Posts Tagged infant car seat
Strollers- Which Kind Is Best?
Posted by in Babies on March 8th, 2010
There are so many different types of strollers out there it is hard to know what kind is right. Do you get something lightweight or heavier, an umbrella stroller or a jogging stroller? Well, here is a basic list of the different types of baby strollers.
Umbrella Stroller
An umbrella stroller has curved double handles and they fold up easily and compactly, like an umbrella; hence the name. These are the smallest and lightest baby strollers available. They can have a cloth or vinyl seat on a basic frame with swivel wheels. Some offer features such as a canopy and a storage basket. This is a great stroller for short trips where you don’t need to bring a lot of stuff with you. But beware; they are not as sturdy as other strollers and don’t offer the same safety features. They are also not meant for children less than 6 months or children unable to sit unassisted in an upright position.
Lightweight Strollers
Lightweight strollers are mid-sized strollers that can be very basic or come with many features. There is an abundant selection of lightweight strollers, so make sure you know what your needs are before you begin to shop around. Lightweight strollers are meant for basic baby transportation like shopping, walking on paved sidewalks, etc. They are not meant for all terrain, running, or jogging. These strollers are more comfortable and practical than umbrella strollers and there is a huge selection of models and styles. There are lots of them that come with many different practical features such as a canopy, cup holders and extra storage space. Many of them may work with an infant car seat, meaning you can put the car seat in the stroller and they have good durability.
Travel System Stroller
Stroller travel systems are the ultimate in convenience for a parent with a newborn because they include the car seat, stroller, and a car seat base. They are the combination of a good-sized stroller, with an infant carrier that buckles in and out. If you are planning on only buying one stroller, this would be great because they work from birth to toddlerhood. They also have many features available like a cup holder and extra storage space. However, be aware that the weight is considered too heavy by some and the lower quality of some of these may lead you to buy something else after your baby has outgrown their infant car seat. They are also not suitable for rough terrain, running, or jogging.
Jogging and All-Terrain Strollers
These strollers are heavy duty strollers that can come with many features. More and more parents are using jogging strollers to get out of the house and exercise. A true jogging stroller is meant for serious running and has 3 large inflatable tires, with a fixed front tire. Jogging strollers are built for speed, not handling. Trying to use them for other activities such as shopping may lead to frustration and disappointment.
All-Terrain Strollers, which are also called sport strollers or sport utility strollers, are great for walking on or off paved roads. They are very durable and can handle most terrains. They also can fit through most doorways and are pretty easy to use. They can be difficult to turn if the front wheel doesn’t swivel, so you may want one with a front wheel that has the ability to turn.
Double Strollers
These strollers are great for multiple kids. Depending on the type of double stroller you get, some can accommodate an infant car seat. They can have many features and the high quality ones are pretty easy to maneuver. On the other hand, they are quite bulky and harder to carry around.
You just need to decide what you will be using the stroller for most and what features you would like. I would make a list of the most important things that you want in a stroller and go from there. You also have to realize that you might not be able to get a stroller with all the features that you want, so decide what is most important to you and your family.
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Article Source: Strollers- Which Kind Is Best?
Travel In Style with Baby Travel Strollers
Posted by in Babies on March 3rd, 2010
This system consists of an infant car seat, a car seat base for your car, and a stroller. When babies can begin to control their head and neck movements, you can use the stroller alone without the infant seat.
1 = Make sure your baby travel strollers model has a sturdy safety belt and crotch strap.
The straps should be height adjustable for proper fit and securely anchored. Make sure you hear the click to assure the seat is safely locked.
2 = Most baby strollers travel system have double wheels on the front that swivel for smooth surfaces. Some three wheel strollers have a front wheel that doesn’t swivel which can be hard to maneuver. Your baby travel strollers should have a good parking brake, one that’s convenient to operate and locks one or two wheels.
3 = A canopy is a must for protection from sunlight and inclement weather.
4 = One hand opening and folding is essential. This allows you to open or fold the stroller with one hand while holding the baby with the other.
5 = The play tray should be removable or swing open rather than permanently attached, this will make it easier to get to a squiring baby.
6 = Look for certification from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
This insures your baby travel strollers are tested for the restraint system, brakes, leg openings, locking mechanisms, stability and the absence of sharp edges. Remember to use the manufacturer’s recommended weight limits as bible.
Lastly keep in mind a higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality. Test have shown that some economical baby travel systems can perform as well as or better than models costing hundreds of dollars more.
