppers plan to purchase items online but pick them in store. Many retailers offer free ship-to-store or same-day pickup, which makes it incredibly easy for the savvy online shopper.
The Perfect Retail Experience
More than ever, major retailers are investing tons of money into their online sales divisions. They are learning how to drive consumers with social media and paid advertising to increase sales, but they are also providing that perfect online shopping experience for customers. Consumers don't have to look for anything anymore. The latest deals are right there on the front with easy-to-use navigation and even wishlist or "save for later" functions that make it easy to come back for something later. They are also offering more shipping methods. With in-store pickup and free shipping, many retailers are able to see exactly what their shoppers want to from their online shopping experience. They want a good deal for a high quality product with a quick turnaround.
Mobile shopping contributed a large part of the increase in sales for 2013. As search engines and retailers grow savvier towards online consumers, it should become even easier to find the latest deals and make comparisons for whatever you're looking to buy with just a click of the mouse or tap of the finger.
Eileen Saw is an e-commerce expert who writes her work for leading Singaporean online supermarket, https://redmart.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Online-Shopping-Made-an-Impact-to-Consumers-in-2013&id=8272294] How Online Shopping Made an Impact to Consumers in 2013
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Eileen_Saw]Eileen Saw
If retailers were certain about anything for Christmas 2013, it had to be that online shoppers were going to pull in more revenue than ever. Online retail sales were predicted to grow from $225.5 billion in 2012 to $434.2 billion in 2017 according to data from eMarketer. It's not only that people are spending more time shopping online for gifts or that specially priced bike helmet on Amazon. People are buying groceries, toiletries, movie tickets, video games, electronics and hotel rooms. Today's consumers have the advantage of not only shopping at home but also on the go with their smartphones and tablets. As more people turn to the Internet to purchase their everyday and specialty products, it's also become much easier for retailers to focus on impulse buyers and deal shoppers with email promotions and skillfully placed online advertisements. While it's clear that online shopping will continue to grow, it's unclear what trends will have a great impact for shoppers and if rumors of WiFi LED refrigerator screens can actually become popular. These are some different ways that online shopping changed consumers in 2013.
Faster, One-Click Checkouts
Online retailers have really perfected the art of impulse buying for consumers. They advertise a product, offer a promotion and make it irresistible with one-click shopping. Shoppers can store their payment information, or if they are shopping on a mobile phone, they can even charge it to their cell phone provider account. With faster, secure checkouts, consumers can make their purchases quickly, which is important to the on-the-go online consumer who is browsing with a tablet or mobile phone.
All Payment Methods Accepted
While it used to be that credit cards were the typical payment method allowed, major companies began adding other online payment capabilities. While credit card still remains king, many retailers allowed for consumers to use online payments from PayPal or even choose their mobile phone provider. This made it even more convenient for consumers who didn't want to enter their credit or debit card information online.
A Holiday Worth Researching For
Accenture reported that 65 percent of online shoppers planned to "webroom" over the Christmas holiday shopping season in 2013. this means that shoppers browsed online and conducted research before going to the store to make their purchases. Many shoppers wanted to avoid waiting for shipping and shipping costs around the holidays, but they also wanted to touch and feel the product before committing to a purchase. In addition, 36 percent of shoppers plan to purchase items online but pick them in store. Many retailers offer free ship-to-store or same-day pickup, which makes it incredibly easy for the savvy online shopper.
The Perfect Retail Experience
More than ever, major retailers are investing tons of money into their online sales divisions. They are learning how to drive consumers with social media and paid advertising to increase sales, but they are also providing that perfect online shopping experience for customers. Consumers don't have to look for anything anymore. The latest deals are right there on the front with easy-to-use navigation and even wishlist or "save for later" functions that make it easy to come back for something later. They are also offering more shipping methods. With in-store pickup and free shipping, many retailers are able to see exactly what their shoppers want to from their online shopping experience. They want a good deal for a high quality product with a quick turnaround.
