Friday, December 5, 2008

Car Seat For Infant Infant Child Car Seats

Car seats for infants are designed to fit your baby at different stages of their development in regards to their weight. It is essential that your baby be properly harnessed into an infant car seat at all times in a moving vehicle, no matter how short the distance is. Baby car seats are such type of baby goods that holds your most precious cargo. Whether you are running down the street or you are going cross country on vacation, you should always make sure that your baby is kept safe in these comfortable car seats. - infant child car seats are designed in such a way that they protect babies from all the jerks, jumps and sudden brakes during travelling.

Baby car seats are tested and tested again to ensure maximum safety for your child. This safety is only assured if you, the purchaser, use this seat properly right from installation to latching up your child each time. Baby car seats are so essential that parents are required by law to have babies in these special seats whenever they are travelling in a vehicle. The car seat has to be installed in the rear seat of a vehicle and for an infant it has to be rear facing.

Unfortunately child restraints and car seats for infants are sometimes the subject of manufacturing recalls. Recalls vary in severity; sometimes the manufacturer will send you an additional part for the seat, other times they will provide a new seat entirely.

Therefore in conclusion child safety seats in cars are the best tools available to parents that reduce the risk of injury and death of children who ride in vehicles. Always use them whenever you drive in your car with your infant child.

Shopping for Car Seat for Infants

When shopping online for infant child car seats, they are listed separately from those for larger children, and brand names, price range, and in some cases, a brief description are all included. Warnings of car seats to avoid include those made before 1981 and those without a label providing the date of manufacture and model number. Baby car seats are designed to shield children from injuries in a car accident. Baby car seat problems continually involve defective handles, sudden releases, weak construction, unanticipated rotation and others.

If you are in the market for a infant baby car seat check out elitecarseats. They carry the best child car seats, convertible car seats, and booster seats for kids - as well as car seat strollers and a full range of useful car seat accessories. When it comes to the safety of our children, there are no compromises. With that in mind, they have spent countless hours doing our homework to find the safest and most comfortable car seats available today, from top brands such as Britax,Graco and Recaro. Importantly they have a premise that brings peace in mind when shopping from them as they will not sell a car seat that we would not use with their own children.

Infant Car Seats - Child Booster Seats has information, links to reviews and product feeds from major infant car seats retailer as well as ebay. A infant car seat shopping portal.

By John Cas

Friday, September 26, 2008

Warning to Parents: Booster Seats & the LATCH System


Warning to Parents: Booster Seats & the LATCH System


I was recently hired to write many articles on child safety. While researching I found out that I did not have my 2 ? year old properly restrained in his car set. First, I found out that he was too tall to remain in the 5-point harness and he had met the weight limit on the 5-point harness. He needed to be moved to a booster seat. I bought an Eddie Bauer Convertible Seat that is supposed to grow with the child, and it has.


Here is the warning!


I had my child's car seat LATCHed in and when I adjusted the seat to make it a booster I left the LATCH on. I assumed it would keep my child safer, but this assumption was completely wrong! If your child is in a convertible child seat and you begin to use it as a booster seat YOU MUST REMOVE THE LATCH SYSTEM! If you have to slam on your breaks, or God Forbid get in a car accident, your child's booster seat is suppose to move forward with your child. As your child and the booster move forward the seat belt system will react much quicker and when your child is pulled back, with their booster, the booster seat will take the brunt of the impact. Now, if you leave your LATCH on, with the same above situation, your child will fly forward and their seat will not. It takes much longer for the seat belt system to realize that it is suppose tighten up- if it does at all.


What Car Seat Companies Said


I called 4 popular companies that produce child booster seats and they all said it is dangerous for parents to leave the LATCH system on and all of their manuals specify that you should not leave it on. I researched the Internet and several times found, The LATCH does not need to be used with the booster seat. Well, does not have to be and completely dangerous are two different stories.


My Research


I thought I would research a bit further and I called several home daycare providers in my area. These providers often transport children and the laws for these providers are pretty specific. However, not one knew about the danger of LATCH systems with booster seats. In fact, two different providers said they had to put on their breaks and a child in their care flew forward in their booster seat. One woman said the seat belt clicked in really late and the other said one of her kids flew out, his feet landed on the floor of the car, and then the seat belt system clicked in. She had to pull over and help him out of the seat belt before she could put him back in the seat. Now you may be thinking that their cars were old, but they are required by law to have newer vehicles and if they buy another car it must be a brand new-never driven vehicle. The women that had these 2 kids slide forward had newer cars; one had a 2004 minivan and another had a 2005 minivan.


PLEASE refer to your child's car seat manual for proper instructions! If you do not have the manual call the manufacturers number, which should be located on your child's car seat. If you are uncomfortable with your child's seat not using the LATCH system, there are car seats that have higher weight and height limits for the 5-point harness. Normally, if your child hits 40 pounds or their shoulders go above the highest strap slot they need to be moved into a booster. Some special seats let your child weigh up to 65 pounds before they must be removed from the 5-point harness. No matter what seat you choose, please remove the LATCH system when you child moves into a booster seat.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)(http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/) has valuable information on car seat safety.


About the Author

Melissa Fach owns http://PanacaWriting.com which offers writing and SEO services. She also owns http://SRQWebDesign.com which offers affordable websites and http://Sarasotaprintshop.com offers graphic design and printing services.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Eddie Bauer Gridlock Charcoal Stroller

When choosing a baby stroller it can be very challenging to you as a parent having to face, as your child grow from an infant to a toddler. Being a first time parent, I encountered what I called the baby stroller challenge. I tested and tried out a few different name brand strollers and found that the Eddie Bauer Gridlock Charcoal Stroller is the one I was looking for.

The features on the Eddie Bauer Stroller impressed me. The stroller is easy to assemble and has a solid lightweight aluminum frame. It has multiple reclining positions that allow you to adjust the angle of the seat just like in a car. The stroller can be lock at the rear wheels, by pushing down on the red tab with your foot or hand to insure no movement and easily pull up to release the brakes. It stands on its own when folded and locks and is unable to open unless you presses the red lever located on the handle bar. When opening the stroller it snaps into place so the stroller would not fold up and harm your child.

Another feature it has is the weight capacity max up to 40 pounds and safety 5-point harness to keep your baby secure, and you can easily adjust the seat to one of several angles, including laying flat, for your baby's comfort. An oversized storage basket beneath the seat provides plenty of room for toys, clothes, and snacks, and the stroller comes with removable trays and cup holders that can be positioned in front of your baby or across the steering handles for you, mom or dad.

I bought the Eddie Bauer Stroller in 2006 because of all the safety features it as. The number one thing my son thought me, is safety and that comes first.

About The Author: Kevern Cornelius Sr. has been involved with reviewing baby products for two years. Since then I?ve been helping people find and review the best baby products, to meet their needs. Visit http://www.1stbabysupplies.com to learn more about our reviews and services.


Sunday, September 14, 2008

Baby Travel Systems

Baby travel systems

Baby travel systems are the best value for your money. These systems are really wonderful. They come with many different features but all include a car seat and stroller. The car seat normally attaches to a base that stays in the car. The car seat also attaches to the stroller. The car seats are easy to attach with a one hand latch that most systems today.

There are many brand names out there that offer quality and durability in the baby travel systems line. Some of the names you will hear are Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Graco, Evenflo, among many others.

Coscos baby travel systems have wonderful features that include a car seat which is also the infant carrier and the stroller. The stroller is equipped with an infinite position reclining seat, a three point harness system, front wheel suspension, front reflectors, a large basket under the seat, a snack tray for your baby, and a parent tray on the handle. The car seat features include a washable and removable padded fabric pad, and a 5 point harness safety belt. This stroller is easy to fold up and put away with a one hand motion.

Eddie Bauer baby travel systems are lightweight and easy to maneuver. Other wonderful features include a multi-position reclining seat, child and parent snack tray, and the 5 point harness system. Eddie Bauer has more than one style you can choose from all with different features that you are sure to love.

Graco baby travel systems are designed for infants up to age 3. This system has great suspension to give your baby a smooth ride, a childs tray, a parent tray with a temperature gauge and clock included, and other unique features. The AutoBaby car seat locks simply onto the stroller and the SafetyBase very easily with just one hand. This system is convenient and economical.

