We live in the era of great baby clothes options – parents today are fortunate to be able to have tremendous fun choosing from an enormous range of fantastic and often hilarious outfits for their new baby. Whether you’re a parent, a relative or friend of someone who has had a baby, there is a real sense of fun and excitement when it comes to choosing outfits and items for new infants. It can almost seem to be a slightly competitive activity, seeing who can find the most unusual, outrageous, hilarious or adorable outfit, costume or baby accessory for a newborn.

Chances are that, if you’re old enough to be reading this article, your own baby photographs involve you wearing a range of outfits, from beige to blue if you’re male, and likely from cream to pink if you are female. Emblazoned on the front might have been a boat, a flower or perhaps one of the few children’s television characters of the day. Almost certainly, the words which entirely fail to come to mind when reminiscing on your former outfits were memorable, attention grabbing and notable. Quite frankly, if they were notable it was more than likely for all the wrong reasons, in which case most of the said photos have probably been thrown away or hidden long before now.

A brief browse through baby clothing items available either in shopping malls, mail order catalogs or online sources reveal a wealth of choice, and often with outfits, costumes, and slogans which make you stop, laugh, and remember. Why should our newest family members be disguised in neutral colors, with plain outfits, helping them to blend in with the background? A ny proud new parent, relative or friend, will want their child to be noticed, remembered, and appreciated for being an individual part of the family unit. In many ways, baby clothing gifts help to provide the opportunity for your little one to do anything except fade into the background amidst a gala of creams and beiges.

There are relatively few times in a child’s life when they can get away with wearing the most outrageous outfits and costumes, adorned with absurd, even risqué slogans, yet get away with it completely they do. They are completely innocent, and this innocence is their gift, as well as their passage out of any culpability for the slogans adorning their little bodies. Little boys wearing slogans such as ‘I’m a boob man’ will elicit cries of hilarity and adoration from almost everyone who sees him.

‘Party at My Crib’ is another slogan which seems in one sense taken straight from the world of adults, yet given a twist which appeals directly to anyone who has seen the smallest member of the family at the smallest hours of the morning. Sometimes laughing about the situation is the only route through the early weeks and months that gives a new parent any chance of hanging on to a few shreds of sanity.

For many new parents, the smallest addition to the family can have an unnerving effect. All at once, it feels as though your former identities have been folded up, packed into a suitcase and slid under the bed in readiness for an indeterminate date sometime in the next decade or two. It would certainly be true to say that baby clothing gifts can help to consolidate the family, who you are, your beliefs and foibles, by actively involving the new baby in some ways. For example, a couple heavily into rock music, now finding themselves not so much head banging under the stars, but nodding their head to ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ might start to feel that their identity is being washed away with each regurgitated mouthful of baby food. It is surprising the difference it can make to have your precious cargo wearing a romper suit with ‘Daddy Rocks’ or ‘Mommy Rocks’ written in a heavy gothic lettering with a guitar bursting through the slogan.

So many aspects of bringing up a baby need to be laughed at in order to stay sane. When you’ve changed your thousandth diaper, you start to feel not just an expert, but as though you’ve actually been doing it since you were born yourself. Stopping and thinking about what you’re actually spending so much of your time doing can be slightly despairing, especially in the early days when everything is new and rather a shock. Having your lightly powdered bundle of joy wearing a sleep suit with ‘If you can read this, you’re close enough to change my diaper’ can help you, and those around you, to laugh at the situation.

Buying new parents baby clothing gifts which come with a smile is more than just helping to clothe their offspring – it’s mental health insurance.

Check out our many selections of baby clothing, including funny baby clothes, punk baby clothes or our political baby clothes. We carry very unique baby gifts including baby creepers (one-sies), baby bibs, baby blankets and other unique baby accessories. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Hansen

Breastfeeding mothers can have many problems but one thing they don’t have to think about is keeping their milk clean and germ-free. Bottle feeding mothers don’t have this luxury. Cleanliness is paramount when bottle feeding your baby.

