Sunday, December 14, 2008

SeatCheck.org

Motor vehicle crashes are the No. 1 killer of kids.
Why? In many cases, children are either not properly buckled into their safety seats or parents don’t realize that a booster seat is vital to ensuring children fit safely in their vehicle’s seat belt. Don’t take a chance. Have your child’s safety seat inspected!

A safe car seat installation is one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to make sure your baby is safe and secure in their car seat. Some times we think about having our infant seats professionally installed, but don't forget about the toddler seats too! It's one of the easiest things one can do to ensure your childs safe in their car seat. Log on to seatcheck.org to find a location near you that offers seat installation. Just call the location, make an appointment, and drive on in. I takes no more then 15 mintutes at the most, and it's one of the best things you can do for your little ones.

We had Officer King from the Woburn, MA install my sons infant seat. Thanks Officer King!!

Log on to seatcheck.org

Great product!


Take a look at this great baby line from Arbonne!

They're pure, safe & beneficial. Botanically-based, and gentle on their skin, this line has everything you need for your little ones from birth to teen. If your little one has sensitive skin, or eczema (which both of mine do) this is perfect! Check it out today at www.arbonne.com.

Try the gentle hair and body wash, the gentle formula diaper rash cream, or the sunscreen to protect baby from the sun. And for a limited time they are offering the complete set and adding a free gift for mommy. When you purchase all 5 pieces for baby, mommy gets a FREE Rejuvenating Cream.

So check it out online, or send me an email. I'd be glad to help you with your product questions. If you want to order, you can use consultant ID#18015513 at check out. While you're online, be sure to check out the other great products they have for mom and dad!

Arbonne.com

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Another great giveaway!


They're giving away a Fisher Price Kid Tough DVD Player on Frugel Upstate! Click on over and enter to win!

http://frugalupstate.blogspot.com/2008/12/giveaway-fisher-price-kid-tough-dvd.html

Another great car seat!

Sunshine Kids Radian 80 Convertible Car Seat

I've found another great car seat that's been recommended by car seat safety experts along with the Britax, this Sunshine Kids Radian 80 Convertible Car Seat. I've been looking for a car seat that I can transition my 2 year old into that will last her for as long as possible. I recently was told to look at this car seat. From everything I've read it seems like another great alternative to the Britax Frontier. I read a review from someone on BabyCenter.com, and a woman noted that she could fit her 3 kids in her back seat of her Toyota Camry using this car seat. One of the benefits is the compactness. BUT it also can be used with the 5 point harnets from 5 lbs. to 80 lbs. Most car seats you switch from the harness to the seat belt around 40 lbs. (except the Britax Frontier). I'm not particularly fond of that idea. To me, the longer they're in the harness the better. So if you're looking for top safety and something that's compact, and will last you for as long as possible. I highly recommend checking out this car seat. It runs around $250. online depending on where you find it. BabyCenter.com has it now for $251.99 with FREE shipping.

Check out these places to compair prices and read the customer reviews:

BabyCenter.com

SunshineKidsBaby.com

TinyRide.com

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Another great giveaway!

5 Minutes for Moms is giving away an Evenflow Symphony car seat.
Be sure to check them out and register to win.

The Symphony™ all-in-one car seat is for use rear facing with children 5 to 35 lbs, forward facing with 5-point harness with children 20 to 40 lbs, or forward facing as a belt positioning booster with children 30 to 100 lbs. The retail on this is $199.00. Log on to www.5minutesforgiveaways.com and try to win! I did!

HipMamasPlace.com


Take a look at what HipMamasPlace.com has to say about our blankies. And don't forget to read how you can get 15% off your next order!

http://www.hipmamasplace.com/

Saturday, November 22, 2008

More tips for safer seating

Safe Seat Installation Helpful Tips

Location, location.

The safest place for a child is in your vehicle's rear-center seat. The car seat should never be installed on a front seat that has an air bag. Two exceptions: If your car doesn't have a back seat, or if your child has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring, you can have an on/off switch installed for the front-passenger air bag or have it disconnected so the child's car seat can go next to the driver. But to have that done you'll need a letter of authorization from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). To obtain one, contact the agency via its Web site, www.nhtsa.gov.

In my family we are big on hand me downs. And it is so great in most cases. For an infant car seat it's suggested that you insist on new. There are a ton of baby items you can borrow or buy secondhand, don't make a car seat one of them if you can avoid it. A used seat may have been in a crash or recalled. The manufacturer's instructions may be missing. If, for some reason, you must use a secondhand seat, avoid those with an unknown history or that are older than 6 years. In the world of car seats, a 6-year-old model is a relic--and risky. You'll also want to avoid recalled models. You can check for recalled models at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls.