An Evenflo baby travel system has many different designs to choose from, all with some great features that you should check out. The large canopy will protect you little one from all types of weather and this system can be pushed using one hand.

As you shop for you baby travel systems check out all the new features and options available today. You will enjoy having a travel system that will save you time and money.

Baby travel systems are the best value for your money. These systems are really wonderful. They come with many different features but all include a car seat and stroller. The car seat normally attaches to a base that stays in the car. The car seat also attaches to the stroller. The car seats are easy to attach with a one hand latch that most systems today.

There are many brand names out there that offer quality and durability in the baby travel systems line. Some of the names you will hear are Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Graco, Evenflo, among many others.

Coscos baby travel systems have wonderful features that include a car seat which is also the infant carrier and the stroller. The stroller is equipped with an infinite position reclining seat, a three point harness system, front wheel suspension, front reflectors, a large basket under the seat, a snack tray for your baby, and a parent tray on the handle. The car seat features include a washable and removable padded fabric pad, and a 5 point harness safety belt. This stroller is easy to fold up and put away with a one hand motion.

Eddie Bauer baby travel systems are lightweight and easy to maneuver. Other wonderful features include a multi-position reclining seat, child and parent snack tray, and the 5 point harness system. Eddie Bauer has more than one style you can choose from all with different features that you are sure to love.

Graco baby travel systems are designed for infants up to age 3. This system has great suspension to give your baby a smooth ride, a childs tray, a parent tray with a temperature gauge and clock included, and other unique features. The AutoBaby car seat locks simply onto the stroller and the SafetyBase very easily with just one hand. This system is convenient and economical.

An Evenflo baby travel system has many different designs to choose from, all with some great features that you should check out. The large canopy will protect you little one from all types of weather and this system can be pushed using one hand.

As you shop for you baby travel systems check out all the new features and options available today. You will enjoy having a travel system that will save you time and money.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Serenity is an author at Baby Strollers Guide
Serenity, a mother herself, has years of experience with baby products


Saturday, August 16, 2008

Features For Every Baby Car Seat

While it is enough just to have any kind of the baby car seat, there are specific features, which every car seat must have. After all, the important thing in lots of people's lives is baby. So why not keep them as safe as possible? While shopping for the baby car seat, you must find the hundreds of thousands of model as well as brands to select from. It can be complex and approximately discouraging the shopping for one with no knowledge what to look for. Fortunately, there are a few specific features that will help you create the right decision.

The primary feature to appear for is the 5-point attach. In the market you will discover two different kinds of the seats, the 3-point harness as well as the 5-point harness. The 5-point harness is upgrade as well as will safe your baby with a little better than 3-point harness. It will secure your baby in a better way, but it will give more of the protection against the ejection.

The after that feature is a must in a few kind of the head protection. All the baby car seats must have a few kind of the head protection nowadays, but the quantity of the protection given depends on seat. Increased the impact that will help to provide the extra safety while it comes to the side-impact crash. One of the improved kinds of the head protection you will also find on the marketplace today is the layer of the EPS foam or else something very similar.

You will also see that most of the car seats also have the metal locking clip attached on them. The cause for this is to make sure that the seatbelt that is holding the seat in rest does not release during the car travel. The difficulty is that many of the parents do not be acquainted with how to correctly use this clip. If you will be able to find the car seat with the built-in locking clip, it is very much easy to use as well as will provide the tight grip that will keep your child safe.

Speaking of the clips, the two pieces chest clip is very a great deal safer than the one-piece clip, which is found on the most generic baby car seating. The two-piece will assist you to minimize the option of the ejection during the crash when it is utilized properly. Having this two-piece clip will also makes it much harder for the baby to arrive at their chest, thus by eliminating the possibility of them of loosening it.

The most recent thing that you will want to gaze at prior to buying your car seat is what type of the seatbelt system does your car has. Some of the car seats also have some different seatbelt fitting options whereas others have only what your car has to present. Therefore, you know what system does your car have so you can gaze for a car seat, which is compatible with that scheme.

By: Dave Text

Friday, August 15, 2008

Car Seat Safety Tips For Your Baby

Do you know that according to a report 80% of kids are not properly seated in the car seat and thus many children get unnecessarily injured in car accidents. Still many of us do not bother about using safe car seats for our children. So let us follow some basic tips so that we can avoid our babies from getting involved in an accident.

The biggest mistake that you parents often commit, is not to bother whether the seat is right for your child's age and whether he is facing the right direction.

a) Always remember infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or convertible seat until they are 1 year old and weigh twenty pounds. Kids whose weight remains less than 20 pounds even after 1 year should also continue to face backwards.

b) When a child is above 1 year in age and weighs more than 20 pounds then he/she can be seated in a forward facing car seat, until they are 40 pounds of weight. Children over forty pounds should be placed into a belt positioning booster seat and they should usually stay in it until they are at least 8 years old.

c) Parents always remember not to use the car's regular seat belts for your child until they fit correctly when your child is about 80 pounds and is 4ft 9 inches tall. Your child should not use regular seat belts until the shoulder strap fits across his shoulder and not his neck, and the lap belt fits across his hips and not his stomach.

d) You should not allow your child to sit in the front seat until he/she is more than 12 years of age

e) Remember! Do not use seat, which has its harness straps too loose or in the wrong position, always lock the seat belt properly with a locking clip, secure the seat belt correctly and do not place an infant seat in the way of an air bag.

f) Always make sure that the harness chest clip of the infant seat is positioned at your child's armpit level, the harness straps are straight, the rear-facing straps are positioned at or a bit below your child's shoulders, the seat is reclined at about a 45 degree angle and never ever place an infant in a rear-facing child restraint in the front seat of a car.

g) When you are using a rear facing convertible seat, see carefully whether the harness straps are positioned at or a bit below your child's shoulders, the harness chest clip is at the armpit level, the harness straps are straight and the seat is reclined at a 45-degree angle

h) While using a forward facing convertible seat, watch out that the harness straps are positioned at or slightly above your child's shoulder, the straps are straight and the harness chest clip's position is around your child's mid-chest or armpit area.

i) You can only use a forward facing combination seat if the harness straps are positioned at, or slightly above, your child's shoulders and you must stop using a shield booster when your child is 40 pounds.

j) If you want to use a belt-positioning booster seat, first make sure that you are using the lap/shoulder belt combination with a belt-positioning booster. Never use just a lap belt. Secondly, the shoulder belt must rest across the chest and thirdly the lap-belt should remain across the lap or upper thigh area and not across the stomach

Finally, do not use a car seat that: a) was involved in a crash, b) more that 10 years old, c) does not have a label with its date of manufacturing, d) does not have instructions, e) has a crack in its frame or has some part missing.

Always follow these instructions to ensure your baby's safety in the car.

By: John Foley

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Keep Your Child Safe In The Car

Most safety inspections find that children are improperly secured in car seats. Without proper restraint, your child can be seriously injured in the event of an accident. Knowing a little about child restraints can help you ensure that your child stays safe in the car.

Shopping For A Car Seat

The first step in choosing a car seat is determining your childs current height and weight. This will tell you which type of seat is appropriate for your child. These restrictions are usually listed on the outside of the box for easy access. You may want to invest in a convertible type seat that can be adapted to fit your child as they grow, but never rush to advance your child into the next seat before they meet the height and weight requirements.

Another important factor in choosing a seat is making sure that it will fit the backseat of your vehicle. Purchasing a seat that is too large for your car or one that does not fit the slope of your back seats without tipping up, is not safe. A seat should fit into the backseat, with enough room to get the child in and out easily. The child seat should rest squarely on the seat of the vehicle, not at an angle. Using pillows or blankets to prop up the car seat is not safe.

Do not buy a second hand car seat. It may be missing vital components, or may have been involved in a crash previously. Once a seat is involved in a crash, it can have stress cracks that would cause the seat to splinter in a second collision.

Installing Your Car Seat

All car seats come with an owners manual. It is important to read it, even if you feel confident that you know how to install the seat.

When fastening an infant or convertible seat with harness straps, you should place your knee in the seat while fastening your cars restraining belt to ensure a snug fit. You should not be able to move the seat any more than one inch in any direction.