If you’ve decided to bottle feed your child then you must first acquire the correct equipment. First on your list should be an adequate bottle sterilizer. There are several different types to choose from. The cheapest option available is to buy a bottle sterilizer that works by placing it in a microwave. Their big advantage is cheapness, but they do have a couple of drawbacks; first you must thoroughly clean your microwave after cooking spicy food. Secondly, portability can be problematic. A more expensive option is to purchase an electric bottle sterilizer. You simply wash your baby’s bottle and then place them into a plastic tray, which is then placed into the sterilizer. This is the best way to sterilize your baby’s milk bottles, however, be sure to place only the amount of water into the sterilizer as specified by the manufacturers – don’t put more than is recommended. Finally, you can purchase an electric/microwave combination. Basically, this means you can place the interior tray into a microwave rather than using the electric unit. Whichever type you purchase, don’t forget to wash it occasionally.

Ensure that you wash your baby’s bottles correctly. Use a bottle washer especially made for cleaning babies bottles. Wash bottles in warm soapy water and use salt to clean the teats. Make sure use rinse thoroughly after cleaning. Never sterilize your baby’s bottles with the teat or caps left on.

Germs require 3 things to thrive; water, sugar and warmth. Infant formula can provide ideal conditions for germs to breed. Always make infant formula just before you need to and discard any that is left over after feeding. Never give your baby milk that was made for a previous feed; would you like to drink milk that has been left standing for hours in a warm room? Also, when travelling, never make formula in advance. It is better to take hot water and mix the milk powder just before feeding. It might be worthwhile buying ready-to-use for long distance trips.

Never share your baby’s bottle with another infant, even with other siblings. Sharing is the surest way to spread germs from one baby to another. Make sure your own hands are clean before you prepare your baby’s formula.

Take care of your baby’s teeth. Bottle feeding tooth decay is a real risk. Infant formula usually contains more sugar that breast milk. You should never put baby to bed with a bottle, which the baby can suck on for hours. The sugary liquid flows over the baby’s upper front teeth and dissolves the enamel, causing decay that can lead to infection. The longer the practice continues the more damage to the baby’s teeth and mouth. Treatment is very expensive.

Bottle feeding will provide your child with all the nutrients it needs. By following the guidelines above, you can also ensure that bottle feeding is as germ-free and safe as breastfeeding.

Robin O’Brien is founder of Baby Bottle Feeding. It offers advice on all aspects of bottle feeding, including what is the best infant formula and bottle feeding tooth decay. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Cassidy

When you’ve delivered, mothers milk is the exclusive and most important thing with which you can protect your child and assist to promote its health. Most acceptable of all things is that, breast feeding is unpaid which saves you valuable money on HMR ( i.e.Human Milk Replacement) and breast feeding also helps you to get down your doctor’s bill.

Babies which are fed with chemical formula go sick very often and more severely than infants which are fed by breast. They also experience more infections in ears, respiratory tract and other additional problems.

These can be true if your whole family has history of allergies. As a baby is breastfed, then the antibodies move on from its mother to the child, aiding to protect it against sickness and allergic reactions. Since the child system grows, its body will start to create antibodies by its own, and it will be more prepared to take care of the sensitivities of the nutrient.

Breastfeeding will also aid with the maturation or alignment of jaw and the evolution of the cheekbone. Because of this very reason, there is less Requirement for costly orthodontic work when the kid gets older. Dissimilar to the chemical formula, mothers milk is ready forever, available always and always in the right temperature to feed and convenient. Additionally, it contains all of the minerals and vitamins your growing infant needs, saving you a Whole lot of money.

The infant sucking up on the breast will get muscle contractions soon after birth, causing to the mother to bleed less, and facilitating her womb to it’s form before maternity more faster. Breast feeding also burns lot of calories, so the mother can lose her weight even much faster than feeding her baby using a bottle. Breastfeeding also creates a special bond with the baby and the mother – which is the one thing formula can never do.

