tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1031873109181222832024-03-14T00:44:44.962-04:00The Car Seat LadyAvoid regrets.The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-28169768025615976532011-05-15T01:06:00.000-04:002011-05-15T01:06:22.193-04:00We have a NEW blog - www.thecarseatlady.WORDPRESS.com<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Car Seat Lady Blog has moved to a new home - we have lots more content and a MUCH more user-friendly layout that will enable you to easily see old posts and information that you will want to have handy for referencing. We've added videos, info on center LATCH, and lots more - so please check it out!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>FYI: </b>All the posts (including comments) from this blog have been safely transferred to our new blog.</span></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-86334388680606473862011-04-11T00:26:00.002-04:002011-04-11T01:08:13.065-04:00NYC Taxi of Tomorrow Survey - Let YOUR VOICE BE HEARD when The Car Seat Lady meets with the NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission<iframe frameborder="0" height="1815" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://spreadsheets0.google.com/embeddedform?formkey=dHZGT254dlBBaWh3NHY1a1FENlNLaGc6MQ" width="760">&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;</iframe>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5PIUgsq5Kw/TaKLrAjGbDI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/nVdIIcOBoxg/s1600/taxi_row.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--5PIUgsq5Kw/TaKLrAjGbDI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/nVdIIcOBoxg/s200/taxi_row.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-32778063393275401722011-04-06T21:54:00.001-04:002011-04-06T21:55:35.286-04:00Vehicle Owner's Manuals (past & present) available for DOWNLOAD for FREE<iframe height="1400" src="https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1YiS21G1cP_Jovm2QboppBtnKNByhRONMAdvm6YspPEM&embedded=true" width="550"></iframe>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-83744489239153904332011-04-04T10:31:00.008-04:002011-04-09T12:36:53.718-04:00The Car Seat Lady does NOT RECOMMEND the Easycarseat Inflatable Booster as it FAILED US crash testing (according to official testing results released by Easycarseat)<div style="text-align: right;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZjyzU8I3cQ/TZnbYi1IquI/AAAAAAAAE1g/OLGBmhYzh_0/s1600/Easycarseat.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EZjyzU8I3cQ/TZnbYi1IquI/AAAAAAAAE1g/OLGBmhYzh_0/s200/Easycarseat.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Easycarseat Inflatable Booster</span></td></tr>
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I have recently become aware of the <a href="http://easycarseat.com/">Easycarseat Inflatable Booster</a>. After having done some research, I have to admit I am<i> very concerned</i> - namely because the product positions the lap belt exactly where it should not be (i.e. on the soft, vulnerable abdomen) AND the seat <a href="http://bit.ly/EasycarseatSept2010FMVSS213Fail">FAILED the required US crash testing according to documents released by the manufacturer</a> on their own website.<br />
<br />
First, let me just say - the "inflatable" part of this product does NOT worry me. There are many pieces of safety equipment - such as life rafts - that are inflatable, yet at the same time safe and durable. <br />
<br />
The Easycarseat is not the only inflatable booster. The <a href="http://www.bubblebum.co.uk/">Bubble Bum</a>, which is available widely across Europe, will soon be available in the US too. To highlight my point that it is not the inflatable nature of the Easycarseat booster that most worries me, I will show how the Bubble Bum is not plagued by similar problems. <br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Before sharing my concerns about the Easycarseat, I need to explain a <b>few key points about boosters</b>:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Boosters are <b>NOT restraint devices</b> - they are <b>POSITIONING devices</b></span><br />
<ul>
<li>Car seats, where the child uses a 5 point harness, are <i>restraint devices</i>. Booster seats are <i>positioning devices</i> - as it is the vehicle's seat belt that is restraining the child, while the booster is keeping the seat belt properly positioned.</li>
<li>Restraint devices are "load bearing" - meaning that they must be able to withstand the energy of a crash and help absorb and then transfer the remaining energy to the child's body in a way that the body can handle it. Positioning devices are NOT "load bearing." This is why booster seats can be made of much lighter materials - like styrofoam, plastic, and even inflatable materials - than a 5-point-harness car seat and still perform excellently in a crash </li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. Boosters are meant to <b>position the seat belt <i>properly</i></b> on the child's body</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9RbZ3vHIooU/TZnC9NhHyCI/AAAAAAAAE08/yw6C5AGVM6g/s1600/Sketch+2011-04-04+12_47_05.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9RbZ3vHIooU/TZnC9NhHyCI/AAAAAAAAE08/yw6C5AGVM6g/s640/Sketch+2011-04-04+12_47_05.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCJ5mU6n2Os/TZnE46wGaUI/AAAAAAAAE1A/cdhh73O2wuk/s1600/Volvo+Booster+proper+belt+fit+on+hip+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DCJ5mU6n2Os/TZnE46wGaUI/AAAAAAAAE1A/cdhh73O2wuk/s320/Volvo+Booster+proper+belt+fit+on+hip+bones.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proper belt fit using Volvo Built in Booster -<br />
Hip bones shown in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-weight: bold;">BLUE </span>(C) Volvo</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Kids need boosters not because the law says so, but because they get unnecessarily injured in crashes when riding in just a seat belt. It's not enough to use a booster - you have to<i> use a booster that will position the seat belt properly</i> on the child's body. </li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/boosters/default.html">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a great section on boosters</a> - including a list of boosters currently on the market and how well each positions the seat belt properly on a typical child's body. I would strongly recommend checking this site if you are in the market for a new booster - or if you are curious if the booster you have is doing a good job positioning the seat belt on your child's body. </li>
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<li>Proper belt fit means that the lap belt is on the tops of the child's thighs - so that it rests on the strong hip bones - and stays on the child's thighs during a crash. When the lap belt slides up into the soft, vulnerable abdomen, kids get a pattern of injuries known as "seat belt syndrome" - which includes lower spinal cord injuries along with injuries to the intestines, kidneys, spleen, bladder, liver and aorta.</li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. A poorly fitting LAP belt causes serious injuries - a shoulder belt that rubs the neck does NOT cause serious injuries </span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span>Here are nine studies, amongst many, showing the dangers of a poorly fitting lap belt - specifically as a mechanism for causing injuries to the abdomen and lower spinal cord in children.<br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14685110" style="font-weight: bold;">Optimal restraint reduces the risk of abdominal injury in children involved in motor vehicle crashes.</a></h1>
</span></b></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px; line-height: 24px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11753199" style="font-weight: bold;">Seat belt syndrome in children: a case report and review of the literature.</a></h1>
</span></b></span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15185237" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Incidence and clinical significance of abdominal wall bruising in restrained children involved in motor vehicle crashes.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7560047" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Lumbar compression fractures secondary to lap-belt use in children.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17473618" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The complexity of seat belt injuries including spinal injury in the pediatric population: a case report of a 6-year-old boy and the literature review.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16769359" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Abdominal aortic injuries associated with chance fractures in pediatric patients.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16515153" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Buckled-up children: understanding the mechanism, injuries, management, and prevention of seat belt related injuries.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19337593" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The spectrum of seat belt syndrome among Canadian children: Results of a two-year population surveillance study.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><h1 class="title" style="font-size: 1.3333em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.125em; margin-bottom: 0.375em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.375em;">
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16248135" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Seat-belt injuries in children involved in motor vehicle crashes.</span></a></h1>
</span></li>
</ul>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>SIGNIFICANT </b><b>CONCERNS about </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><b>the EASYCARSEAT</b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Please note, that all the information below is taken directly from Easycarseat's own website & Facebook page, videos posted by Easycarseat on YouTube, and private email correspondences between The Car Seat Lady and Kornel Kathi, General Manager for Easycarseat. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. The booster <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">failed the required FMVSS213 crash tests</span> with the 3-year-old dummy - yet they are selling this product for kids within the weight range governed by this size dummy</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4hzYmO7ejlA/TZaZZHUrzOI/AAAAAAAAE0o/i2z30i0b87U/s1600/test+fail.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4hzYmO7ejlA/TZaZZHUrzOI/AAAAAAAAE0o/i2z30i0b87U/s320/test+fail.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>FMVSS213 - better known as Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 - governs the crash testing, labeling, and other features of all car seats & boosters sold in the US. Manufacturers self-certify their products by testing at government approved testing laboratories. Within 1-2 years of the product hitting the US market, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration "audits" the seat - by performing their own crash tests according to the specifications in FMVSS213 to ensure that the seat complies, as the manufacturer has already stated it has. </li>
<li>From the <a href="http://bit.ly/EasycarseatSept2010FMVSS213Fail">FMVSS213 testing data that Easycarseat released on their website</a>, Easycarseat failed testing for both head and chest injury criteria with the 3-year-old crash test dummy. This test was performed by <a href="http://www.mgaresearch.com/industries-served/child-seat/">MGA</a>, a US approved testing facility that performs compliance testing for many of the car seats sold in the US.</li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">According to Mr. Kathi "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The approved weight for the Easycarseat is 15-36 Kgs" when used in the US (which is 33-80 pounds) - so it is being marketed and sold for children for whom it fails testing - despite the website saying that the Easycarseat </span></span><a href="http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Easycarseat-Product-Information.pdf" style="color: #942e06;" target="_blank">passed testing "with flying colors."</a></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">***Update: On 4/8/11, Easycarseat posted the following on their Facebook page: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;">Easycarseat 2011 USA FMVSS 213 test results are out: Easycarseat passed the crash tests with flying colours even in the 3 Year old category (from 33 pounds)". However, nowhere do they release this new testing data.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: large;">2. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>lap belt appears to rest on the abdomen of all 4 dummies</b></span> (3y, 6y, 6y weighted, 10y weighted). In addition, the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">3-year-old submarines under the lap belt during the crash test</span> (as shown in the video below) - bringing the lap belt VERY high up on the abdomen.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<object height="390" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Sg6-BeERyEw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0">
</param>
<param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">
</param>
<param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always">
</param>
<embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Sg6-BeERyEw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object> </div>
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<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Our child crash test dummies are NOT INSTRUMENTED in the abdomen. This means that the <b>dummies are unable to measure forces exerted on the abdomen by a poorly fitting lap belt</b> - whereas we know that on REAL kids poorly fitting lap belts can cause extensive damage and injury to the child's abdomen and spinal cord. Therefore, our best gauge of how well a booster positions the seat belt is to LOOK at how the lap belt rests before, during, and after the crash test - and to make sure it goes nowhere near the abdomen.</span></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">On none of the dummies is the lap belt parallel to the ground as it should optimally be in order to rest on the child's strong hip bones. Rather, it rests flat across the lower abdomen on all the dummies. The images below were taken directly from the FMVSS213 crash testing the company released (full document available <a href="http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Easycarseat-Final-Inflatable-Child-Car-Seat-Report-FMVSS-213.pdf">here</a> or <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6fLLALd7tZtNzU3OWI3ZmItZTZiZS00NTg2LWE1NDMtNzg5OThjMzc1NjYz&hl=en">here</a>).</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. We do not see any mention of testing of the Easycarseat in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">deflated state</span>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. There <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">does not seem to be consistency in the air distribution under the child in the crash</span> - as evidenced by the 3 year old submarining and the weighted 10 year old ending up at a full 90 degree angle to the direction of the crash forces.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N47ZFo5Qohk/TZahEN5fTYI/AAAAAAAAE00/wvVwDwP1JLs/s1600/10y+pre+and+post.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N47ZFo5Qohk/TZahEN5fTYI/AAAAAAAAE00/wvVwDwP1JLs/s640/10y+pre+and+post.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">This movement of the dummies suggests to me that the air under the dummy shifts irregularly during the crash and turns the dummy's body - i.e. there is not consistency in the air under the child. In a real vehicle I would be concerned that the child's head would strike the door frame/window if the body turned like the weighted 10 year old did. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">I am waiting to hear back from Mr. Kathi regarding what Easycarseat has done to balance the air pressure, so that it doesn't all shift to the opposite side under the weight of the child?</li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5. The information given on the website and from Mr. Kathi, General Manager for Easycarseat, is INCONSISTENT.</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The instruction manual for the booster - <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6fLLALd7tZtNzU3OWI3ZmItZTZiZS00NTg2LWE1NDMtNzg5OThjMzc1NjYz&hl=en">available here</a> - says that for use in the US and the UK it is certified for kids from 15-36kg.</li>
<li>In a direct correspondence between myself and Mr. Kathi he reiterated that for use in the US it is certified for 15-36kg.</li>