If your seat has a tether strap, use it. Newer model cars have an anchored hook in the backseat for securing a tether strap.

Dont allow straps to become twisted or frayed. Inspect them periodically for wear and damage.

Securing Your Child

The retainer clip of a safety harness should be fastened so that it is level with your childs armpits. The harness straps should protrude from the seat level with your childs shoulders or just below them.

All children should be secured in the backseat. And never use a car seat near an air bag.

Children younger than 12 months should be placed in a rear facing car seat.

Toddlers who are secured with your vehicles seat belt and a booster seat, should have a shoulder belt as well. The belt should be placed snugly across your childs hips and routed correctly through the seat before being fastened.

Securing your child properly will help keep them safe. Taking a few moments to check over your childs safety restraint can save their life.

By: Levi Quinn

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

What Are Your Car Seat Options

While it is easy to understand that small children belong in car safety seats, it can become a little confusing when one begins to look around at all of the options and consider weight limits. There are several models and brands of car safety seats available on the market today, each slightly different. The basic models are rear-facing, combination, front-facing and booster seats.

There are also seats for older children of around 60 pounds. A small child will be that weight around 9 years of age. Some models of car seats for younger children are for children of 20-25 pounds, while others can accommodate riders up to 10 pounds heavier.

The safest type of car seat to use for babies is rear facing. When selecting one for your baby, you should choose one with the higher weight limit for longer use.

A good guideline is to have the top of your child's head is within an inch of the top of the shell. It's good to remember that different angles are recommended for different ages. For newborns and young infants, a 45-degree maximum angle is recommended. Less recline is needed for older children with good head support.

Front-facing car seats should be used upright and with no recline. If you are going to use a front-facing car safety seat, choose a model with a five-point harness and front harness adjuster. The internal harness (the harness that is attached to the seat itself) in this type of seat should be used until the child is 40 pounds or until their shoulders are above the top harness slots. At this point, remove the internal harness from the seat and convert the seat to a booster for use with the automobile's lap and shoulder belt. It is vitally important that you use both types of belt or drive a car with combination belts.

If your child is over 40 pounds, you may want to consider purchasing a seat that is a booster only. It is just as important to properly install an older child's seat as it is to install a seat for a younger child. Your older child's booster should allow for the shoulder belt to cross the center of the shoulder and chest. Avoid crossing it over the neck. The lap belt should ride across the hips. If your car has low seat backs without headrests, use a high-back model. You may be able to find a model with adjustable head supports and extra padding.

Of course, there are also specialty models, such as models for older kids who ride in vehicles without shoulder belts. There are even models for special-needs kids and for kids up to 80 pounds, which in some cases may be as old as 11 years. There are so many options on the market that, with a little searching, you should be able to find exactly what your child as wonderful and unique as he or she is needs.

By: Levi Quinn

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Choosing A Car Seat That Is Compatible With Your Vehicle

If you are having a baby, you know you need a car safety seat for the child. If you have begun your research, you may know a bit about weight limits and rear-facing versus front-facing. You have probably decided on a basic type for your infant and may even have a preferred brand. Chances are, you also already have a car with a specific type of seat belt and have recently discovered that not every brand of car seat works well with every model of car. You need to find a car seat that fits into your vehicle properly.

There are many models of seats out there, and you cannot try them all before settling on one. Fortunately, you can use a shortcut by visiting the Car Seat Data web site. There is a compatibility search mechanism on the site that will allow you to check your favorite brands of car seats with your make of automobile to find out which are the best models to use.

For example, choosing the Baby Trend brand car seat and a Chevy will tell you that the 2001 Impala has a great fit with belts with the rear-facing LatchLoc type, and that the 2003 Tracker also has a great fit with the LatchLoc. There are two entries for the Baby Trend LatchLoc rear-facing seat and the 2001 Ford Escape. One comment was, Center. Great fit. Used shelf liner and rolled towel for angle. The other comment said, Outboard. Great fit. Used shelf liner on leather seats. There are also two, Outboard. Great fit, comments for the Ford Focus (2002 and 2003) and the rear-facing LatchLoc. For the 1996 Ford F-150, the comment is, Rear center. Great fit.

Judging by the homogeneous nature of the comments, there is probably a questionnaire that people fill out to tell others their experience.

The best way to conduct a search is to enter your car's make, model and year and then see what experiences other drivers of your type car have had. For instance, there were no results for the Baby Trend seat brand and the Volkswagen Jetta. If you are a Jetta driver, rather than go out and buy an entirely different model of auto just to use a Baby Trend, which isn't an option for many people, it is better to choose based on the experiences of other Jetta drivers. There are many entries for the 2003 Jetta, some with copious notes and tips for using particular safety seats.

Jetta drivers seem to like Graco car seats, for example. Interestingly enough, one Jetta driver did actually trade in their car for a larger one so that the SafeSeat, apparently a large car seat, would fit better.

Finding the right baby seat for your car is not as overwhelming as it seems, once you start narrowing down the information that you need for a proper choice. Since you are purchasing a car safety seat to keep your little one safe, you should purchase one that will actually work optimally with your car for the best security possible.

By: Levi Quinn

Monday, August 11, 2008

Should Your Child Be Using A Rear Facing Car Seat

Seatbelt use has been a subject of much debate since states began creating laws requiring residents to use seatbelts. Many people don't like to use seatbelts and would prefer not to put their children in safety restraints either.

The truth is that a person in a crash is much more likely to die if thrown from the car, babies and young children especially. Many people have accepted the wisdom of using car seats for their young ones, but aren't quite sure about the proper way to do it.

It would probably be the best of all situations not to put a baby into a car at all, since their bodies are so fragile and an automobile accident can be so violent, even at low speeds of travel. But life goes on as usual, even if one has a baby, and so parents must do the next best thing, restraining their infants and young children in the car as well as possible.

That means rear-facing car seats. The reason for rear-facing car seats for children is that children are at much more risk of spinal cord injury if they were riding in a front-facing car seat and experiencing a frontal crash.

How long should you use a rear-facing car seat? When does it become safe for the child to ride facing forward in the car? The truth is that riding face forward never becomes safer than riding face backward, and that is true even for adults. If an adult were riding in a rear-facing car seat during a frontal crash, they would be much better off. Facing backwards in a car is wildly impractical, and the next best thing is to turn children around when they outgrow their car seats, which is when the child is around 30 to 35 pounds of weight, probably be well into their second year.

Of course, some people worry about the baby's legs being in danger because legs are bent at the knee in this position or because the baby can touch the rear of the front seat. This does not constitute a danger. Parents may also worry because the rear-facing position is best in the event of a frontal collision, but not in the event of a rear collision.

The truth is that injury and death in a moving vehicle is not completely preventable. Car seats are developed according to the statistics of car crashes and, according to www.car-safety.org, only about 4 percent of crashes are rear-impact collisions. Front-impact collisions and frontal-offset crashes account for about 72 percent, with side impact collisions accounting for about 24 percent of crashes. In addition, rear-end collisions also tend to happen at lower speeds.

If you are wondering in the slightest whether it would be safer for you or your child to be allowed to move freely without restraints in a vehicle and be thrown from the car during a crash, don't wonder. It is terribly dangerous not to wear restraints of any kind and risk being thrown from a vehicle in a car crash.

By: Levi Quinn

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Buyers Guide For Aftermarket Replacement Car Seats.

Aftermarket replacement car seats come in a variety of colors and styles. This can be a tricky and potentially costly decision to make. But it does not have to be. This is no different than buying anything else. Just do a little research. We are going to provide a few hints to make your experience a little easier.

1. Buy from a reputable dealer.One way to check this is to email them and ask a few questions before you purchase. How long in business, who their supplier is, what support do they offer etc.

2.Although you might be tempted to buy the lastest fad such as new designs and such you are better off staying with your original color and design as this will preserve the value of your vehicle.

3. Before you purchase make sure they guarantee that your new seat covers fit with a money back guarantee.

4. If you are not installing your new seat covers yourself, find some one in your area to do this before ordering. This is because some don't like to do this if you do not purchase from them.

5.If you are doing the installation yourself make sure some concise instructions are included.Some also provide online manuals to follow.

6.If you are a do-it yourself type person replacing your seat covers should not be a problem.Basic hand tools are required.

