Archive for February, 2011

Safety Baby Car Seats

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 1:27 am  
Comments (45)
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SAFETY FIRST CAR SEATS REVIEWS

Author: Sonny Wemult

The first thing on becoming a parent is that you start worrying about the safety of your child. One of the most important responsibilities that you have to act upon is to choose a car seat for your little one that will be best equipped to keep your child comfortable and well secured.

 

While purchasing a baby car seat for your little one, you need to keep various issues in mind. Least of them is the issue of the cost which although has to be reasonable but should not stand in the way of getting the best for your child. You must always bear in mind the size of your child while purchasing the baby car seat. You must always therefore get a first hand view of the seat before purchasing it for your child.

 

Another important thing that should be considered is that the seat has to be comfortable as well as secure for your child. Whether the child is an infant or a toddler the right kind of seat needs to be selected. Generally all safety first car seats reviews are of the opinion that prefer the rear facing position is preferable for kids, however for kids aged more than one year old or weighing more than 40 pounds forward facing seats need to be used.

 

All safety first car seat reviews suggest that the car seats should not have too many complicated latches so that it can be easily opened at time of emergency. A 5 point harness is usually the most recommended one for use. The harness is extremely important for the safety of the child. This along with a soft and comfortable cushioning in and around the area of the headrest is absolutely necessary for a comfortable ride of the little one. The car seat should a buckle that should be easy to be unlatched by the adults but not by the children.

 

You also need to go for a car seat that is easily installed and adjustable. A car seat hat fits properly into your car will be the one that will eventually prove more comfortable for your precious one. A convertible car seat may be chosen for your infant. Such a type of arrangement will allow him to enjoy the same seat for a longer span of time.

 

An important feature that should be definitely considered while getting a car seat for your child is that it should have an air protection facility. This feature helps to reduce the amount of damage in case of accidents. These seats are designed in such a way that the risk of injury to your child will be minimized to a great extent.

 

Never ever buy a car seat that is not new. It may have been through accidents and will therefore not be suitable for the use of your child. In such circumstances a personalized research upon the kind of seat that will be the best for your little one is the best option. You might just end up with the perfect little car seat for your baby and be a happy parent.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/shopping-articles/safety-first-car-seats-reviews-2535379.html

About the Author

Are you looking for more information regarding safety First Apex Car seat ?  Visit http://safety1stcarseat.org today!>.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    Where can I get baby car safety seats online?
    I need car safety seats for my baby.

    • ANSWER:
      www.albeebaby.com
      www.babyuniverse.com
      www.elitecarseats.com
      www.babyage.com
      You can even go with Walmart online, b/c online they have several car seats taht aren’t offered in stores for cheaper than at other places. Amazon and eBay are ok, too, as long as the seat is brand new, with tags attached to the harness.
      sign up with ebates.com for discount at babyuniverse, and check out fatwallet’s site, they offer discounts at different stores, too. Most of the places above offer free shipping as well. And depending upon your child’s current age and size, if your’e in the market for a Britax convertible seat, they’re on sale right now. Britax only allows 2 sales a year, so its a big deal.

      http://www.car-seat.org

  2. QUESTION:
    Where should the baby safety car seat be located, middle or sides of the car, when facing front?

    • ANSWER:
      The middle is safest by far… but having said that, you can put the baby in any position you wish so long as there is an anchor point to attach the seat to.

      When i had one baby she went in the middle forward facing but on the side when rearfacing due to issues with the size of the car.

      When i had two kids the baby was on the side the whole time as well as the older child who was also in a car seat still.

      When i had three kids the newborn capsule went on the side as its hard to get it in the car when its in the middle, but when he went forward facing he went in the middle, with the two older ones in car seats on the sides

  3. QUESTION:
    where do you find reviews on the safety of car seats and other baby products?

    • ANSWER:
      Hi! Here is a link to Consumer Reports Infant car seat products.. you don’t need to be a member for this part

      http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/car-seats/infant-car-seat-ratings/ratings-overview.htm

      For other baby products, I google the name of the product + safety test.

      Also, check the reviews on Amazon, Target, Babies R Us… they aren’t “official” but they’ll give you a good idea about how the product functions and if other moms like it.

  4. QUESTION:
    Where can I rent/hire a baby car seat in Madrid? Are there taxis that offer that service?
    We will be visiting Spain next month and we are traveling with our 8 month old daughter. I need to rent a car seat to use for 7 days. Are there taxi or other transportation services that offer baby safety seats. I’m mainly worried about the trip from the airport to our hotel.

