Friday, October 21, 2011

Why My Carseat Blankie

He's buckled in to his car seat with nothing behind him or his head, then the blanket is placed on top, and if extra protection is needed she covers him with a over the top car seat cover. The safest way for baby to travel!

It's Stylish, Sassy and Safe! And is the perfect size for travel. 

Here's how I came up with the idea! After having my second Spring time baby, I decided that the full one piece zip up pieces (that went behind my baby) for my car seat were just too warm for my baby. And come to find out later that it wasn't even safe. In New England in March and April you never know if it's going to be 30 or 60 out!

I needed something that was conveniently sized to fit the car seat, 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 too big for them to carry around all the time, and the pattern would be something they'd love for ever.

This 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. One mother at one of our craft fairs came over with her umbrella stroller and tried it on after a quick look she said "I'll take it", I asked her how she made the decision so quickly her reply "it doesn't hang down and get caught in the wheels of the stroller".  It really does seem to be the perfect size!  

They each have their own, it not only doesn't get caught in the wheels, but they aren't fighting over who has more blanket covering them! This is a lifesaver for us!

 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 deciding how to keep your baby warm and safe in their car seat this Winter.  My sister just asked me for a 2nd My Carseat Blankie now that the weather is cooler for her 5 month old. Layering the blankets is still the safest solution!

Don't forget to log on to 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.
Or you can visit us at the Wellesley Marketplace in Wellesley, MA on November 19th!

Happy Fall!!

She's enjoying hers in her bouncy chair.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Fly Safely with your child



Between achy ears, close quarters and favorite trinkets left behind, it takes a brave parent to dare to bring a child on a plane. And then there’s the car seat debacle. The first time we flew with our baby, we paid for an extra ticket so we could have him securely fastened in his car seat. Once we managed to maneuver ourself, the baby, the car seat and the diaper bag onto the aircraft, we were horrified that the car seat barely fit. And after a flight attendant gamely helped us wedge it in (with a little sweating and cursing on all our parts), it certainly wasn’t at the ideal angle.

Now there’s a better option. For kids over one year who weigh between 22 and 44 pounds, the car seat struggle is over. The CARES child aviation restraint system is an FAA-approved safety harness that fits on any airline seat. It weighs only one pound, and it’s all you’ll need to bring on board (well, aside from the diaper bag, toys, snacks, etc).

Louise Stoll, Kids Fly Safe  
CARES was invented by Louise Stoll, a grandmother who was horrified to see her pregnant daughter waddle off the airplane lugging both a heavy car seat and a toddler. Now this godsend gadget is a must-have for families that fly. It just slips around the back of the seat, and snaps over your child in seconds. No sweating, no cursing. Phew.

CARES is the solution to safe and easy air travel!