7.Check with your supplier to see what is included with your purchase and to see if any additional supplies are needed.

By following this short outline this will make your purchase and installation of aftermarket replacement car seats go much smoother.

Submitted By: Charles & Susan Truett

Baby Car Seats Essential For Your Babys Protection

The many car collisions every year, which are consequential to demises and agonies of little children have called for making use of an additional car protection piece of equipment: baby car seats.

A good number of general problems of nearly all parents are selecting the finest baby car seats from amongst the scores of alternatives - each one with its individual protection aspect - that are being put across in the marketplace. The response to this is anything that fits the baby at ease, fits in the car securely and is inside the financial plan is the finest baby car seat, which any person can come across.

Every one of the baby car seats, or for that subject all that has got to do with automobile protection, has to clear the similar federal crash trails and security features. Baby car seats, which are agreed upon by the authorities has the guarantee of protection, and the goals that are laid down has to be cleared by every one of the companies. It is pointless to state, that even the most low priced baby car seats put across in the marketplace had to go through the similar crash trails and will at all times save the children from harm against collisions, given that these are appropriately set up.

Additional aspects are all right but all that adds up to the price of the baby car seats. Exorbitant charges do not all the time stand for the most excellent, because there is no most excellent car baby seat. A few additional aspects will merely be significant if it can be made use of but the car seat have got to fit the baby foremost.

After you have selected the baby car seat, which you approve of, the subsequent article on your listing is to go through the company instruction guide. The most luxurious and numerous aspects baby car seats will be of no utilization if the companys instruction booklet is not studied in detail because they might have unique necessities in relation to particular fittings and utilization.

In any case, the similar standard will be relevant. Infants and children, who weigh up less than twenty lbs, ought to be made to sit in the direction of the back of the vehicle. If the kid is by now a year old but still less than the requisite weight restrictions, then the suitable baby car seat have got to be the convertible sort but the kid still has to be made to sit in the direction of the back. The convertibles are capable to be built in to look at the fore, which may possibly be a fine readiness when the kid goes beyond the weight restrictions.

Car seats for just infants are little transportable seating that are frequently a component of a baby carriage. It has 3 to 5 point strap ups and is able to be made use for kids till the weight of twenty two lbs. The seat is typically obtainable with a removable bottom for ease because it suggests that you are no longer needed to set up the seat each time it is made use of.

Larger baby car seats are made use for bigger and older kids and they usually face the front. Similar to the baby car seats for just infants, this is obtainable with a 5-point strap up as well. Additional aspect is a T-Shield with a padding, which is joined to the shoulder band and a tray with padding like above the head guards that dangle down about the kid.

Car seats for babies, regardless of what the nature is includes one item that is common - they are all planned to save the baby from harm against every unseemly mishaps that may possibly take place for the duration of the tour. And just like a security belt, which is joined on the seats of the car to strap up grown up passengers, car seats for babies give protection to the little kids on the vehicle.

Submitted By: Steph Winston

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

How to Pick a Baby Car Seat

Because of our lifestyle today, it is very common for us to bring our baby to places such as the shopping mall, the hospital etc. Anywhere you bring your baby, you're likely to drive the car; thus, it is extremely important for the baby to have a good car seat for safety. However, buying a good car seat may be quite difficult, and there are many different aspects you will need to consider before making a purchase.

Where it's facing, and shape

Make sure the baby seat you're purchasing is facing the rear or can face the rear. This help prevents a lot more unhappy endings. Not only should it be facing the rear, the baby car seat should be tilted backwards a bit; thus, they're more looking relaxed when in the seat rather than sitting straight up.

After the baby is around 20 pounds are so, they will need to be moved to a car seat which faces the front. These seats are much more uptight, but there are still some models which can provide a more relaxed seat. Make sure that before moving your baby to a car seat facing the front, your baby can sit up on their own.

Light and easy to carry

Babies love to sleep! It is very common for babies to sleep in the car while in the car seat. If you were to remove them from their comfortable car seat, it would surely awaken them. Thus, look for a car seat which is also light and easy to carry, so you don't have to disturb when they're sleeping. It becomes a lot more convenient to carry your baby from the car to the house.

Brand new

Ok, so maybe we're in to recycling and reusing as so forth now; however, you don't know the history of the car seat when purchasing it. Used car seats may have damages on them that are naked to the visual eye, and would create a greater impact on your baby if anything was to happen.

Back seats

Just a reminder, always put the car seats at the back. As much as you would love to stare at your baby when the traffic light turns red, and as convenient as it is to have your baby beside you, it is dangerous for your baby to be in the passenger seat. Always put them in the back seats as the impacts are not as huge.

An Overview of Baby Car Seat Laws

Keeping your little angel safe is a bit easier when you know what to do.

It is known that car accidents are the #1 cause of death in children under the age of 14 years old. That information alone should make any parent want to learn as much as possible about keeping their baby safe.

First of all, it is very important to have your infant in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible. Most rear-facing car seats can be found to hold up to 35 lbs. The absolute minimum is suggested to be when the baby reaches 1 year and 20 lbs. A lot of parents get that information confused and think it's one or the other. You may not like the fact that as they get older their legs will bend at the knee in order to sit in the rear-facing car seat. However, I would prefer a little possible discomfort for the baby to possibly losing my sweet one because I turned the car seat a little too soon.

For any who wonder why a rear-facing car seat is so much better than front facing. Well, if we could drive facing the rear, we would be a bit safer too! However, I think at that point we would have more crashes and it would defeat the purpose. It helps prevent spinal cord injury, snapping of the head and neck and other possible things that a crash would cause a body to do.

Some time or another you will absolutely have to face your baby to the front. Do it when you really have no choice. Your baby should ride in the front-facing car seat until absolutely necessary to change to a booster. Most front-facing car seats have a weight limit of 40 lbs. The safest car seats are the ones that have the 5-point harness. This is very important to keep your baby safe.

When your child has reached the car seat limit, safety is still the number one issue. Please be sure to find a booster that will allow up to 80 lbs and has the 5-point harness as well. So many children are severely hurt or even killed due to their shoulder belt being behind their back because it was uncomfortable.

Now, actual car seat laws do vary from state to state so remember to check with your highway patrol for more information. Or simply type in car seat laws in in our trusted google search. Or, whatever search engine you may use.

One more very important thing - Any time you purchase a new car seat or booster get a professional to have it checked to make sure that it is installed correctly. You may feel it's out of your way and un-necessary but it's always best to know your baby is going to be safe.

By Dorothy Garcia

Tips for Your Baby Car Seat Purchase!

It is crucial that parents have a baby car seat before they leave the hospital with their newborn baby! The newborn baby that rides in the back seat of the car that is rear-facing is the safest position that one can have them in their automobile. In fact, some hospitals and maternity wards may not even let you leave without have your baby's car seat properly checked out to make sure that it's safe. So here are a few tips to make sure that your car seat doesn't pose a problem for your baby.

Buying Brand-New is Best

For your baby's car seat, buying one that is brand new is best. Most of the second-hand car seats that you buy at a garage sale or from someone's ad in the newspaper may not be the safest and the best option. For one thing, it is crucial that you know the history behind the car seat. If you buy one second-hand, chances that you'll know the history of the car seat is slim, By history, I mean finding out whether or not the baby car seat has ever been in an auto accident or not. Has the car seat been dropped at all? Even though it might not looked damage, it is crucial that the functionality of the car seat remains intact. This is why buying a brand new car seat is best for your newborn baby!

No Extra Padding

Buying after-market padding for your car seat is advised against for so many reasons. One reason that it is unsafe is because your baby could potentially be harmed if you were ever in a car accident. The padding that comes with the manufacturer's car seat, however, is perfectly okay to keep with your baby. Usually these are the ones that have a specific place for the baby's head. But an after-market padding for your baby's head could harm him or her if ever in an auto accident or even by a sudden stop of the car.

Once you get to the hospital to have the baby there will be all sorts of things to be worried about. Thinking about the car seat then will be an after-thought and you won't want to run out and buy a brand new car seat for your baby. Buying a car seat before you go to the hospital is wise because you'll already have it in hand when you get to the hospital and before you are able to go home when you're released from the hospital. Also, a nurse at the hospital or an expert there will want to thoroughly check out the car seat; being ill-prepared for the routine will just make things all the more difficult.

