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If you claim yourself as a sour gummy lover, Sour Patch Kids is definitely on your personal choice list. Even though it’s a perfect candy for all age ranges starting from toddlers to even 60 years old, it can often raise some concerns in your mind. 

We’ve already made our judgment on whether this contains any gluten ingredients or not. Hence, in case you are interested to know, don’t forget to spend a few minutes giving this a read and know for yourself!

However, there is something else you might be wondering about before purchasing these Sour Patch candies. Are they vegan-friendly or not? Well, before giving any further explanation to this, we’d like you to go through a few things beforehand. So, let’s get straight to the facts.

Are Sour Patch Kids vegan?

are sour patch kids vegan
Image Credit: https://sourpatchkids.com/

Sour Patch Kids: Verifiable ingredients list 

First things first, let’s take a look into the basic ingredients as shown in the packaging. These commonly include the following,

1. Sugar 
2. Invert sugar
3. Corn syrup
4. Modified corn starch
5. Tartaric acid in less than 2 percent concentration
6. Citric acid
7. Natural and artificial flavoring that include- Yellow 5. Yellow 6, Red 40, and Blue 1.

As we can see from the list of ingredients printed, they are all derived from plant sources and don’t include any animal-derived ingredient. However, even with no such questionable ingredients in the list that can prove this chewy candy to be non-vegan, there’s definitely a catch. Let’s dig in a little deeper, shall we?

Controversial ingredients from plant sources

sour patch kids ingredients
Image: https://www.pexels.com/@karolina-grabowska

Although at first glance, some plant-based ingredients might seem completely vegan-friendly, this isn’t often the case. Without further ado, we’ll explain you why it’s more than true when it comes to chewy candy snack such as the Sour Patch Kids candies.
Type of sugar used in sour candy

Now, as we all know, sugar is one of the main ingredients in candy products that are made for the sweet tooth people. The sugar industry derives its bulk amount from either sugar-beets or sugarcane. The refining process of beet-sugar is considered entirely vegan and safe to eat.

However, the Sour Patch Kids manufacturing company uses cane sugar as their staple ingredient. That being said, refined cane sugar goes through an extensive refining process that almost always includes the use of bone char. But does the use of animal bones in refined sugar make it non-vegan? Before we conclude, we’d like to clarify what these bone char ingredients really are.

Refining with bone char: Vegan or non-vegan ingredients?

Bone char, which we also refer to as natural carbon, is a product that is made from bones of cattle. Whenever cattle such as cows are slaughtered in south Asian countries including India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the bone of cattle is sold off around the world for sugar refining process. 

This is made by heating bones of cattle at high temperatures that results in its reduction to carbon. The use of these bone char particles, or the carbon itself works as a decolorizing filter and gives the organic cane sugar a perfect crystal white color. Some companies also tend to use granular carbon for the purpose, which allows it to avoid being labelled as non-vegan sugars.

All things considered, we looked into the manufacturing of cane sugar white used by Mondelez International, the producer of Sour Patch gummy candy. And we weren’t surprised at all to discover the failure of using granular carbon. That definitely leads us to our answer- these popular candies use bone char for refinement!

Nevertheless, the common ingredients itself don’t contain any bone residues. So, the final choice is yours to make.

Artificial ingredients: Colors and flavors

sour patch kids

When it comes to man-made ingredients such as artificial flavors and colors, the path can be quite confusing. The artificial colors used in these sour jelly sweets have to go through rigorous testing trials in order to test their side effects. For such purposes, animal testing is done on a variety of living creatures, such as- mice, dogs and as such after being manufactured in the lab.

However, another so-called non-animal alternative as showcased by the food industry is the use of petroleum. Food colors used in Sour Patch Kids candies, namely- Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6 and Blue 1 are known to be petroleum-based colours. Nonetheless, these derivatives of petroleum are also made to go through extensive animal testing for avoiding potential health issues.

Although some vegans might not be perplexed by this, most are. This is due to the fact that the effects of testing on animals can often lead to neurotoxicity resulting in different form of tumors, or even death. Also, most animals are known to be euthanized at the end of trials.

Hence, strict vegans who have made the choice of avoiding products related to animal cruelty, stay away from this sour candy!