Mobile shopping contributed a large part of the increase in sales for 2013. As search engines and retailers grow savvier towards online consumers, it should become even easier to find the latest deals and make comparisons for whatever you're looking to buy with just a click of the mouse or tap of the finger.
Eileen Saw is an e-commerce expert who writes her work for leading Singaporean online supermarket, https://redmart.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Online-Shopping-Made-an-Impact-to-Consumers-in-2013&id=8272294] How Online Shopping Made an Impact to Consumers in 2013
How to Building a Successful Online Shopping Business
3 Ingredients for Building a Successful Online Shopping Business
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Madeline_Foster]Madeline Foster
If you are considering starting your own online shopping business, your head is probably overflowing with a number of questions about things like the benefits of online shopping, how much money you can make, and most importantly how you are going to build your own network.
You may also want to know how to get started, and what is required in order to do so.
At the same time as all of these questions are running through your mind, you will also have to make some very important decisions regarding your new business such as whether or not you will want to conduct your business via mobile, email, e-commerce, social media marketing or a combination of all of the above.
While these are important questions, there is one very large question that proceeds everything else - do you have what it takes to start your own online shopping network?
I truly believe that everyone can make money and create their own online shopping network quickly and easily with no investment and a bit of effort, but it takes a little bit more creativity and determination to turn it into a full-time business.
Online affiliate marketing shopping portals offer members incentive cash back programs to help you save money and make money doing nothing more than shopping online. You can easily benefit from using these types of online shopping systems to make money simply by shopping and encouraging others to shop with discount codes.
Revenue is generated through advertising and blogging which takes a great deal of creativity and time, but eventually hard work does pay.
In some cases these portals go one step further by providing its members with a quick and easy added income generating source by allowing its members to earn cash back on the people they invite to its network, and so on.
Using this type of free referral marketing system alone, making money with online shopping is all but guaranteed.
Did you know that if you use an online shopping portal system in conjunction with other online money generating systems such as blogging, affiliate marketing and publishing content, you have the ingredients to create a very profitable fulltime business with little or no investment?
If this sounds like something you want to do, you must ask yourself this one very important question before considering doing so.
Do you have what it takes to create a successful start-up business?
If you want to answer this question truthfully, then you will need to determine whether or not you posses the three keys ingredients to achieving success in starting an online business.
The first ingredient is having a passion for what you do.
When you like what you do, you will spend more time trying to learn about the business and in doing so, you will acquire detailed knowledge about the industry thus making you an expert in your field. You will not be a very convincing marketer to your potential clients if you do not understand the fundamentals behind your business.
No small business ever goes smoothly in the beginning, no matter how well you prepared you are and loving what you do will carry you through the rough seas ahead.
The second is commitment, and a whole lot of drive.
Rome was not created in one day and neither was any successful start-up business. If you think that you can simply set up a business and it will run all by itself, you are mistaken.
Most entrepreneurs, like myself, spend countless hours in the first year working on the weekends and late at night to ensure everything is done properly and running smoothly. This means hiring the right staff, purchasing the right tools, planning and organizing and doing a great deal by yourself.
Once the business is functioning properly and stable enough, then it should work like a well oiled machine. You must be the spark that is gets the business started and this means always being positive and having a never say die attitude.
Lastly, and perhaps the most important ingredient of all, you must be able to work alone.
Many people dream of the day when they will no longer have a boss watching over their work or no longer be confined to a particular working schedule. Work at home schemes will often say "fire your boss," however the truth is, not everyone has the ability to work without someone watching over them.
Procrastination is something you must overcome quickly, you must learn to check and verify everything you do and you must honestly assess your ability to work without supervision.
Online shopping web portals can give you the head start, however the rest is up to you.
If you believe that you possess a passion for what you do, enjoy social media marketing, have the drive to work alone and learn how to build an online shopping network while working hard, then you do have what it takes to create a successful business.
The rest is simply, doing it! Good Luck!