Making sure you have a new car seat for your newborn is one of the most important things that you can do when you celebrate the arrival of your baby! Everyone will have a safe car ride home and you'll be relieved that you bought a new car seat rather than a second-hand one that you knew nothing about

By Matthew Schieltz

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

How to Buy the Right Car Seat for Your Newborn

Finding the Right Car Seat to Insure Your Child's Safety

Buying a car seat for your newborn baby is more important than any other part of the baby shopping process. The first thing that you must do is buy your babys car seat about 6-7 months into your pregnancy. Regardless of what state you live in they all require that babies, infants and young children be properly harnessed in a vehicle. The best thing to do is start to compare the safety features of the car seats that you are considering to buy, also compare the prices, its important to have all of this stuff in order before the baby arrives. Buying a rear facing seat is a good idea as well. Children under 20 pounds and of one year of age should always ride in the backseat of your vehicle in a rear facing seat. Babies and infants have little necks so facing backward would be the safest position if you get into an accident.


Look for car seats that are easy to install, if you dont install the car seat properly your child may not be restrained properly. Car seats with a five point harness belt are the best because they are safer, they restrain the shoulders, the thighs and the between the legs to prevent injury of your child, they are also much better then the simple plastic chest restraints on the belt. Another thing to consider when shopping for a car seat, is choosing the car seat style that you want. There are all kinds of styles of car seats available on the market today, they range from rear facing infant only car seats to convertible seats for infants and toddlers. Some things to consider when choosing the style of car seat that you want is, do you want a more permanent car seat or do you want an infant carrier? Today there are car seats that are complete travel systems for the car and the stroller and some toddler car seats can turn into booster seats, just choose the style that is right for you. But regardless of what style of car seat you choose still always remember to check the ease of installation of the seat and the safety standards. Prices for these types of car seats can range from $100.00-$500.00.

While safety is the most important thing to remember when buying a car seat, you should still look for a car seat that is easy to wash because they tend to get dirty very fast. Fabric that is attached to the car seat with screws are harder to remove then elastic or snaps. A car seat is with a lot of cushion is a good thing to, your child will be very comfortable while in the seat.


Once you find the car seat that is right for your child check the security of the car seat often by pulling on the main seat belt to make sure the seat is secured. Dont ever put a child in the front seat of a car with an airbag, a small child can very easily be smothered by an airbag if an accident happens. Last but not least make sure the car seat makes you feel safe when your child is in it and make sure your child is comfortable in it.

By Eric Abrego

Monday, July 21, 2008

Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat, Bryant Collection

With a 100 lb maximum weight capacity, the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat protects your child from infancy through booster-seat age. The 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat from Eddie Bauer is truly unique because most combination seats are only forward facing harness seats that turn into a booster - the 3-in-1 works as a rear-facing infant seat, too!

BENEFITS FOR MOM & DAD

A do-it-all safety seat, the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 offers a long life-span, making this car seat an excellent value. The seat's comparatively slim profile accommodates small back seats, and the attractive styling won't overwhelm your sensibilities. Please note the 40 lb harness weight capacity, which falls at the low-end of the scale and may require a faster-growing child to convert to a booster before best practices indicate they are ready.

Installation:

Install the Eddie Bauer 3-in-1 convertible car seat rear facing from infancy to 30 lbs, as a forward facing harness seat 22 - 40 lbs, and as a belt-positioning booster 40 - 100 lbs. The seat has a removable base as well as a one-hand recline adjust for proper rear-facing positioning. Installing the 3-in-1 requires a thorough read of the instruction manual. In some positions, the base must be removed, requiring a screwdriver and plenty of time.

Convenience: You can't beat the convenience and value of owning an all-in-one car seat. Moreover, the soft seat pad removes for easy cleaning. The armrests pivots for easy in-and-out of a tired child, and the small seat size won't overwhelm your back seat.

BENEFITS FOR JACK AND JILL

Soft fabrics and cushy padding keep your little one happy. As mentioned above, the relatively low front-facing harness capacity (40 lbs) may mean some children outgrow the 5-point harness too quickly for best safety practices.

Comfort:

Children sit comfortably and happily thanks to cushy padding. The adjustable head rest accommodates any preference, while the infant head support protects the littlest passengers. Pivoting armrests give your kid a place to rest their arms, and because they lift, getting in and out is super easy.

Safety:

* 5-point harness
* Meets or exceeds FMVSS 213

Product Features:

* 5 Point harness with easy push button buckle for security
* Infant head support helps keep baby more comfortable
* Pivoting Armrests
* LATCH equipped

Product Description From the Manufacturer:

The Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is the first and last car seat you will ever need to buy. This convertible car seat, in the Bryant Collection, will grow to fit your child from infant to toddler, and also converts to a belt-positioning booster. For your child's comfort, this car seat has an extra-wide, supported seat for comfort.

Product Description:

Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat The Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat is the perfect seat for your child from 5 pounds up to 100 pounds! This Eddie Bauer convertible car seat goes starts as a rear facing infant seat from 5 to 35 pounds, then transitions into a forward-facing baby seat from 22 to 40 pounds, and finally switches to a belt-positioning booster for your child weighing 40 to 100 pounds! This fantastic bargain is hard to beat in the convertible car seat market. The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat truly grows with your child. This car seat also boasts must-have features, like EPS foam in the headrest area and removable infant and toddler head support pillows. It provides energy absorption in the event of a collision. This Deluxe car seat is also LATCH compatible, has a four-position adjustable headrest, and a two-piece harness retainer for added security

Trajan's Full Review:

I have to admit. I shied away from the Britax seats because they were pricey and trendy. I didn't think you had to pay $250 for a decent car seat. I loved the idea of the Eddie Bauer because it went from infant to child. My husband insisted on getting an infant seat with a base so I made him give in on the big seat and get the Eddie Bauer. He wound up buying a Britax Marathon for his car later on because he hates the Eddie Bauer, so I have that as a comparison.

All the reviews I read said the straps on the Eddie Bauer tangled and boy are they right! The straps have been my single biggest complaint with the seat. The straps tangle constantly. After 18 months I am getting pretty good at detangling them quickly but sometimes it requires taking the seat out of the car completely to get them straightened. When you have a struggling toddler, you don't need to spend an extra second on the straps. My husband doesn't use the seat that often and he has a really tough time getting the straps untangled and tight. I have taken my son out several times and found the straps much too loose on his chest because my husband couldnt figure out how to tighten them anymore.

Like most car seats, this seat has a latch for releasing the straps to give you more room to get the baby out and a strap you pull to tighten them up after you get them buckled in. The angle on the latch is at an odd angle and its a bit hard to get your finger in there to loosen the straps. My husband's big fat fingers can barely get in there at all. The Britax model has a nice big button on the seat itself that you push and its much easier. The release mechanism seems to be what makes the straps tangle. It let's them droop under the seat and they tangle when you retighten it.

The other problem on the Eddie Bauer straps is the buckle. Its a five point harness which is ideal, but the bottom two points must be fit togeher like a puzzle to go in correctly. This takes some getting used to and when your toddler starts to struggle it gets tougher to be as precise. By comparison, the Britax has two seperate buckle pieces that click in individually. Its much easier.

The Eddie Bauer buckle release is a push down button that I have broken my thumbnail on a dozen times. The Britax is a surface button that you push in.

Finally, my last complaint with the Eddie Bauer seat is that it doesn't seem as comfortable as the Britax. My son will fall asleep well in the Britax but will slouch uncomfortably in the Eddie Bauer and sleep for a lot less time on long trips. For short car trips its fine, but when we travel, we usually switch the Britax to my car. The Eddie Bauer did have a lot more padding then most car seats, but the Britax is pretty plush.

I am not so unhappy with the Eddie Bauer that I am switching it out. I do beleive its safe and it will fit him for a long time especially because he's a really tall kid. But, as I sit here ready to buy another seat for my second child due this Spring, I'm going straight to the Britax.

Another great tip on car seats in general, Britax sells extra pads that go around the crotch buckle on their car seats. It helps to keep a hot buckle off a little ones thighs and keeps those thighs from getting pinched. This little pad was $5 and it fits my Graco Snugride infant seat and the Eddie Bauer so I assume its pretty universal.