Source for this article:
ConsumerReports.org
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/travel-gear/car-seats/car-seats-4-07/tips-for-safer-seating/0704_car-seats_tips-for-safer-seating.htm

Friday, November 21, 2008

Just in time for the holidays!


5MinutesForMom.com is giving away a ton of fabulous prizes.

Log onto their blog and take a look at the list. I just signed up for the Holiday DVD pack. Wouldn't that be fun this time of year for the kids!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/4739/christmas-giveaway-2008/

Enter to win a My Carseat Blankie!

Win a Super Soft Minky Blankie on HipMamasPlace.com!

Visit HipMamasPlace.com during their Christmas Giveaway event and you could win your own Super Soft Minky My Carseat Blankie! Just in time for the holidays. Log on to their blog between now and December 4th for all the details.

http://www.hipmamasplace.com/

Thursday, November 20, 2008

13th Annual “Original” Castleberry Faire




Visit us at the 13th Annual Castleberry Faire in Wilmington, MA at the Shriners Auditorium on November 28, 29 & 30.

Click the link below for your discount coupon to the fair.
http://www.castleberryfairs.com/coupons/coupon_200812.htm

Car Seat for Premature Infants


A car seat specifically designed for premature infants.

Using the proper car seat for your child is very important to car seat safety. This car seat is used for infants weighing less than 9 lbs and measuring less than 21-1/2", it allows the child to be positioned on stomach or, if medically necessary, on back or side according to individual needs. It's made by Angel Guard Angel Ride Infant Car Bed. You can find it at child-source.com.
http://www.child-source.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=5&category_id=10&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Questions on using the booster seat

Upgrading to the booster seat.

Making the jump from the toddler seat to the booster seat is on the minds of many of my mom friends these days. With so many different seats available out there, and all sorts of new thoughts on car seat safety it can get very confusing. With my oldest getting ready to turn 4 I've been asking around to see what all my friends are using, and surfing the web to find out what truly is the safest option. Ultimately what I've found is that the safest option is to put them in a car seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible.

The Britax Frontier, retails for $279.99 at BabiesRUs, is one of my favorites so far. It has a weight capacity of up to 80 pounds using the five-point harness, and then you can still use it as a belted booster up to 100 pounds, and it has the latch system. My problem with a lot of the booster seats out there right now is that they don't latch into the seat. That means that the only thing preventing the seat from slipping out from under my child in a high-impact crash is actually my child. It may seem a little bit over the top for some of you, but the more articles I read about high impact crashes, and car seats, the more I think about this stuff.

Another I've found is the SafeGuard Go Hybrid Booster that retails for $199.99 at BabyCenter.com. This has a weight capacity of up to 60 pounds with 5-point harness and 31-52" tall, and then you can use as a belted booster for up to 100 pounds as well.

I did find one booster seat (with no back) that does have the safety latch system made by a company CLEK on BabyCenter.com, and it retails for $89.99 if your child is ready for the backless booster. They are a Winner of the iParenting Media Award 2007, and looks like a great option when they're at the point where they don't need the back.

Ultimately I suggest you do as much research as you can before going out and purchasing this next phase car seat for your family. It really is a big decision, and should not be taken lightly. There are many resources out there to help you make your decisions.
Here are a few helpful places I've found in my web surfing:

American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.9f8c7d6359e0e9bbbf30811060008a0c/?javax.portlet.tpst=4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_ws_MX&javax.portlet.prp_4427b997caacf504a8bdba101891ef9a_viewID=detail_view&itemID=ce45e2542a964110VgnVCM1000002fd17898RCRD&viewType=standard

Keep Kids Healthy
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/safety/car_seats_safety/

SeatCheck.org
http://www.seatcheck.org/

You can also visit the manufacturers web site directly of the car seats you're comparing and looking at. I found a lot of great information on their as well.

Win a blankie!


Visit SwellPregnancyGuide.com to win your own My Carseat Blankie!

http://www.swellpregnancyguide.com/blog/?p=112

They're celebrating the launch of their new web site, be sure to check them out. The giveaway goes until November 21.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

When to switch to the next car seat.

Here's a basic guide for determining when to move up.

Children who have outgrown car seats should be in a booster seat until they are at least 8 years old, or are 4’9” or taller.

For infants, from birth to at least 1 year old and at least 20 pounds, you should use a rear facing car seat.

For Toddlers, 1 to 4 years old and 40 pounds, you should use a forward-facing car seat.

Safety Belts should only be used when the child has reached the age of at least 8 years old, or a height of more than 4’9”.

There are a ton of options out there for the booster seat option. Some have the latch system, and some do not. Currently I can find any guidelines that say the latch is necessary once you're little one has gotten to the booster seat stage.

Why do I need to use a booster?
Safety belts are not designed for children. Beginning at around age 4, many children are too large for toddler seats, but too small for adult safety belts. A booster seat raises your child up so that the safety belt fits right and can better protect your child. The shoulder belt should cross the child's chest and rest snugly on the shoulder, and the lap belt should rest low across the pelvis or hip area – never across the stomach area.

