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Car seat safety: Protecting your most precious cargo #preciouscargo @AllstateCanada
Allstate Canada has partnered with Dorel Juvenile Canada, makers of Safety 1st Canada products, to launch “Protecting Your Most Precious Cargo,” a campaign focused on taking a proactive approach to car seat safety.
A recent Allstate Canada national poll showed that 95% of Canadian parents state that they are confident they know how to properly buckle a child in a car seat.
Sadly, that same poll showed that 23% of Canadians with children under 12 believe that using a snow suit is the best way to keep them warm in the winter months. Only about one-in-10 (11%) parents of children under 12 say the best way to dress a child is in thin, warm layers.
Safety should always be your primary concern
Dressing your child properly to ride in their car seat is very important. Car seat manufacturers state in car seat manuals that bulk clothing is not safe when buckling a child into the car seat.
Allstate Canada has put together this great blog discussing “How to Dress Your Child for their Car Seat this Winter”
The video above shows the impact that bulky clothing has when tightening your child in a car seat.
I wrote a previous blog post where I show my own daughter in her car seat with and without a coat. You can read it here – “A winter coat is for playing in the snow, not in a car seat!”
So how should you dress them in the winter?
This image from the Car Seat Lady shows you how to keep your infants and children warm — layers!
More great info about dressing your child in their car seat in the winter can be found on the Vancouver Island Car Seat Tech page.
Properly installing the car seat is step #1
The one statistic that wasn’t given to me was the percentage of parents who felt they are confident that they know how to properly install a car seat.
As many as 80% of children aren’t being correctly restrained in child seats or booster seats.[Source]
We only slightly touched on the “not used correctly” issues when talking about winter clothing. Some of the most common issues are:
- Not installing the seat tight enough
Use the pinch test to see if the harness is tight enough.
- Not using the tether strap when forward facing
- Harness not tight enough (and winter clothing will give you a false sense of it being tight)
- Chest clip too low
- Harness straps in the incorrect position
- Wrong seat for the child’s age, height and weight
- Getting rid of the booster too soon
- Letting your child sit in the front seat too soon
How do you make sure that your seat is installed properly?
The first thing that I tell all parents is to read the manuals!
You must read your vehicle manual to know where you can install the seat and if the vehicle manufacturer puts any restrictions on car seat installation. You also must read the car seat manual to know how to install the car seat into the vehicle and how to put your child safely in the car seat.
You must read the car seat manual to know how to install the car seat into the vehicle and how to put your child safely in the car seat.
The Safety 1st Grow and Go car seat has colour-coded their manual and the stickers making it easier to find information in the manual.
Safety 1st has really tried to help parents. This graphic on the first page is a quick snapshot of how to find the information they need:
Allstate Canada and Safety 1st made this video with some installation tips:
For more information about installing car seats, see Allstate Canada’s blog post: Tips For Properly Installing Your Child’s Car Seat
When to move to the next car seat?
Car seats fall into 3 stages:
- Rear facing
- Forward Facing
- Booster
From Allstate Canada’s GOOD HANDS blog post When to Move Your Child to the Next Car Seat Stage,
“While different car seats and regulations may vary, experts agree that children should stay in their rear-facing car seats until they’re at least 18 kg (40 lbs.); in their forward-facing 5-point harness seat until they are at least 29 kg (65 lbs.); and should use booster seats until they are at least 9 years of age and able to sit up straight with their back flat against the vehicle’s seat, and knees easily bent over the seat.
In other words, you don’t need to rush in moving a child up to the next level. Parents should take their time and transition their child to the next car seat when it makes the most sense for their safety. In fact, the longer a child can stay in their rear-facing seat, the safer they’ll be because these seats help to protect the neck and spinal cord of developing children better than any other seat.”
Safety 1st Grow and Go car seat is a 3-in-1 car seat that can be used for all three stages.
Allstate Canada’s video has great tips about when it is good to move your child to the next stage:
One of the great features of the Safety 1st Grow and Go seat is that it requires your child to be at least 2 years old before they can ride in it forward facing. This will help to ensure that children ride rear-facing until 2 years old. Rear-facing is the safest way for children to ride in a vehicle!
Have more questions?
It is aways best to talk to or meet with a Certified Car Seat Technician who can help you with any car seat questions that you might have. They will teach you about your car seat and how it fits in a vehicle.
It is nice to see that Allstate Canada has a certified car seat technician on their staff who can help their clients. This will be especially important if the client is ever in a collision as car seats must be replaced.
Enter to win a Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat!
Allstate Canada and Safety 1st want to help your child be safe. Enter to win a Safety 1st Grow and Go car seat.
To find out more about Allstate Canada:
Blog: blog.allstate.ca
Twitter: @AllstateCanada
Facebook: Allstate Insurance Canada
YouTube: Allstate Canada
To find out more about Safety 1st Canada:
Facebook: Safety 1st Canada
Disclosure: This post was written as part of the Allstate Canada Influencer Program and is sponsored by Allstate Canada. All opinions are my own.
A new angel in heaven #WordlessWednesday
We’ll miss you, Gramma!