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Children today seem obsessed with technology and while I love gadgets and technology myself, with all the advantages that it can bring. I feel we have lost something when our children only play on computer games.

My 3 children each have a ds lite and I frequently see them all sitting on their own, playing on their individual games consoles. You see I am as much to blame as everyone else. When I was growing up, and yes that does make me sound old, I remember very little of my childhood which was not related to games, sitting around at Christmas for example with my family playing cards, trivial pursuits, monopoly etc. I believe playing games is the way for children to learn, they develop life skills by participating and interacting with others.

Turn-taking children’s games are not only fun to play, they’re educational on so many levels, including social and economical.

Kids learn about waiting to take a turn, winning and losing, along with co-operation and economics (with monopoly in mind and handling money), the whole time while they have fun. Games come in and out of fashion, and new games appear, whilst the classics get revamped year after year with new themes and are always popular.

Children’s games are made to stretch the child’s mind and even the parents sometimes, without frustrating the child and turning him or her off the game, thus making learning enjoyable. Most kids games are also quite fun to play with mum or dad, with family games being designed to be entertaining for both children and adults alike.

If you are looking for something to bring a family together, then you can’t go far wrong with any sort of board game. Whilst playing it a family can often get lost inside the game for hours on end.

If you are stuck for what to buy a child as a present then you could do worse than buy a board game. I believe it is one of the best presents you can give, because they bring friends and family together and can provide more hours of fun than any book, DVD, or cd you can find. A board game is a team-building exercise (or team pulling apart exercise if you have been sat around our table on many a heated night) you cannot ignore. It is a way of exercising your mind and social skills are built.

If you sit and examine the rules and the layout of most games, they all have a common feature, you will see they reflect on everyday life. Whether we are playing snap with a game of cards which is teaching us turn taking for example, exercising the mind to keep it alert and helping with learning difficulties, matching numbers and pictures, or trivial pursuits with team building, knowledge learning and strategy development.

Quality educational games are so engaging for most people to play with; children rarely even know they are learning valuable skills, which makes this a fantastic way for them to learn, as information and skills learnt like this, in my opinion, stick in the mind much better than when rules and education is forced.

Today, children’s games are well thought out, they are fun and compete well with the lure of the solitary video game, if only we give them the chance.

Rachel Harding is a qualified nurse and mum of 3. She has a great deal of expertise with children and offers valuable support and free resources including stories, forums, recipes, article’s, gifts and books at => http://www.yourkidsshop.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Harding

If you are looking for a great stroller and want to make the decision simpler, look into the Graco Quattro stroller. There are several different varieties that ensure every family will find just what they are looking for, and there are numerous baby stroller reviews that give the details of just how great it actually performs in the real world.

The Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe stroller was designed with comfort and convenience in mind. The front wheels have suspension and are designed to swivel for easier steering and a smooth ride for baby. Parents will love the large storage basket at the bottom and the convenient cup holders, while the baby’s seat reclines all the way into a flat position and sides flip up to create a comforting bassinet. The child’s snack tray can easily be flipped open so a toddler can climb up into the seat on their own.

For those who are out and about a lot, it can be turned into the Graco Quattro Travel System. Since it is compatible with specific Graco infant car seats, it is quick and easy to transfer the baby from a car to the stroller and back again, without ever having to disturb the baby!

For the lucky parents of two small children, the Graco Quattro Duo offers all the convenience and comfort of the other versions, but made for two. With the push of a button this double stroller folds itself up compact so you can easily put it into the car or carry it into the house. The back seat is compatible with two of Graco’s most popular infant car seats, allowing easy transfers of baby from a vehicle into the stroller. Both seats also recline, while only the back seat will go into a fully flat position. All of the other desirable features on the single Quattro are duplicated here, including the swivel front wheels that can lock into place and the snack and cup trays.