    • ANSWER:
      Being an advid traveller, i prefer to bring my own, i then know what condition the car seat in. every time i rent one it never seems to be in great condition.
      most airlines allow you to transport the car seat for free, and not counted as a piece of luggage

  5. QUESTION:
    Baby Car Seat Safety – older vehicles? install teather latch?
    I know that vehicles made after 2002 have an anchor for the carseat teather strap….but my vehicle is a 1990 Chrysler Van

    I read somewhere online that dealerships install the anchor latch free of charge….is that true or how much would it cost? Im in Canada

    • ANSWER:
      In Canada, it is a law to have your carseats tethered. Yes, GM will install one tether anchor at no charge…and there is no charge for the hardware. You need to contact your local dealership and they will install it for you. Since it is required in Canada, they MAY be able to install more at no charge.

      Is it a Chrysler Town and Country? You can have TA’s installed outboard, but not in the center and you can have them at all seating locations in the 3rd row. The part number is 05017529AA. That part no. is for all of the seating locations.

      Refer to Technical Service Bulletin 23-08-00 Revision A for details. It is only with certain older models.

  6. QUESTION:
    How should a baby car seat be installed to maximize safety?
    We followed the instructions when installing the car seat, but we want to be sure that it is installed to maximize safety. Can anyone show me, step-by-step, how to properly install a car seat? There is even a gap between the car seat and the back seat of my car, does anyone have any tips for making this as secure as possible?
    Watch me ask my question on Yahoo! Video.
    (http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?&gid=g_178f89d3d9987efabcf31c6fb8364fd6.178f89d3d9987efabcf31c6fb8364fd6&p=yahoo+answers+team&b=1&vid=178f89d3d9987efabcf31c6fb8364fd6.719778 )
    I’m asking this question with a video because I would like to see video answers to my question. I will only be picking my best answer from the responses that include video, so film your answer and upload your video clip here: http://video.yahoo.com/video/upload
    Don’t forget to come back here and post your answer with a link to your video! Click here for full details about video answers: http://answers.yahoo.com/info/video_promo

    • ANSWER:
      Tip 1. Securing your child car safety seat Always install the seat tightly, using your body weight to tighten and fasten the seatbelt. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1″) of movement of the seat from side to side or forward. Each time you place your child in the car safety seat, give it a tug to make sure it is still secure

      Tip 2. Using tether straps with forward-facing car seats
      The tether strap for a forward-facing child car safety seat must be used. The tether strap is located on the rear of the child car safety seat and has a hook. The hook is designed to attach the strap to the tether anchorage on the vehicle as specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Ensure the tether is only secured to the designated anchorage point(s) in the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer.

      Tip 3. Using Universal Anchorage System (UAS) / LATCH
      All new Canadian vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2002 come with lower universal anchorage points. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual before using the UAS system/LATCH to determine where the anchorage points are located and ensure that the correct method is used as advised by the car seat manufacturer.

      Tip 5. Using harness slots
      Your child car safety seat’s harness straps must be positioned correctly by ensuring they pass through the correct slots.

      Rear-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or below the child’s shoulders.
      Forward-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or above the child’s shoulders.

      Tip 6. Securing your child in the harness
      Ensure that the harness system is snug enough on your child’s chest to allow only one finger width between the strap and the child’s collarbone.

      Tip 7. Positioning your harness straps
      Ensure that harness straps lie flat and they do not twist or fold. Harnesses need to be straightened out each time the child is secured in the seat.

      Tip 8. Adjusting chest clips
      Properly adjust the chest clips on the harness. They should lie flat against the chest and be positioned at armpit level.

      Tip 9. Installing away from active air bags
      Always install child car safety seats away from active air bags. The safest place is in the back seat of a passenger car, sport utility vehicle or light truck and either the second or third row in a mini-van.

      Tip 10. Installing your rear-facing child car safety seat on a proper angle

      Most child car safety seats have a recline position that must be used when in the rear-facing position for an infant (up to 9kg or 20lbs). Check your child car safety seat owner’s manual for instructions. For rear-facing seats, if necessary, use a tightly rolled towel or a foam bar (pool noodle) under the base of the child car safety seat to adjust the angle to 45 degrees. A forward-facing child car safety seat should be in the upright position. Make sure that when the seat is turned from rear-facing to forward-facing, the recline feature is adjusted to the upright position.

      here’s a video*

  7. QUESTION:
    Baby Car Seats Crash Test Information?
    Newborn and Baby
    Consumer Reports Magazine Crash test worries

    In its February 2007 issue, Consumer Reports magazine reported on crash tests it performed to test the safety of car seats. The results were not encouraging.

    Most of the infant car seats tested by Consumer Reports “failed disastrously” in crashes at speeds as low as 56 km/h. The seats came off their bases or twisted in place, the report said. In one case, a test dummy was hurled more than nine metres.

    Of the 12 car seats tested, Consumer Reports said it could recommend only two, and it urged a U.S. federal recall of the poorest performing seat, the Evenflo Discovery, which is not sold in Canada.

    All the car seats passed U.S. standards — but Consumer Reports argues those standards should be raised.