You can find out more detailed information on the American Academy of Pediatrics web site at:
http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm







MamaDivas

Take a look at what MamaDivas.com has written about our blankies. And while you're there, enter to win your own My Carseat Blankie on her blog.

http://www.mamadivas.com/2008/11/my-carseat-blankie-perfect-for-winter-blankie-giveaway#more-672


Thanks Mama Divas for your Seal of Approval!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Winter Coats and Car Seats

Instead of putting your child in a car seat with a heavy winter coat, the Texas Department of Public Safety recommends that you 'keep your child in the clothes they will be wearing when they are indoors. Place the child in the infant seat or car seat, making sure the harness straps are snug over the shoulders and that they lie straight and flat down to the buckle. Buckle the child in and THEN put the coat or blanket OVER them -- on TOP of the harness system. You can even turn the coat around and put his arms through the sleeves after he is buckled into his car seat. This will ensure your kids are kept snug in their seat, the harness system is able to do its job in the event of a crash, and that the kids stay warm.'

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also recommends that 'to keep your baby the safest, always remove bulky clothing or blankets before you place the child in the seat. Then, put the blanket or coat over the baby. You should never place anything thick underneath the baby, unless that item came with the car seat originally — which tells you it's been tested by the manufacturer. When a child is wearing a thick coat, it's hard to tell if you have a good harness fit, which is crucial. A coat can add a lot of slack, reducing the level of protection for your child in a crash.'

Read this full article at http://pediatrics.about.com/od/carseats/a/0107_wintercoat.htm


Sources:

American Academy of Pediatrics. Car Safety Seats: A Guide for Families 2006.

Fast Facts from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Child Safety Seats: Winter Safety.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Frequently Asked Questions.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Does your toddler try to escape their car seat?

My child escapes his carseat. What can I do?

Some children can twist out of harnesses at an early age. Others can easily undo the buckle mechanism. Children may also be able to put too much slack in a seatbelt, and some children don't want to use a child restraint or seatbelt at all. Driving is a dangerous activity, and like any other, it requires proper supervision at all times.

Parents can try many things. You can try calling the manufacturer of your carseat to see if they have a buckle that requires more force to release, or a 2-piece chest clip instead of a "paperclip-style" chest clip. Using a seatbelt yourself sets a good example. Refusing to put the car in motion unless the child stays in their restraint is another. Also, try to keep your child entertained or distracted if possible, and NEVER make an exception and allow them not to use their child restraint. For severe cases, you can try a safety vest by E-Z-On (800-323-6598) that may be more difficult to remove.

Source www.car-safety.org.

Support My Carseat Blankie in the 2008 StartupNation Home-Based Business Competition

Support My Carseat Blankie in the 2008 StartupNation Home-Based Business Competition

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Monday, October 6, 2008

Baby Coordinators

The Baby Coordinators
I wish I knew this type of help was available when I was pregnant with my first! We all know planning for baby can be overwhelming and exhausting. Check out The Baby Coordinators! They're based out of Natick and Wayland, Massachusetts. They take the stress out of having a baby. They've done the research, and know exactly which products you should buy. They offer a variety of different packages such as, assembling your baby registry, shopping for maternity clothes, baby proofing your home, childcare consultations, and many more!

Check them out at http://www.thebabycoordinators.com/.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Car Seat Safety Tips

Another great article with some car seat safety tips.

(SOURCE: Children's Car Seat Safety Guide,
Introduction to car seat safety
--- by Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com)

General Car Seat Safety Tips:

  • All children under 12 years of age should be placed in the back seat of the car, especially if you have passenger side air bags.

  • Infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or convertible seat until they are 1 year old AND twenty pounds. Children who reach twenty pounds before their first birthday still need to face backwards and can be moved into a rear facing convertible seat.

  • After they are twenty pounds and have passed their first birthday, toddlers can use a forward facing car seat until they are about 40 pounds or their ears have reached the top of the car seat.

  • Children over forty pounds should be placed into a belt positioning booster seat.

  • You should not use your car's regular seat belts until they fit correctly when your child is 8 years old, unless he or she is already 4'9".

  • Your child will not be ready to use regular seat belts until the shoulder strap fits across his shoulder and not his neck, and the lap belt fits across his hips and not his stomach.

  • Be sure to read the car seat manufacture's instructions and your car owner's manual to be sure that you are installing and using the car seat correctly.

    You can read more of this article at http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/safetyfirstaid/a/car_seat_intro.htm

    Thanks for reading my blog. I'll continue to try and find things I think would be helpful to new parents!
    www.mycarseatblankie.com

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

The New Parents Guide - Seal of Approval

My Carseat Blankie is proud to announce that our site and product have been approved for the New Parent Seal of Approval!