<li>Yet, in one, and only one, location <a href="http://easycarseat.com/2009/11/bedi-is-safe-according-to-un-ece-regulation-no-44-04-7/">on the website it says it is for use from 52-80 pounds in the US</a>. **Update - as of 4/8/11, the website has been changed and it says that the booster is for kids 33-80 pounds in the US. </li>
</ul>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>What has The Car Seat Lady done in response to our concerns about the Easycarseat? (after all, we have a responsibility to make sure kids are riding as safely as possible!)</b></span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">We immediately contacted the <a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/">National Highway Traffic Safety Administration</a> to make them aware of this product and our concerns. They are now aware of this product and will further pursue the issue with the manufacturer.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">We contacted the <a href="http://www.iihs.org/">Insurance Institute for Highway Safety</a> who is now aware of this product and will hopefully be able to include it in their Fall 2011 assessment of booster seats by best/good/poor belt fit. </li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But what about the <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><a href="http://www.bubblebum.co.uk/">Bubble Bum</a> Booster</span></b>? It's also inflatable. Is it safe?</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.deardrmoz.com/wp-includes/images/bubblebum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://www.deardrmoz.com/wp-includes/images/bubblebum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Bubble Bum allowed The Car Seat Lady to view the official FMVSS213 testing results of the Bubble Bum; and it passed the testing. Not only that, but it has been tested in every configuration both inflated AND deflated - and <b>passes all crash tests, even when deflated</b>. The Bubble Bum is tested to both the latest European (ECE 44.04) & American (FMVSS 213) standards - and passes ALL of them. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Bubble Bum's FMVSS213 testing was done by MGA and included pre and post test pictures of the dummies - and I could see that the lap belt started low and stayed low on the tops of the dummy's thighs - just as is shown with the 10-year old pictured above in the Bubble Bum (showing good belt fit).</li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-vNzprnoM4/TZnR9JR1b-I/AAAAAAAAE1c/V3yicbWKRXI/s1600/Sketch+2011-04-04+14_12_56.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-vNzprnoM4/TZnR9JR1b-I/AAAAAAAAE1c/V3yicbWKRXI/s640/Sketch+2011-04-04+14_12_56.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">The Bubble Bum is more than just an air chamber. There is memory foam inside the air chamber which allows for an even distribution of air under the child's body. Under the fabric cover there is a structural support system made of seat belt webbing (see picture). The lap belt guides are made of metal and are sewn directly to this seat belt webbing support system - NOT to the air chamber (which decreases the chance of the seat belt puncturing the booster in a crash). </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Unlike on the Easycarseat where the air release valve is within easy reach of the child, the valve on the Bubble Bum is out of reach of the child. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">When deflated, the Easycarseat is completely flat - the Bubble Bum is NOT (it is almost an inch deep) due to the memory foam inside the air chamber - which, along with the lap belt guides being separate from the air chamber, allow it to provide good belt fit even in the worst case scenario of it being deflated.</li>
</ul>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>APPENDIX</b><br />
Since the Easycarseat website was very difficult to navigate, I have downloaded and compiled the following Easycarseat documents into this <a href="https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6fLLALd7tZtNzU3OWI3ZmItZTZiZS00NTg2LWE1NDMtNzg5OThjMzc1NjYz&hl=en">Google Documents folder</a> so you can review them for yourself more easily. They are also available from the company's website (see all the links below)<br />
Instruction Manual for US/UK:<br />
<a href="http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/USA-UK-User-Manual1.pdf">http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/USA-UK-User-Manual1.pdf</a><br />
<br />
FMVSS213 testing<br />
- This had been available at this link -<br />
<a href="http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Easycarseat-Final-Inflatable-Child-Car-Seat-Report-FMVSS-213.pdf">http://easycarseat.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Easycarseat-Final-Inflatable-Child-Car-Seat-Report-FMVSS-213.pdf</a> - but after we posted this blogpost, the company removed the FMVSS213 test results. You can still view them here: <a href="http://bit.ly/EasycarseatSept2010FMVSS213Fail">http://bit.ly/EasycarseatSept2010FMVSS213Fail</a><br />
<br />
ECE44.04 testing (includes TUV & Dekra)<br />
<a href="http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/UN-ECE-regulation-No.44.04.pdf">http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/UN-ECE-regulation-No.44.04.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/TUV-SUD-AUTO-ECE-UN-NO-E8-C.pdf">http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/TUV-SUD-AUTO-ECE-UN-NO-E8-C.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/TR7-137DEKRA.pdf">http://easycarseat.com//wp-content/uploads/2009/11/TR7-137DEKRA.pdf</a><br />
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<b>DISCLAIMER</b>: <a href="http://www.thecarseatlady.com/">The Car Seat Lady</a> is NOT AFFILIATED with Easycarseat OR Bubble Bum in any way. We have not received any monetary compensation or gifts from either company. We did receive one Bubble Bum booster free of charge from the manufacturer for our expert review. We are NOT paid in any way for our comments on this blog post or any other for that matter. Therefore, you can trust that we are giving you our expert, unbiased opinion.</div>
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</div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-75955403813808434962011-03-31T14:31:00.000-04:002011-03-31T14:31:42.141-04:00Rebecca Black - of "Friday" fame - meet Tyler Presnell, he might just save your life!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Watched this video - Black Friday - that's become an internet sensation and all I could think was how awful it was that 68 million people have watched a video glorifying behavior that gets kids killed. Rebecca Black and 4 other teenagers pile into a convertible and sing and dance about partying it up - NO ONE is wearing a seat belt. Car crashes are the NUMBER ONE cause of death for teenagers in the US - but it doesn't have to be this way. Seat belts, extended supervised driving time, driving without peers in the car, and graduated licenses save lives!</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CD2LRROpph0?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Tyler Presnell knows all too well what its like to be the cool kid riding in the back seat of a friend's car without a seat belt; his story doesn't have a happy ending. When the 16-year-old driver of the car Tyler was riding tried to show off for his friends, the car ended up wrapped around a telephone pole. Tyler suffered a traumatic brain injury and injured every organ in his abdomen as shards of his pelvic bone ripped through his abdomen. Twenty one surgeries and 11 years later, Tyler has relearned how to walk, how to feed himself, how to talk, and how to remember - but he will never be the same. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Listen to him tell his story.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Listen and learn!</span></div>
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<object height="390" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EmnV-4ldVlM&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3">
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<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EmnV-4ldVlM&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-58498956421888103132011-03-21T00:44:00.000-04:002011-03-21T00:44:49.377-04:00American Academy of Pediatrics Says Rear-facing Until Age 2 in New Policy Statement Published 3/21/11<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Alisa Baer, MD - Pediatrician & <a href="http://www.thecarseatlady.com/">The Car Seat Lady</a> - explains the 5 key points in the new recommendations so you have the information you need to keep your child as safe as possible.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ULJ8Vx79Vv4" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For more information, go to to the <a href="http://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx">AAP's 2011 Car Seat Guide for Families</a></span></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-72591006798738249532011-03-04T14:56:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:56:43.179-05:00What does a 36 pound almost-3-year-old look like rear-facing???<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8X_gEvexS7A/TXFC40a0Q4I/AAAAAAAAExc/knAS5LP_hdA/s1600/DSC_0269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-8X_gEvexS7A/TXFC40a0Q4I/AAAAAAAAExc/knAS5LP_hdA/s640/DSC_0269.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">LOVE IT!!! Mom of the 2 kids above sent me this email: </span><blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"My son is so happy with his new seat, and actually seems to be more comfortable in it. He fell asleep almost immediately after we left you (and he's never been a kid who loves to sleep in the car)." </span></blockquote>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">FYI - Her son is 2y10m & 36lbs - and had been forward facing for a few months until she decided to get him a new seat with a 40lb rear-facing weight limit. He is now riding in a Safety 1st Complete Air 65 (rear-facing to 40 pounds), and his younger sister is riding in his old Britax Marathon (rear-facing to 35 pounds). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Curious about what kind of leg room he has? The answer is not a lot. He sits with his legs in "frog legged position" - but the important part is that HE IS COMFORTABLE (let me tell you, he has the verbal skills to tell you about everything else, he would definitely mention if he wasn't comfortable). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gd3ksiVZ9Sg/TXFDMbFMUjI/AAAAAAAAExg/uF4AqfUbs9I/s1600/DSC_0270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gd3ksiVZ9Sg/TXFDMbFMUjI/AAAAAAAAExg/uF4AqfUbs9I/s640/DSC_0270.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-79822713334920985122011-03-04T14:47:00.000-05:002011-03-04T14:47:46.702-05:00Can you spot the MISUSE in this NomieBaby picture?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://magnoliapr.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/nomie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://magnoliapr.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/nomie.jpg" width="501" /></a></div>
<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unbelievable!! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I got an email yesterday from <a href="http://www.nomiebaby.com/">NomieBaby.com</a> with this picture. Why would I recommend a product that not only <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2011/01/bundle-me-everyone-uses-it-in-car-seat.html">violates the instructions & warranty of basically every car seat</a> (including the Britax Roundabout this child is riding in) - but is designed by someone who can't even strap her own daughter (child in pic) properly into a seat? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Worst part: I spoke extensively with the designer last year about my concerns re: pics with mistakes.</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Misuses:</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1. Using an aftermarket product that goes under the child & around the straps</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">2. The crotch buckle is unbuckled</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">3. Shoulder straps are coming from below the child's shoulders (forward facing they should be coming at or above the child's shoulders)</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">4. The chest clip should be higher - at arm pit level.</span></div>
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</div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-42057517235938177682011-03-01T07:00:00.002-05:002011-03-01T07:00:19.321-05:00LATCH 201 - The Basics<div style="color: #0b5394;">
<b> </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">WHAT LATCH ATTACHMENTS </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">COME WITH MY CHILD SAFETY SEAT?</span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZONveGnUI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/No1eonRddAw/s1600/CHOP+infant+seat+in+base+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">INFANT SEAT WITH BASE</span></b></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZONveGnUI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/No1eonRddAw/s1600/CHOP+infant+seat+in+base+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZONveGnUI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/No1eonRddAw/s200/CHOP+infant+seat+in+base+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" width="196" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rear-facing infant seats usually come with a base.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</b></span>: permanently attached to the base</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>TETHER STRAP</b></span>: no infant seats currently sold in the US use a tether.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">NOTE: If you want to use the carrier without the base, this is possible with all currently sold models EXCEPT <a href="http://www.learningcurve.com/product/detail/Y11118?locale=en_US">The First Years Via</a> (which requires the use of the base at all times). With the infant seats that allow you to use the carrier without the base, you will have to use the vehicle's seat belt to secure the carrier as the lower anchor strap is permanently attached to the base (and shouldn't be removed).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNXUqnYXI/AAAAAAAAEOw/sOu44y2R7sY/s1600/CHOP+infant+seat+without+base+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"></b></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNXUqnYXI/AAAAAAAAEOw/sOu44y2R7sY/s1600/CHOP+infant+seat+without+base+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNXUqnYXI/AAAAAAAAEOw/sOu44y2R7sY/s200/CHOP+infant+seat+without+base+installed+line+drawing.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">INFANT SEAT WITHOUT BASE</span></b></span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sometimes rear-facing infant seats come by themselves (i.e. without a base). The information below is for carriers that come without a base (for carriers that come with a base, see above info)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</b></span>: permanently attached to the carrier</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>TETHER STRAP</b></span>: no infant seats currently sold in the US use a tether</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;">**************************************************************************************************************</span><br />
