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!!

Ugh!! Do not try to seat more people in your car than you have seat belts!

This one should be a no brainer, right?  Wrong!  Please, people!  Each and every person who rides in your vehicle should have a dedicated seat complete with a lap/shoulder belt, booster seat, and/or harnessed seat. 

This afternoon I went to our local pool. The weather wasn't great, but we have a pass so we went.  There was a mom behind us with five kids ranging in age from 6 mos to 13 or 14yrs.   The kids were well behaved at the pool so no issues there.

As it turns out we left about the same time.  Being the nosey person I am I watched her get into her vehicle.  I thought for sure she'd have a van or at the very least an SUV.  Nope.  She had a Saturn car.  A car that seats only five people.  She then proceeds to pile all of the children into the car.  Four people in the back seat and two in the front.  I felt sick!  I really need to have the state number for car/booster seat misuse on speed dial!  I should have said something, but honestly, I don't think she would have responded well.

So, please everyone pass this along.  Please tell your friends and relatives that you should NEVER share a seat belt with anyone nor should you have children share seat belts with each other.  Every person who rides in the car needs to have a dedicated seat. 

Is My Child Ready for a Booster???

As your child gets out of toddler hood and into the preschool age you may find yourself  asking that very question.  So many parents are in a rush to get a child out of the so-called "baby" seat and into a "big kid" seat.  Just remember that every step up in seats  (rear facing is safer than forward facing, a forward facing 5 pt harness seat is safer than a booster for most young children) is a step down in safety. 

At what age is a child ready for a booster?  There is no magical booster age.  Maturity plays a much bigger role than age.  Generally, I tell parents 6 yrs AND 40 lbs.  I do this because a six year old is more mature and much more likely to sit correctly in a booster each and every time it is used.  Plus, at six the child's bones are a little more developed and stronger than at younger ages. 

Does this mean that no one under six can ride in a booster?  No, there are exceptions.  Some five year olds are very mature and can ride properly in a booster. 

How do I know if he is ready?  There is a check list for this:
1.  Does your child lean forward/to the side in a booster?
2. Does your child regularly sleep in the car?
3. Does your child slump down in the booster causing the belt to rise up onto the stomach?
4.  Would your child immediately lean forward to pick up a dropped toy on the floor?

If the answer to ANY of these questions is "Yes."  then your child is not ready for a booster.  That is not to say you cannot begin booster training.  With practice a child can learn to ride properly in a booster.  Just remember it does not happen overnight.



Booster fit
1. While in a booster does the lap portion of the belt sit low on the hips or touch the thighs?
2. Does the shoulder portion of the belt lie midway between neck and shoulder?
3.  Can the child stay seated this way for the whole trip?

If the answer to ALL of these questions is "Yes."  then the booster fits your child.

Please check your state's laws for regulations on booster seats.  Just remember that the laws are only the minimum.  Meaning that your four year old does not HAVE to go into a booster if he has hit 40 lbs and is most likely safer in a five point harness.  It is not illegal to extended harness or to extended rear face.  In fact it is safer.

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)

Why do car seats have expiration dates?

If any of you out there are moms or know a mom then you have definitely seen car seats in use.  Did you know that they have expiration dates?  Many people do not know this.  All car seats have expiration dates.  Generally, the expiration date is six years from date of manufacture (DOM), but this is not always the case.   A few seats out there have five or seven year expiration dates and one seat has a nine year lifespan. You can find your DOM located on a sticker on the back, bottom, or side of your car seats.  Some manufacturers also imprint the expiration date in the plastic on the back of the seat.

Why should I care if the seat is expired?  Because you do not know how an expired seat will react in a crash.  You cannot guarantee your child will be safe in an expired seat.

Car seats sit in the car.  They are exposed to frigid temperatures in the winter and brutal, broiling temperatures in the summer.  These changing in temperature cause the plastic to expand and contract thus breaking down the plastic.  Even if your seat has sat in a climate controlled area (not in a car) for several years does not mean you are in the clear.  The plastic still degrades.

Car seats also change over time.  There have been many changes and advances since the Monkey was born in car seats.  The seat you got for your first child may no longer be considered safe which is another reason for the expiration.  For example three point harness infant carriers were common about 7-8 yrs ago.  Now, they are no longer made because an infant could slip out of the harness at the hips.  The five point harness is much safer and keeps a child in the seat securely. 