Is gelatin present in the ingredient list?

For your knowledge, gelatin is known as a bonding agent that keeps the sour sweets bound together into a thick, gooey consistency. Made from boiled skin, bones, and ligaments of animals, gelatin falls under the list of obvious animal ingredients.

However, following the ingredients label of these multi-coloured sweets, we could see no such presence of gelatin. Although this might be quite reassuring for most of you, we were not satisfied at all and decided to research a bit more.

After extensive research, we could conclude with two possible scenarios. Firstly, the alternative vegan-friendly gelling agent used in Sour Patch Kids could be the use of modified corn starch that gives off the gummy texture.

Secondly, it is definitely a candy with gelatin. To back up our claims, we looked into the labels of Sour Patch manufactures in different countries and got our evidence! The packaging labels in Sour Patch Kids made in the U.K lists to have used gelatin in their candies.

Although this might come as a sad news for vegans, this sour candy might have gelatin in their other versions as well and probably were not listed due to it being a proprietary ingredient.

Final Verdict: Vegan or Non-Vegan?

Since we have already discussed about the possible controversial confectionery ingredient in Sour Patch Kids, it’s now time to announce our final answer. With a sad and heavy heart, we are bound to conclude that although these candies don’t use ingredients derived from animal sources, they are in fact non-vegan due to the following reasons-

1. The sugar may not be vegan due to use of bone chars for de-colorizing outcomes. Unless of course granular carbon is used in the process, it can’t be labelled as vegan. Guess we’ll have to wait for the manufacturer to be clearer about the refinement process of their sugar!

2. Vegans who have issues with animal cruelty and want to avoid such products, this is definitely a non-vegan option for them.

3. Until and unless you’re opting for the U.K version of Sour Patch Kids, the labels seem to claim to be vegan-friendly. Nevertheless, we will be needing some clarification from the manufacturing company regarding the use of gelatin in their gummy products as well.

However, if you are unbothered by the indirect use of animals and animal products in such cases, feel free to give this sour gummy a try!

Video credit: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzpCc5n9hqiVC7HhPwcIKEg

I hope you liked the article. Stay tuned with Playground Dad.

With the COVID-19 pandemic hitting harder than ever, the usage of digital technology has been increasing more and more each day. Starting from adults to even toddlers, everyone consumes quite a lot of digital screen time due to a decrease in outings or everyday socialization.

Be it a zoom call meeting, your kid’s online classes, or just some series or cartoon you or your kids want to watch, the popularity of digital devices is now at its peak.

But when it comes to spending long hours on your laptop or phone or smartwatches, it can be extremely straining to your eyes. This is where these blue light glasses come in to save the day. So what are these really? Let’s get to know a bit about this specific light wave and the pair of glasses then!

Facts – Blue Light Glasses for Kids

 blue light glasses for kids

Blue light is known to fall under the visible light color spectrum which consists of high energy and shorter wavelengths. The biggest and only star in our solar system is the sun, which is known to be the greatest emitter of blue light. Although this light plays a beneficial role during the daytime by increasing our attention span and regulating our mood throughout the day, it does quite the opposite at night. 

Similarly, fluorescent lights and electronic devices such as TV, laptops, desktops, phones, and tablets– all screens emit this blue light which is the root cause of harmful effects to your growing child’s eyes as well as yours.

Can blue light filtering glasses help the cause?

If your child is used to watching cartoons on Youtube for hours before bedtime, these kinds of light can possibly be as harmful as UV rays. That is when you need to opt for this special eyewear, known as blue-light-blocking lenses. A great alternative to glasses of the traditional type, these spectacles will prevent adverse effects of digital eye strain.

So, what does this eyewear really do? 

Regulation of proper sleep cycle

Due to increasing time on screen, electronic devices give off more blue light. As a result, this disrupts our circadian rhythms greatly. The production of melatonin induces an adequate sleep time at night.

But due to the rise in using LED-backlit screens, such as laptops and tablets, blue light is constantly emitted and causes an irregularity in melatonin secretion. Consecutively, this brings about difficulties in sleeping and leads to poor sleep quality.