Many [http://www.cashbackkaboom.com/]online shopping portals have recently been in the news because of its easy way to make free money with no investment and no effort at all because they pay cash back every time anyone in your networks, or your friends network shops online. The truth is everyone knows someone who shops online, if you simply get them to shop via various coupons sites, deal sites and shopping portals you find, you will make money. Best of all everyone will get stuff cheaper, who can argue with that logic?
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Ingredients-for-Building-a-Successful-Online-Shopping-Business&id=8352618] 3 Ingredients for Building a Successful Online Shopping Business
MOre info: Appliances | Arts, Crafts & Sewing | Automotive Products | Baby Products | Beauty Products | Camera & Photo | Clothing | Computer Accessories | Computer Components | Desktops Computer | Electronics Accessories | Furniture & Home Decor | Grocery & Gourmet Food | Health & Personal Care | Home Appliances | Home Audio & Theater | Home Improvement | Home Tools | Jewelry | Kitchen & Dining | Laptops, Tablets, Netbooks | Lighting & Ceiling Fans | Mp3 Players | Musical Instruments | Office Electronics | Office Products | Patio, Lawn & Garden | Pet Supplies | Printers | Shoes | Sports & Outdoors | Televisions | Toys & Games | Vehicle Electronics | Watches | Software | Video Games
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Madeline_Foster]Madeline Foster
If you are considering starting your own online shopping business, your head is probably overflowing with a number of questions about things like the benefits of online shopping, how much money you can make, and most importantly how you are going to build your own network.
You may also want to know how to get started, and what is required in order to do so.
At the same time as all of these questions are running through your mind, you will also have to make some very important decisions regarding your new business such as whether or not you will want to conduct your business via mobile, email, e-commerce, social media marketing or a combination of all of the above.
While these are important questions, there is one very large question that proceeds everything else - do you have what it takes to start your own online shopping network?
I truly believe that everyone can make money and create their own online shopping network quickly and easily with no investment and a bit of effort, but it takes a little bit more creativity and determination to turn it into a full-time business.
Online affiliate marketing shopping portals offer members incentive cash back programs to help you save money and make money doing nothing more than shopping online. You can easily benefit from using these types of online shopping systems to make money simply by shopping and encouraging others to shop with discount codes.
Revenue is generated through advertising and blogging which takes a great deal of creativity and time, but eventually hard work does pay.
In some cases these portals go one step further by providing its members with a quick and easy added income generating source by allowing its members to earn cash back on the people they invite to its network, and so on.
Using this type of free referral marketing system alone, making money with online shopping is all but guaranteed.
Did you know that if you use an online shopping portal system in conjunction with other online money generating systems such as blogging, affiliate marketing and publishing content, you have the ingredients to create a very profitable fulltime business with little or no investment?
If this sounds like something you want to do, you must ask yourself this one very important question before considering doing so.
Do you have what it takes to create a successful start-up business?
If you want to answer this question truthfully, then you will need to determine whether or not you posses the three keys ingredients to achieving success in starting an online business.
The first ingredient is having a passion for what you do.
When you like what you do, you will spend more time trying to learn about the business and in doing so, you will acquire detailed knowledge about the industry thus making you an expert in your field. You will not be a very convincing marketer to your potential clients if you do not understand the fundamentals behind your business.
No small business ever goes smoothly in the beginning, no matter how well you prepared you are and loving what you do will carry you through the rough seas ahead.
The second is commitment, and a whole lot of drive.
Rome was not created in one day and neither was any successful start-up business. If you think that you can simply set up a business and it will run all by itself, you are mistaken.
Most entrepreneurs, like myself, spend countless hours in the first year working on the weekends and late at night to ensure everything is done properly and running smoothly. This means hiring the right staff, purchasing the right tools, planning and organizing and doing a great deal by yourself.
Once the business is functioning properly and stable enough, then it should work like a well oiled machine. You must be the spark that is gets the business started and this means always being positive and having a never say die attitude.
Lastly, and perhaps the most important ingredient of all, you must be able to work alone.