    To be sold in Canada and the United States, an infant seat must perform adequately in a 48 km/h frontal crash, and Consumer Reports found that all but the Discovery did so. But it noted that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts its crash tests for new cars at higher speeds — 56 km/h for frontal crashes and 61 km/h for side crashes — so the magazine tested the seats at those speeds.

    “It’s unconscionable that infant seats, which are designed to protect the most vulnerable children, aren’t routinely tested the same as new cars,” said Consumer Reports’ Don Mays, a product safety director.

    The only seats that passed all the tests were the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS — expanded polystyrene foam — both selling for about US. Consumer Reports urged parents shopping for seats to buy one of those two, but it also noted that “any child car seat is better than no seat at all.”

    It also said some seats performed better when attached by vehicle safety belts than when attached with the LATCH system. The system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, includes belts that hook the base of a car seat to metal anchors in the vehicle.

    Consumer Report Article
    On January 4, 2007, Consumer Reports published a safety alert in the U.S. claiming that most infant car seats failed their new front- and side-crash evaluation tests. The report also claims that of 12 seats tested, only two performed well: the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS (i.e., expanded polystyrene). Only six of the twelve infant car seat models chosen by Consumer Reports for this testing are officially certified for and marketed in Canada. They are: the Graco SnugRide; the Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio SIP; the Evenflo Embrace V; the Graco SafeSeat; the Safety 1st Designer 22; and the Combi Centre ST.
    Transport Canada wants to reassure the Canadian travelling public that the Department’s collision investigations and data analyses do not support the results obtained by Consumer Reports. When car seats are used correctly, they perform effectively in motor vehicle collisions and child occupants are afforded optimum protection.

    The Department takes the safety of children travelling in vehicles very seriously and is continually working to improve crash protection for children through research, development and enforcement of safety regulations, participation in various national and international committees that work on policy development, and public awareness campaigns.

    • ANSWER:
      Where is the question?

  8. QUESTION:
    do NYC cabs have baby car seats?
    We are planning on a trip to NYC. We’ll be travelling with a 15 month old. Our concern is safety for the baby in a car. presently we’re not planning on renting a car. We were thinking about taking a taxi from the airport to where we’ll be staying with family. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

    • ANSWER:
      From what I found, no. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/faq_pass.shtml

      But, I did find this….

      I have had good luck installing my “mini-car-seat” in American taxis. I think it is actually called a “Travel Vest.” I bought it brand new for about at Baby World on College Ave. It amounts to a rigid plastic board with a five-point restraint on it, which is belted into the car’s seat belt. It meets the federal safety standards and goes up to a 40-pound child. It installs in about three minutes–probably less the more you use it. It isn’t super comfortable, because it doesn’t have the nice reclined chair-shell that typical car seats have, but for a short ride while she is awake, my 18-month-old daughter is fine with it. Also, because it is very small, it can easily fit into a tote bag. Hope this helps. Meg


Child Safety Door Locks

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 at 12:51 am  
Comments (200)
Child Safety Door Locks

Think Safety If Ever Your Child Is Home Alone

By Bill Wallmuller

Working parents – in this age we live today means the majority of American families – share the anxiety, frustration, and even fear involved in leaving children “on their own” when school lets out, when child care arrangements with neighbors and relatives break down, or when there are simply no other alternatives.

There are some things we can do and must do as parents, to protect the safety of our children in the conditions noted above.

First of all and most importantly is that we make sure our children are ready to care for themselves. This is very important and I cannot stress it enough. If a child is not ready to care for him or herself, leaving them home alone could be a catastrophe and at best is leaving an invitation for trouble.

As parents we must take the time necessary to instruct our children basic safety rules. Not only must we teach them, but we must also make sure to the best of our ability that we know the child understands the rules and is able and willing to follow them.

As parents we must make it a point to know where are kids are, what they are doing, and with whom they are doing it with.

The question is, how do we know when our children are ready to bear such a responsibility? A good test for this would be that our children can……

1. Be trusted to go directly home after school.

2. Easily use the telephone, locks , and kitchen appliances.

3. Follow rules and instruction well.

4. Handle unanticipated situations without panicking.

5. Stay alone without being afraid.

Take enough time to talk things over with your child. Listen to their concerns and ideas. Work out rules on having friends over when no one else is home, household chores, homework and television. Keep in mind that staying home alone and following the rules can build up a child’s self esteem, good sense of responsibility, and practical skills.

The following list is of the things a parent or guardian should teach their “home alone” children.

1. How to call 9-1-1 or your area’s emergency number and calling the operator.

2. The proper way to give directions to your house in case of an emergency.

3. To check in with you or your neighbor immediately upon arriving home.

4. To never accept gifts or rides from people they do not know well and that you do not approve of.

5. How to use the door, windows, locks and any alarm system if you have one.

6. To never let anyone into the home without asking your permission.

7. To never under any circumstances allow a caller at the door or on the phone know they are alone.

8. To carry a house key with them in a safe place on their person…do not leave it under a mat or on a ledge outside the house.