These blue-light blockers come in handy at such an hour before bedtime. With its light filter lenses, the eyes are supported by a tad bit of yellow tint that helps in removing eye discomfort. For those kids suffering from chronic eye discomfort, these specs can be a practical solution when whiling away on hours of screen time. 

Comforting for your eyes

Such glasses for kids can be immensely useful when spending long periods of time on phones or tablets. An increase in screen time can develop severe digital eyestrain. According to specialists from the American Academy of Ophthalmologists, digital eye strain can show a wide variety of signs and symptoms including- blurry vision, headaches, poor posture, dry eyes, and eye tiredness. 

Due to the anti-glare coating in blue light blockers, negative consequences such as eye fatigue and dry eyes can be easily prevented. At the same time, the anti-scratch coating will allow your kids to use these glasses comfortably while not having to worry about durability. Then again, most of these blue-filtering glasses come with a “worry-free” warranty lasting for a year or more.

Helping with attention disorder

Because of the current “stay at home” circumstance, most kids are having to replace their playmates with electronic devices.

Most likely consequences of such behavior have led to an improper bedtime routine. As an outcome, a disrupted circadian clock has caused kids to outgrow attention disorders such as ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactive disorder) which damages your brain cells.

In order to protect your children from such mental disorders, eye doctors recommend using these special lenses as an extra method of precaution. However, the best way to tackle this is obviously to decrease your child’s hours of screen time to a minimal level.

Some common misbeliefs

blue light blocking glasses for kids

Certain common misconceptions circulate regarding the effectiveness of such light filtering glasses. Most people think that these spectacles can prevent myopia, or in easier words, nearsightedness.

Anyhow, this isn’t the sole purpose of such glasses as myopia is factually the result of axial elongation of the eyeball. This in turn is the result of your genetic buildup or because of excessive working near digital devices. 

Additionally, quite a few people assume that such basic blue-light-filtering lenses also shut out chances of macular degeneration which is not true at all. Since this disorder occurs due to hereditary causes or environmental influences such as smoking or obesity, there’s really nothing besides a healthy lifestyle to control such incidents. 

Opting for the perfect blue-light-blocking glasses

When it comes to our kids, we want what’s best for them. In case you have made up your mind to get one for your child, we are here to assist you in purchasing the finest yet most stylish glasses. So, let’s move on and go through some key features that you might need to keep in mind during your purchase-

Frame Options

While getting light blocker glasses for your kids, the design must be a vital feature on your checklist. Stylish frames are a must when it comes to the new generation. Hence, try to avoid basic frame styles, such as black frames, and go for something fashionable instead. Let your kid feel comfortable and confident wearing these nonprescription lenses!

Durability

Consider picking out light lenses that are made of more sturdy materials. With lots of options to choose from, try to avoid less robust plastic frames as your kids might wear and tear them easily. Instead, go for a light metal pair of frames that will last longer while giving off a classy look.

Refunds and Warranties

Let’s be honest, okay? Glasses break, they break a lot! Especially when it comes to kids, they can be pretty whimsical and shatter framed glasses into pieces. So, remember to look out for refund policies as well as manufacture warranties. Most companies provide from 1 to 2-year warranty so pick one that does.

Company Claims

Even though some manufacturers might have a complete blue-light-blocking claim whilst preventing digital eyestrain, do your research! Be certain to check out reviews when placing the order to ensure overall customer satisfaction and whether they really help or not. 

Tips and tricks to save your kid’s eyes

Tips and tricks to save your kid’s eyes

One thing that most buyers presume is that blue-light-filtering lenses are the ultimate solution to safeguard your eyes. Regardless of how these glasses do mitigate blue light from tv or desktop screens, there are other notions to be kept in mind. 

  • Manage your child’s screen time to the least possible. Make sure that your kid is device-free for at least 2 hours prior to his or her bedtime. This will ensure a healthy sleeping schedule and your kid will wake up fresh in the morning.
  • Try opting for parental control features to be certain that your kid does not spend too much time browsing or YouTubing.
  • Set a routine for your children’s on-screen timing. Additionally, make a habit of taking breaks from digital screens every 20 minutes to avoid the eyes from drying out and causing eye discomfort. 
  • Screen filters such as the built-in dark mode in phones or the anti-glare filters in laptops can be heavily useful to prevent further eye damage. Hence, if your device has such options, make sure to change the settings for the best results!