<span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">CONVERTIBLE SEAT</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">(CONVERTS FROM REAR-FACING to FORWARD-FACING)</span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNabx-h4I/AAAAAAAAEO4/elBoUR8nwxs/s1600/CHOP+rear-facing+convertible+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNabx-h4I/AAAAAAAAEO4/elBoUR8nwxs/s200/CHOP+rear-facing+convertible+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" width="132" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Rear-Facing Convertible</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</b></span>: permanently attached to the seat.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Most convertible seats have one long lower anchor strap with a connector on either end - while others (some Britax & Recaro for example) have 2 separate lower anchor straps each with a connector on the end. Some convertible seats have a separate lower anchor strap for rear-facing & forward facing (ex. Graco My Ride 65).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">**Always make sure the lower anchor strap is routed/positioned in the proper place for the direction the seat is facing - nearly all seats require you to make some change in the lower anchor strap when the seat goes from rear-facing to forward-facing.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNfpCTYRI/AAAAAAAAEPA/CSqZSIOrYEo/s1600/CHOP+FF+convertible+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNfpCTYRI/AAAAAAAAEPA/CSqZSIOrYEo/s200/CHOP+FF+convertible+not+installed+line+drawing.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Forward-Facing Convertible</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>TETHER STRAP</b></span>: Most convertible seats do not use the tether rear-facing. <i><b>ALL</b></i> convertible seats use the tether forward-facing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">***Remember: While the lower anchors are used INSTEAD of the vehicle's safety belt to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle, tethers are used IN ADDITION to the lower anchors OR the vehicle's safety belt to secure a forward-facing (and some rear-facing) child safety seat to the vehicle.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">These convertible seats can use the tether <b>rear-facing</b>:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Britax</b>: all convertible car seats allow Swedish or Australian method</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Combi Coccoro</b>: will soon retroactively allow tethering (further info to come)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Snug Seat Hippo</b>: changed 5/30/07 to retroactively allow Swedish or Australian method</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Sunshine Kids Radian</b> (all models) - tether using Swedish method</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;">**************************************************************************************************************</span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">COMBINATION SEAT </span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span></b><b>(FORWARD-FACING 5-POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT </b></span></div>
<div style="color: #0b5394; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">THAT TURNS INTO A BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER)</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><b>5-POINT HARNESS CAR SEAT MODE </b></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNjMfZxiI/AAAAAAAAEPI/-ZYcocsJZvE/s1600/CHOP+combo+seat+line+drawing+not+installed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZNjMfZxiI/AAAAAAAAEPI/-ZYcocsJZvE/s200/CHOP+combo+seat+line+drawing+not+installed.jpg" width="128" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Combination seat in</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">5 point harness </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">car seat mode</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</b></span>: permanently attached to the seat.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>TETHER STRAP</b></span>: All combination seats come with a tether. While the tether is technically optional on most combination seats (<i>but should always be used</i> whenever possible as it decreases how far the child's head moves forward by up to 8 inches), there are a few that require the tether. For example, the <a href="http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Products/Travel/Car-Seats/Booster-Car-Seats/Details/2384-22256AHE-Go-Hybrid-Booster-Car-Seat">Safety 1st Go Hybrid</a> requires the tether at all times, while the <a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/frontier-85">Britax Frontier 85</a> requires it for children weighing more than 65 pounds who are using the 5 point harness.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">***Remember: While the lower anchors are used INSTEAD of the vehicle's safety belt to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle, tethers are used IN ADDITION to the lower anchors OR the vehicle's safety belt to secure a forward-facing (and some rear-facing) child safety seat to the vehicle.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER MODE</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZXKgLpQgI/AAAAAAAAEPY/8MVpHKDv-sU/s1600/CHOP+combo+seat+in+bpb+mode+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZXKgLpQgI/AAAAAAAAEPY/8MVpHKDv-sU/s200/CHOP+combo+seat+in+bpb+mode+line+drawing.jpg" width="130" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Combination seat with </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">harness removed </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">for Booster mode</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span>Most combination seats do NOT allow the use of the lower anchor OR tether strap to secure the seat to the vehicle while the seat is being used in the booster mode (i.e. the child is using the vehicle's shoulder/lap belt across them). </span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Current exceptions:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><ul><ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Britax Frontier & Frontier 85: allow use of lower anchors & tether</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Evenflo - all combination seats (retroactively) allow use of lower anchors & tether</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Recaro Pro Sport - recommends use of tether (does not allow lower anchors)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Safety 1st Go Hybrid (formerly Safeguard Go) - allows use of lower anchors</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit;">**************************************************************************************************************</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">BELT POSITIONING BOOSTER</span></b><br />
<b style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">High Back or Backless</span></b></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZnAng20KI/AAAAAAAAEPg/B-ixyVMG4_g/s1600/CHOP+high+back+booster+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZnAng20KI/AAAAAAAAEPg/B-ixyVMG4_g/s200/CHOP+high+back+booster+line+drawing.jpg" width="161" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">High-Back </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Belt Positioning Booster </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</b></span>: Most booster seats do not come with lower anchor connectors. Those that do, sometimes have rigid lower anchor connectors instead of a flexible lower anchor strap as is found on nearly every other type of car seat. See close-up drawing at left of a rigid lower anchor connector. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>TETHER STRAP</b></span>: None of the high-back boosters (that weren't part of a combination seat) currently come with a tether strap.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZrzAKky9I/AAAAAAAAEPw/r2puxswAY88/s1600/rigid+latch+on+cybex+booster+line+drawing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBZrzAKky9I/AAAAAAAAEPw/r2puxswAY88/s320/rigid+latch+on+cybex+booster+line+drawing.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">High-Back</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Belt Positioning Booster</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">with rigid lower anchors</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The following booster seats allow the use of the lower anchors and/or tether:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<ul><ul><ul><ul><ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/parkway-sgl">Britax Parkway SGL</a> - flexible lower anchors (no tether)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.magnaclek.com/us/english/default.aspx">Clek</a> (all models - Ozzi, Olli, Oobr) - rigid lower anchors (no tether)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://cybex-online.com/site/us/carseats/solutionx-fix.html">Cybex Solution X-fix</a> - rigid lower anchors (no tether)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.janeusa.com/indyplusinfo.htm">Jane Indy Plus</a> - rigid lower anchors (no tether)</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.skjp.com/product/97556/150XX/_/Monterey%26%23174%3B_Booster">Sunshine Kids Monterey</a> - (flexible) lower anchors only</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.skjp.com/en-US/product/97556/155XX/_/SantaFe%26%238482%3B_Booster">Sunshine Kids Santa Fe</a> - (flexible) lower anchors only</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.ridesafer.net/">Safe Traffic Systems Ride Safer Travel Vest</a> - tether must be used when using a lap-only belt, and may be used for extra support when using a shoulder belt</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-85318933677593174462011-02-28T11:33:00.000-05:002011-02-28T11:33:30.245-05:00LATCH 101: The Basics You Need to Know<br />
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">LATCH</span></b> stands for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">L</span>ower <span style="color: red;">A</span>nchors and <span style="color: red;">T</span>ethers for <span style="color: red;">CH</span>ildren</span>. It's also known as ISOFIX in Europe and LUAS (Lower Universal Anchorage System) in Canada.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
LATCH is a way to secure a child safety seat to the vehicle using straps from the child safety seat that connect to special metal anchors in the vehicle.</div>
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<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o-cqsrR9Dvk/TWvLe-moIGI/AAAAAAAAEwc/1eLh9-7JGC8/s1600/modified+GRACO+vehicle+lower+anchor+and+top+tether+sketch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="568" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o-cqsrR9Dvk/TWvLe-moIGI/AAAAAAAAEwc/1eLh9-7JGC8/s640/modified+GRACO+vehicle+lower+anchor+and+top+tether+sketch.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORS</b></u></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">LOWER ANCHORS</span>:</div>
<ul>
<li>Lower anchors are a pair of metal “u-shaped” bars hidden in the vehicle’s seat crack.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">TETHER ANCHOR</span>:</div>
<ul>
<li>A tether anchor is a metal anchor (often a ring or bar) found behind the vehicle seat.</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
**FYI: Vehicles since model year 2003 must have the lower anchors in at least TWO seating positions and tether anchors in at least THREE positions. This means that, in most vehicles, the side seats have lower anchors AND tether anchors, while the center seat has a tether anchor but NO lower anchors.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBal3sDiHkI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/01IOkNdqNQU/s1600/tether2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TBal3sDiHkI/AAAAAAAAEQQ/01IOkNdqNQU/s400/tether2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
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This diagram above shows the varied locations you may find the tether anchor in the vehicle. ALWAYS check the vehicle owner's manual to make sure that what you have found is indeed the tether anchor (and not a cargo hook, which can not withstand the force of a crash). See bottom of this post for pictures of different locations for tether anchors in a wide variety of vehicles.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b><br />CHILD SAFETY SEAT LATCH STRAPS</b></u></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;">LOWER ANCHOR STRAP</span></div>
<ul>
<li>All child safety seats that use the vehicle’s lower anchors have a lower anchor strap with a connector on the end. Some child safety seats have two separate lower anchor straps, each with a connector on one end. These connectors attach to the vehicle’s lower anchors. A few booster seats have a rigid lower anchor connector, instead of having the connector on a flexible strap.</li>
<li>Rear-facing car seats typically just use the lower anchors (a few can also use the top tether). Forward-facing car seats use the lower anchors AND top tether. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--eERUKnSTQo/TWvMA_mHcaI/AAAAAAAAEwg/OvkpsOtOXjI/s1600/CHOP+line+drawing+latch+Attachment_strapType.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--eERUKnSTQo/TWvMA_mHcaI/AAAAAAAAEwg/OvkpsOtOXjI/s320/CHOP+line+drawing+latch+Attachment_strapType.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forward-facing car seat<br />using Lower Anchor Strap</span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fIv92lScKAU/TWvMFKhacOI/AAAAAAAAEwk/hJNcAYhHzjI/s1600/CHOP+Line+drawing+latchAttachment_rigidType.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-fIv92lScKAU/TWvMFKhacOI/AAAAAAAAEwk/hJNcAYhHzjI/s320/CHOP+Line+drawing+latchAttachment_rigidType.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forward-facing car seat<br />with Rigid Lower LATCH</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">TETHER STRAP</span></div>
<ul>
<li>All forward-facing child safety seats that use the vehicle's lower LATCH anchors will come with not only a lower anchor strap, but also a tether strap. The tether strap comes from the top of the child's car seat and has a hook on the end that connects to the tether anchor in the vehicle.</li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCgxyDergRs/TWvM3KSTnSI/AAAAAAAAEwo/hO1jVQpe6yU/s1600/line+drawing+tether+suv+with+color+for+tether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tCgxyDergRs/TWvM3KSTnSI/AAAAAAAAEwo/hO1jVQpe6yU/s320/line+drawing+tether+suv+with+color+for+tether.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="319" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forward-facing car seat<br />Using tether in a minivan</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kX8Gig6Gpa4/TWvM3vIeQ3I/AAAAAAAAEws/F8CvxqVf0WY/s1600/line+drawing+tether+sedan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-kX8Gig6Gpa4/TWvM3vIeQ3I/AAAAAAAAEws/F8CvxqVf0WY/s320/line+drawing+tether+sedan.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="319" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Forward-facing car seat<br />Using tether in a sedan</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">AN ANALOGY</span></b></u>: </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Vehicle Seat Belt</span>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Glasses</span><span style="color: magenta;"> </span> as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">Lower Anchors</span> : <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e69138;">Contact Lenses</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f6b26b;"> </span> </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
- Just an analogy for those yearning to relive their high-school SAT studying days. But in all seriousness, this analogy explains why you never use the lower anchors & the vehicle seat belt at the same time to install the car seat. Just like if you were to wear contacts & glasses at the same time you would see worse rather than better, so too the performance of the car seat may be NEGATIVELY affected by using both the lower anchors and the vehicle's seat belt at the same time.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
- Note: Lower anchors are used INSTEAD of the vehicle's safety belt to secure the child safety seat to the vehicle. Tethers are used IN ADDITION to the lower anchors OR the vehicle's safety belt to secure a forward-facing (and some rear-facing) child safety seat to the vehicle.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>JUST A FEW PICTURES SHOWING THE HIGHLY VARIABLE LOCATIONS FOR TETHER ANCHORS </b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