Mary Claire – Author
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Article Source: Travel In Style with Baby Travel Strollers
Top 10 Baby Stroller Tips You Should Know
Posted by in Babies on February 20th, 2010
1. Planning for more than one child? – If the answer is yes, consider getting a twin baby stroller, tandem stroller or triple stroller. It is often a false economy to settle for a cheap poorly made stroller as a more expensive stroller of high-build quality will generally be more durable and last long enough for a second or third child.
If you plan to have more than one child choose the best stroller you can afford
2. Get the right type – It’s important to get the right type of stroller for your
lifestyle. For example, unless they’re infant car-seat compatible, most all-terrain strollers are not infant strollers; therefore they are not suitable for infants younger than 6 months of age.
All-terrains are routinely mistaken for running or jogging strollers and can often be seen displayed incorrectly in stores. Only by referring to the manufacturer’s users manual will you know if the All-terrain can be used for running.
3. Open and close mechanism – Consider a stroller that folds easily with the use of one hand or foot, allowing you to use your free hand to hold your baby. You will also want the open and close mechanism of the stroller to enable you to easily lift and carry it, engage the brakes, adjust the harness and backrest, remove and install a car seat and access the basket.
4. Seat belt restraints – In October 2009 it was reported in Australia’s Herald Sun that a train ploughed into a stroller dragging the child along beneath the train’s front car. A paramedic at the scene attributed the toddler’s survival to the fact that “he was strapped into his pram at the time”.
Be sure to thoroughly examine the seat belt restraints; ensure that buckles are easy to lock and unlock while providing enough comfort for your child.
Make sure that the belt fits comfortably and securely around your baby’s waist and the crotch straps loop into the waist belt to ensure that the baby cannot slip out. A five-point harness is a more secure option for jogging strollers particularly if used on rough or bumpy terrain.
5. How strong is the frame? – There are a number of different materials used in the construction of strollers. Steel and aluminium are robust and hard wearing, but be aware of the extra weight. Maneuverability is one of advantages of lightweight strollers made with more plastic; however being less durable, they may not last as long.
6. How easy is it to maintain? – Constant daily use will soon result in the fabric becoming dirty. Be sure the stroller has removable washable fabric and a removable seat that can be easily cleaned.
7. Seat and canopy adjustment – For infants that are too young to support their head and also to provide comfort for children who want to nap while travelling; a stroller with an adjustable seat that fully reclines is an essential item.
In adverse weather conditions such as cold, rain, sun or wind an adjustable canopy provides added protection for your baby.
8. Storage area – On occasion’s, you may decide to go on long trips or outings; for such trips, you will want a large enough storage compartment for all the things you are likely to carry around.
9. Brakes, swivel wheels and wide wheel base – The actual reason for the above incident was that (See tip 4 above seat belts & restraint system) the mother had taken her hands off the stroller’s handles and failed to notice the stroller slowly edging toward the tracks.
A potential tragedy could have been avoided by merely ensuring that the brakes were applied; it only takes a slight incline to send the stroller rolling away from you.
Be absolutely sure the stroller has brakes that lock the wheels in position, has a wide wheel base that offers greater stability and wheels that swivel for easy maneuverability.
10. Handle height adjustment – This is often overlooked: be aware that the majority of strollers are designed for people of average height; tall people, should make sure they choose a stroller with an adjustable handle.
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Article Source: Top 10 Baby Stroller Tips You Should Know
Identifying the Best Infant Car Seats
Posted by in Babies on January 21st, 2010
Purchasing an infant car seat is one daunting task. This is because there are myriad considerations one has to look into just to make sure that the one purchased is appropriate and comfortable. The first step is to carry out intensive research so as to determine the characteristics of an infant appropriate seat. Read extensively and get advice from experts. Generally though, here are a few factors one needs to look out for when buying one.
The seat needs to fit the child. You need to have your child’s fundamental statistics written down and carry them when you are out shopping. There are quite a number of useful sites that will assist you to match up your child’s statistics with the seat that would suit him/her best. The Car Seat Buying Guide which is created by a group of Child Passenger Safety Technicians as well as Child Passenger Safety Pages on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration websites are good areas to start you off. Also consider looking at bulletin boards as well as discussion forums.
Once you have matched up the infant’s statistics to an appropriate seat, find out how easy it is to install it. An appropriate infant’s seat should be one that it easy to install and use. You must be able to confidently buckle your child to the seat at any time. It is even better if the seat has extra features like no-twist harness straps as well as front harness adjustments. These features make the baby seat even easier to use and they will not require much attention when using them.