Now that we are at the end, all we can hope is that we were able to explain the importance of dodging the harmful blue light spectrum. So, why wait anymore? Go and grab some good pairs of frames for your children right away to confirm their best ocular health!

Yes, your toddler is growing, and you love to see them grow in the crib. But do you know that your toddler can injure him by climbing the crib he is staying in?

Yes, almost all the kids try to get out of the crib by climbing. So, what to do when your toddler keeps climbing out of the crib? 

Let us discuss the details so that you can safeguard your baby!

How to Keep Toddlers inside the Crib?

What to do when your toddler keeps Climbing Out of the Crib

Removing Stuff

The first thing you can do when you see a toddler climbing out of the crib is to keep the crib clean. If there are too many things indie the crib, they will use them for getting out of the area.

No matter there are blankets or toys, stuffed animals or pillows, your kid will gather them up and manage to make them a method for escaping. All you have to do is remove these items from the crib so that your kid cannot try to get out!

Also, do not overreact before your kid when they try to climb the crib. If you overreact much, they will get more interested in doing it. Also, to keep eyes on them, get a nursery camera; it keeps them safe!

Crib Setting

Another option you can settle for here is to change the mattress settings first. In almost all cribs, there are options for setting the mattress to an adjustable height. So, you can quickly get it out higher or lower.

Take the mattress to a lower position; go as low as you can! If it doesn’t work, check the lower end of the crib and put it on the backside.

As a result, the lower end will be on the back, and your kid will be fighting with the higher end that he cannot climb! There are times when one toddler influences the other one for escaping.

To be precise, they help each other. When you see that you cannot stop one kid from influencing the other and the crib-climbing, this is going on, again and again, separate the kids! It sounds harsh, but it works!

Would you like to check some good twin mattresses for kids? Check here

Sleep Sack is the Key

When babies grow up a little, they will try to escape the crib. However, in most cases, before being one year old, they do not usually try to run the crib by climbing.

But there are also times when the babies of 8-9 months trying to get out of the crib because they have better growth. These babies usually grow faster, stand faster, and walk more quickly.

If you see that your infant is too early for the situation, you have to use a sleep sack. With this gear’s help, you can easily keep your baby’s legs and feet in the right place.

As a result, they won’t be able to move them. However, it shouldn’t be too snug for your baby to feel uncomfortable. Ensure it is the right size for them to move, but they cannot climb for the sacks.

It will discourage your baby’s climbing interest and will keep him safe from falling from the crib!

Avoid Crib Tents

Mostly, we see parents getting crib tents to keep their babies inside the crib. But if you go through expert advice, all you need to do is avoid it!

The tents can be dangerous for your baby’s health. The kid can easily strangle him with the tents.

When your baby tries to move inside the crib, there is a chance to wrap themselves in the fabric. This can bring you unwanted news and so, we recommend you not to use it.

baby playing in nursery

Get a Big Kid Bed

You might think that your kid is already a grown-up, but trust us; this is where almost all parents do wrong!

Just because your baby is trying to climb the crib doesn’t mean he is ready to get out of the four-walled crib. As the kids have an impulsive nature, they will always show this JAILBREAK nature.

But you do not need to make a decision so fast. In such situations, what you can do is get a bed. However, your kid might not be ready for the big bed too!

The only option left for the situation is a big kid-bed. Kid beds are bigger than the crib but smaller than the big beds.

Wrap Up

Now, you have learned how to keep your toddler away from climbing the crib! All you need to do is keep your eyes open and observe every inch of your child’s growth. That’s how you know when to do what

Discover pack and play comparison here.

We can understand that children these days are so much into devices. In this tech world, mobile phones, laptops, PCs, Smartwatches, and other devices have taken the place of fields. You can keep your child safe inside the home but you cannot make him strong if you keep doing so!

And the best option to make your son strong and fit is taking him to the field for some real sports. What if you have a non-athletic son? Calm down, don’t worry much! Everyone will not like everything and it’s alright.