Purchasing a Graco Quattro stroller is an investment in comfort and convenience for yourself and the little ones you love most in this world. They will receive the padding and support they need to ride smoothly without being shaken around needlessly and you will receive a little well deserved convenience on a daily basis. Whether you need a simple stroller for daily walks or the occasional shopping trip or need the complete travel system for one or two small children, there are options to suit your needs. Simply check out the reviews if you are still unsure.

Follow the links for the Graco Quattro stroller. You’ll find the best stroller reviews on leading brands such as Maclaren, Zooper and the Evenflo stroller. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robin_Murphy

Among the most all important jobs you have as a parent is keeping your child safe when driving in a vehicle. Every year thousands of young children are killed or hurt in car crashes. Appropriate use of car safety seats helps keep children secure. But with so numerous different car seats on the market, it’s no wonder many parents find this overwhelming.

The type of infant car seat your child calls for depends upon several things including age, size, and type of vehicle. To be certain your child is using the most suitable seat. A car seat infant is possibly the most all important piece of baby gear that you will ever buy. Because an unsecured child could easily be hurt in the event of a car crash, you will prefer to make certain that you purchase a baby car seat that has a stellar safety record.

All babies should always ride back facing until they are 1 year of age and weigh at least 20 pounds.

Children 1 year of age and at least 20 pounds can ride frontward facing. It is best to ride back facing as long as possible.

Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their frontward facing car safety seats. Children should stay in a booster seat until the adult seat belts fit correctly (usually when a child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age).

Children who have outgrown their booster seats should ride in a lap and shoulder belt; they should ride in the back seat until 13 years of age.

Top high back booster seat. The Graco TurboBooster remains to be a top pick.

Top portable high back booster seat.The First Years Compass B510 is acquiring high ratings

Top toddler/booster seat. If your child has outgrown his or her car seat but is not still tall enough or big enough for a booster seat, a combo seat is the better choice. The Cosco Summit.

No matter which car seat you decide on.Try out the seat you buy. If it does not fit securely in your car, bring back it for another.To make certain your seat is placed correctly in your vehicle, consider getting a free inspection. Adjust the seat as your child develops. Position your child in the center back seat of your car if the car seat can be securely fastened there. Remember that any baby car seat is better than no car seat at all. No One Seat is better. In other words, the best version is the one that is used properly, that suits your child comfortably, and that is installed correctly.

Precise steps must be observed to guarantee your car seat does its job properly in the event of a high impact collision. Infant Car seats from different manufacturers may alter from each other somewhat, but on the whole they are usually alike in design.

From selecting your baby’s first seat to common car seat questions, keep your baby safe on the road from giving birth through preschool age. Infant Car seats are critical to your baby’s safety.

Being a first time dad learned that safety is the most important thing you can give your baby other then love. Found out a lot of interesting content on baby safety http://www.babiesneedmore.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lavaglio

Your doctor will stress that your child should always ride in a safety car seat, but what’s best for my child. Well all situation are different and not every car seat will work for every child. So here are some tips and facts about the different types of car seats that might help you in buying the best car seat. Once your child is at least 1 year old and weighs at least 20 pounds, she can ride forward facing in her car seat. Although, studies show that it is still safer for her to ride rear facing for as long as she can comfortably do so.

There are 5 types of car safety seats that can be used forward facing.

1. Convertible seats are ones that can be used rear facing or forward facing.

2. Forward facing toddler seats can only be used forward facing with a harness. These are for children who weigh up to 80 pound. You must check the specifications on each model, because some can only be used up to 40 pounds.

3. There are car seats that can be used forward facing or as a booster. These are called a combination forward facing/booster seat. These car seats can be used forward facing for children weighing up to 40 to 65 pounds, depending on the model. They can be used as a booster car seat without the harness for children weighing up to 80 to 100 pounds.

4. Some vehicles are made with forward facing car seats built right in. Read your vehicle owner’s manual to find out the weight and height limits for your particular vehicle. They will vary.