Further still, a good infant seat should fit your car. One should therefore find out whether the baby seat you would like to buy for your infant would fit in your car. To start you off, you might consider visiting the Car Seat Compatibility Database. Here you will get direction on the seats that are likely to fit well in your car and those that will not. You will also get information regarding seating positions and how challenging they could be when installing or using the infant seat. It is important to remember that an expensive baby seat does not necessarily mean that it is the best for your child, especially so if its installation process and use is complex. On the other hand, note that cheap seats would certainly miss extra features that are necessary to make the infrant seat easy to use.
Before purchasing a baby seat, you must also look out for the weight and height limits. This is because some may come with lower weight or height limits that your child’s. However, most seats usually have a 20-pound weight limit. Not to worry if your baby weighs more than this as others come with a higher weight limit. Height limit is also important to make sure that the baby sits comfortably. Lower height limits may discomfort the baby.
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Article Source: Identifying the Best Infant Car Seats
A New Mom’s Guide to Thriving with a New Baby
Posted by in Babies on January 14th, 2010
It was 18 years ago when I brought home my first baby from the hospital. I’ll never forget the day. It was July 2, 1991 and I slowly walked out of the hospital with no shoes because my ankles were so swollen. Feeling the pain of my episiotomy, I placed my son Kai in a car seat we borrowed from a friend. It wasn’t an infant car seat like the ones we have today, so the huge car seat swallowed up all 6 pounds, 14 ounces of him. Looking at his tiny body all scrunched up, and thinking about how I had already failed him, I burst into tears. It could have been the hormones, or the unrealistic expectations I placed on myself to be a good mom. And the tears were no doubt a reaction to the fear I felt as I was about to embark on an unknown journey. A journey, that no doubt, was one I took very seriously. After all, I would be responsible for the care and development of a new life – my baby.
Since then, I have raised my first son, and have eight years into my second boy. With this experience, and the years of coaching moms at various stages of motherhood, I’ve learned a few things about what it takes for a new mom to not just survive, but thrive with her new baby. Below are 10 tips you can use to make your experience as a new mom positive, healthy and enjoyable:
Sleep Whenever You Can
When you are sleeping, your body is working to correct chemical imbalances, assure proper blood sugar levels for the next day and maintain memory. A lack of sleep results in reduced energy, diminished moods and a weakened immune system. Because your baby is waking up a lot to feed, your sleep is disrupted. While you may be tempted to concentrate on getting things done while your baby sleeps, it is equally important that you sleep while your baby sleeps. Take naps whenever you can and go to bed early. If you are breastfeeding, store extra milk so Dad can take a few middle of the night feedings or give you a break on the weekends while you rest.
Slow Down and Simplify Your Life
While you get adjusted to your new life with a baby, consider cutting back on the number of commitments you place on yourself. Dr. Brent W. Bost, an obstetrician-gynecologist says “there are sixty million women in America who are so overscheduled and overstressed that it affects their physical health.” He identifies this phenomenon as The Hurried Woman Syndrome and reports that many of the “avoidable stresses are those that come from a busy, hectic schedule and lifestyle choices that many of us have embraced as completely ‘normal’.” Look for ways to simplify life and minimize stress for you and your baby.
Adjust Your Expectations
It doesn’t matter if this baby is your first, second or third, a new baby brings with it a time of transition. I know you want to be a great mom, and that is certainly an admirable goal, but a great mom is not a perfect mom. You don’t have to follow all the rules perfectly. Do what feels right to you. Your baby doesn’t care whether the house is perfectly clean, or whether or not she has the coolest toys or cutest outfits. She just needs love, food and sleep. Come together as a family and adjust your expectations. Focus on what is most important to you in this phase of your life, and accept that you’re in a period of learning and adjustment.
Ask for and Accept Lots of Support
Asking for and accepting help as a new mom, or a mom in any phase of motherhood, is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength. Put together a team of people that can help you with the house, the children, the errands or with anything that takes a load off your shoulders. Most important, do not feel guilty for needing help. There are plenty of people who are more than willing to jump in and support you. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for my mom friends, including laundry and babysitting their children. Your time will come when you can give back to other moms by being a source of support for them.
Up to Date Parenting Information
We are blessed as moms today with a wealth of free information pertaining to every topic imaginable. There are community forums for moms to interact, share stories and gather ideas. Having access to up to date parenting information increases our confidence and reduces worry. It is okay to use the books, pediatricians and older moms to gain knowledge. And it’s equally okay for you to trust your gut. A mother’s intuition is strong. But I think one of the most important gifts we get from educating ourselves and staying connected to knowledge is validation. It’s comforting to know we are not alone, and other moms and children experience the same thing we are going through.