***ALWAYS CHECK YOUR VEHICLE OWNER'S MANUAL TO SEE WHERE YOUR ANCHORS ARE LOCATED***</div>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RXDC01VH-J4/TWu1YVPBp6I/AAAAAAAAEvw/PiCp_57xlA8/s1600/DSC_486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RXDC01VH-J4/TWu1YVPBp6I/AAAAAAAAEvw/PiCp_57xlA8/s320/DSC_486.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="226" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>MINIVAN</b><br />Tether on bottom of vehicle seat</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c-cLplRrKns/TWu1t5jDvVI/AAAAAAAAEv0/tC9rlnFM4PE/s1600/DSC_0992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c-cLplRrKns/TWu1t5jDvVI/AAAAAAAAEv0/tC9rlnFM4PE/s320/DSC_0992.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>MINIVAN</b><br />Tether on bottom of vehicle seat -<br />but covered up by carpet flap</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qNiAPJQOsEE/TWu3WqZtURI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/R01LzIJDSvk/s1600/DSC_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qNiAPJQOsEE/TWu3WqZtURI/AAAAAAAAEwQ/R01LzIJDSvk/s320/DSC_0149.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>SUV/Wagon</b><br />Tether anchor in the roof</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KfSif6l5fio/TWu2sV0KnsI/AAAAAAAAEwM/-4j19YG4bYU/s1600/Recaro+ProSport+tethered+in+Audi+wagon+with+RF+Boulevard+also+in+back+seat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KfSif6l5fio/TWu2sV0KnsI/AAAAAAAAEwM/-4j19YG4bYU/s320/Recaro+ProSport+tethered+in+Audi+wagon+with+RF+Boulevard+also+in+back+seat.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>SUV/Wagon</b><br />Tether anchor on back of vehicle seat</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cTP0k4vIy80/TWu15JgRePI/AAAAAAAAEv4/f35uFVkMPgE/s1600/DSC_1207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-cTP0k4vIy80/TWu15JgRePI/AAAAAAAAEv4/f35uFVkMPgE/s320/DSC_1207.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>SUV/Wagon</b>Tether anchors in floor of cargo area<br />(very inconvenient when trying to load packages)</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vqaFV0NUV-s/THKU10dj41I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/Ydhan_nMFz8/s1600/ride+safer+travel+vest+tether+attached+in+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vqaFV0NUV-s/THKU10dj41I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/Ydhan_nMFz8/s1600/ride+safer+travel+vest+tether+attached+in+center.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>5 door Hatchback</b><br />Tether Anchor on back of vehicle seat</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-refGCFsSjE4/TWu2Y7QxSSI/AAAAAAAAEwI/Jeo5vHfxn_c/s1600/Tether_7M5C5743.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-refGCFsSjE4/TWu2Y7QxSSI/AAAAAAAAEwI/Jeo5vHfxn_c/s320/Tether_7M5C5743.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>SEDAN</b><br />Tether Anchor is on the shelf below the rear windshield</span></div>
</td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k58IZcA6Jds/TWu1-efywrI/AAAAAAAAEv8/SSn_TfvyUsg/s1600/DSC_1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-k58IZcA6Jds/TWu1-efywrI/AAAAAAAAEv8/SSn_TfvyUsg/s320/DSC_1005.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>SEDAN</b><br />Tether Anchor is on the shelf below the rear windshield</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-33399267076119670602011-02-09T16:03:00.002-05:002011-02-09T16:03:46.006-05:00LATCH Tip: Right Way Up or Upside Down - Attaching the Lower Anchor Connector Right<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL6HdZJfTI/AAAAAAAAEtY/NBAHUle3Wxg/s1600/mini+LATCH+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL6HdZJfTI/AAAAAAAAEtY/NBAHUle3Wxg/s1600/mini+LATCH+picture.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Did you know that there is a <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">right way</span></b> and a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>wrong way</b></span> to attach the lower anchor connectors? If attached the wrong way, the anchor may not hold securely in a crash - so make sure you <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;">get it right!</span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">PUSH ON LOWER ANCHOR CONNECTORS</span></b></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuxyBF11I/AAAAAAAAEs4/motgU8FddUs/s1600/DSC_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuxyBF11I/AAAAAAAAEs4/motgU8FddUs/s640/DSC_0156.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>RIGHT WAY UP</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKvNFkGN0I/AAAAAAAAEs8/UhyNlhfDQSE/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKvNFkGN0I/AAAAAAAAEs8/UhyNlhfDQSE/s640/DSC_0157.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>UPSIDE DOWN</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuu_XgF4I/AAAAAAAAEss/ZUnopUapiJA/s1600/DSC_0163-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuu_XgF4I/AAAAAAAAEss/ZUnopUapiJA/s640/DSC_0163-1.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>Close-up of the Fine Print:</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"UP" - THIS SIDE FACING CHILD SEAT<br />
FASTEN WITH AUDIBLE CLICK ONTO LOWER ANCHOR BAR</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKxMz2xmpI/AAAAAAAAEtA/hKJxT2ZsAug/s1600/DSC_327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKxMz2xmpI/AAAAAAAAEtA/hKJxT2ZsAug/s320/DSC_327.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>RIGHT WAY UP</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b>HOOK STYLE LOWER ANCHOR CONNECTORS</b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL0y3VY7JI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/ue8umWduUtQ/s1600/DSC_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL0y3VY7JI/AAAAAAAAEtQ/ue8umWduUtQ/s400/DSC_0167.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>RIGHT WAY UP</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL0yPx9lpI/AAAAAAAAEtM/QKc6ow20NWw/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL0yPx9lpI/AAAAAAAAEtM/QKc6ow20NWw/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>UPSIDE DOWN</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKxPUC3PZI/AAAAAAAAEtE/wc4DmJ7U8H0/s1600/DSC_98.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKxPUC3PZI/AAAAAAAAEtE/wc4DmJ7U8H0/s320/DSC_98.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="212" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>RIGHT WAY UP</b></span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">WHY DOES IT MATTER</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Look at the direction of the metal tooth - you want the metal tooth to start from the top and come downwards for a secure hold - rather than coming from the bottom upwards. The metal tooth in this pictures is almost all the way down (I'm holding the release button outside the frame of the picture so that the tooth isn't all the way down).</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuwLp70TI/AAAAAAAAEsw/K2bZAe4YDnw/s1600/DSC_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVKuwLp70TI/AAAAAAAAEsw/K2bZAe4YDnw/s320/DSC_0162.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">Also, attaching the lower anchor connector upside down usually means that you are twisting the lower anchor strap (which isn't good) which can lead to the strap getting twisted in the locking mechanism for the strap - which once the strap is twisted in the locking mechanism it is typically impossible to get the strap looser or tighter.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL8nl5968I/AAAAAAAAEtc/nBE47Ha8bao/s1600/DSC_0528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL8nl5968I/AAAAAAAAEtc/nBE47Ha8bao/s320/DSC_0528.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lower Anchor Connector attached <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">upside down</span> - with strap twisting in the process</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL6HdZJfTI/AAAAAAAAEtY/NBAHUle3Wxg/s1600/mini+LATCH+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVL6HdZJfTI/AAAAAAAAEtY/NBAHUle3Wxg/s1600/mini+LATCH+picture.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-72730581710224188962011-01-26T22:05:00.003-05:002011-01-27T11:45:37.543-05:00(most) Coats & Car Seats are NOT a safe combo (here are ways to keep kids WARM & SAFE)<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Does winter time in your car ever look like this? </span></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTYqPsVcI/AAAAAAAAEnU/NeEAS327BG0/s1600/Twin+girls+with+winter+coats+and+straps+egregiously+loose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTYqPsVcI/AAAAAAAAEnU/NeEAS327BG0/s640/Twin+girls+with+winter+coats+and+straps+egregiously+loose.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These girls are NOT safe in their car seats due to bulky winter coats</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Have you ever struggled to just get the harness buckled when your child is wearing a coat? Notice how the girl on the left doesn't even have the buckle between her legs fastened as there wasn't enough room in the straps with the bulky coat on. The problem is that in a crash the plastic chest clip is designed to open under certain circumstances - so if you haven't fastened the straps between the child's legs, they will come out of the seat! Do you notice the straps sliding off the child's shoulders with their coats on? Do you notice that when you take the coats off the straps seem very, very loose?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Would you wear a bulky coat under your parachute harness?</span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Wondering what parachutes have to do with car seats??? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The whole idea of the car seat is to act as your child's parachute in a crash. 30mph feels the same to the body as if you jumped from a 3rd story window and landed on the pavement. You would be absolutely crazy to jump - but if you had to, you'd rather land with a parachute as you would land as slowly and gently as possible. If your child's car seat is secured tightly to the vehicle, and the straps are snug to the child's body, the child will come to the slowest, gentlest stop possible in a crash. If, however, the car seat is loose to the vehicle and/or the straps are loose to the child's body, the child still needs to come to a stop - but it becomes a much more jolting stop, like landing on your feet, and that is what hurts and causes injuries. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">If you were about to jump out of a plane, you wouldn't wear anything fluffy between you and your parachute harness as you would be afraid that the harness wouldn't hold you tight. The same thing goes for your child - you don't want to put anything bulky like coats, snowsuits, buntings, Bundle Mes, body supports, strap covers, etc between the back of the car seat and the harness straps as the straps won't be snug to the child's actual body. </span></span></span> <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's how to keep your kids <span style="color: #cc0000;">WARM</span> & <span style="color: blue;">SAFE</span> in the car in winter</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTeQ6hE-I/AAAAAAAAEnY/IfIF0WfU_n0/s1600/Twin+girls+with+coats+off+and+straps+snug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTeQ6hE-I/AAAAAAAAEnY/IfIF0WfU_n0/s640/Twin+girls+with+coats+off+and+straps+snug.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 1:</b> </span>Dress the child in thin, tight layers under their winter coat - dress them as if it was 50-60 degree weather. For example, under their winter coat they should wear an undershirt, long sleeve shirt, and sweater. <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 2: </b></span>Take the child to the car with their coat unzipped - have them take off their coat when they get to the car. Quickly buckle the child and get the straps snug withOUT the coat on (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQwUuuLHQLI">remember to pull firmly up on the shoulder straps to get all the slack out of the legs/stomach area, then pull firmly on the tail to tighten the straps</a>).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTj5hVsOI/AAAAAAAAEnc/ujFwiwjNaPM/s1600/Twin+girls+with+coats+on+backwards+over+tight+straps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZTj5hVsOI/AAAAAAAAEnc/ujFwiwjNaPM/s640/Twin+girls+with+coats+on+backwards+over+tight+straps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 3:</b> </span>Have them stick out their arms and put the coat on backwards. The best part about this is not only are they safer, but they also won't overheat as the car gets warmer as they can pull their coat off when they get hot.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Some coats <b>are SAFE </b>for the car seat </span></div><a href="http://www.rei.com/skuimage/801462/80" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.rei.com/skuimage/801462/80" /></a>Some coats are thin enough That they don't interfere with the snugness of the straps - and are therefore safe for the car seat. Want to know if your child's coat is safe for the car? Buckle your child into their car seat with their coat on & get the straps snug. Take the child out of the car seat, remove their coat, and rebuckle the child into the straps. Firmly pull upwards on the shoulder straps - you should notice no slack coming up, and only enough room for one finger to fit between the child's collar bone and the strap - if the straps are looser than this, then the coat is not safe for the car.<br />
<a href="http://www.rei.com/skuimage/801818/80" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.rei.com/skuimage/801818/80" /></a><br />
These down jackets are perfect for under the car seat as they are VERY thin and compressible (from the picture you can't tell how thin they really are). Stock up now for next winter (they're on sale now!)...<br />
- <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/801462">Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket</a><br />
- <a href="http://www.rei.com/product/801818">REI Down Jacket</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Car Seat Ponchos: A great ALTERNATIVE to coats</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TUGg4zbrHwI/AAAAAAAAEqc/EaMt3cXd1Ng/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TUGg4zbrHwI/AAAAAAAAEqc/EaMt3cXd1Ng/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">1-year-old wearing <a href="http://www.carseatponcho.com/">Car Seat Poncho</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>There are also several varieties of thick fleece ponchos that the child can wear in the car seat - all of these become like a warm, hooded blanket that the child can't kick off. They are typically for kids from 6 months to 3 years of age. They are also nice in that when you take the child out of the car seat you can snuggle them in the poncho blanket so they aren't cold when going through the supermarket parking lot or to your front door, or wherever you may be running errands. Note: there are other ponchos being sold that have drawstrings at the hood/neck area - we do NOT recommend these as drawstrings pose a risk of strangulation.<br />
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<ul><li><a href="http://www.carseatponcho.com/">Car Seat Poncho</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.flipovermeponcho.com/">Flip Over Me Poncho </a></li>
</ul>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-10365682061004417952011-01-17T18:46:00.006-05:002011-02-09T16:20:02.859-05:00The Car Seat Lady on Good Morning America Health!!!!Click here to watch the video: <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/car-seat-lady-safety-tips-baby-child-children-travel-12610814">http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/car-seat-lady-safety-tips-baby-child-children-travel-12610814</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVME34QeoAI/AAAAAAAAEtg/UtgREpxUSKI/s1600/still+of+me+on+GMA+Health.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TVME34QeoAI/AAAAAAAAEtg/UtgREpxUSKI/s640/still+of+me+on+GMA+Health.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-28712534167810805462011-01-06T18:25:00.004-05:002011-01-07T22:41:42.672-05:00The Bundle Me - everyone uses it in the car seat - but did you know it's NOT SAFE for car seats (and using it VIOLATES the car seat's instructions)!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZOzfQo2aI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/TZcyZ5THHHw/s1600/anti+bundle+me+too+thick+behind+my+harness+CAR+SEAT+PONCHO+-+Safety+People+Frown+Upon+Bundle+Me+in+Car+Seats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZOzfQo2aI/AAAAAAAAEnQ/TZcyZ5THHHw/s320/anti+bundle+me+too+thick+behind+my+harness+CAR+SEAT+PONCHO+-+Safety+People+Frown+Upon+Bundle+Me+in+Car+Seats.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleece sleeping bag in infant car seat</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Products like the Bundle Me (a fleece sleeping bag that goes in the car seat) are what's known as "aftermarket" products - because they are sold separately from the car seat. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">You've probably seen tons of aftermarket products - the infant head inserts, the fleece buntings, the shoulder strap covers - they line several aisles in most baby stores.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
