We want the best for our child — But raising a child can be overwhelming. There are health concerns, safety issues, nutrition, self-esteem, education, and socialization.

We read a lot about parenting – from credible parenting resources that we can get ahold of. We talk to fellow moms and dads who have children who are in the same age range as our little ones. Whenever we can, we also attend parenting seminars/events to learn new things about parenting.

I Felt honored to attend the Pigeon Safety Alert in Digital Age event last May 15 at Cibo Rockwell Makati. Daryll grew up with Pigeon products and I would say , I was a certified happy Pigeon mommy.

Richwell Phils. Inc. recognizes this need for young parents to be better informed in making the right parenting choices for their children. This is why they continue parenting education through their successful Parenting on the Move advocacy last year, and now with Safety Alert in the Digital Age.

The event was presented by Pigeon, one of the best baby care brands in Japan.

Together with their celebrity mommy brand ambassador, Isabelle, served as the moderator of the event, which was filled with engaging discussions that were very informative with some panel of experts: Maye Yao Co Say, Chief Operating Officer of RichwellPhils. Group of Companies; Teacher Tanya Velasco, childhood educator and a RIE Practicum Student; Ma. Celi M. Rico-Tantianpact, General Pediatrician, Makati Medical Center; Bernice V. Quiros-Tan, MD, FPOGS, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makati Medical Center; Georges Ramirez, Senior Editor of C! Magazine; and Art Samaniego, Jr., Tech Editor, Manila Bulletin.

Topics in the event includes:

• Baby care/Baby Proofing – Childproofing your home is essential to keeping your baby safe. Be prepared to childproof the nursery, bathroom, kitchen and electric sockets.

• Car safety – choosing the right Car seat, installing the car seat correctly cos if we don’t baby car seat is useless. And mamas do you know that car seats have expiration. ( Most car seats have the date of expiration stamped on the manufacturer label located on the sides or the base of the car seat. Alternatively, it might show the date of manufacture. Generally, a car seat will expire six years after the date of manufacture.)

• Benefits of breastfeeding and the issues The most common breastfeeding problems are sore and painful nipples and difficulty producing milk due to sickness or disruption of daily cycles.

• Nursing pads, are a great way to absorb leaks and keep your clothes clean and dry. Change your breast pads often. Moisture on your breast can lead to skin irritation and even infection. Changing your nursing pads as soon as you notice they are wet can prevent leaks, irritation, and potential infections from bacteria.

• Reading a book to our child. Reading aloud to your baby stimulates developing senses, and builds listening and memory skills that can help your baby grow up to be a reader.

• Sudden infant death syndrome is known as SIDS prevention.Put a Sleeping Baby on His Back.Our baby’s risk of SIDS is much higher any time he sleeps on his side or stomach. (A baby placed on his side can roll over on his stomach.) These positions put your baby’s face in the mattress or sleeping area, which can smother him.

• Gadgets used kids today prefer spending hours playing with their tablet or cellphone instead of heading outdoors to a park or getting active with friends.Gadgets addiction can affect a child’s sleep. Children too excited with gaming have problems with falling asleep. But the most risks are connected with the mental health of children. Gadgets overuse is always a risk factor for child depression, anxiety, autism, psychos and other problematic child behaviors.

• Social media exposure.

The Internet can be wonderful for kids. They can use it to research school reports, communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games.But online access also comes with risks, like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. Using apps and websites where kids interact, predators may pose as a child or teen looking to make a new friend. They might prod the child to exchange personal information, such as address and phone number, or encourage kids to call them, seeing their phone number.

• Dangers of Oversharing

Anyone can know your location. It’s fun to post a status update or a photo online, but posting about your activities several times a every day can be dangerous, especially if it includes a specific location. Sure we are all going to tag location.

However, one of the most dangerous features on social networking sites is location-based services. It exposes your location and whereabouts, with impressive accuracy, which usually appears on your posts in real-time. If you post three times a day every day, your commute, dinner, coffee stop, and evening out, then that’s a very short time before you have a profile of regular movements. In short, very regularly posting updates on your location and daily activities could give a potential stalker the information they need to track you.

Parents should be aware of what our kids see and hear on the Internet, who they meet, and what they share about themselves. Talk with your kids, use tools to protect them, and keep an eye on their activities.

Pigeon

Being the No. 1 Baby Care brand in Japan, Pigeon has over 60 years experience in the industry and been at the forefront of newborn skin-care technology. The brand has developed the Natulayer technology, which is a layer of ingredients that mimics the natural coat of protection found on the baby’s skin in the womb.

Included in Pigeon’s Newborn Pure collection is the Newborn Pure Body Wash, Shampoo, Lotion, Oil and Protective Cream. Making use of natural ingredients, these products contain zero paraben, formaldehyde and alcohol. It is also pH-balanced to ensure that it is safe and gentle for baby’s skin with the added dual moisturization of Natulayer.

The brand’s other famous products are the Hand and Mouth Wipes and Liquid Cleanser, which are 100-percent food grade. To prove this and to everyone’s amazement, Pigeon executive overseas manager Yuta Hagiwara bravely drank a portion of the liquid cleanser during the event.

Quinny

Developed in Europe, Quinny is a premier lifestyle juvenile brand with a proud tradition of over 25 years in stroller mobility. Quinny products that Belle enjoys using are the Quinny Moodd and Zapp Flex. An iconic stroller that offers a comfortable and stylish ride from birth until 3½ years old, the Quinny Moodd also offers intelligent features, like quick automatic unfolding and easy folding. Meanwhile, designed to make parents’ lives easier, the Zapp Flex is a highly maneuverable, lightweight, and comfortable solution. It is one stroller with endless possibilities: with its versatile reversible seat you can let your younger child face you for enhanced bonding moments, or turn the seat forward to give an older child a view of the streets ahead: the stroller features multiple recline in both rear and forward-facing positions.

Pigeon products are available at Ogalala Stores, Baby Company, Rustan’s, Mothercare, My Baby Planet, Mercury Drug and other leading department stores nationwide. Quinny products are available at Ogalala Stores, Baby Company, Mothercare and Rustan’s. Like them on Facebook and Instagram: Pigeon Philippines, QuinnyPhils, Maxicosiphils.

Like and follow Pigeon Philippines on Facebook, @pigeonbabyph on Instagram and Twitter for updates and more information on the Pigeon Only Moms Event, and check out http://www.pigeon.com.ph for the best baby and mom care solutions.