BRRRR!! It Is Cold Outside!

Has anyone noticed the temperature lately?  It seems to be dropping rapidly and it seems winter is here to stay.  Did you know that in the past week there was snow in all states except Florida?  I wonder about Hawaii.  I can't imagine they had snow so maybe it was just in the Lower 48 and Alaska. Regardless, it is cold!!! 

Why am I mentioning this?  You may think I am being silly.  It is winter after all and it is supposed to be cold in winter, right?  Well, I am using this as an opportunity to talk about car seats. Specifically, winter coats and after market products like the JJ Cole Bundle Me.  These items are very hazardous when it comes to car seats.  Why?  Well, read on!

Many parents buy the JJ Cole Bundle Me because they want to keep their precious infants warm during the cold months.  Many parents assume that since it is sold in stores that it is safe.  It isn't.  The Bundle Me goes between your baby and the harness of the infant carrier.  This alters the way the harness fits your baby.  You may think the straps are tight enough, but in reality they are not.  In a crash that Bundle Me will compress.  That compression can be enough to loosen the straps so your little darling becomes a missile.  No parent wants that. 

Plus, as an after market product it will void your car seat's warranty.  You may be thinking who cares about a warranty.  Well, you will if your baby is injured.  If your baby is injured in a crash and you use an aftermarket product then you cannot sue the car seat manufacturer.  The product could not do its job properly due to the aftermarket product.

You may now be scratching your head wondering what you should do to keep Junior warm.  A puffy, thick coat perhaps? No. An infant or child in any type of car seat should never wear a coat in the car.  It, too, interferes with the function of the harness and can compress in a crash launching your child out of the seat.

So, what should you do?  Well, there are a few safe options.  For an infant carrier try a shower cap style cover  This style cover goes over the whole seat and does not interfere with the harness.  Some examples are the Jeep Infant Carrier Cover on Amazon for $19.99, Baby's World Cover on Amazon fr $19.99, and the Kidopotamus CozyUp Carrier Cover on Amazon for $19.46.  All three are pictured below. 


Now, if your child is no longer in a carrier you may want to check out the Car Seat Poncho . Your child can wear it both in and out of the car.  Prices, sizes, and colors vary. 


Another option is to have your child wear a coat to the car and have him remove it in the car.  Then, strap him in without the coat.  Once he is strapped in put his coat on him backwards. 

Lastly, you can do what I do.  We use a plain old blanket in the car.  We call it our Car Blanket. When Monkey gets in the car he immediately removes his coat.  I strap him in and cover him with the blanket. He has never complained.  None of us wear coats in the car and it warms up pretty quickly with the heater.

I hope these tips help you out this winter.  Part of the reason I have this blog is to keep babies and children safe. I feel the best way to do this is through education.  It is not to berate someone who doesn't know any better.  Once you have the knowledge you have the power!  Good luck and stay warm!!

I got my Recaro ProBooster today!!!

Yea!!  I am so happy!  I have been salivating over this seat since Recaro had a press release about it several months ago.  Offically, it hit stores June 1, but people have been preordering for a while.  I kept debating since I don't need to seat (trust me I don't and can't even justify it).  Well, I ordered.  I got a good price and I ordered.  I got the Blue Opal.  It arrived this afternoon.

Monkey is the one who found the box on the porch.  As soon as he saw it he asked if it was his new booster.  I said it was one for us to play with and he was slightly disappointed.  Neither of us could wait to open the box (for different reasons though, he actually wanted the box).  I pulled it out and was in love!  It is a very well designed seat with lots of side impact protection (SIP).  It also looked very cushy and plush. 

So, out to the car we went.  It had to go behind the passenger seat (at least that was my intended spot) as I already have a Britax Frontier and a Clek Oobr in the backseat.  When I set it down I had a sinking feeling that it wouldn't fit (I have a pretty narrow backseat).  It didn't.  The base fit, but the shoulder area didn't.  It was just too wide and the door wouldn't close.  I was so disappointed, but not totally discouraged.  Instead I un-installed the Frontier so I could play with the two boosters.

Monkey is 5.5 yrs old, 40 lbs (clothed), and 45" tall.  The belt fit on Monkey is the same in both boosters.  The lap portion of the belt touches the tops of his thighs.  The shoulder portion is in the middle between his neck and the edge of his shoulder.  The belt guides on the ProBooster are more "user friendly" meaning it is easier to get the seat belt into the guide.  Monkey could not buckle or unbuckle either seat himself (we need to work on that).  Monkey's legs bend just at the edge on the ProBooster and about 0.5" over the edge of the Oobr.

Overall, I like both seats.  I like them for different reasons, but I like them.  Monkey likes them too.  Right now he says he prefers the ProBooster, but he has yet to ride anywhere in it.

ProBooster Specs:
Weight of seat: 13 lbs
Seat life:  Six years from date of manufacture (DOM)
Weight minimum:  30 lbs
Weight maximum: 120 lbs
Height range for child: 37-61"
Widest point (shoulders): 19.5"
Base width: 16"
Seat depth: 13.5"
Height at highest setting (from seat to top of headrest)" 30"
Price:  About $120 depending on where you shop and what coupons you can find.

ProBooster Pros:
It is light.
Lots of SIP
Deeper seat than most boosters
Wider at shoulders than many boosters
Very cushioned
Breathable fabric on SIP
Has a recline bar to fit more vehicle seats
Does not need head support behind the head rest
Removable cover


ProBooster Cons (I may add more later as we use the seat):
No carry handle
Does not have LATCH or rigid LATCH
Does not become a backless booster for older kids (8+)


Oobr Specs:
Weight of seat: 25 lbs
Seat life:  Seven years from DOM
Weight minimum: 33 lbs
Wight maximum: 100 lbs
Height range for child:  38-57"
Widest point (shoulders): 18.25"
Base width: 15"
Seat depth: 12"
Height at highest setting: 29"
Price: $200-300 depending on cover and where you shop

Oobr Pros:
Magnesium reinforced frame
Carry handle
Rigid LATCH
Recline feature
Cup holder
Lots of wild colors and some patterns
Becomes a backless booster for older kids (8+)

Oobr Cons:
Heavy
Cover on back isn't removable (it is on seat)
Expensive


As a tech and a parent I DO not recommend putting a child under 5 or 6 into a high back booster.  Most state laws require a child to be at least 4 yrs AND 40 lbs to be in a booster seat.  It is my experience that most four year olds are not mature enough to ride in a booster.  Please read my post  "Is My Child Ready for a Booster."

Side by side at lowest position.  Oobr is on left and ProBooster on right.

Side by side at highest position

Profile (you can see the rigid LATCH on the Oobr)

Hello All!!

This is my first time blogging. Yea!! Wish me luck!

My name is Amy and I am a SAHM to my five year old son. I am a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and I love researching about car seats!! My son also enjoys trying them out for me. In addition to being a CPST I am also an RN. I find that both are helpful when speaking to other moms about seats.

As I mentioned I am a SAHM and I help run/coordinate a moms' group in my small town. It is great! We have kids in the group of almost every age, moms too! The kids have playmates and the moms have support from other moms. Some of the moms work and others are at home full time. We get together several times a week for play dates, lunch, moms' night out, field trips, and many other things. The sky is the limit for us!

Anyway, I've started this blog to talk about my son, our moms' group, and, of course, about child safety and car seats. Hopefully I will get a following! More soon!