But if you really want your kid to be an athlete or be interested in sports, you have to be a little cautious. Don’t force him to do anything directly. All you have to do is indirectly make him interested in sports! Here are some tips to help you out!

Raising-a-Non-Athletic-Son 

Better Late than Never

We know you must be thinking that if your child is also not into sports, how can you start early.

But trust us, better late than never. If you start late, your child will not be interested in sports anymore. It is better to get the athlete thing in their brain from the beginning.

Slow and steady, you have to start knowing him better. Buy him kids’ sensory toys in the shade of different sports equipment. This will make him fascinated by sports.

Once you get close to him, you can easily talk about sports and let him know the importance of sports. At first, they won’t be that much interested. But slowly, you can make them interested in it.

Watch Sports Together

Now, when they are not into sports already, you cannot force him to get into the ground for playing. In this case, the best way is to show them sports.

When they are inside the house and don’t want to play outside, you cannot just be angry with them.

All you need to do is watch sports shows before him. Turn on the TV and go through the sports channel. Make him sit with you and watch it spontaneously. Go through different YouTube videos and watch them together.

If you are careful enough, you will see that some specific sports are grabbing his attention. That’s what your bait is!

family dinner
Credit: Playground Dad

Round Table Meetings

As we have already mentioned, you cannot force him but you can intentionally get him into a conversation. After watching a TV match together, you and your partner can sit for a conversation.

In this conversation, you can include your kid too. While doing the conversation, talk in detail about the match you have seen together. Ask your kid a question about a topic and know his opinion.

Tell him to tell you who was the best player in the match and why. This will help him talk about the players and know about them more. Sometimes, more than playing, kids are attracted to the player. Because in comparison to work, personality attracts them more.

Indoor Challenges

Some kids like to play indoor games. So, you can take advantage of these. After watching a match, you can practice a specific thing from the match together. First, he will not be interested.

But slowly, he will participate. Suppose you have seen a football match. Right after that, you can practice specific dribbling from the match with your kid. You both can try that. You can also try it before him and challenge him to do it.

Set a reward for the person who can do it better. This can help him try the tricks and be more excited about athletes.

PC Games

Now that your child is already not into sports, he must be doing something. No matter if he is playing PC games or mobile games, take a look at them. Take his iPad and download sports games on it.

Once he starts playing the game on the device, he will try to put it outside too. Make a kid’s indoor play setup for him.

He will start trying to play those inside your house. This is the right time to take your kid outside and let him do some sports in the backyard! When he starts doing sports, you can go for a kid’s fitbit to know what he is doing!

Take him to Competitions

It is better to take him to competitions so that he can compete. But before everything, you have to take him to the matches to show him how it works. Whenever you get a little time on your weekends, you can take your kid to a match.

No matter if it is football, cricket, long jump, throw hammer or just running, you have to take him so that he can see it. When he starts watching it, he will try to be one of the players and play like them!

Wrap Up

Now that you know how you can deal with your non-athletic son, start it tomorrow! The later you will make, the worse it will be. Remember, you don’t need to force him or push him to do anything, let him do the sport he likes.

He might be interested in one sport or he can also be interested in different sports. Let him choose when he is older. When he is just a kid, let him play the way he wants!

limit kids tech use
If you think your world revolves around technology, your kids’ world probably has it worse! Between social media sites like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook; gaming and streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube; and content sharing platforms like Etsy and Reddit, your child can access a vast online world.

With the freedom (and anonymity) these platforms provide, users can be subjected to a host of potential dangers.

As a parent, you want to protect your kid from the virtual threats they will inevitably face. But how do you balance keeping them safe with respecting their privacy?

Knowing the Dangers

It’s important to understand the dangers your child faces online in order to develop a strategy for keeping them safe. The Internet can be a dark place, and your child may stumble upon dangerous content without even meaning to.

Pornography, extreme violence, and disturbing images proliferate online, and can be jarring for your child. Online platforms can also expose kids to information glorifying self-harm or drug use, allowing dangerous ideas to take root and encouraging high risk behaviors. Hate speech often finds captive audiences and has been growing dangerously over the years.