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Did you know that unlike your child's car seat which must pass rigorous crash testing, these "aftermarket products" have no crash testing or other crash safety standards they must meet? Most parents buy these products thinking they will make the car seat safer and more comfortable for their baby - not realizing that these products usually turn a </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">safe</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> car seat into an </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">unsafe</span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> one. In fact, using products that go behind or under the child's body or the straps violates the car seat manufacturers' instructions and will invalidate the warranty (see below for what the manufacturers say). </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The part of the Bundle Me (and similar products) that is unsafe is the part that goes BEHIND and UNDER the child's body and the straps. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Why is it unsafe, you ask...</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The whole idea of the car seat is to act as your child's parachute in a crash. 30mph feels the same thing to the body as if you jumped from a 3rd story window and landed on the pavement. You would be absolutely crazy to jump - but if you had to, you would rather land with a parachute as you would land as slowly and gently as possible. If your child's car seat is secured tightly to the vehicle, and the straps are snug to the child's body the child will come to the slowest, gentlest stop possible in a crash. If however the car seat is loose to the vehicle or the straps are loose to the child's body, the child still needs to come to a stop - but it becomes a much more jolting stop, like landing on your feet, and that is what hurts and causes the injuries. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Getting back to the Bundle Me and other fluffy products - if you were about to jump out of a plane, you wouldn't wear anything fluffy between you and your parachute harness as you would be afraid that the harness wouldn't hold you tight. The same thing goes for your baby - you don't want to put anything bulky like coats, snowsuits, buntings, Bundle Mes, body supports, strap covers, etc between the back of the car seat and the harness straps as the straps won't be snug to the child's actual body. Most of these products create so much extra room between the child's body and the straps that you can fit a fist in between - much more than the 1 finger that is allowed. </span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZEBbijz9I/AAAAAAAAEnA/UoLliLh9bdU/s1600/bundle+me+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZEBbijz9I/AAAAAAAAEnA/UoLliLh9bdU/s320/bundle+me+2.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">WITH Bundle Me - the straps "seem" snug as just 1 finger fits under the child's collar bone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZMPDGCtRI/AAAAAAAAEnI/Z4toaYwtE0Y/s1600/bundle+me+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZMPDGCtRI/AAAAAAAAEnI/Z4toaYwtE0Y/s320/bundle+me+3.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">WITHOUT Bundle Me (the straps were not loosened or tightened - just the Bundle Me was removed) - the straps are very loose - a whole fist fits under the straps</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Do you have a Bundle Me or other sleeping bag product that you want to use this winter? The video below shows a quick way to make the Bundle Me safe to use in the car seat. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">NOTE: If your Bundle Me has a filler material (stuffing) you will need to sew the new edges so that the baby does not try to eat the filler - this would be a choking hazard.</span></span><br />
<br />
<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-MrwoFJc1qs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-MrwoFJc1qs?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZAqLt7etI/AAAAAAAAEm4/iapl1cKUWJY/s1600/7AM+Enfant+Pookie+Poncho+on+Combi+Coccoro+on+Coccoro+Flash+Stroller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZAqLt7etI/AAAAAAAAEm4/iapl1cKUWJY/s320/7AM+Enfant+Pookie+Poncho+on+Combi+Coccoro+on+Coccoro+Flash+Stroller.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">7AM Enfant Pookie Poncho on Combi Coccoro</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are you looking for a safe alternative to the Bundle Me? One that you don't have to cut? These products below simply fit OVER the top of the car seat - so there is nothing to interfere with the straps. A few will work on convertible car seats too! </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.babbaco.com/babbacover.aspx">BabbaCo Babba Cover </a></li>
<li><a href="http://babyfootmuff.com/babyfootmuff3-zipperhoodedinfantcarriercover.aspx" target="_blank">Baby Footmuff Infant Carrier Cover</a><a href="http://www.goincozy.com/carrier_covers.htm"><br />
</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.babypolargear.com/infant_car_seat_cover.htm">Baby Polar Gear Nuzzler & Nuzzler II</a> (for infant & convertible car seats)</li>
<li><a href="http://soothetime.com/cruisetime/cruise-cover/">Cruise Time Cruise Cover </a></li>
<li><a href="http://jjcolecollections.com/car-seat-cover">JJ Cole Car Seat Cover</a> (please note this is NOT the Bundle Me) </li>
<li><a href="http://www.popoverbaby.com/" target="_blank">Popover</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tivolicouture.com/Car-Seat-Covers-Car-Seat-Jackets.htm" target="_blank">Tivoli Couture Car Seat Cover</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.7amenfant.com/pp200.html" target="_blank">7am Enfant Pookie Poncho</a> (for convertible car seats - too big for infant seats) </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZCd7hXYrI/AAAAAAAAEm8/1lfI1RxoFNE/s1600/Rear+facing+child+with+Car+Seat+Poncho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TSZCd7hXYrI/AAAAAAAAEm8/1lfI1RxoFNE/s320/Rear+facing+child+with+Car+Seat+Poncho.jpg" width="211" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Car Seat Poncho</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
There are also several varieties of thick fleece ponchos that the child can wear in the car seat - all of these become like a warm, hooded blanket that the child can't kick off. They are typically for kids from 6 months to 3 years of age. They are also nice in that when you take the child out of the car seat you can snuggle them in the poncho blanket so they aren't cold when going through the supermarket parking lot or to your front door, or wherever you may be running errands.<br />
<br />
<ul><li><a href="http://www.carseatponcho.com/">Car Seat Poncho</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://www.flipovermeponcho.com/">Flip Over Me Poncho </a></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But don't take our word for it, here is what the car seat manufacturers have to say about aftermarket products. These excerpts were taken directly from the child safety seat instruction manuals.<br />
<br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.babytrend.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.babytrend.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Baby Trend</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Do Not dress your child in bulky clothing or other garments that will hinder the harness from being snug around your baby and properly latched between your child's legs.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Accessory products for use with the Safety Seat are acceptable for use provided that they do not interfere with the harness assembly, or the proper adjustment of the harness such that it remains tight on the child's shoulders at all times. Thick, soft, or other compressible material in excess of 1/4 inch thick should not be placed behind or under the child or between the child and harness straps. Examples of accessory products are head support pillows or rolled blankets to add additional head support.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.britaxusa.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Britax</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o The use of non-Britax Child Safety, Inc. covers, inserts, toys, accessories, or tightening devices is not approved by Britax. Their use could cause this restraint to fail Federal Safety Standards or perform worse in a crash. Their use automatically voids the Britax warranty.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.chiccousa.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.chiccousa.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Chicco</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o NEVER use clothing or blankets that interfere with fastening or tightening the harness. An unsecured child could be ejected in a sudden stop or crash! To keep child warm, place a blanket over child and restraint AFTER you have properly secured child in harness.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o DO NOT use any accessories, pads or products supplied by other manufacturers with this Child Restraint. Items not tested with this restraint could injure your child.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.dorel.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.dorel.com/marques.htm/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dorel</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (Maxi Cosi, Cosco, Eddie Bauer, Safety 1st):</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Dorel Juvenile Group does not recommend the use of any child restraint accessories except those recommended by DJG.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.evenflo.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.evenflo.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Evenflo</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o In cold weather, DO NOT dress the child in bulky clothing like snowsuits if the child is riding in a child restraint. Bulky coats/ snowsuits make it difficult to properly tighten the harness to the child, which may allow the child to be ejected from the restraint during a crash.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.gracobaby.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.gracobaby.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Graco</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o DO NOT use accessories or parts other than those provided by Graco. Their use could alter the performance of the car seat.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.orbitbaby.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.orbitbaby.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Orbit</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Do not modify your Infant Car Seat or Base. Only use products and accessories approved by Orbit Baby to ensure the safety of your child. This limited warranty does not apply to: defects resulting from use with covers, inserts, accessories, tightening devices, or other components not supplied by or expressly approved in writing by Orbit Baby.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.pegperego.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.pegperego.com/page.php?sid=975c93bd4b5e25c2f54f4e5a4a47474e&pageid=INTRO001/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Peg Perego</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Use only approved parts. Use of unapproved parts can affect the safety of the car seat and cause serious injuries in an accident.</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
* </span></span><a href="http://www.skjp.com/" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.skjp.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Sunshine Kids</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<blockquote style="border-left: 5px solid rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 0px; padding: 0px 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times,'Times New Roman',serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">o Using any non-Sunshine Kids product with this restraint; or any product not specifically approved by Sunshine Kids for use with this restraint is not allowed. Use of such products voids manufacturer's warranty and may seriously impact the products ability to perform properly in an accident.</span></span></blockquote>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-23884878885582138692010-12-30T14:12:00.000-05:002010-12-30T14:12:01.496-05:00Tips & Tricks - How to Prevent Someone from "accidentally" unbuckling your child's car seatYou know the sound - the double "click" - the first click is the "oops", and the second click is the person unbuckling their own seat belt. Oops - I accidentally unbuckled Ella's car seat...<br />
<br />
When two seat belts buckle right next to each other, it is very easy to accidentally unbuckle the wrong one first. Here are a few easy solutions to try and prevent the "oops".<br />
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If your vehicle has the lower anchors (LATCH) in the seating position where your child is riding (remember, the center of MOST vehicles does NOT have the lower anchors) AND your child is not too heavy for the lower anchors (most have weight limits - which vary by vehicle & child restraint - but typically 40-48 pounds) - THEN install the car seat using LATCH and no one can accidentally unbuckle the child's car seat.<br />
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If you are using the vehicle's seat belt:<br />
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If your seat belt and buckle will allow for this (some won't), rotate the buckle (the female end) half a turn before buckling the seat belt. This way the red release button will be facing in towards the child's car seat instead of tantalizingly sticking out near the other seat belt buckles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/R8h6TjtXyOs?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Can't flip the buckle around? Don't despair. Here are a few other tricks:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>If your child's infant or toddler car seat came with shoulder strap covers that velcro on/off, you may have already noticed that the shoulder strap covers were too long to allow you to keep the chest clip in the proper place - and most annoyingly of all, the shoulder strap covers tend to make the harness straps twist. Here is a great way to REPURPOSE a seemingly useless item (as having them on actually makes things more UNcomfortable for the child as now there is more sticking into the side of their neck). Once you are done installing the car seat, slip one shoulder strap cover behind the vehicle's seat buckle, and the other in front of the seat belt buckle - velcro them together and now you have "hidden" the red release button.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TRv130wtaHI/AAAAAAAAEls/H7icei5lZHE/s1600/shoulder+straps+covering+vehicle+seat+belt+buckle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TRv130wtaHI/AAAAAAAAEls/H7icei5lZHE/s640/shoulder+straps+covering+vehicle+seat+belt+buckle.jpg" width="521" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The<span style="color: red;"> RED</span> button showing is the seat belt buckle for the person sitting NEXT TO the child's car seat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Perhaps the person sitting next to the child's car seat is a 6 year old in a booster who just has really sticky fingers and the shoulder strap cover trick just isn't enough of a deterrent. The solution is a disposable plastic or paper cup - or even a plastic yogurt container (6-8oz size). Make a vertical slit in the cup going all the way from the top to the bottom. Next, cut out the bottom of the cup. Now your cup is like a tube with a slit - place the cup around the vehicle's seat belt buckle and secure the cup closed with a piece of tape. Do NOT put tape on the vehicle's seat belt or the buckle itself. Now Mr. Sticky Fingers can't push the wrong button (well, at least not the seat belt release button - I'm sure he's good at pushing other buttons...)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TRv8bZ_yx0I/AAAAAAAAEl0/JrLHb0AL-uE/s1600/plastic+cup+to+cover+seat+belt+buckle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TRv8bZ_yx0I/AAAAAAAAEl0/JrLHb0AL-uE/s640/plastic+cup+to+cover+seat+belt+buckle.JPG" width="376" /></a></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-88527994795239764372010-12-25T17:13:00.000-05:002010-12-25T17:13:34.326-05:00Bubble Bum - the most innovative backless booster you've ever seen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1RG2_QTgAGw/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1RG2_QTgAGw?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1RG2_QTgAGw?f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The <b style="color: #351c75;"><a href="http://www.bubblebum.co.uk/">Bubble Bum</a></b> is an incredibly innovative new booster seat that will arrive in the US April 2011 - it is already wildly popular in Europe. The Car Seat Lady is super excited about it as I think it will eliminate many of the barriers to booster seat use - in a way that no other booster seat does.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dosomethingdifferent.com/images/store/experience/landscape_image/1599/BubbleBum4.jpg?1276787693" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://www.dosomethingdifferent.com/images/store/experience/landscape_image/1599/BubbleBum4.jpg?1276787693" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">What makes it so <b><span style="color: #351c75;">GREAT</span></b>? </span><br />
<ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>LIGHTWEIGHT</b></span></li>
<ul><li>Weighs just 1 pound!</li>