Spend Time with Other New Moms
Isolation is not healthy. Get out of the house or get away from your job and make time to connect with other new moms. Use your time together to enjoy each other and share funny stories. Avoid comparing your babies or yourselves, but instead do something fun and creative. You can join a moms club, start a playgroup, participate in a book discussion or just hang out and socialize over a cup of coffee. Getting out and connecting with other moms breaks up the monotony of everyday life and gives you something to look forward to.
Manage and Accept Your Emotions
It took you nine months to conceive and deliver your new baby, and it’s going to take some time for your body and hormones to readjust. Mood swings are normal for new moms, but it’s still important to talk about your feelings. Don’t judge yourself if you are feeling angry or sad. Instead take a few moments to talk with a friend or journal about what is going on inside. Fighting with your emotions only causes you to get stuck emotionally – going with the flow allows you to release your feelings and move forward. If you have a chronic feeling of depression or anger, don’t hesitate to seek help.
Exercise Your Body
Exercise is one of the best natural antidepressants on the market. Not only will exercise help you get your pre-baby body back, but it will boost your energy, release stress, and increase endorphins (the “feel good” hormones) in your brain. Take your baby for brisk walks. Join a health club that has a kid center. Do yoga with your baby. Partner with your husband so both mom and dad can get in shape and model healthy living for your new baby.
Take Time Alone to Nurture Yourself
Do you remember who you were before you became a mom? If not, it’s time to reconnect with that woman again. So many moms abandon important parts of their “self” in the process of motherhood. While it may seem like you are tending to the needs of your children and being a good mom, it will eventually catch up to you and manifest itself in irritability and impatience. Make regular time to stay connected to what makes you happy. Enjoy your hobbies and give yourself permission to hang out with “you”.
Romance with Your Husband
There is no doubt romance becomes more challenging after that first baby arrives. A family without a healthy marriage is not a healthy family. While a crying baby can be demanding, dad will feel abandoned if the baby moves in for all the attention. You need time too to reconnect with the man who helped you bring your new baby into the world. Find a reliable babysitter you can trust and schedule a date night once or twice a month. Not only will this nurture your marriage, but it gives your children a great example of what it means to be happily married.
A new baby brings great joy to a new mom. Choose to thrive, instead of survive, and make this time of your life a positive and healthy experience for everyone. And go kiss some baby toes.
Lori Radun is a certified life coach for moms and the founder of Momnificent! For a wealth of free resources for the modern mom, and to join her community of magnificent moms, visit www.momnificent.com.
Article Source: A New Mom’s Guide to Thriving with a New Baby
Needed Features for Baby Car Seat Safety
Posted by in Babies on December 6th, 2009
When it comes to your newborn, you should learn about baby car seat safety. It isn’t only about connecting a baby car seat into your car, buckling your child in, and driving the car. There are a few resources to investigate while making sure that you can find a safe and practical method to protect your child. A nice model to look into is the Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.
The NHTSA has examined many of the available brands and types of baby car seats and provides us with a ratings system that informs parents which car seats are appropriate for your vehicle and your child. These test results are not simply concerned with how safely the baby car seat survived a car crash, but they’ve run tests to establish ease of use also.
Taking into account the volume of information accessible to today’s parents, you should be able to find out which baby car seats are safest in an accident, in addition to which baby car seats are intended to install safely in your vehicle.A good option is the Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.
Being able to locate and read the manufacturer’s installation instructions can be an important issue in finding the right baby car seat. Should you feel less than capable about how to properly install your baby seat or change the harness for your child’s growing needs, you have many resources which you may want to contact. Quite a few service clubs, and Internet websites, will instruct you how to install your baby car seat correctly and the way to reposition the straps when your child grows. Most baby car seats are manufactured differently and as a consequence, how one is installed could be totally different from other seats, and your car’s make and model may be of consequence as well.
So in advance of choosing your baby car seat, take time to are able to follow the manufacturer’s advice. You might visit the manufacturers websites, you can read a few reader review sites, or you may want to take advantage of some local resources, such as charitable organizations or even your pediatrician. Your child cannot be protected if your baby seat is installed the wrong way or if the harness is configured improperly. In order for a baby car seat to perform properly, the seat itself ought to be strong, but it also ought to be installed correctly and the strap configuration ought to be able to secure your child safely. When shopping for a baby car seat, you really ought to keep all three of these issues in mind. A nice product is the Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.
When shopping for a baby car seat, safety is going to be your most important concern. Please keep in mind, it’s not merely about how tough the seat is; it’s also about properly attaching the seat to your car. Make sure you totally understand how to install your baby car seat, and the way to adjust the harness properly to to protect your baby as completely as possible. Baby car seat information may be found in many accessible resources; use your civic groups, your clinic, the manufacturers websites, in addition to consumer advocacy groups and the NHTSA. Then, purchase a baby car seat that is easy for you to use, and also carries a good safety rating.
