New Car Seat Guidelines

I was watching the Today show this morning when I heard that the American Academy of Pediatrics had changed their regulations for child car seat safety. With two children still in car seats, I was listening with all ears. The most surprising is their recommendation to keep your child rear-facing in their car seat until the age of two. Additional changes were that kids should remain in a booster until reaching at least 4 ft. 9 inches in height. This could happen anywhere between the ages of 8 and 12 years of age. Also, do not put your child in … Continue reading →

Sunshine Kids Car Seats

I am kind of a car seat crazy person. I want my kids to be safe. You hear stories all the time about seats not being installed correctly, or about an accident that could have been avoided if only the child had been strapped in correctly to a car seat. So, when I had my first baby, I made sure to do my research. I found an acceptable infant car seat, but when it was time to move her up to a bigger one, I wanted one that was going to last, and one that was strong, and durable. I … Continue reading →

Car Seats

When I was pregnant, I was very intimidated by car seats. They seemed complicated to install and I was worried about the consequences of doing it wrong. What if I got into a car accident and the seat wasn’t secure? Fortunately, the hospital where I gave birth had a free car seat check. It was a quick appointment. The women showed me how to properly install my car seat, gave me some tips for getting it snug, and then actually installed it for me. I received some free car seat safety information as well as an identification sticker to place … Continue reading →

Keep the Babies Out of the Car Seats?

Recent research by two orthopedic doctors at the Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center suggests we should keep babies out of car seats. Well, at least when we are not actually IN the car. The study, which was published Pediatrics, claims that about 9,000 car seat accidents occur each year, but the baby in the car seat is outside the car. Injuries to the babies included head and neck. Injuries occurred while the baby was still in the car seat, but not strapped in and the car seat was set somewhere like a table, countertop, or shopping cart and then fell … Continue reading →

Car Seat Safety Following A Car Accident

My family was in a car accident this past week. We were inside our car, which was parked in a Walmart parking lot. I had just finished buckling our infant daughter into her car seat when a car struck us on the driver’s side front door. After getting everyone out of the car, calling 911, and calming our unsettled nerves, I began to consider the lasting impact of the car accident. Would all three of us be sore the next morning? Should I take my daughter to the doctor to be examined? The biggest question on my mind was the … Continue reading →

Convertible Carseat

Although my only child is an infant, I feel like I have a small window into the world of parents sending their kids off to their first day of school. They dab at their eyes with tissues, give tearful hugs, then burst into tears as they (or the school bus) drive(s) away. They exclaim, “It’s too soon!” What gave me this insight? Today, my daughter will be riding in a convertible car seat for the first time. I can’t believe she already outgrew her infant car seat. It seems like only yesterday that we were putting her in the car … Continue reading →

Front Facing Car Seat – When?

The front facing car seat is a question many mothers struggle with as their infants develop and become toddlers. It’s hard enough to keep the baby happy in the car when they are no longer going to sleep in it. It can be even tougher on them when they can’t see Mom. The question to ask is when is it best to turn the seat from rear-facing to front-facing. Many parents do it when the baby is about a year old. On the other hand, research now shows that it is better to wait for your baby to achieve a … Continue reading →