Eddie Bauer Pop-Up Booster Seat

Makes dining out easy with kids. Grips and buckles attach firmly to chair. Compact seat for on the go. Three-point harness keeps child secure. Holds up to 30 pounds.

Product Features :

* Lightweight booster seat that folds down for compact toting and pops up simply for on-the-spot use
* Buckle system ensures a good attachment to chair; gripper material keeps it in place
* 3-point harness holds child secure; a thick padded seat keeps them comfortable
* Pocket stores toys, kids’ utensils or snacks
* Imported; 12Lx3Wx14H"

Customer review :
I have had this booster for over a year now and my 2 1/2 yr old son just loves it! It makes him feel good to be able to sit in a chair like a boy boy. I have had no problems with the seat caving in or food getting traped in the netting. I would recommend this seat to anyone.
Reviewer:Mom of Three

I got this when looking for a seat for travel, but mostly to use at the grandparents. They don't have tables that will securely take a clip on chair. This was the first seat I found that sits on a chair and was not bulky hard plastic. I now have a newborn also, so I may get another one instead of a plain booster seat for my toddler, I like the fact that I control where she goes and when(running thru a resturant is not safe for her and not relaxing for me or my husband). This is just right height for my toddler to reach the table.
Reviewer:F. J. Hilbrandt Jr.

I totally love this portable booster seat. We started using the seat when my son was old enough to sit up. It is very convenient when traveling to other people's houses that do not have highchairs. It safely holds my son in place. Most of all, it is great to avoid using the high chairs and booster chairs in restaurants that tend to be sticky and dirty.
Reviewer:Sam's Mom

Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat

The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat is popular among trendy parents for good reason. This deluxe convertible car seat from Eddie Bauer The convertible car seat grows with the child from infant (rear facing) to toddler (front facing) to belt positioner, which holds children from 30-80lbs.

Product Features

* For children 5-30lbs. rear facing; 20-40lbs. front facing; 30-80lbs. with belt positioner
* 5-Point harness with up-front harness adjustment
* 2-Piece push button harness retainer
* 1-Position crotch strap
* 4 Position adjustable headrest
*Harness can be used until your child weighs 40 lbs.; can switch to seatbelt once your child reaches 40 lbs.
*Adjustable body pad for extra support
*Two-position built-in belt positioner guides for easy seatbelt threading
*Removable cupholder; two mesh storage pockets
*Removable, washable seat fabric; mix of soft suede-like and flannel fabrics

Product Description :

The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat is popular among trendy parents for good reason. This deluxe convertible car seat from Eddie Bauer The convertible car seat grows with the child from infant (rear facing) to toddler (front facing) to belt positioner, which holds children from 30-80lbs. The Eddie Bauer Deluxe Convertible Car Seat features a 5-point harness and 4-position adjustable recline, a four position adjustable headrest and a removable cup holder and car sear pad for easy cleaning. The ultimate in convenience and comfort!

Luxury, comfort and style provide stress-free travel for you and your child with this car seat from Eddie Bauer. Includes a detachable cup holder so you will never again have to pull over and search your vehicles floor for a dropped bottle. Holds from 5 to 80 lbs so you will get maximum use out of this quality child seat!

LATCH System: (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) Allows car seats to be quickly attached at three points, making a more secure attachment between the vehicle seat and car seat. LATCH also allows car seats to be installed without using a vehicle's seat belt system.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Why Eddie Bauer Diaper Bags Are the Best on the Market

When my daughter was conceived two years ago, we started looking into the baby gear that we would need once she arrived. The diaper bag was always an easy choice, after our first foray into giant baby superstores. Most bags were gaudy, with brightly colored characters printed all over them. Many were designed to look like children's school bags in terms of print, while many others were designed to look not unlike a woman's purse.

Having never carried a purse by choice, I wanted to stay away from anything that could be conceived of as a giant purse. I did not particularly want a diaper bag in the first place, to be honest, because I largely carry everything I need in my pockets. I resented the implication that I would now be toting around enough goods and products to fill an entire bag. However, we're an on the go family who had no plans of changing that after Baby was born. So when we spotted the Eddie Bauer diaper bag, we were sold.

At first glance, it's no bigger than any of the other bags. However, it fits so much more than any of our friends seem to be able to fit in their diaper bags, without taking up any more floor space. The colors reminded me of a laptop bag; in fact, many people assume that this is what it is. Choices include black and navy blue, with a tan strip on the outside pocket. Of course, the phrase "Eddie Bauer" is imprinted on this strip; I have yet to see any Eddie Bauer product that hasn't thought to double as a billboard.

Although we usually steer away from printed items, we've had good luck in the past with Eddie Bauer products. Our wardrobes consist largely of Eddie Bauer shirts and our campsite could be placed in a commercial for them. So stamping our baby product with the phrase didn't really irk either of us.

Plus, it's tough. Built with thick, sturdy material, the Eddie Bauer diaper bag that we purchased is mostly waterproof and it's, so far, completely tear-resistant.

The biggest boon, however, is not the overall space or the durability. For us, it comes down to the thing that has always impressed us with Eddie Bauer camping supplies. They've clearly designed them with the consumer in mind. Some diaper bags come with a lot of compartments. The compartments are not necessarily usable when the bag is full, but they can sure advertise that they have a lot of places to stick stuff. The Eddie Bauer diaper bags provide storage options, for sure, but they are intelligently placed. Things that other companies did not think about, or did not think about accurately with the consumer in mind, include a front open diaper change area that doubles as a small storage location, mesh pockets on the side, places to clip things on the inside, a small pouch at the top of the inside compartment that can be used for keys or change, and a completely waterproof pouch for "used" diapers that is removable. All this for the same price as any other diaper bag on the market? We were sold.

Now our daughter is 18 months, and we're still overjoyed with our purchase. The bag looks as good now as when we bought it. Now it doubles as a home to toys and snacks. It's easy to clean, both inside and out. Even as abused as it could be, it still stands strong. We've dragged it on airplanes, through theme parks, through all sorts of weather, thrown it around on sports fields, and dropped it countless times from all sorts of heights. Our daughter uses it as a bulldozer to push things around the house.

There are other, smaller options than the large bag we chose. I don't know as much about those, but have heard that they are just as tough, only smaller. Perhaps for people who aren't quite as on the go as our family, they would provide a less expensive and more portable option. I'd definitely recommend Eddie Bauer diaper bags.

By Mick

Eddie Bauer Has Added Diaper Bags to Their Many Products

Eddie Bauer's name has appeared on everything from SUV's to bedding to clothing for both men and women. Therefore, it would only make sense that Eddie Bauer would have a line of diaper bags as well. And they do.

The Eddie Bauer diaper bags that are available are not necessarily fashionable. However, they serve another purpose. They are very functional bags. These diaper bags are even suited for the not so feminine of parents.

There are two Eddie Bauer diaper bags available. The first is the Messenger Bag and the second is the Diaper Overnight Case.

The Messenger Bag (Item # I23 792 1327) is a diaper bag that is worn across the body. The shoulder strap is padded to allow for better comfort while carrying everything that baby and parent would need comfortably to make it through an outing. The diaper bag constructed of 100% nylon includes insulated pockets for keeping baby bottles cold. The front pocket of the diaper bag is an organizer for carrying Mommy or Daddy things, including a cell phone pocket. It also has a baby wipe pocket on the exterior of the bag.

The bag is available in two colors, black and dark navy. It is monogrammable for more personalization for parent and baby. The dimensions of the bag are 16" W x 11.5" H x 5" D. As opposed to many fashionable, name brand diaper bags this bag regularly sells for $49.50, but is presently priced at $29.99.

The next bag in the Eddie Bauer diaper bag collection is the Diaper Overnight Case (Item # I23 792 1325) is able to accommodate almost anything under the sun. The Diaper Overnight Case is also made of 100% nylon, and features among its functionalities pleated bottle pockets, for carrying multiple bottles at once, outside insulated pockets, and a side pocket complete with pacifier clip, to keep the "binky" easily accessible and clean.