5. Travel vests are a pretty new product on the market. They are a safe alternative for forward facing child car seats. Travel vests can be useful when you have a vehicle with only lap seat belts in the back seat. They are great to move from vehicle to vehicle, so you do not have to take your car seat in and out. Travel are used for large toddlers who can no longer fit in a traditional car safety seat or for children who just simply will not stay in their car seat. They can be used for children between 20 pounds all the way up to 168 pounds.

Installation tips for forward-facing seats

1. The car safety seat must be installed tightly in the car. The harness should fit snug against your child.

2. When rear facing, the shoulder straps must be in the slot at or below your child’s shoulders. To switch a convertible seat to forward facing, you must move the shoulder straps to the slots at or above your child’s shoulders.

3. With some car seats you may have to adjust the angle of the seat to recline.

4. Vehicles made after 2002 should come with the LATCH system. This is used to secure car safety seats. If you have this, it should be used. It keeps the car seat more secure than an ordinary seat belt. Check your owners manual for your vehicle to find out where your tether anchors are located in your car. Use your manual for you particular safety car seat to learn how to use this system with your car seat.

Always use your manual and your car seats specification when using and installing it. Remember, even though you think your little one is big enough to ride with just a seat belt, statistics show they are not. Even children from the age of 4 to 8 years should be in a booster seat. So keep your child safe and use a safety seat.

She is the mother of 5 children, ranging in age from 15 mo. up to 18 yrs. of age. She is the author of a variety of articles about family life and all it’s craziness. From babies to teens, she enjoys sharing ideas on what works for her. I you find that you need help sometimes then visit her. http://tobeatoddler.blogspot.com/ http://lotsofcrazykids.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angela_Martinez

Buying a child safety seat can be a bewildering experience. The sheer number and configuration of these seats, lined up for inspection along the aisles of baby and toy stores everywhere, are enough to make the average buyer wonder where to begin. It seems natural to turn to shoppers nearby to inquire if they know more than you do about the advantages of one seat over another. As you stare at the vast array of child safety seats, you realize you must learn a whole new vocabulary before you can select the chair which best suits your child: child safety seat, infant-only child safety seat, convertible safety seat, rear facing seat, forward facing toddler seat, booster seat, special car bed for preemies, and five point harness, to list only a few.

Where do you begin?

The goal is the same for every buyer. You want to find an affordable safety seat that fits and protects your child and that you can install properly in your motor vehicle. This can be a tall order because you face so many variables: your child’s age, your child’s height and weight, your child’s shoulder height, and the location of harness slots on the chair, to give a few examples. The truth is you can’t just walk into a store and buy an appropriate child safety seat without educating yourself in advance. Your state probably has child restraint device laws you must be familiar with and obey as well.

What basic steps should you take in selecting a child safety seat?

First, make sure that any seat you buy carries a label stating that it meets federal motor vehicle safety standards. Second, consider your child’s age and weight and compare it to the car seat’s weight and age limit.

A child from birth to at least 1 year of age (and weighing at least 20 pounds) should be placed in a rear facing seat in the back seat of a vehicle.

Older toddlers from age 1 (and weighing 20 pounds or more) to age 4 (and 40 pounds) should sit in forward-facing toddler seats, also located in the back seat.

From age 4 to age 8, children must be seated in booster seats in the back of a vehicle. If a child is 8 years old or taller than 4’9″ (check your state law to see if this height exception applies), he or she may use ordinary safety belts.

Always remember. You can buy the best child safety seat on the market today, but if you don’t properly place and secure your child in the seat, and you don’t install the seat itself correctly, your child will not be safe.

What are some do’s and don’ts of child restraint and safety seat installation?