9. How to escape the house in case of a fire.

10. To not go into the home if things just don’t look right; things such as a broken window, a ripped screen or an open door.

11. To let you know about anything that frightens them or makes them feel uncomfortable.

If you,as a parent would follow these recommendations, both you and your child would experience less fear and anxiety of having your child home alone after school while you are still at work.

About the Author: Bill Wallmuller supports the “war on crime”. You can learn more about defensive technology at the Personal Defense Technology Website: http://www.personal-defense-technology.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=83669&ca=Family+Concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. QUESTION:
    does anyone know if a 1996 geo tracker 4 door automatic 4×4 comes standard with rear child safety door locks?
    Locks where the child cannot open the door from the inside.also I’d like to have some tips on whether I should buy a tracker as a second car for commuting to and from work is there enough room in the back for a child and booster seat.Are they hard to work on.Is the engine and transmission built to hold up for many miles???????

    • ANSWER:
      Don’t all cars come with child safety locks in the back these days?

  2. QUESTION:
    How do I turn off the child safety door locks for the back seat of my car?
    I have a 1999 Mitsubishi Galant….I know how to do the windows, there is a button by the window controls, but if you are in the back seat of the car you are essentially locked in – how do I fix that?

    • ANSWER:
      Open the back door. From the outside. Look for the lever and move it to the “B” position. See http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/1998/1998_SV70/98sv70_045.htm and scroll down, I know that isn’t your car, but they all look about the same and are in about the same position, so you’ll know what to look for.

  3. QUESTION:
    how do you lock child safety door locks on rear doors on mazda3?
    2006 mazda 3 four door

    • ANSWER:
      Most vehicles have a switch on the side of the door. Open the back door and look at the side. There should be either a switch that is obvious or a label or sticker instructing you how to do it.

  4. QUESTION:
    child safety door lock 1997 ford expedition?
    My passenger door keeps switching to the child safety lock. Every time the rear passenger door handle is used, the switch for the door moves to the safety lock position.

    • ANSWER:
      The links inside the door are jammed together. If you can, spray some wd-40 in as far as you can to try to loosen it up. If that doesn’t work someone will have to take the door panel off and find the bind.

  5. QUESTION:
    Can you open a Child Safety locked back door FROM THE INSIDE?
    I’m trying this for a fan-fiction; it’s one of those quick details that’ll probably never come up again, but it’s been bugging me for a week.
    This character flashes back to his childhood. He gets kidnapped, and has no time to prepare, so it’s not like he brings a lock-pick set or anything. Anywho, he’s shoved into the back seat of this car, and the doors are locked with child safety locks (or for more of a challenge, I’ll accept input on police cars, whose back doors aren’t supposed to open AT ALL from the inside, or so the movies have it….)
    ….How does he get out? Can he get at the lock from the inside so that he can escape, and more important, how does he do it before the kidnappers realize what he’s doing? (No, they’re not bumbling idiots, I just want him to be really good at what he does.)
    Or must I to cheat on that scene, and when (end of flashback) he’s asked how he got out , he responds only with “Very carefully”?
    I may have other quick-shot fiction questions in the future.

    • ANSWER:
      no you cant open it from the inside

  6. QUESTION:
    Does anyone know how to disengage the child-safety locks in my rear doors?
    I have a 1997 Toyota Camry XLE, and according to the little lock levers on the side of the door, the child-safety locks are unlocked. However, the back doors still cannot be opened from the inside.

    • ANSWER:
      On my minivan, the inside (door frame) latch came loose from the mechanicals on the inside of the door. no matter what the setting was on the selector it would not change the latch because it came loose. I had to take the door panel off and pop a connecting rod back into place…

  7. QUESTION:
    How do I turn off child safety rear door locks on a 97 Ford Expedition?

    • ANSWER:
      their all the same. we have a 04 expid. open the rear door. on the end of the door there should be a little lever that should toggle between locked and unlocked. just flip it. if that doesnt work your door is broken which doesnt suprise me. our lock in our 96 chrysler screwed up just cause it was old and little kids were fiddling with it too much.

  8. QUESTION:
    I have a 1994 Mazda Protege and I can’t figure out how the child safety locks work to open the back doors.
    I hope that it’s the child safety locks that keeps the doors from opening. I can’t even pull up the door locks on the back doors. Can you help?

    • ANSWER:
      There is usually a switch on the door frame…but if you can’t get them open at all, you may have to go back to the dealer. If you have electric door locks, & you can open it from the outside, look at the door on the side where it opens…where the stickers for car info may be. That is where the child switch is.


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