The diaper bag's dimensions are 16.5" W x 11" H x 6" D. It is also available in black and dark navy. For carrying this Overnight Case, there is a padded shoulder strap, for carrying over the shoulder when you just do not have an extra hand for anything else. There is also a set of padded "haul" handles for carrying the bag by hand. This bag is also perfect for adding a monogram for a more personalized feel and look. This normally sells for $54.50, but is presently available for $29.99 through the Eddie Bauer catalog or website.

For those of you who feel that the Eddie Bauer diaper bags are a little generic for your taste, Eddie Bauer also sells a Diaper Bag Conversion Kit (Item # I23 792 1439) which is appropriate for turning even your most non-functional bag, into the perfect diaper bag.

The kit features a waterproof pouch that has a list of the ten things that you need to carry for your baby. A changing pad has a pocket for wipes and one for diapers. It also has a pocket for carrying bottles, which is insulated, a snap clip for keeping up with a pacifier and an emergency contact card should the bag that you are using be lost. This kit normally sells for $24.50, currently priced at $14.50.

By Yona Gold

Eddie Bauer Astoria Enspira Deluxe Convertible Car Seat

I was given this car seat as a gift when my daughter was born. I probably never would have bought it since it's quite pricy at $120 but I absolutely love it. I feel that my child is very safe when in the car since he has all of the protection of this car seat. It has built in lock-off clips for easy and sturdy installation into the car. It works both rear facing for infants and can be changed to forward facing for toddlers. The car seat can hold children up to 100 pounds.

A feature that I really like is that the cover is removable and washable. This comes in handy because I often let her eat in the car when we're going on a long trip and the cover can get dirty. Another good feature is that the seat reclines into several different positions with only one hand. If I notice she has fallen asleep, I can tip the car seat back while stopped at a red light. It is also very easy to install and remove so that we can switch it between cars quickly. The car seat is rather large but since my daughter is the only one in the backseat this has not been an issue.

My daughter seemed to be quite fussy in her old car seat but that might just have been because she is so young. We used to have problems with her crying whenever she was in the car but since we switched seats it has been much better. I have asked her if her seat is comfy and she has told me it is. She is able to sit up and see out the window which seems to keep her occupied. She weighs about 40 pounds and I do believe there is enough room in there for her to grow quite a bit more. The straps adjust easily and are simple to change as she grows. One of my friends has one and she is still using it with her four year old son.

While this car seat is quite expensive, I believe it is worth the investment since you will be using it for years. It gives you a great peace of mind knowing that your child is safe in the car while you're busy driving. It is very study and attaches perfectly into the car to get rid of all my worries.

By Becky D

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2008

One of the most important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when riding in a vehicle. Each year thousands of young children are killed or injured in car crashes. Proper use of car safety seats helps keep children safe. But with so many different car safety seats on the market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.

The type of seat your child needs depends on several things including age, size, and type of vehicle. To be sure your child is using the most appropriate seat, read on.

Types of car safety seats at a glance

The chart below is a quick guide to where to start your search. Once you’ve found your car safety seat, it’s important to read more about the seat in this guide.

The right car safety seat

Infants-rear-facing

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home from the hospital until they have reached at least 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds. It is even better for them to ride rear-facing until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.

There are 2 types of rear-facing car safety seats: infant-only seats and convertible seats.

infant-only seat
Infant-only car safety seat

Infant-only seats

* Are small and have carrying handles (and sometimes come as part of a stroller system).
* Are used for infants up to 22 to 30 pounds, depending on the model.
* Many come with a base that can be left in the car. The seat clicks into and out of the base so you don’t have to install the base each time you use it. Parents can even buy more than one base for additional vehicles.

Convertible seats (used rear-facing)

* Can be used rear-facing then “converted” to forward-facing for older children. This means the seat can be used longer by your child. They are bulkier than infant seats, however, and do not come with carrying handles or a separate base.
* Have higher rear-facing weight and height limits than infant-only seats, which makes them ideal for bigger babies.
* Have the following types of harnesses:
o 5-point harness—attach at the shoulders, hips, and between the leg
o Overhead shield—a padded tray-like shield that swings down over the child
o T-shield—a padded t-shaped or triangle-shaped shield attached to the shoulder straps

Installation tips for rear-facing seats

When using a rear-facing seat, keep the following in mind:

* Make sure the car safety seat is installed tightly in the vehicle and that the harness fits the child snugly.

* Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has a front passenger air bag. If the air bag inflates, it will hit the back of the car safety seat, right where your baby’s head is, and could cause serious injury or death.

* If your rear-facing seat has more than one set of harness slots, make sure the harnesses are in the slots at or below your baby’s shoulders.

* Be sure you know what kind of seat belts your vehicle has. Some seat belts need locking clips. Locking clips come with all new car safety seats. If you’re not sure, check the manual that came with your vehicle. Locking clips are not needed in most newer vehicles.

* If you are using a convertible seat in the rear-facing position, make sure the seat belt is routed through the correct belt path. Check the instructions that came with the car safety seat to be sure.

* If your vehicle was made after 2002, it may come with the LATCH system, which is used to secure car safety seats. See below for information on using LATCH.

* Make sure the seat is at the correct angle so your infant’s head does not flop forward. Many seats have angle indicators or adjusters that can help prevent this. If your seat does not have an angle adjuster, tilt the car safety seat back by putting a rolled towel or other firm padding (such as a pool noodle) under the base near the point where the back and bottom of the vehicle seat meet.

* Be sure the car safety seat is installed tightly. If you can move the seat more than an inch side to side or front to back, it’s not tight enough.

* Still having trouble? There may be a certified Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician in your area that can help. See below for information on how to locate one.

Common questions

Q: What if my baby weighs more than 20 pounds but is not 1 year old yet?

A:Use a seat that can be used rear-facing by children who weigh more than 20 pounds and keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible, or at least until he has reached his first birthday.

Q: What do I do if my baby slouches down or to the side in his car safety seat?

A: Pad around your child (never under or behind) with rolled-up cloth diapers or blankets. Do not use any sort of car safety seat insert unless it came with the seat or was made by the manufacturer of the seat.

Q: Can I adjust the straps when my baby is wearing thicker clothing, like in the winter?

A: Yes, but make sure the harnesses are still snug. Also remember to tighten the straps again after the thicker clothes are no longer needed. Dress your baby in thinner layers instead of a bulky coat or snowsuit, and tuck a blanket around your baby over the buckled harness straps if needed.

Q: Are rear-facing convertible seats OK to use for preemies?

A: Premature infants should be tested while still in the hospital to make sure they can ride safely in a reclined position. Babies who need to lie flat during travel should ride in a crash-tested car bed. Very small infants who can ride safely in a reclined position usually fit better in infant-only seats; however, if you need to use a convertible seat, choose one without a tray-shield or T-shield harness. The shields often are too big and too far from the body to fit correctly.

When your baby hates the car seat

Q:My three-month-old son has hated his car seat from the day we drove him home from the hospital -- so much that he cries till he spits up and I have to pull over. My pediatrician says it is not motion sickness, but a little reflux which occurs when he cries. He always wants to be held. We literally cannot go anywhere.

A: You already are seeing your son's unique personality. You are right to acknowledge his need to be held. He will need special coaxing, however, so that your needs are met, too.

Certainly you can arrange to lessen the amount of time spent in the car with him, but you cannot be held hostage. You must be able to do the shopping and other errands your family needs.

I assure you, this is not the first time I have heard this distress call. Some babies hate being restricted in a car seat, while others almost purr for a drive. Your son may also show other specific preferences as he grows, some of which will likely even make parenting easier instead of harder. The good news, as well as the bad news, is that he is already a child with specific likes and dislikes. So much for the "blank book" theory!

Begin a program of desensitization. Build positive experiences around the car seat and driving in the car. You may want to purchase some of the special products on the market for babies that are made specifically designed for your child's visual development. They are generally black and white, and are scientifically created to engage the visual patterning of your baby. In the months ahead, you will need to change these patterns, introducing some alterations, such as color.

Play with these patterns, and any other kinds of visual input that your baby enjoys. Babies develop through their sensory channels (visual, hearing, touching) at different rates. You can encourage his auditory and visual development as ways to calm him and to interest him when he gets in his car seat. For example, if he responds to music or singing, you could use this in the car. My grandson, who also hated the car, calmed down when his mother sang to him while driving. (Assuming this does not overly distract you, you may want to try it.)