Do’s for Baby

 

• Do read and follow the instructions that come with your child safety seat. Also carefully review the vehicle owner’s manual. It will contain important information regarding the installation of child safety restraints in your make and model vehicle.
• Do dress the baby in pants or loose clothing so that his or her legs are free. Otherwise, it will be difficult to secure the crotch harness strap. Place blankets and other coverings over the baby only after you have fastened all baby seat buckles and have tightened all harness straps.
• Do ensure the baby sits in a semi-reclined position in the safety seat. This helps baby’s breathing. Ordinarily, you can adjust the base of the seat for this purpose. If you can’t adjust your baby’s safety seat, try putting a rolled towel under the front end of the baby’s seat where the motor vehicle’s seat and seat back join. Be warned. This is a delicate adjustment. Your baby could be ejected from the seat in the event of an accident or sudden stop if you tip the seat too far backwards.
• Do take time to ensure the harness straps fit snugly and lie flat on the baby’s shoulders, not on his arms. In an accident or near accident, a baby can be thrown out of his seat if the harness is loose.
• Do use the lowest harness slot for a newborn and make sure the straps in the slots rest at or below the baby’s shoulders.
• Do check the location of the plastic harness retainer clip. Position it at the level of the baby’s armpits so the harness straps will fall properly across the shoulders.
• Do make sure the vehicle’s seat belt is properly attached to the child safety seat and holds it securely and snugly in place inside your vehicle, if your vehicle does not have a LATCH child safety seat installation system. Under these circumstances, you should thread the vehicle’s seat belt through a convertible child seat’s seat belt path or slots designed to hold the belt. These slots are usually located in a lower position than the slots used to secure older toddlers.

 

Don’ts for Baby

 

• Don’t place thick padding under or behind a baby. He won’t be as tightly restrained as he should be to travel safely. If you need to support a baby, fill any empty spaces around his head and shoulders with rolled baby blankets. Rolled cloth diapers or small blankets can be placed between the baby’s legs and behind the crotch strap.
• Don’t use a seat with a padded overhead shield/bar that drops down in front of baby. You may think the shield/bar is an extra safety feature. In actuality, it can injure your child if your baby’s head or body strikes the shield/bar during a crash or sudden stop.

 

Do’s for Toddlers and Pre-schoolers 1 to 4 years old:

 

• Do read and follow the instructions enclosed with your child safety seat. In addition, read your vehicle owner’s manual. It should contain important information regarding the installation of child safety restraints in your make and model vehicle.
• Do keep your child in a full harness as long as you can beyond age 4. The harness protects his upper body and keeps him secure in his seat.
• Do use the appropriate (usually the top-most) slots for the harness straps when your child is at least one year old, weighs over 20 pounds, and starts riding in the forward facing position in a convertible seat. Comply with the manufacturer’s instructions about placement of the harness straps.
• Do check the placement of the harness retainer clips. They should be at armpit level.
• Do make sure the vehicle’s seat belt is properly attached to the child safety seat, if the vehicle does not have a LATCH child safety seat installation system. When using a seat belt, you must thread the vehicle’s seat belt through a convertible child seat’s correct seat belt path or slot. This may be a different slot from the one you used when your child was a baby and his convertible seat faced backwards.

 

Child Restraint Systems for children 4 to 8 years old:

When children are about age 4 and/or over 40 pounds they may graduate to booster seats. There are two types of booster seats appropriate for this age group: high-back belt-positioning booster seats and no-back belt- positioning booster seats. Both seats raise the child to a level where the vehicle’s own lap/shoulder belt will fit properly across his thighs and shoulders. If the lap/shoulder belt does not cross the child’s body in the proper locations, the child may suffer a severe crush injury to the abdomen in the event of an accident. This is one of the reasons you want to use a booster seat. After all, a vehicle’s lap/shoulder belts are designed to restrain adults, not children.

Read and follow the installation instructions accompanying your child’s booster seat. Your owner’s manual will explain how to install the booster seat in your make and model vehicle. LATCH systems are not required for booster seats.

If you bought a combination child seat/booster for your child when he was younger, you may be able to convert this seat for use when he becomes older. Remove the harness and secure both the child and the seat itself with the vehicle’s lap and shoulder belt. If you have a high-back belt positioning booster seat designed only for an older child, always use it with both lap and shoulder belt, not just the lap belt. If the child’s torso is not restrained by a shoulder belt and he is thrown forward in a collision, the lap belt may strike his abdomen and damage his spinal cord. For this reason, you should always avoid putting a small child in the middle seat of a vehicle where there is no shoulder restraint. In addition, the no-back belt-positioning booster seat must always be used with a lap/shoulder belt in a vehicle with built-in head rests.