Many people dream of the day when they will no longer have a boss watching over their work or no longer be confined to a particular working schedule. Work at home schemes will often say "fire your boss," however the truth is, not everyone has the ability to work without someone watching over them.
Procrastination is something you must overcome quickly, you must learn to check and verify everything you do and you must honestly assess your ability to work without supervision.
Online shopping web portals can give you the head start, however the rest is up to you.
If you believe that you possess a passion for what you do, enjoy social media marketing, have the drive to work alone and learn how to build an online shopping network while working hard, then you do have what it takes to create a successful business.
The rest is simply, doing it! Good Luck!
Many [http://www.cashbackkaboom.com/]online shopping portals have recently been in the news because of its easy way to make free money with no investment and no effort at all because they pay cash back every time anyone in your networks, or your friends network shops online. The truth is everyone knows someone who shops online, if you simply get them to shop via various coupons sites, deal sites and shopping portals you find, you will make money. Best of all everyone will get stuff cheaper, who can argue with that logic?
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?3-Ingredients-for-Building-a-Successful-Online-Shopping-Business&id=8352618] 3 Ingredients for Building a Successful Online Shopping Business
MOre info: Appliances | Arts, Crafts & Sewing | Automotive Products | Baby Products | Beauty Products | Camera & Photo | Clothing | Computer Accessories | Computer Components | Desktops Computer | Electronics Accessories | Furniture & Home Decor | Grocery & Gourmet Food | Health & Personal Care | Home Appliances | Home Audio & Theater | Home Improvement | Home Tools | Jewelry | Kitchen & Dining | Laptops, Tablets, Netbooks | Lighting & Ceiling Fans | Mp3 Players | Musical Instruments | Office Electronics | Office Products | Patio, Lawn & Garden | Pet Supplies | Printers | Shoes | Sports & Outdoors | Televisions | Toys & Games | Vehicle Electronics | Watches | Software | Video Games
4 Types of Cheap Women's Shoes You Need In Your Closet
4 Types of Cheap Women's Shoes You Need In Your Closet
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ashok_Moree]Ashok Moree
Just like diamonds are a girl's best friend, so are shoes. When you show women shoes, part of their brain lights up to appreciate the color, the style and the material. You can never have enough shoes. Indeed shoes designers are always taking up the challenge of designing the most creative and comfortable shoes for women. Since shoes are like diamonds, you cannot resist them. This is why you need to take advantage of cheap women's shoes in the market.
Since you cannot take the whole of Prada into your home, you need to ensure that you purchase shoes that are a must have in your closet. Here are some of the shoes that you absolutely need:
1. High heels
We refer to them in different names. Some call them pumps, stilettos, heels or high heels. Heels are the most important shoes that all women should have. They come in different lengths, from six inches to two inches. Heels bring out the elegance and sophistication in a woman. Since they come in different lengths, you need to find cheap women's shoes that will allow you to purchase several lengths at a cheap price.
Heels go with anything; jeans, skirt, dress and shorts. You can wear them during the weekend, for a special occasion or at work.
2. Flats
Every woman needs the ballet flats or doll shoes. These shoes allow you to give your feet a break from heels. If you are looking to relax in a Sunday afternoon or go for a picnic, this is the shoe for you. Cheap women's shoes of the ballet variety come in different colors and styles. You will therefore have a lot of choices when wearing them with a skirt or a trouser. This is definitely shoes that will allow you to run or if you are looking to stand for a long time in an event.
3. Kicks
We refer to them as kicks or snickers. These shoes are meant for the gym or running. These shoes are important for exercise and to ensure that you stay fit and healthy. You can also wear snickers with jeans when going shopping or running errands.