Sites like Facebook have been criticized for allowing extreme groups to organize and disseminate hateful information, usually targeted at different minority groups. One report found that 113 of 221 designated white supremacist organizations (51%) had a Facebook presence. This shocking content can be both manipulative and deeply offensive, and is one of the important dangers to talk with your child about.

Young users are also vulnerable to cyberbullies and online predators. Teens often seek advice and support from peers online, which provides malicious internet users the opportunity to take advantage of kids seeking help.

A study from the Pew Research Center showed that even though teens strengthened friendships online, approximately half the participants felt pressure to exploit themselves for others’ approval and experienced negative emotions. While bullying isn’t new, cyberbullying allows aggressors to hide behind a screen, take advantage of online vulnerabilities, and exploit personal information.

Online sexual predators use many of the same tactics as cyberbullies. Virtual aggressors gain trust and manipulate teens, exploiting them for personal or intimate information or photos. Gaming communities and popular social media sites can be hunting grounds for predators, as detailed in a New York Times article. Predators disguise their identity, posing as fellow teens, in order to gain trust and exploit youth online. With all of these dangers, how and when should you limit your kids’ tech use?

kids using ipad

When to Limit Tech Use

Limiting tech use shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing situation, and, more than anything, it should be a conversation. Imposing strict limits on phone or computer usage without giving your kid a reason is only going to invite resentment. Teens are tech savvy, and if they want to get around your barriers, they will find a way.

Starting an open and honest conversation with your teens by laying out your concerns and reasoning for introducing limits will create the opportunity for productive dialogue. Exactly when and how far you choose to limit their tech use is ultimately a personal decision, but here are some helpful guidelines to start with:

  • No phones before bed. The blue light emitted from screens can interfere with sleep cycles, and make it harder to fall asleep. Consider discussing putting down the phone 20-30 minutes before bedtime.
  • No overtly pornographic or dangerous sites. Discuss with your child the sites to avoid, and make sure they understand the importance of carefully navigating pop-ups and suspicious ads. Since you can’t stop your teen from viewing pornography 100% of the time, try talking to them about the difference between porn and real sexual situations, so they don’t pick up bad habits from the content they view online.
  • No technology when studying or at the dinner table. Set clear expectations for tech-free situations and establish good habits and routines.
  • No phones when driving. Distracted driving is immensely dangerous and teens are already at a higher risk of a car accident than adults. By removing distracting phones and other tech from the car, you can help protect your teen from a fender bender or worse.

How to Limit Tech Use

Now that you’ve set your limits, you need to go about enforcing them. One popular way is to set parental controls on the devices that your child uses. Using site blockers and filters to prohibit access to off-limits websites is an easy way to shield your child from pornographic or violent content. If your family uses tablets, iPhones, parental controls are already built in and easy to use. Of course, if your kids really want to find blocked content, they will find a way. That’s why having a conversation with them about the sites you plan to block is important; that way they understand the importance of your rules.

Another often-used option is to physically take away your kid’s phone. While this may seem like a natural instinct, we actually advise against it. Your teen will focus on the severity of the punishment and spend their time waiting to get their phone back, rather than reflecting on the behavior that led to the punishment in the first place. If your kid breaks one of your tech limitation rules, here are some punishment options instead of taking away their phone:

  • Impose natural consequences. If they are late to dinner because they were online gaming, tell them that they need to make their own dinner that night. This way, the consequence (no dinner) is a natural result of the offense (missing dinner time), not a blanket punishment.
  • Explain their misbehavior. Instead of immediately taking away the phone, sit them down and explain why they are in trouble in the first place. They may have forgotten your rule, felt peer-pressured to break it, or have a good reason for what they did. Keep the conversation honest and open, and emphasize that these rules are in place for their own safety.
  • Have them make amends. Have them apologize for their mistake and address the consequences. If they ignored studying for a test because they were on social media, have them reach out to a tutor, apologize to the teacher, and make a plan to get their grades back on track.

Whatever limits you decide to impose, remember that they should be decided in conversation with your child. Taking their opinions into account includes them in the decision-making process, and will make them more likely to heed your rules. Clear, functional limits can protect them from online dangers, and open, honest communication will allow you to establish a trusting relationship.