The New Parents Guide web site is a great web site for new parent information, shopping and family travel. Take a look at www.thenewparentsguide.com.


If you'd like to pick out your carseat blankie visit us at www.mycarseatblankie.com.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Consumer Reports.org on Car Seat Safety

September is Car Seat Safety Month

Common safety convention dictates that you take your baby's coat or snow suit off. The extra padding hinders the ability of a seat harness to hold the baby tight enough to keep him safe in a car crash.

This paragraph below is from an article on Consumer Reports.org repeats what many car seat experts recommend is to take off your babys snow suit, and use a simple blanket to keep your baby not only warm but safe in their car seat during the colder months.

Baby Basics: Car Seat Safety
Take off the wraps.
If you need to keep your baby warm, place blankets or thick coats over her after you strap her into an infant or convertible car seat. Don’t wrap your baby up in a blanket, thick coat or other bulky garment and then strap her into a restraint system. That may prevent the restraint system from working properly.

You can read more from this article by copying and pasting the url below into your browser window.
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/baby/2007/12/baby-basics-car.html

My Carseat Blankie has a variety of blankies that are designed to fit perfect with your infant and toddler car seats. Check us out at www.mycarseatblankie.com. Enter the coupon code "friendsandfamily" until 10/15/2008 and receive 10% off your order.

Order one today so you're ready for the cooler weather ahead!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Swell Pregnancy Guide

Great web site for pregnant moms.

I wish I saw this when I was pregnant!
The best source for local pregnancy information on the web.

The goal of SwellPregnancyGuide.com is to bring all the great information and resources in our printed guide to life on the web, and broaden our reach to pregnant women who are craving for information in their local neighborhood.

http://www.swellpregnancyguide.com/

AAP Car Seat Safety Guide

Another great reference for new parents on car seat safety.

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

The type of seat your child needs depends on several things including age, size, and type of vehicle. To be sure your child is using the most appropriate seat, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics web site and learn how to pick out the best one for your child.

http://www.aap.org/family/Carseatguide.htm

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Thanks so much for reading our blog!
www.mycarseatblankie.com

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Even the doggies like their own My Carseat Blankie...

Check it out on Blankie Photo page!
http://mycarseatblankie.com/blankiephotos.aspx

It makes a great blanket even for doggies. Dexter finds it nice and comfy to rest on next to his mommy while she's working on the computer at night. He looks so cute and comfy!!

Let us know how you're using it, email your photos to kim@mycarseatblankie.com, and we'll post your image as well.

Thanks so much!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Using the blankie after the infant car seat

As a mother of a 3 and 1 year old we are in and out of the toddler car seats every day several times a day. We keep a couple of our blankies right in between the car seats in each car. When we're on the long car rides and the air conditioning is on in the car, I cover up my little girls legs with her blankie. Or if it's a quick trip, she just picks it up and uses it as a security item.
My 3 year old uses it as a comforting item as well and typically falls asleep on our rides with it snuggled next to his face. He loves the soft texture of the minky!

So check us out online at www.mycarseatblankie.com today. Pick out your Car Seat Blankie for your little one today!

Thanks!
and have a great day!

www.mycarseatblankie.com

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Why My Carseat Blankie

I have come up with a blankie that I think is the perfect size for travel. My URL is www.mycarseatblankie.com.

Here's how I came up with the idea! After having my second spring time baby, I decided that those full one piece zip up pieces for my car seat were just to warm for my baby. In New England in March and April you never know if it's going to be 30 or 60 out!
So I wanted something that was light weight, conveniently sized so there's no extra bulk in front of the babys face like a traditional size blanket), and small enough so if my children decided to make it their "blanky" it wouldn't be to big for them to carry around all the time, and the pattern would be something they'd love for ever.

It is the perfect size to fit with most bucket style car seats, and then transfers well to the toddler car seat as a lap blanket. People are even using it in the stroller and bouncy chair. It really does seem to be the perfect size! Some of the bigger kids are even using them for their baby dolls!

While doing a bit of research I recently came across an article on About.com that supports the use of a smaller blanket for the car seat vs. the big puffy buntings and zip up one piece units that fit around the car seat. Check it out at http://babyproducts.about.com/od/carseats/a/carseatcoat.htm

It has some really great information for new parents about car seat safety and things to think about when you're picking out how to keep your baby warm and safe in their car seat.

Thanks for reading my first blog about my blankies! I will try to post on a regular basis different articles I find that can help you learn about car seat safety, and anything else useful I can find out there for parents of new little ones.

And first time parents, don't forget to log on to http://www.seatcheck.org/ to find a place near you to have your car seat checked, or even professionally installed.

Please visit my web site at www.mycarseatblankie.com to see our great selection of blankies.
Thank you.