4. Boots
Cheap women's shoes that are another must have are boots. They can be worn with anything and come as ankle boots, knee length boots or knee high boots. The best time to buy these boots is when there are attractive discounts and special offers. Always go for a heel that is easy to walk in. choosing neutral colors will also go with anything. http://www.martofchina.com is a great website for all shoe lovers. You can benefit from the different collection of heels, boots, flats and kicks. Visit the site for more information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Types-of-Cheap-Womens-Shoes-You-Need-In-Your-Closet&id=8741828] 4 Types of Cheap Women's Shoes You Need In Your Closet
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ashok_Moree]Ashok Moree
Just like diamonds are a girl's best friend, so are shoes. When you show women shoes, part of their brain lights up to appreciate the color, the style and the material. You can never have enough shoes. Indeed shoes designers are always taking up the challenge of designing the most creative and comfortable shoes for women. Since shoes are like diamonds, you cannot resist them. This is why you need to take advantage of cheap women's shoes in the market.
Since you cannot take the whole of Prada into your home, you need to ensure that you purchase shoes that are a must have in your closet. Here are some of the shoes that you absolutely need:
1. High heels
We refer to them in different names. Some call them pumps, stilettos, heels or high heels. Heels are the most important shoes that all women should have. They come in different lengths, from six inches to two inches. Heels bring out the elegance and sophistication in a woman. Since they come in different lengths, you need to find cheap women's shoes that will allow you to purchase several lengths at a cheap price.
Heels go with anything; jeans, skirt, dress and shorts. You can wear them during the weekend, for a special occasion or at work.
2. Flats
Every woman needs the ballet flats or doll shoes. These shoes allow you to give your feet a break from heels. If you are looking to relax in a Sunday afternoon or go for a picnic, this is the shoe for you. Cheap women's shoes of the ballet variety come in different colors and styles. You will therefore have a lot of choices when wearing them with a skirt or a trouser. This is definitely shoes that will allow you to run or if you are looking to stand for a long time in an event.
3. Kicks
We refer to them as kicks or snickers. These shoes are meant for the gym or running. These shoes are important for exercise and to ensure that you stay fit and healthy. You can also wear snickers with jeans when going shopping or running errands.
4. Boots
Cheap women's shoes that are another must have are boots. They can be worn with anything and come as ankle boots, knee length boots or knee high boots. The best time to buy these boots is when there are attractive discounts and special offers. Always go for a heel that is easy to walk in. choosing neutral colors will also go with anything. http://www.martofchina.com is a great website for all shoe lovers. You can benefit from the different collection of heels, boots, flats and kicks. Visit the site for more information.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?4-Types-of-Cheap-Womens-Shoes-You-Need-In-Your-Closet&id=8741828] 4 Types of Cheap Women's Shoes You Need In Your Closet
Benefits of Online Shopping you Should To Know!
Benefits of Online Shopping
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Katherine_Burnett]Katherine Burnett
No Crowds to Fight for Bargain Bins
Good sales tend to bring out the worst in people. It is true. There are few things that are more difficult to resist than good prices on in-demand items. Shopping at home means you don't have to deal with huge crowds at stores and malls. There's no fighting for prime parking spaces, no ten mile hike to the store entrance, and no confetti streamers or crummy music in the background.
You can listen to your favorite tunes in the comfort of your own home while you are shopping online, reading reviews, researching the items you plan to purchase, and finding the best possible prices so you never have to pay full price at a store again. In-store sales and discounts never beat the much higher discounts available online, especially if you know which online shopping sites to visit in order to find them and make reliable purchases.
No Frostbite Required
You don't need me to tell you that winters can get quite nippy. You don't have to worry about car heaters going out, bringing blankets along just in case, or even having your nose dripping before you can make it from the store to your car. In fact, you can be quite comfy and cozy in front of a nice roaring fire, sipping on cocoa if that's what you prefer, while you are finding the best deals on items that you want to buy and purchase, whether they are for yourself, family or friends.
Shop in Your Pajamas
Scratch that, there is one better way. That way would be to hit the [http://www.ebates.ca/]discount shopping sites in your pajamas, yoga pants, or bathrobe - from the comfort of your own home. Whatever floats your boat, right? It's all good and most shopping sites have a "don't ask; don't tell" policy when it comes to what you are wearing, so you are covered. Therefore, shopping online is as easy and comfortable as it gets these days.