You may also succeed at desensitizing your son by putting him in the car seat at home for ten minutes at a time while you engage him with the visual patterns, other toys, singing or music. Do not be derailed by his initial protest. Instead, trust that by singing or directing his attention toward his car toys, he will calm down. Play with him for ten minutes, then take him out before he tires of it. You will be teaching him that the car seat can be a fun, safe, and at the very least, tolerable place. Simply the act of putting him in, when you yourself are not under stress to go somewhere, will allow him to accommodate.

Use your patience to develop these strategies at home. Then, if you like, transfer them to the car, with your husband driving and you sitting next to him diverting his attention to the visual toys. Finally, begin taking short trips over his initial protests. Give him his toys, all the time saying with as much conviction and calm as you can muster, "You'll be okay. Mommy needs you to sit safely in your seat while we drive to the store."

He will learn to accommodate you. And his ability to adapt to your needs will increase as he grows. Eventually, your son will learn that moms can be strong willed, too!

by Gayle Peterson, PhD http://parenting.ivillage.com

An Eddie Bauer Car Seat – Combining Durability with Safety

Eddie Bauer is a famous brand of outdoor sporting goods, but in recent years they've been expanding their line. They now have several models of car seats which are suitable for children up to eight or nine years old. An Eddie Bauer car seat will give you years of dependable service.

The Eddie Bauer de Luxe 3in one Car Seat is a great addition to the Eddie Bauer CollectionEddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 Car Seat with EPP Foam

These car seats come in three basic sizes -- infant carriers, convertible models, and booster seats. They also have several models of three-in-one car seats which are designed to be an all-purpose solution for your car seat needs. An Eddie Bauer three-in-one car seat will be the only car seat you need to buy.

The Eddie Bauer car seat for infants is a convenient and safe way to carry your baby in the car. It has several safety features including a five-point harness and four harness positions to perfectly match every size of baby. This car seat comes with a carrying handle and a canopy to protect baby from drafts and to keep the sun out of his or her eyes.

When your baby outgrows the infant car seat you can move on to a convertible car seat which is suitable for children up to 40 lbs. in weight. Smaller children can use the convertible Eddie Bauer car seat in the rear facing position. As they grow, the chair can be positioned to face the front which gives them more legroom.

The convertible Eddie Bauer car seat features a five-point harness system which is easy to adjust with just one hand. The five-point harness system gives the maximum level of safety in the event of a car accident.

www.baby-strollers-guide.com

When your child outgrows the convertible Eddie Bauer car seat he can move on to a booster seat. The booster seat gives your child enough height to safely use the car seat belt system. Without a booster seat, the seat belts will not be properly positioned on a small child. The booster seat places the seat belts correctly over the pelvis and chest areas.

If you wish to avoid buying three separate car seats for your child, and check out the three-in-one car seats from Eddie Bauer. The three-in-one Eddie Bauer car seat is fully adjustable and suitable for children from 5 lbs. to 100 lbs. in weight. It combines features from all three types of car seats. It can be positioned as a rear facing car seat for small children and a front facing car seat for bigger children.

The only disadvantage of the three-in-one Eddie Bauer car seat is that it misses some of the features of the infant car seat. It doesn't have a carrying handle or a canopy. If you feel you can get by without these features, by all means check out this convenient car seat from Eddie Bauer.

Sunday, July 13, 2008

How to Buy a Quality Car Seat

Car seats are mandatory baby equipment. I know that you’ll be tempted to cuddle your little bundle in your arms while driving, but please don’t! It’s just too dangerous and besides that, against the law.

Here are seven tips to buying a quality car seat for your child…

1. Buy a quality car seat. Make sure that the seal of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety is present on it. Make sure it’s constructed well with no sharp edges or loose parts.

2. Look for a car seat with travel system. The seat, infant carrier and stroller are all part of one convenient unit.

3. Make sue that you check for safety recalls. There are many safety recalls on car seats yearly. You don’t want to purchase one of those!

4. Choose cloth. It is generally more easily cleaned and is more comfortable.

5. Be positive that you choose the correct size. A small baby could slip out of a seat that is too large for him. It’s important that tiny babies under 20 pounds ride only in rear-facing seat. Only after the child is over 20 pounds should he be switched to front-facing seat.

6. Choose a car seat that has been given good reviews by other parents. Many online stores allow people to post reviews about their purchases. Why not check these out to see what other parents have to say?

7. Don’t use a used car seat unless you are able to borrow it and try it first. You want to make very sure that the parts are still functioning well, so your baby will be safe.

Proper child restraints are important. You don’t want to find that out the hard way.

Kristi Sayles, Child Development Coach/Elementary Teacher, invites you to visit her site at http://YourChildandYou.com for more parenting information, advice, products, and fun stuff.

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Teach Baby Car Seat Safety

The Challenge

Baby car seats are supposed to offer parents the peace of mind that they are keeping their infant as safe as possible while riding in an automobile. Studies show, however, that 8 out of 10 children riding in car seats are incorrectly buckled-in. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children, and thousands of kids every day are put at additional risk simply because they are not properly protected.

Worse still: Most parents have no clue that they are doing anything wrong. Surveys show that 97 percent of parents believe they are using their child safety seats correctly. Many never know the truth until it is too late.

The two main issues in car seat safety are:

* The child must be buckled into the seat correctly.
* The seat must be buckled tightly into the vehicle.

It sounds so easy, yet the reality is that mistakes are the norm.

The good news is that there are a wide variety of free resources available to help parents achieve maximum car seat safety. You can help make our roadways much safer for children by alerting parents to be absolutely certain that their car safety seats are being used properly.

How to make a Difference

* Certified car seat inspectors are available in most communities to offer free help. Car seat safety checks take only a few minutes. Make others aware of this service by printing out car seat safety posters for community bulletin boards at apartments, parks, libraries, recreation centers, and at the office.

* Pass along the web address for Partners for Child Passenger Safety (http://www.chop.edu/consumer/jsp/division/generic.jsp?id=77971) to ten friends who have children under the age of 10. The site presents instructional videos for installing car seats and offers information on choosing the correct seat for each age.

* Contact your local police station to see if it has a courtesy officer who could do on-the-spot safety seat inspections one day at your local school or church.

* Consider purchasing an infant car seat as a gift for new parents. Since car seat needs change as children age, consider buying a new children's car seat or a booster car seat for older children, too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website offers car seat safety ratings for many popular brands.

www.charityguide.org

Car safety: Keeping your baby safe

Beginning with the first ride your baby takes in the car, it is important that he be placed in a rear-facing car seat that is properly secured in the back seat. This is the safest location in the car for travel. Your baby depends on you. Give him the gift of safety.

* Before your baby is born, purchase a car safety seat that fits securely into your car, and is convenient to operate. Your baby needs to be well-protected right from the start. It is critical that the restraint be not only well-secured with a seat belt, but that your child is securely buckled in.

* In the early weeks, when your baby might not have good head control, it is helpful to use a head support intended for car seat use, or roll up a baby blanket to place around your baby's head to steady it. Otherwise, his head has a tendency to flop from side to side.

* Never place your infant in the front passenger seat. This is especially important if your car has a passenger-side air bag. If the air bag deploys in the event of a crash, the force and rapid expansion could kill or injure a child, even when they are safely secured in their car seat.
* If your baby is sick or needs constant attention, it is important to have an adult sit in the back to help care for him. It can be very distracting (and dangerous) for the driver to keep turning around to care for the baby.
* The rear-facing position is the most protective. It is important not to move your child into a full-size safety seat too soon. Your baby should weigh at least 20 pounds AND be one-year-old. If your child is very large, but still well under a year of age, it is still very important for him to be placed in a rear-facing seat while riding in the car. Some rear-facing car seats have an upper weight limit from 22 to 25 pounds. Some of the newer seats accomodate children up to 30 pounds or even more. Each seat should have a fact sheet so read carfully before selecting a car seat for your child.

As much as you might be tempted to hold your new little one in your arms, it just isn't the time or place for cuddling. Make it a rule, right from the start, to have everyone in the car securely belted-in for each and every trip.

by Deb Donovan : http://parenting.ivillage.com