What to do with an expired seat?  If you have an expired seat it needs to be destroyed.  You should not use it again.  It is unsafe.  To destroy the seat remove the cover (you may be able to sell the cover depending on the car seat model), cut the harness straps, write "Do Not Use" or "Destroy"  on the shell of the seat with a Sharpie or spray paint, and then put it INSIDE your garbage can.  I say to put it inside because some people will remove car seats from the curb and reuse them.  If your area offers it you can recycle the car seat.  Also, a couple of times each year Babies R US does a trade in event where you get 25% off one baby gear item if you bring in a car seat.

From time to time I will be posting car seat safety tips.  Feel free to add your own if you like!  Thanks for reading!

So, why the title of Crazy About Car Seats?

Well, because I am kind of a little crazy about them.  I have been this way for a few years now.  Car seats really intrigue me.  I am not sure why, but they do. 

My son is an only and he has had nine car seats (in four cars) since he was born almost 5.5 yrs ago.  We have owned a Graco Snug Ride with two bases, an Evenflo Triupmh, an Evenflo Titan, Evenflo Generations, two Cosco Regal Rides, a Britax Frontier, a Graco Nautilus, a Cosco Apex 65, and, finally a Clek Oobr.

We started off with a Graco Snug Ride with two bases.  He outgrew the Snug Ride by length at 4 mos.

Our next two seats were an Evenflo Triumph and a Titan.  The Triumph was in my Jeep.  It is hands down my favorite seat ever!  It has been discontinued for a while, but its replacement, the Evenflo Triumph Advance, is even better!

The Titan went in my husband's Corolla.  I didn't like the seat from the beginning, but it was cheap and it worked.  The harness stopped tightening on it consistently at about the 1.5 yr point.  We were visiting my husband in Korea at that time and I left it there.

I replaced the Titan with an Evenflo Generations.  I thought I would like it as much as the Triumph and I liked that it turned into a booster.  It was a bad choice.  It even made the top five worst booster list!  The only thing good that I can say about this seat is that it is narrow and fits well in my Jeep with the Britax Frontier next to it. So, I have kept it as a spare seat.

Each set of grandparents bought a Cosco Regal Ride.  It was another inexpensive, no frills seat.  It got the job done.  He outgrew these seats just after he turned four.  They have pretty low top harness slots.

When he turned four we decided that he looked too "squished" in his current seats so we purchased a Britax Frontier for my car, a Graco Nautilus for my husband's, and an Apex 65 for my parents' cars.  I had no intention of putting a squirmy, bouncy, four year old in a booster.  To me four is WAY too young for a booster.  He will be harnessed until at least age six.  Anyway, the Frontier is now my second favorite seat.  The Nautilus is okay.  It gets the job done, but my son and I like the Frontier better. The Apex is nice and had a very good price.

Now, at age five my son has finally hit 40 lbs clothed so he has outgrown the Generations. In January I began my search for the perfect booster.  I thought I had found it in the Oobr.  It is a mammoth booster with a magnesium frame!  It can be LATCHed, has deep head wings, and made the IIHS list for best boosters.  The icing on the cake was that it came in a pirate pattern (Skurvy).   So, I ordered one.  My son loves it!  I like it too.  It is heavy and can be difficult to move between cars, but I love that I can LATCH it in place. 

So, with nine seats for one child I might be considered "crazy."  My husband just thinks I am obsessed.  Maybe I am. I've already found another booster I want to "play with."  It is the new Recaro ProBooster.  I am waiting to hear about a price for techs.  If it is low enough I may get it.

Great ClekJacket!

I am so thrilled!! I just won a ClekJacket (cover) for the Clek Olli or Ozzi. I won it by commenting on the Clek Facebook page. The contest ends this Friday.

The ClekJacket my son picked out is the Treehouse Camo. I was a little disappointed when he chose that design. I really liked the Julius Multiple Choice. Well, I was in for a surprise! The jacket came this morning (I won it last Friday) and I love it! The camo is really pretty, if camo can be pretty. The jacket is soft as well. My son also loves it! Now, I just need to buy (or win) an Olli or Ozzi so I can use this wonderful jacket when my son is older or when older kids ride with me.

Thank you Angela at Clek!!