Archive for the ‘Car Seats’ Category
The Truth About Infant Car Seats
Infant car seats are rear facing seats specifically designed for babies who weigh less than 20 pounds and are under a year old. Infant car seats are small, contoured to fit your infant and provide head and body support to hold your infant securely in place.
Infant car seats are built so the baby faces the back of the car, which has been determined the safest seating option for small babies. Infant car seats are adjustable, with hard shoulder belts that can be moved to provide support to your child.
Infant car seats are the most commonly used convenient way to transport a young child in a car. In fact, you are legally required to use infant car seats in most states if your kid is under 2 years old. The laws on infant car seats can vary from state to state, but all 50 states in the US have laws requiring babies to be placed in infant car seats.
Many infant car seats have removable covers allowing you to place the dirty infant car seat cover into the washing machine. To make carrying the infant car seat easier, infant car seats usually have a nice comfortable ergonically designed handle.
Modern infant car seats have a removable baby carrier so you don’t have to wake a baby up when moving him or her in and out of the car. It is most convenient when you can car the baby out of the car without removing them from the infant car seat.
Infant car seats are the safest way to transport babies in a car, SUV, truck or minivan. Infant car seats are made and designed for babies who are 20 pounds or less. Infant car seats are one of the most important purchases with respect to your newborn’s safety. Infant car seats are to be secured in the back seat of your vehicle, facing the rear. The best place to purchase safe infant car seats is online.
Mail this postPopularity: 39% [?]
Really Useful Car Seat Buying Guide
You should already be aware of the fact that before the hospital releases your baby, you have to have your child’s car seat. There are many choices to fit every age, from infant car seats to child booster seats. Sometimes it is overwhelming to select the right one for your needs. You will also find an array of designs and colors, however, most importantly; you need to check the car seat’s safety features before you make a purchase.
The most important thing to remember when shopping for an infant seat or child booster seat is that this is one thing you don’t want to buy pre-owned. Being in even a small motor vehicle incident can compromise the integrity of a car seat. You will also not know if the seat has been recalled for any known safety issues. If you are shopping consignment and thrift sales, many baby items are fine, but not car seats.
It is best to start shopping a couple of months in advance of the anticipated delivery date for your child’s car seat. Your car seat will probably be used every day, so you want one that is appealing to you visually. Just remember, the cute pink print isn’t what will protect your baby.
Rear facing car seats are designed especially for infants. Leave them in rear facing positions for as long as you are able too. Read and follow the manufacturers directions. Most can safely hold up to 20 pounds or children up to one years of age. Very small children may remain rear facing until the child grows to 1-inch below the head of the seat.
Some of the rear facing car seats are convertible, which means they will face forward once your baby gets a little bigger. Make sure that you keep it in the correct position for the age and weight of your little one, even though it is designed for a broad range of weight, usually up to 40 pounds. If you don’t have a convertible seat, you will have to purchase a newer seat once your infant outgrows the first. Children in elementary school are still required to use a child booster seat in many states.
To ensure the proper fit, you need to measure from the ceiling to the seat as well as the width of the area you will place the seat in the backseat. You do not want your child to touch the car ceiling. You will need room to reach around to calm your child at times, so make sure the child has enough space.
Make sure to do some basic research to read up on car seat safety for the specific model you want. You want to make sure there are no recalls or complaints.
You need to make sure that the car seat is properly installed. The seat should not move more than about an inch either way. If you are concerned that your child’s car seat is not properly installed, check with the hospital or police department to have someone show you how to properly install the seat.
You want a properly installed car seat that is suitable for you, your baby and your car. This will help lessen the stress of caring for your child in the years to come.
Mail this postPopularity: 50% [?]
Choosing Your Baby’s First Stroller
A newborn’s first stroller or pram will be one of a new family’s most important purchases, because they provide much-needed mobility for babies and parents alike. Choosing the right stroller can be a challenge, because there is an astonishing variety on the market.
But what you don’t need is unnecessary confusion. Today, picking the best baby stroller can be daunting, because there are so many available. The purpose of this article is to cut through the clutter and help you choose the best baby stroller for your newborn. For more information, see www.babypramsstrollers.net.
Newborn babies, of course, can’t sit up on their own for six months or so. This means that your little one needs to lie flat when you are out strolling. Newborn strollers recognize this fact of life, and it’s vital that you do too. That sporty jogging model may appeal to your inner athlete, but many experts believe they are not appropriate for tiny babies.
Instead, you need to focus on four different stroller options, each of which will provide the comfort and safety your newborn deserves. Two of these stroller types are versatile enough to be your family’s only stroller, while the others may set the stage for a second stroller purchase somewhere down the line.
The first and most affordable option is a lightweight seat-carrier frame to which you attach your infant car seat. A big advantage of this stroller type is not waking your baby when you’re getting in or out of your vehicle. The main disadvantage is that this is the most temporary stroller solution, because the frame can no longer be used when your child outgrows the infant car seat and graduates to a toddler car seat, at about 12 months. But there is another significant plus. Purchasing a seat-carrier frame won’t break your budget and will buy you some time until you know more about your ongoing baby-wheel needs.
The second option is a standard or traditional stroller with full-recline capability. These are the workhorses of the stroller world, providing comfort, durability and stability. Designed with most everyday activities in mind, standard strollers can serve children for all of their stroller years, from newborn to almost-ready-for-kindergarten. Standard strollers have the broadest range of features, styles, colors and price points. The only real drawback is that they can be a bit bulky in tight quarters.
Combo Strollers. This third type, combining a pram with a stroller, offers the advantage of adaptability. Like standard strollers, combo strollers are also designed to serve your child’s strolling needs from newborn to 40-pound toddler. But unlike standard strollers, combo strollers include a chassis, bassinet and reversible seat. Before your baby is able to sit up, you can use the stroller’s bassinet or snap your infant car seat into the chassis. Some models let you fully recline the seat and close its leg holes, so your precious cargo won’t slip. As your child develops, you can shift to using the stroller’s seat attachment. Combo strollers tend to be relatively expensive, because of all their feature/functionality. The only add-on you’ll really need is the infant car seat.
Especially for families on the go, the fourth option for your new baby is a travel system. Designed for airline travel and family vacations, travel systems combine a stroller and an infant car seat. They are, in essence, heavier and longer-lasting versions of the seat-carrier frame to which an infant car seat is attached. But here, the travel stroller can be used without the car seat after your child is able to sit up without help. While they can be somewhat bulky, travel strollers are great when you know you will be covering long distances with your baby in tow.
Whichever stroller type you choose, the most important requirement is making sure your baby’s ride is safe and comfortable. First and foremost, be sure you have an adequate restraint system that will keep your baby in place. Some strollers have an integrated safety belt and crotch strap, while others feature five-point harnesses that do even more to keep your baby secure. You need a restraint system that is durable and adjustable, so you can maintain a snug fit as your child’s size changes. Check for buckles that will be easy for you to fasten and tough for tiny hands to undo.
Also high on your list should be a good parking brake that locks two wheels for extra safety and is easy to operate. Another must-have is a canopy to protect your baby from inclement weather and the sun’s rays.
We recommend that you take your time. After all, you need to find the wheels that will keep your baby safe, secure and comfortable as you both venture out into the world. Making a careful choice will have an extra benefit: providing you and your baby with many hours of happy strolling.
Copyright (c) 2009 by Baby Prams and Strollers. All rights reserved.
Mail this postPopularity: 49% [?]