<li>Great for playdates, travel, taxis & rental cars - anytime you need to take a booster</li>
</ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>COMPACT </b></span></li>
<ul><li>INFLATES in seconds to its regular size, but quickly deflates to fit in a child's tiny backpack </li>
<li>Unlike other boosters which are bulky pieces of plastic (even if they weigh only 5 pounds), this one is compact enough that you have no excuse to not bring the booster with your child for EVERY trip (even just a short taxi ride from the airport...)</li>
</ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>NARROW</b></span></li>
<ul><li>Until now, the Nania High Ride was the narrowest booster on the US market at 14.5 inches - but the Bubble Bum is just 12.5 inches wide! </li>
<li>With smaller, more fuel efficient cars becoming the primary family vehicle, the need for a narrow booster has never been greater.</li>
</ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>LOW PROFILE</b></span></li>
<ul><li>Without "arm rests" like other booster seats, it will fit in smaller spaces where other boosters won't (think trying to fit 3 kids across the back seat)</li>
<li>Many kids find it hard to buckle themselves into traditional boosters as the arm rests block their view of the seat belt buckle - this booster will give them more independence </li>
<li>Note: the "arm rests" on other boosters are to prevent the lap belt from sliding up into the child's abdomen - the Bubble Bum uses innovative belt guides on the side of the booster to accomplish this same goal, but without bulky arm rests </li>
</ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>FUN</b></span></li>
<ul><li>A large focus group of school kids picked the fun purple color scheme</li>
<li>Since it doesn't look like other boosters, your child may not fight as much about riding in it</li>
</ul><li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>COMFORTABLE</b></span></li>
<li style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>AFFORDABLE</b></span></li>
<ul><li>At $30, you can afford to have one for playdates, one for grandma's car, another for the babysitter's car...</li>
</ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.madeformums.com/uploads/images/Large/12059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://www.madeformums.com/uploads/images/Large/12059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Who can use it: It is appropriate for kids age 4 and up who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds. <br />
<br />
The fine print:<br />
The Car Seat Lady received this Bubble Bum booster for free - but is in no way affiliated with Bubble Bum and is not paid in anyway for this blog post. <br />
Why the glowing review? We simply think this may be the best thing since sliced bread (well, for boosters at least). There are many barriers to booster seat use - convenience, cost, portability, lack of space in the vehicle to name a few - and this booster addresses them all in a way no other seat does. Therefore, we think this booster has the chance to keep many kids safer as we think kids will be more likely to have this booster with them when they need it (the ride to the airport, the taxi in NYC, the last minute playdate, etc). The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-85269643847772085542010-11-02T21:01:00.000-04:002010-11-02T21:01:21.215-04:00Introducing the new.... Graco Smart Seat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCrfdulQ2I/AAAAAAAAEfs/FY6NKlnYKvc/s200/Graco+Smart+Seat+front.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="178" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graco Smart Seat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I had the privilege and pleasure to spend the past 2 days in Atlanta at the Graco headquarters for the Smart Seat Launch conference for car seat advocates. I feel honored to be amongst the 13 car seat advocates invited - with "just" 13 years experience in the field I was the baby of the bunch and was humbled to be in the company of greatness - as the other 12 advocates have devoted many years of their lives helping to keep children across this country safe when riding in cars. <br />
<br />
In an effort to be as transparent as possible, Graco invited us to preview their new seat - but it was more than just a preview. This was an opportunity for those of us with the highest level of expertise in the field to share our thoughts and feedback on this and other products with the engineers and product design teams so that we can work together to create the best seats possible - ones that not only offer the best crash protection, but also facilitate proper use and fit the widest range of children possible. <br />
<br />
So, without further adieu, let me introduce the Smart Seat (images provided by Graco)<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCrfdulQ2I/AAAAAAAAEfs/FY6NKlnYKvc/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCrfdulQ2I/AAAAAAAAEfs/FY6NKlnYKvc/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+front.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Basics:</b></span><br />
- Rear-facing: 5-40 pounds <br />
- Forward-facing with 5-point harness: up to 65 pounds (top shoulder strap slot 17.2 inches)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCvHWjPWHI/AAAAAAAAEf4/n1PV1KCf3Vs/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+forward-facing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div>- High back booster seat: to 100 pounds<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCtBjVhbMI/AAAAAAAAEfw/MOQbkGGjxhg/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+rear-facing+recline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCtBjVhbMI/AAAAAAAAEfw/MOQbkGGjxhg/s320/Graco+Smart+Seat+rear-facing+recline.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smart Seat - Rear-facing recline</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCvHWjPWHI/AAAAAAAAEf4/n1PV1KCf3Vs/s200/Graco+Smart+Seat+forward-facing.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="170" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smart Seat - Forward-facing</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCyvxHOURI/AAAAAAAAEgA/emoOkX30AtI/s320/Graco+Smart+Seat+booster+mode.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="213" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graco Smart Seat - High Back Booster mode</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCyvxHOURI/AAAAAAAAEgA/emoOkX30AtI/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+booster+mode.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Why is this seat a <b>game changer?</b></span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="165" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCyLPUxVMI/AAAAAAAAEf8/2da4_d6fuVs/s200/Graco+Smart+Seat+base.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graco Smart Seat base</td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCvHWjPWHI/AAAAAAAAEf4/n1PV1KCf3Vs/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+forward-facing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>You know the old adage, "only infant seats have bases"... well, rules were meant to be broken and the Smart Seat has rewritten the rules. This seat comes in 2 pieces - there is a "stay in car base" and the shell that the child rides in. The base is not optional - i.e. unlike most infant seats that can be installed with or without the base, you MUST use the base on this seat. The base is used when the seat is installed rear-facing & forward-facing - but is NOT used in the booster mode.<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCyLPUxVMI/AAAAAAAAEf8/2da4_d6fuVs/s1600/Graco+Smart+Seat+base.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>PROS</b>:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li>You know that fantastic built in lock-off that appears on the Snug Ride 35 base? You guessed it - the Smart Seat has it too - which makes a tight installation as easy as pie. </li>
<li>Narrowest belt path of any seat - which works GREAT for the narrow center in many vehicles (some centers are as narrow as 8 or 9 inches "wide") - and while the base itself is much wider than 8 inches, it is possible to access the side seat belt buckles due to the fact that the base is cut out and raised on the sides. This is not the case with any other forward-facing car seat - none others have this narrow of a "footprint".</li>
<li>No towels/noodles needed under the seat to make it reclined enough for a young infant - all recline adjustments are made on the shell once the base is installed. </li>
<li>40 pound rear-facing weight limit with dimensions that should really accommodate many kids to this point</li>
<li>This is the first, and currently only, Graco seat to allow the use of the lower anchors at any spacing so long as the vehicle manufacturer designates that seating position as a LATCH position. For more info on <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/06/center-latch-not-always-oxymoron-2010.html">center LATCH, visit this older post</a> - please note that the table on this post will be updated to include this Graco seat once the seat becomes available on the market. </li>
<li>No re-thread harness adjustment - with 6 harness heights (from 8.2 to 17.2 inches) </li>
<li>This seat would be great for parents who carpool - if you need to take 2 year olds in the morning and 5 year olds in the afternoon, you can change the seat from rear-facing to forward-facing very easily (just remember to use the tether for forward-facing!)</li>
<li>Wide comfortable seat</li>
<li>Lowest shoulder strap slot is 8 in (same as on the Graco Snug Ride 22, 32, and 35 infant seats) - but with the requirement to use the shoulder strap covers for rear-facing this will likely not fit infants until closer to 10 pounds as the shoulder strap covers are long and bulky</li>
<li>You can store the 5 point harness in a handy hideaway when the seat is in booster mode - so you don't have to worry about taking the harness out and/or losing it.</li>
<li>Color coding to try and reduce confusion/errors - <b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Blue</span></b> is for rear-facing, <b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Orange</span></b> is for forward-facing, and <b><span style="color: #38761d;">Green</span></b> is for booster mode</li>
<li>Easy to read "bubble" level indicator on the car seat</li>
<li>Steel reinforced base and shell - with 4 metal to metal connections between the shell and the base<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TNCtoHmry2I/AAAAAAAAEf0/qodr0xDO_IE/s200/6+position+adjustable+harness+height.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="184" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">6 position no-rethread harness/headrest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: large;"><b>CONS</b>:</span><br />
<ul><li>This is not a seat for travel. Why - it weighs 35 pounds. If that isn't enough, it is likely too wide to fit on most airplane seats - that is if you could haul it down the aisle anyway.</li>
<li>Currently, when it is installed rear-facing it sits quite reclined, which for older toddlers who are eager to look out the back window might be problematic as they get more of a view of the roof than the back window. HOWEVER - GRACO HEARD THIS FEEDBACK AND WILL LOOK INTO WHETHER THERE IS A WAY TO ALLOW OLDER KIDS TO RIDE MORE UPRIGHT WHILE REAR-FACING. IRONICALLY, SITTING THIS CAR SEAT MORE UPRIGHT ACTUALLY INCREASES THE CHILD'S LEG ROOM, AND INCREASES THE LEG ROOM FOR THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.</li>
<li>This is a wide seat - great if you have a captain's chair in a minivan, but problematic if you are trying to fit 2 car seats in the back seat of a car or SUV while still allowing enough room for a person in the back.</li>
<li>With the current recline position allowed for rear-facing it takes up a fair amount of room into the front seat - and will likely not fit rear-facing in the center of many vehicles unless the driver and front passenger don't need a lot of leg room.</li>
<li>Shoulder strap covers are long and bulky (with a firm piece of foam in the layer that goes between the harness strap and the child's body) - this may be uncomfortable not to mention it will likely prevent a snug harness fit for smaller infants. Many of us find that shoulder strap covers make the harness straps twist - this is the only seat that REQUIRES the strap covers to be used, so removing them is not an option (note however that after 40 pounds the harness strap covers must be removed)</li>
<li>The crotch buckle distance is only 6.25in (the same as the Graco Nautilus) which by 3-4 years of age is coming from under the child's bottom, rather than in front.</li>
<li>In the booster mode (as with the Graco Nautilus in the high back mode), the top head rest height is not nearly tall enough to accommodate a child who is approaching 4'9".</li>
</ul>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-21654929016725724472010-10-11T12:05:00.000-04:002010-10-11T12:05:10.211-04:00Good Morning Las Vegas!The Car Seat Ladies (Alisa & Emily) along with Lulu, Emily's 10-month old daughter (the car seat baby????), are in Las Vegas for the ABC Kids Expo. Over the next 3 days we will be meeting with all the major car seat manufacturers to learn what new products and features they'll be launching in the next year - <i>and</i> to share feedback with them on how (in our humble opinions) they can improve their products - because frankly, car seats are just too darn hard to install properly.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="293" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TLMyy_MhW4I/AAAAAAAAEX0/IbcyY8peQes/s320/3+car+seat+ladies+on+plane.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu, Emily & Alisa</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TLMyy_MhW4I/AAAAAAAAEX0/IbcyY8peQes/s1600/3+car+seat+ladies+on+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TLMy7Uv2JPI/AAAAAAAAEX4/PdZ_B2L29MI/s320/Sleeping+in+Coccoro+on+plane.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lulu sleeping comfortably in her Combi Coccoro on the plane</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TLMy7Uv2JPI/AAAAAAAAEX4/PdZ_B2L29MI/s1600/Sleeping+in+Coccoro+on+plane.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Having just traveled with a 10 month old in tow, we can share a few travel tips.<br />
<br />
1. Buy a seat for the baby on the airplane. It is not just the safer way to travel, it is the saner way to travel - who wants a squirmy toddler on their lap for 5 hours?<br />
2. Travel with your car seat. We brought the <a href="http://www.combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12">Combi Coccoro</a> (which we wheeled around the airport connected to the <a href="http://www.combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=49">Combi Coccoro Flash stroller</a>). I am a small person (just 5'2") and found it very easy to carry the car seat with sleeping Lulu in it down the aisle of the plane. It also fit nicely in the airplane seat and allowed the person in front to recline their seat just about all the way. <br />
3. Encourage the baby to suck during take off. Nurse or bottle feed the baby until you hear "flight attendants prepare for take-off" - then strap the baby into the car seat and offer a bottle, pacifier, sippy cup, or food that you have to suck out of the packaging.<br />
4. Fly at night - the baby is most likely to sleep through the majority of the plane ride (Lulu thankfully did).<br />