Register your new seat using the registration form supplied by the manufacturer. This way you will be notified in the event of a recall.

Installation of child safety seats in your vehicle

LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is a child safety seat installation system used to connect and firmly secure the child safety seat to the motor vehicle. Seat belts are not used with the LATCH system.

Instead, built into the child safety seat are:
(1) two attachments in the lower part of the seat and
(2) a tether connected to the top of the seat.

These features are designed to connect with anchors and a top tether which are built into the vehicle’s back seat. This system has been required on most child safety seats and motor vehicles manufactured since September 1, 2002. Booster seats, car beds, and vests are not subject to the LATCH requirements.

Read and follow carefully the LATCH related instructions enclosed with your car safety seat as well as the LATCH installation instructions in your vehicle manual. On its website, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has a page which describes Transportation Safety Tips for Children. Look at the news tip article titled “Is the Child Safety Seat Secure in the Vehicle?” for more information.

If you have an older child safety seat which is not equipped with LATCH, you must install the seat using a vehicle seat belt regardless whether the vehicle itself is equipped with LATCH. Make sure the belt is pulled taut through the child seat’s belt path. If you leave a seat belt slack or loose, your child can be injured.

If you are uncertain whether or not your child’s safety seat is properly installed in your vehicle, visit a child safety seat inspection station and have it checked. Call 1-866-SEAT-CHECK or go to seatcheck.org for a list of stations near you.

Look to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s website, nhtsa.dot.gov, for comprehensive guidance regarding child safety seats. There you will find general information and related research concerning child safety restraints. The site contains many illustrations and diagrams that will help you in the selection of a child restraint system as well as the proper use and installation of child safety seats. Of special interest are the following subject items: Child Restraint Recalls by Manufacturer; <

NHTSA Dictionary of Child Safety Seat Terms; Child Safety Seat Inspection Locator; Chart on Correct Usage of Child Seats; Consumer Information & Services; and LATCH Child Restraint System.

Most, if not all states, have enacted laws regulating the use of child safety restraints. You must abide by these statutes. In Virginia, Virginia Code Sections 46.2-1095 through 1100 describe child restraint devices motorists must use when traveling on Virginia highways. Since 2007, under Virginia law, children up to age 8 must be properly secured in a child restraint device that meets U.S. Department of Transportation standards.

Virginia law codifies other common safety rules. Virginia drivers must place rear-facing child restraint devices in the back seat because babies may be injured when an airbag deploys during an accident. In the event a vehicle has no back seat, a driver may place the child safety seat in the front passenger seat, but only if the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the driver has deactivated the airbag.

The Virginia General Assembly has carved out a few exceptions to the law. See, Va. Code – 1100. A child between the ages of 4 and 8 may use a seat belt which is standard equipment on an automobile if the child is a least 4 years old, and the driver who transports the child carries with him a statement written and signed by a physician identifying the child and explaining why the use of a child restraint system is impractical because of the child’s weight, physical fitness or other medical reason. Virginia law describes no specific weight exceptions or restrictions (described in number of pounds) regarding the use of child safety seats. Presumably, if a child’s substantial weight makes a child restraint system impractical for that child, a doctor’s opinion and statement may exempt the child from application of the law.

Some basic rules apply to all motorists traveling with children of any age.

 

• Never allow children to sit unrestrained in the cargo area of a pickup truck, van, or station wagon. Of course, the same rule applies to adults as well. And maybe even your dog! Unrestrained drivers and passengers are much more likely to be ejected from a vehicle during a major accident than people who are properly restrained.
• Children up to the age of 12 should ride in the back seat of a vehicle secured by a restraint appropriate for their age and size.
• It is always dangerous to travel in a moving vehicle while holding a child in your lap. You are likely to lose hold of the child during an accident or sudden stop, and the child may be thrown around in the vehicle or ejected.