Get Money Back for Every Dollar You Spend!
What could get better than that? Rebates usually work with a specific dollar amount when you purchase certain items. Now, though, the way rebates work is changing forever. When you shop with the right discount shopping websites, you can get cash back in the form of rebate checks based on every dollar you spend.
You can combine good store deals with free online coupons and more to make the most of your meager shopping funds and a few months from now you'll have a check in your pocket to put back into the shopping pool!
It doesn't matter if you are visiting online shopping sites for clothes or going online shopping for shoes, hats, belts, scarves, accessories, or Christmas present, you're already buying, why not get a little something back for your efforts in the form of rebates?
It might sound a little too good to be true, but it is not. It is important, though, to save your business for reputable rebate sites so you know you're dealing with a name you can trust and where you know that you will find the best online deals that are out there.
This is especially true when you are looking for major brand names, such as Sephora, Toys R Us, Victoria Secret, Home Depot, Walmart, Old Navy, Starbucks, Kobo, just to name a few of them. It is amazing that it is now possible to find great discounts for brands like the ones mentioned above on discount websites, so no one should ever need to pay full price for these items again!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-Online-Shopping&id=8720885] Benefits of Online Shopping
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Katherine_Burnett]Katherine Burnett
No Crowds to Fight for Bargain Bins
Good sales tend to bring out the worst in people. It is true. There are few things that are more difficult to resist than good prices on in-demand items. Shopping at home means you don't have to deal with huge crowds at stores and malls. There's no fighting for prime parking spaces, no ten mile hike to the store entrance, and no confetti streamers or crummy music in the background.
You can listen to your favorite tunes in the comfort of your own home while you are shopping online, reading reviews, researching the items you plan to purchase, and finding the best possible prices so you never have to pay full price at a store again. In-store sales and discounts never beat the much higher discounts available online, especially if you know which online shopping sites to visit in order to find them and make reliable purchases.
No Frostbite Required
You don't need me to tell you that winters can get quite nippy. You don't have to worry about car heaters going out, bringing blankets along just in case, or even having your nose dripping before you can make it from the store to your car. In fact, you can be quite comfy and cozy in front of a nice roaring fire, sipping on cocoa if that's what you prefer, while you are finding the best deals on items that you want to buy and purchase, whether they are for yourself, family or friends.
Shop in Your Pajamas
Scratch that, there is one better way. That way would be to hit the [http://www.ebates.ca/]discount shopping sites in your pajamas, yoga pants, or bathrobe - from the comfort of your own home. Whatever floats your boat, right? It's all good and most shopping sites have a "don't ask; don't tell" policy when it comes to what you are wearing, so you are covered. Therefore, shopping online is as easy and comfortable as it gets these days.
Get Money Back for Every Dollar You Spend!
What could get better than that? Rebates usually work with a specific dollar amount when you purchase certain items. Now, though, the way rebates work is changing forever. When you shop with the right discount shopping websites, you can get cash back in the form of rebate checks based on every dollar you spend.
You can combine good store deals with free online coupons and more to make the most of your meager shopping funds and a few months from now you'll have a check in your pocket to put back into the shopping pool!
It doesn't matter if you are visiting online shopping sites for clothes or going online shopping for shoes, hats, belts, scarves, accessories, or Christmas present, you're already buying, why not get a little something back for your efforts in the form of rebates?
It might sound a little too good to be true, but it is not. It is important, though, to save your business for reputable rebate sites so you know you're dealing with a name you can trust and where you know that you will find the best online deals that are out there.
This is especially true when you are looking for major brand names, such as Sephora, Toys R Us, Victoria Secret, Home Depot, Walmart, Old Navy, Starbucks, Kobo, just to name a few of them. It is amazing that it is now possible to find great discounts for brands like the ones mentioned above on discount websites, so no one should ever need to pay full price for these items again!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Benefits-of-Online-Shopping&id=8720885] Benefits of Online Shopping
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