5. Change your baby into their pajamas before the flight - this will keep them warm as the plane is often chilly.The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-8216907451403545262010-08-23T11:12:00.003-04:002011-01-16T12:21:37.788-05:00CAR POOL TIPS - What is the NARROWEST BOOSTER available?<div style="font-family: inherit;"></div><div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TTMoqNAberI/AAAAAAAAEpk/EUgV0ESPS_4/s1600/Nania+HighRide+tan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="159" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TTMoqNAberI/AAAAAAAAEpk/EUgV0ESPS_4/s200/Nania+HighRide+tan.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nania High Ride</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Are you driving carpool this year and wondering <b>how you are going to fit 3 boosters across</b> the back of your minivan? Trying to fit multiple car seats & boosters can be a challenge - even in a big vehicle like a minivan. Wondering <b>which booster is the narrowest</b>?<br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TTMnu5J5wEI/AAAAAAAAEpg/mPcmKDVxyQM/s1600/Harmony+Juvenile+Cruz+booster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TTMnu5J5wEI/AAAAAAAAEpg/mPcmKDVxyQM/s200/Harmony+Juvenile+Cruz+booster.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Harmony Juvenile Cruz</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The <a href="http://www.allegromedical.com/children-pediatric-c531/nania-highride-no-back-booster-seat-p558117.html?engine=froogle&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed&CS_003=9164468&CS_010=ff8081811df2f762011e5166a26e5b71">Nania High Ride</a> (backless booster) is the narrowest booster seat currently available - at just 14.5 inches wide. The <a href="http://www.walmart.com/ip/Harmony-Cruz-Youth-Booster-Car-Seat-Black-and-Red/14914783">Harmony Juvenile Cruz</a> is the next narrowest - at just 15.5 inches wide. Both are available for less than $25 each. The <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/12/bubble-bum-most-innovative-backless.html">Bubble Bum</a>, which will be out in April 2011, is the narrowest of all at just 12.5 inches - and also has no arm rests (which are the parts that tend to interfere most with placing a booster next to another car seat or booster).</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.madeformums.com/uploads/images/Large/12059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://www.madeformums.com/uploads/images/Large/12059.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bubble Bum</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Before you rush to buy a booster for carpool...</b></div><div class="western" style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 0in; page-break-before: always; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span>Kids, especially younger ones, are safer in a 5-point harness. <b>Don’t rush to “graduate” your child to a booster seat. </b> Kids who are AT LEAST 40 pounds AND AT LEAST 3-4 years old can start riding on boosters. Kids should ride on a booster UNTIL they can pass the 5-step-test (usually age 8-10). </div><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> If you can check "Yes" to all the statements below, your child is okay to use a booster:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <b>YES</b> <b>NO</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> [ ] [ ] There is a shoulder AND lap belt where the child sits (boosters need shoulder belts)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> [ ] [ ] The child is at least 40 pounds (kids under 40 pounds are safer in a 5-point harness)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> [ ] [ ] The child is at least 3-4 years old</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"> [ ] [ ] The child can sit still the entire trip without leaning forward or sitting on their knees</span><br />
<div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Do you need something EVEN NARROWER?</b><br />
<b> </b>The <a href="http://www.ridesafer.net/">Ride Safer Travel Vest</a> is a great option as it is only as wide as the child's body (see below for more info).<br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
<b>Does a child need to ride in a position with just a lap belt?</b><br />
One option would be to use a 5-point harness car seat with a high-weight-harness (a harness that accommodates kids who weigh more than 40 pounds). A <a href="http://www.carseat.org/Resources/650.pdf">list of such car seats can be found here</a> thanks to our fantastic friends at <a href="http://www.carseat.org/">Safety Belt Safe USA</a>.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/THKUzOhSZGI/AAAAAAAAEWI/9fQgkbIulO8/s1600/ride+safer+vest+with+lap+only+belt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/THKUzOhSZGI/AAAAAAAAEWI/9fQgkbIulO8/s200/ride+safer+vest+with+lap+only+belt.jpg" width="122" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride Safer Travel Vest using tether + lap belt</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/THKU10dj41I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/dlqg01_WpX4/s1600/ride+safer+travel+vest+tether+attached+in+center.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/THKU10dj41I/AAAAAAAAEWQ/dlqg01_WpX4/s200/ride+safer+travel+vest+tether+attached+in+center.jpg" width="164" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ride Safer Travel Vest in center showing tether</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Another option is the <a href="http://www.ridesafer.net/">Ride Safer Travel Vest</a> - which is a vest that functions like a booster by positioning the vehicle's seat belt properly on the child's body. The Ride Safer Travel Vest can be used with just a lap belt <i>so long as there is a tether anchor available</i>. For vehicles 2000 and newer, there are tether anchors in at least 3 seating locations in the vehicle - most older vehicles (as old as 1989) can have tether anchors retrofitted for free or at minimal cost. The vest was redesigned about a year ago; please make sure to get the newer version. You can distinguish the new from the old as the old one was only available in silver and had 2 buckles in front whereas the new one is available in a rainbow variety of colors, but not silver, and the new one has only one buckle in front. <br />
<b> </b><br />
<b>NOTES</b>: </div><ul><li>The boosters shown above are BACKLESS boosters. In order to use a backless booster, or the Ride Safer Travel Vest, you need to make sure that the vehicle seat back comes up to at least the top of the child's ears in order to provide adequate head support. If the vehicle seat back does NOT come up to at least the top of the ears, then you need to use a high back booster. </li>
<li>For wiggly, squirmy kids it is often helpful to "lock" the seat belt - <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/04/how-to-outsmart-squirmy-worm-in-booster.html">click here for tips on how to "lock" the belt</a>. </li>
<li>The Bubble Bum will be available in April 2011 - it meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and crash testing like all other boosters. </li>
<li>The Nania High Ride (which meets all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards like all other car seats and boosters sold in the US) is not sold in any retail stores. It is available individually for $20 from the <a href="http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/safetystore/travelsafety.html">University of Iowa Children's Hospital Online Safety Store</a>. Otherwise it is sold in packs of 6-8 boosters (total cost comes to less than $20 per booster) and is available from the following websites:</li>
<ul><li> <a href="http://www.allegromedical.com/children-pediatric-c531/nania-highride-no-back-booster-seat-p558117.html?engine=froogle&utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=feed&CS_003=9164468&CS_010=ff8081811df2f762011e5166a26e5b71">AllegroMedical</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.child-source.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=28&category_id=14&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26">Child Source </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.opentip.com/Toys-Kids-Baby/Nania-Highride-Noback-Booster-Seat-Lbs-p-1076309.html">OpenTip</a></li>
</ul></ul><div style="font-family: inherit;">For approximate dimensions of other boosters and car seats, <a href="http://sites.google.com/site/carseatmeasurements/home">click here</a>. </div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-14084962661515126962010-07-27T23:00:00.002-04:002010-07-27T23:08:24.116-04:00They said it was impossible... - fitting 3 car seats across the back seat - some tips, tricks & "go to" seats<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TE-SfWb9XkI/AAAAAAAAEUM/kB-X21ZcfbM/s1600/DSC_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TE-SfWb9XkI/AAAAAAAAEUM/kB-X21ZcfbM/s200/DSC_0051.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety 1st Go, Chicco Key Fit 30, Britax Boulevard </td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TE-S0CsmEFI/AAAAAAAAEUc/eNi6R3TUUTA/s1600/DSC_0053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TE-S0CsmEFI/AAAAAAAAEUc/eNi6R3TUUTA/s200/DSC_0053.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 car seats in 2008 Range Rover Sport</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Fitting 3 car seats across the back seat is a challenge. Truth be told, it is not possible in many vehicles. In other vehicles, it requires just the right combination of seats - not only a specific car seat, but putting it in the best position in the vehicle to allow the other seats to "puzzle" next to it.<br />
<br />
You might be thinking - this is a Range Rover Sport, of course you could get 3 car seats in a huge truck like this. But there you would be wrong - as just having a large vehicle in no way guarantees that you will be able to fit 3 car seats, just as having a small vehicle in no way guarantees that you <i>won't</i> be able to fit 3 car seats. Case in point - the Range Rover HSE, which has similar exterior dimensions to the Range Rover Sport, will not accommodate 3 car seats due to the awkward layout of its back seat and the narrow dimensions of the center seat. <br />
<br />
Having installed thousands of car seats, The Car Seat Ladies have some "go to" seats when it comes to fitting lots of seats into not a lot of space. In the vehicle shown in the pictures (the 2008 Range Rover Sport) I installed the Safety 1st Go behind the driver (using LATCH), the Chicco Key Fit 30 in the center (using the vehicle's shoulder/lap belt), and the Britax Boulevard behind the passenger (using LATCH). Had there been two forward-facing kids and one rear-facing, I likely would have tried the Safety 1st Go behind the driver, the Britax Boulevard forward-facing in the center, and the Chicco Key Fit 30 behind the passenger - as putting the Boulevard and the Go next to each other would allow the Go to tuck itself underneath the Boulevard and use up a little bit less space in the back seat with this overlap (each seat would be installed and the belt marked to make sure that the car seat was installed tightly INDEPENDENT of the other seat - i.e. and not relying on its neighbor to feel snug).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>"Go To" Seats</b></div><ul><li>Infant</li>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/car-seats/keyfit-30-fuego.aspx">Chicco Key Fit</a></li>
<ul><li>with a starting weight of 4 pounds it is guaranteed to fit almost any infant</li>
<li>very narrow where the handle attaches (the widest part of most infant seats) - which allows it to fit nicely next to other car seats</li>
<li>built in locking clips - very important for an easier seat belt installation </li>
<li>30lb weight limit so you get more use out of it than the 22lb infant seats</li>
</ul></ul></ul><ul><li>Convertible (Rear to Forward Facing)</li>
<ul><li>Britax <a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/marathon">Marathon</a> / <a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/boulevard">Boulevard</a> / <a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/decathlon">Decathlon</a></li>
<ul><li>extra tall seated height to accommodate older kids rear-facing</li>
<li>narrow where it needs to be and wide where it needs to be - making it fit in spaces where seemingly smaller seats won't</li>
<li>built in locking clips - very important for an easier seat belt installation <br />
</li>
<li>high weight limit forward-facing</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://combi-intl.com/Products/Item.aspx?Item=12">Combi Coccoro</a></li>
<ul><li>at 15 inches it is the narrowest convertible car seat</li>
<li>built in locking clips - very important for an easier seat belt installation </li>
<li> note: it is shorter in seated height than the Britax/Sunshine Kids so will last less time rear-facing & forward-facing</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.skjp.com/product/97556/195XX/_/RadianXTSL%26%23174%3B#">Sunshine Kids Radian</a></li>
<ul><li>high weight limit rear-facing & forward-facing </li>
<li>narrow profile </li>
<li> Note - this is typically a difficult seat to install securely using the vehicle's shoulder/lap belt as it does not have built in locking clips for either rear-facing or forward-facing. As such, it is often not our first choice. Installing this seat rear-facing with a shoulder belt is typically a very challenging installation as since the seat has no built in locking clips (and using the switchable retractor - the locking mechanism built into most shoulder belts - will tilt the car seat on its side) - you must use a metal locking clip to keep the seat belt tight. A metal locking clip is a 2 person, multi-step process that is hard to do properly (and easy to do wrong). Another issue with this seat is that in many vehicles it sits quite reclined when rear-facing which may mean that the adult in front of the car seat does not have adequate space to drive/sit comfortably. </li>
</ul></ul>
<li>Combination Seat (5 point harness car seat to booster)</li>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.safety1st.com/usa/eng/Products/Travel/Car-Seats/Booster-Car-Seats/Details/2384-22256AHE-Go-Hybrid-Booster-Car-Seat">Safety 1st Go Hybrid</a></li>
<ul><li>Narrow (17 inches) with an exceptionally narrow profile at the top due to its lack of sides (except at the child's head) - which allows it to fit very nicely next to other seats, including puzzling underneath seats with an overhang like the Britax Marathon/Boulevard/Decathlon</li>
<li>Great seat for older kids as:</li>
<ul><li> it doesn't look as much like a "baby seat"</li>
<li>provides a 5 point harness for longer</li>
<li>allows older kids some independence as with another car seat next to them they often have difficulty buckling themselves into a booster - but with this seat they can use the 5 point harness and many kids by the age of 5 can buckle themselves in</li>
</ul>
<li>Note: When installed with the vehicle's seat belt the top shoulder strap height is just 14.5 inches - but when installed with the vehicle's lower anchors (LATCH system) the shoulder strap height is 17.5 inches. Therefore this seat must be installed with the lower anchors for most kids over the age of 3-4 as they need the additional shoulder strap height. Since most vehicles only have the lower anchors for the side seats, this seat will usually have to go on the side.</li>
</ul></ul>
<li>Belt Positioning Booster</li>
<ul><li><a href="http://www.child-source.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=28&category_id=14&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26">Nania High Ride</a></li>
<ul><li>Narrowest backless booster - 14.5 inches wide (1 inch narrower than the next narrowest booster)</li>
<li>Note: this booster is only available in packs of 6 (with shipping it is about $15/booster) - but since it is great for fitting 3 kids across the 3rd row of a Honda Odyssey I'm sure you can find a few neighbors who will buy a few from your 6-pack</li>
</ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ridesafer.net/">Ride Safer Travel Vest</a></li>
<ul><li>A vest that functions like a booster - but since there is no "seat" you only need to have enough room for the child's bottom to fit instead of the extra 6-8 inches that most boosters take up</li>
</ul></ul></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-64730046098544697372010-07-19T23:45:00.001-04:002010-07-19T23:46:16.036-04:00FREAKONOMICS Fallacy: An Economist or a Pediatrician - Who Would You Trust To Keep Your Child Safe?<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Economists vs Pediatricians</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who is really looking out for your child's safety?</span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/airbags/Archive-04/PresBelt/iceberg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="273" src="http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/airbags/Archive-04/PresBelt/iceberg.gif" width="320" /></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, many parents have mistakenly put their trust in the economists Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner, co-authors of the popular book </span><a href="http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Freakonomics</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, rather than following the advice of pediatricians and the medical community when it comes to protecting their children in the car. In 2005 the Freakonomics authors wrote an article in the NYTimes Magazine entitled "</span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/10/magazine/10FREAK.html?_r=1&ex=1189915200&en=641c83d4b0668293&ei=5070"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Seat-Belt Solution</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">which came to the sensational conclusion that "there is no evidence that car seats do a better job than seat belts in saving the lives of children older than 2." But fatalities are just the tip of the iceberg; for every death there are 19 injuries requiring hospitalization (some leading to permanent disability) and 300 requiring medical attention.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While Dubner & Levitt have "softened" their stance over the past 5 years to say that "car seats are a little better..." than seat belts and advised parents "don't throw out the car seats" The Car Seat Ladies feel like the damage has been done - and we want to try and undo it by providing you with the whole story. More people heard and remember the sensational message than Freakonomics' weak efforts to bring their message more in line with what we know to be best practice. Therefore, we at The Car Seat Lady want to provide you with the evidence so that you can come to your own conclusions and make the best decisions regarding your child's safety. As an interesting side note, both Dubner & Levitt admit to using car seats and boosters for their own children beyond the age of 2; they are willing to endanger the lives of other people's children to sell their books, but aren't willing to make their own children be the guinea pigs for their own misguided hypothesis.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Dr Dennis Durbin & Dr Flaura Winston are pediatricians at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and co-principal investigators for the Partners for Child Passenger Safety study, which is the largest study ever done of children in crashes. Data from this ongoing study has led to the publication of dozens of papers in some of the most highly regarded peer-reviewed medical journals including JAMA, Pediatrics, Archives of Pediatrics, Journal of Trauma, and Injury Prevention. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/24/magazine/24LETTERS.html?_r=1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Drs Durbin & Winston wrote a letter to the editor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in response to the 2005 NYTimes article. </span></span><br />
<ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"As pediatricians, scientists and leaders of the world's largest study on children in crashes, we think that overinterpretation of findings from a single source of data led Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt (July 10) to claim that child safety seats are no more effective than seat belts for 2- to 6-year-olds. They examined children in fatal crashes (about 1,200 per year) while ignoring the equally informative data on those in nonfatal crashes (450,000 per year). Our research, which includes over 25,000 in-depth interviews and over 800 crash investigations, consistently shows that child safety seats and booster seats significantly lower the risk of serious injury compared to seat belts alone. Their conclusions stand in stark contrast to the existing body of scientific data that support current child restraint recommendations, and are, in our opinion, irresponsible and dangerous. Learn the facts at </span><a href="http://www.chop.edu/carseat" style="color: #000066;" target="_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">www.chop.edu/carseat</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. We hope that this misleading article does not cost a child his life."</span></span></li>
</ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Drs Durbin & Winston followed up this letter with an </span><a href="http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/160/6/617.pdf"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">study published in the June 2006 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. This study was designed in direct response to Freakonomics' conclusion that seat belts are equally effective as car seats/boosters at preventing death for kids 2-6 years of age. Drs Durbin & Winston's study found </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">that children who were using child restraints were 28 percent less likely to be killed in a crash than children who were wearing seat belts alone - or as Dr. Durbin explained "for every 100 children who were killed in a crash wearing only a seatbelt, 28 of them would have survived if they'd been in a car seat or booster seat." </span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In August 2008 Dubner & Levitt </span><a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/121384990/abstract"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">published their study concluding that seat belts are equally effective as child restraints for kids 2-6 in the journal Economic Inquiry</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. A quick survey of the archives of this journal uncovers such scientifically rigorous and groundbreaking studies as "</span><a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120121520/abstract"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Secret Santa Reveals the Secret Side of Giving</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" and "</span><a href="http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120173872/abstract"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Influence of Social Forces: Evidence from the Behavior of Football Referees</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">".</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The data refuting the Freakonomics conclusion keeps coming in. A </span><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19841126"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2009 article from the Partners for Child Passenger Safety study published in Pediatrics</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> showed that 4-8 year olds using boosters seats were 55% less likely to be injured in a crash than 4-8 year olds wearing seat belts alone - or said another way, for every 100 children injured in a crash wearing only a seat belt, 55 of them would have been injury-free if they'd been in a booster seat. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Car Seat Lady feels that car seats (with a 5 point harness) are the best protection for kids until they are at least 4 years old AND at least 40 pounds (but with many seats offering the option of using the 5-point harness beyond 40 pounds we are in full support of this) - and boosters are the best protection for school age children until the vehicle's seat belt fits them properly without the booster (i.e. when they can </span><a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/05/5-step-test-your-way-to-know-if-child.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">pass the 5-step test</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">). </span></span>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-65268844668638040822010-07-17T12:08:00.000-04:002010-07-17T12:08:32.096-04:001 Minute Tip: Learn WHY babies & toddlers ride rear-facing from this fantastic video.<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: black; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="UIStory_Message">Babies ride rear-facing. Everyone knows that. But do you know why (and not just because safety experts say so). This 1 minute video explains "why" more eloquently than any I've seen before. If everyone forwards this video to one parent of a toddler - think how many kids could get to ride 5 times safer!</span></span></h3><object height="405" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sssIsceKd6U&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sssIsceKd6U&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-8406426661145809502010-07-16T10:42:00.002-04:002010-07-16T10:57:09.852-04:00Evidence-Based Medicine from this month's PEDIATRICS: Nearly 10,000 babies a year are injured in their car seats NOT DURING A CRASH<h2 style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-weight: normal;"></h2><div style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TEBvBxsfmwI/AAAAAAAAET4/yeO49BIInrE/s1600/baby+in+car+seat+on+shopping+cart+wrong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TEBvBxsfmwI/AAAAAAAAET4/yeO49BIInrE/s320/baby+in+car+seat+on+shopping+cart+wrong.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">What <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-0333v1.pdf">the study</a> found:</span><br />
<div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Parents use infant car seats as more than just car seats. Babies are often carried in these seats, ride in them on stroller frames, and nap in them while in the house and on the go. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nearly 10,000 infants in the US are injured each year in their infant car seats NOT in crashes, but rather while using the seats outside of the car. 10% of the injuries are severe enough that the baby has to spend at least 1 night in the hospital. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: black;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TEBx-tOJwDI/AAAAAAAAEUA/v3WM419DG0g/s1600/infant+car+seat+IN+shopping+cart+right.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TEBx-tOJwDI/AAAAAAAAEUA/v3WM419DG0g/s320/infant+car+seat+IN+shopping+cart+right.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">Of the injuries, 85% were related to falls - 65% of the infants fell out of the car seat, 15% fell from elevated surfaces (with shopping carts, tables, and counters being the most common surfaces).</span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;">What you NEED TO KNOW to keep YOUR CHILD SAFE:</span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. Anytime your baby is in the car seat (be it in the car, on the stroller, in your house) the harness straps must be BUCKLED and SNUG. (When unbuckled the baby can fall out of the seat. When buckled loosely the baby can get tangled in the straps and strangle themselves.)</span> <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">2. Anytime your baby is in the car seat, the car seat should either be in the car, on the stroller - or ON THE FLOOR. Never put the car seat on a counter top, bed, sofa, table, bench, shopping cart, restaurant high chair, etc - as the car seat can fall from these raised surfaces.</span></div><ol></ol><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><div style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: small;">REFERENCE</span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Parikh S, Wilson L. </span><a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/peds.2010-0333v1.pdf"><span style="font-size: small;">Hazardous Use of Car Seats Outside the Car in the United States, 2003–2007</span></a><span style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: small;"><i> Pediatrics</i>. 2010;126:352-357. </span>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-84119865867673864752010-07-07T20:55:00.002-04:002010-07-07T21:07:13.664-04:00Video Installation Tips & Tricks: How to PUSH & PULL most effectively to get a Rear-Facing Convertible Car Seat installed tightly using LATCH<span style="font-size: large;">This video highlights 2 important installation tips:</span><br />
<ol><li>On a rear-facing convertible seat, use your stomach to 1. push the car seat into the back of the vehicle seat and 2. sway the car seat side to side - WHILE you pull the belt tight</li>
<li>Always pull the tail of the belt from "inside" the car seat - not from "outside" - <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/05/latch-tricks-to-tight-installation-how.html">see this earlier post for more on inside vs. outside</a></li>
</ol>While the seat shown in this video is a Graco My Ride 65, the techniques apply to most rear-facing convertible seats (see the above blog post for a list of seats that are the exceptions to the "inside" rule)<br />
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<object height="505" style="clear: right; float: right;" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cCRY_TKZziY&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cCRY_TKZziY&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-103187310918122283.post-69760034110057822672010-06-20T22:14:00.004-04:002010-07-21T16:10:05.506-04:00TRIPLETS!!!! - Tips on fitting 3 infant seats across the back seat (or 2 side by side for twins)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB67J1KBY8I/AAAAAAAAESI/sdseHRnDhs4/s1600/DSC_0303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB67J1KBY8I/AAAAAAAAESI/sdseHRnDhs4/s320/DSC_0303.JPG" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB662GiGxBI/AAAAAAAAESA/wM7ANZEJcmw/s1600/DSC_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB662GiGxBI/AAAAAAAAESA/wM7ANZEJcmw/s320/DSC_0296.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>3 <a href="http://www.chiccousa.com/gear/car-seats/keyfit-30-fuego.aspx">Chicco KeyFit 30</a> infant car seats installed in a 2007 Volvo XC90</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Please note that MANY (if not the majority of) vehicles can not accommodate 3 infant car seats across the back seat. While it is possible to simply rest all three infant seats side by side, once you try to install one or two it becomes obvious that there is not enough room for the other/s due to the layout of the back seat. Due to 60/40 splits and other divisions of the back seat in many vehicles, you are often not dealing with three equally proportioned seats - but rather one larger seat (the 40 side - which is 40% of the back seat) and two seats that are each only 30% of the back seat. </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB7C5_8KWfI/AAAAAAAAESY/DanYsIcDovQ/s1600/DSC_0299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB7C5_8KWfI/AAAAAAAAESY/DanYsIcDovQ/s200/DSC_0299.JPG" width="132" /></a>Many people will assume that the width of the back seat is the amount of room they have to work with - when this is almost never the case. Because the lower anchors (part of the LATCH system) and the vehicle's seat belt usually start several inches away from the door, it makes it impossible for the car seat on the side to sit next to the door - rather, it is forced to sit several inches into the car. As you can see from the photos to the right - there is enough room to fit a large fist between the Chicco car seat and the Volvo door frame. Short of installing the car seat loosely, there is no way to get the car seat to sit closer to the door. In some vehicles, installing the car seat using the seat belt instead of the lower anchors allows you to install it an inch or two closer to the door - and that inch or two might make all the difference between fitting all the seats and not. </div><br />
<b>Will the Driver Have Enough Room to Drive - Why the Carrier Handle Position Matters</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB9N9text-I/AAAAAAAAES4/OKM1h8BWwc4/s1600/Carry+Handle+Position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_lD3yww-V03I/TB9N9text-I/AAAAAAAAES4/OKM1h8BWwc4/s200/Carry+Handle+Position.jpg" width="89" /></a></div>Another issue with infant seats is that not only do they take up room in the back seat - but by virtue of the fact that they lay semi-reclined, they take up leg room for the person sitting in front of the car seat (i.e. the driver or front passenger). When installing an infant seat behind the driver, it is not enough to make sure the car seat is installed securely in the back seat - but also that the driver has enough room to drive safely and ideally comfortably. Many infant seats require the carry handle to be placed either in the "store" position (at the top of the carrier) - which often makes the car seat take up an additional several inches of space front to back. Finding an infant carrier that allows the handle to be placed in the "carry" position while in the car will allow the person sitting in front of the car seat the most room. <a href="http://thecarseatlady.blogspot.com/2010/06/infant-carrier-handle-position-where.html">Please see this blog post with tip sheet for further info on the carry handle position</a> - including a chart of the permissible handle positions for current and recently discontinued infant seats.<br />
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For example, the <a href="http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/chaperone">Britax Chaperone</a> is a fantastic seat for preemies - but because it is almost 1.5 inches wider (external dimensions) than the Chicco Key Fit and takes up more room in the car front to back (meaning the driver has less room to drive) it may not work well for families with multiples depending on the vehicle.<br />
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<b>Infant Car Seats for Babies LESS THAN 5 Pounds</b><br />
10% of all babies in the US leave the hospital weighing less than 5 pounds. With multiples, there's an increased chance of taking home a baby weighing <5 lbs. Did you know that most infant seats are certified for babies 5 pounds and up. Therefore, finding a car seat that not only fits properly in your vehicle - but is also certified for the baby's weight - is of the utmost importance. <a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6fLLALd7tZtZGI4NDNkNjgtZDMyMy00NGQxLWFlZjktODcxYWYwYjg2Mjdk&hl=en">Please see our tip sheet on preemies & small newborns</a> for info on the starting weight for all the infant seats currently sold in the US, along with other pertinent info.The Car Seat Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00573866801956001939noreply@blogger.com0