 

 

• Never restrain two children in one safety belt. Placing one seat belt around both you and a child is also dangerous. The force of an adult body moving forward against the seat belt during a crash can crush the child caught in between.
• Before turning the key in your ignition, make certain that every adult in your vehicle is properly belted and every child is restrained in a child safety seat, booster seat, or safety belt that is appropriate for his or her age and weight.

 

Over the past few decades, the federal government has strengthened its safety standards for the design, manufacture, and use of child safety seats and has encouraged development of the LATCH system. It is now up to parents to familiarize themselves with the safety features of these devices, ensure the child safety seats are properly installed in their vehicles, and, finally, make certain their children sit securely fastened in the seats. All of this takes time and patience. But your children are worth it!

Elizabeth Morrell Allen, a Richmond personal injury lawyer, at the law firm Allen, Allen, Allen & Allen, has been engaged in the practice of personal injury law for over 30 years. Allen and Allen has been protecting the rights of injured victims in Virginia for nearly a century. Allen and Allen, experienced Virginia car crash lawyers, can be found online at: allenandallen.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Allen

Britax produces a wide range of car safety seats, has been in the industry for over 30 years and is an innovator and leader in the car safety seat market place.

If you are looking for your baby’s first car safety seat and want rear facing then the Britax Companion offers you everything you need. This rear facing baby car safety seat has a 5 point harness, is suitable for babies from 4 to 22 pounds and has a height limit of 30”. When the Britax Companion first entered the market its side impact protection was revolutionary and since then the design of this car safety seat has only got better. The anti-rebound bar significantly reduces movement in the event of an accident, you can purchase extra bases for multi-car installation and the car safety seat is compatible with the new Britax Previes and Britax Forerunner strollers for a complete travel system.

In you are looking for a convertible car safety seat then the Britax Roundabout ticks all the boxes and is about the best on the market. The Britax Roundabout car safety seat is easy to install, safe but stylish and really comfortable for your baby. As with all Britax car safety seats the Roundabout comes with a five point harness. It is forward facing with a weight limit of 33 pounds, a height limit of 40”, comes in seven different patterns and the fabric cover is machine washable. It has the new LATCH system and has EPS impact foam around the baby’s head and torso.

If you want a convertible car safety seat that has a higher weight limit have a look at the Britax Marathon. This car safety seat boasts all the same features as the Britax Roundabout but has a higher weight maximum (forward facing up to 65 pounds) and is suitable for babies up to 49”. The Marathon will still fit in most cars but may prove too large to install rear facing in some smaller vehicles.

As with all Britax car safety seats the Britax Decathlon is built with safety and comfort in mind. The Decathlon, among many other features, has a 3-position crotch strap, patented HUGS harness system, push button release LATCH system, removable toddler pillow and an infant positioning system for newborn babies. The Decathlon car safety seat will provide good service to your baby from 5 – 65 pounds. The Britax Decathlon is certainly one of the best car safety seats on the market and should certainly be included in your short list.

The Britax Boulavard has head and torso safety wings to help protect your child in the event of an accident. Previous negative feedback about wings making it difficult to fasten a child into a car safety seat and only offering restrictive views to a child have been taken into account. The Britax Boulavard car safety seat wings come out at an angle making strapping in easy and enabling your child to look around while still affording that added impact protection.

This is not a definitive list of the car safety seats available from Britax but provides you with a good idea of the safety and comfort levels Britax car safety seats offer. Although Britax car safety seats aren’t the cheapest on the market they are certainly high up in the safety list and are well ahead in new innovative features.

When considering price, bear in mind that your child’s car safety seat is one of the most important purchases you will ever make. Paying top prices isn’t always necessary but don’t skimp on safety features and, if you want to save money, then think about length of use rather than cheaper initial cost by going for a convertible car safety seat with a higher upper weight and height limit.

For more on car safety seats visit http://www.1st-4-baby.com. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Ross

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