Joseph Ramadan helps active, busy moms choose the right stuff for their babies. Check out his site for reviews & best deals on the Graco Safeseat Infant Car Seat.
Article Source: Needed Features for Baby Car Seat Safety
Infant Car Seats – Advantages of Buying the Infant Car Seats
Posted by in Babies on November 3rd, 2009
Separate seats for the infants have become the need of the hour. With small children, this is the biggest help that you can take while you are travelling in your car. Children up to 8 years and those that have around 80 kg or below weight should be using the child car seats. Up till now the parents had to buy separate infant seats for different size of children, but now they can buy the car seats that are easily convertible and can be settled for both the babies and the toddlers.
The biggest benefit of buying a convertible seat is this that you do not need to buy different sizes of many seats as the child grows. The consumers review provides the parents with the amazing resources for buying new car seats, that not only consider the safety of the children but also the ease and comfort of the parents. While choosing and buying the appropriate infant car seats, parents usually ask for suggestions from the friends and the stores associates. Well, for all such people the safety of the children should be the first priority.
Among all the infant car seat designs, the convertible car seats make absolutely the best choices. This enable the parents to use a seat for a long period of time. According to the needs of the parents, the infants car seats can be fixed at rear-facing and front facing position in the car. Moreover, these seats are provided with 5 points harness that allows the parents to buckle the child in the comfortable position. The harnesses can be attached with either the seats of the car or with the seat belts of the parents.
While buying an appropriate infant car seat for your children, you can opt for some of the famous brands that assure you the quality and comfort. In order to see the features presented by all the brands that are making the infant car seats one can take a quick help from the internet. By visiting the online resources, you can very well acquaint with all the important features that are necessary for the safety of your children. Moreover, it would also help you to consider other points like seat adjustment and the convertibility of the car seat that can help you add comfort in to your travelling.
Considering all the easiness that one can enjoy after installing the separate infant car seats for the children, it is suggested that one should not hesitate in buying one for oneself.
Dave has been writing articles for nearly 4 years. Come visit his latest website on Evenflo car seats which helps people find the best information they are looking for so they can make an informed decision.
Article Source: Infant Car Seats – Advantages of Buying the Infant Car Seats
About Car Seat Safety
Posted by in Pregnancy on November 2nd, 2009
Ensuring car safety for the young ones is essential and most of the countries make it a legal requirement that one ensures that their children are well taken care of when in the car by use of car safety seats. Many companies offer car seats services leaving the parents with wide field to choose from. There are variety of car seats and one is supposed to choose based on their budget and child’s age. The infant car seat is designed for children who are less than one year, weigh 20 pounds or less, and should always ride rear-facing.
The convertible car seat for preschoolers or toddlers car seat is designed for children aged above one year and who weigh more than 20 pounds and should also ride rear-facing as long as possible but they can also ride forward-facing. The school-aged children can ride on the Booster car seat designed for overgrown children and they should ride forward-facing but the booster seat should hold them until they are grown up enough for the normal seat belt to fit them. The normal seats belts are designed for grown up children between 8 and 13 years. One should keenly refer to the car seat manual to know if their child suits to use it. This enables one to make the right choice when buying the children car seats.
Some of the basic child safety rules includes kids riding on the back seat of the car as this highly reduces their death risk in case of an accident. The car seat should also never be placed rare-facing on the front car seat especially when the car has active front airbags as this risks the child to being suffocated by the airbag in case the car is involved in an accident. The rear facing style is highly recommended due to its capability of going against physic-related forces that may expose the child’s body if they were riding forward-facing. The faster the car, the higher the crash will be and the faster the crush is transferred to the child’s body organs, while riding rear-facing, the crash will take long time to be transferred to the child’s organs hence less impact.
Although one will not be able to prevent all the accidents from occurring, it is recommended that one does their best to ensure that the child’s safety is assured at all time of their ride especially for long trips. The car seats do not only protect the child from death risks in accidents, but also ensure the child’s comfort especially in long trips, which may include breaks and rough road encounters.
Most countries have researched and approved the rear-facing ride as one of the safest children riding mean with the least death risks. When preparing for long car trip, one should take note that an accident can occur from side, front and back crushing and hence the regulation that the car seats straps should be carefully locked fitting the child to make sure that the child is not hurt regardless of the crush angle.
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Article Source: About Car Seat Safety