Saturday, after an amazing 96 years, my gramma passed away.
I will write a post about this but right now, as I wrap my head around this, a photo will have to do. This was from one of our visits at the beginning of July.
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Do I know how to get sick, or what?!? I even shocked the doctors!
On Tuesday, I started feeling a bit off. But as I usually do, I kept pushing through, hoping that all would pass. By the end of the work day, I was sluggish, and my throat hurt. I went home and crashed! I slept for a few hours, only to wake up feeling worse. I had chills, felt achy and my throat hurt. Thermometer read 101.5 degrees. Ugh.
Wednesday morning, I woke up to excruciating pain in my throat and still feeling feverish. My doctor wasn’t available, and they suggested their walk-in clinic that started at 5pm. I couldn’t wait that long. I went to another walk-in, and I’m glad I did.
At the walk-in, the nurse came in, asked me about my symptoms and took my temperature. She knew the doctor would want to do a strep test, so headed out to get one. As she left, the doctor came in. The doc checked my ears and then looked at my throat. “Oh! I don’t think we need to do a test.” She had the nurse check, and both agreed — Strep Throat. I got a prescription for antibiotics with directions to take a double dose to start. This can’t be good.
Thursday I wasn’t feeling that much better. I hadn’t been able to eat a lot so my energy level was pretty low. Orange juice and apple sauce will only get you so far. After the girls were off to school, I was back in bed. Around 11:30am, we got a call from the school. Lauren’s ear was hurting. With me being sick, we needed to get her looked at. I took her to the walk-in that I went to yesterday. The doc checked her out and we left with a prescription for antibiotics because her ear and throat was red. She rested for the afternoon with me.
The one thing I started noticing is that I was having trouble swallowing and had this gagging feeling every once in a while. I took a look at my throat again. The swelling in my throat had started going down, but that dangling thing at the back was long. Longer than usual.
Who knew? So now I have this annoying sensation in the back of my throat all the time. Talking and breathing are troublesome. I end up gagging and coughing frequently.
Here we are today. Throat is still scratchy. Energy is coming back. But that uvula thing doesn’t seem to be going away. I made an appointment with my doctor so I can get some answers. I’m supposed to be at a singing workshop tomorrow. I’ll probably be at it, but not sure how much singing I’ll be doing.
UPDATE!!
So it was “Stump the Intern Day” at the doctor’s office. I got to meet with the intern first and told her the event over the last few days and about my uvula. She took a look and said “oh, I think I’ll let Dr. M see this.” She went and got the doc, repeated what I told her, and the Dr. M wanted to take a look. He was a bit taken aback too. He said, explaining to me and the intern, that when the infection is located in a specific area like the throat, everything can get infected. I am fortunate enough that my uvula got affected this time too. There is nothing we can do, but wait for the meds to get rid of the infection.
Hopefully the swelling will continue to go down before tomorrow morning. I really was looking forward to the singing workshop.
If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know!
Your child can be a member of Canada’s Swim Team and you could be the Swim Parent of the Month! #chickendotca
Do your children swim?
Swimming is very important in our family. My grandfather’s college roommate drowned. My grandfather instilled in his children the importance of knowing how to swim. My mother did the same for my brother and me and now our girls are learning the importance of swimming as well. My girls have been swimming since they were 4 months old and are very excited that the Fall session of swimming lessons at our local pool starts soon!
When Chicken Farmers of Canada told me that they were supporting Canada’s Swim Team initiative, I was very excited to help share that information with you! Rachel and Lauren have both been signed up for Canada’s Swim Team!
Are You a Swim Parent?
We know there are a lot of swim parents in Canada & we want to honour them each month. Do you go above and beyond to make sure you prepare nutritious, healthy meals in preparation for swimming? Swimming Canada and Chicken Farmers of Canada are jointly hosting a Swim Parent of the Month contest in recognition of parents who encourage eating well and being active as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Chicken Farmers of Canada, proud partner of Swimming Canada, supports the Canada’s Swim Team initiative to have every Canadian child swim at least 25 metres before completing elementary school. This initiative not only promotes cardiovascular health and flexibility, but endurance necessary for safety in pools and water. Swimming Canada, in turn, recognizes that a well-balanced diet filled with a variety of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean protein goes hand in hand with healthy living.
This is why the two organizations have partnered to bring you this exciting contest.
Enter the Swim Parent of the Month Contest
Brought to you by Chicken Farmers of Canada and Swimming Canada
Proud Partners for Healthy Living
To become one of our Swim Parents of the Month, all you have to do is email us at nutritiousrecipes@swimming.ca
the information below:
- The title of your favourite recipe at chicken.ca that you would prepare to fuel your swimmer(s)
- The correct answer to this skill-testing question – What lean meat is “the official protein of swimming in Canada?” and
- Register your child to join Canada’s Swim Team: Sign up here!
Prize:
The name of the monthly winner & their favourite chicken recipes will be posted on the Swim Parent of the Month webpage, and included in a National Swim Team Digital Cookbook to be published in December 2014. A “selfie” .jpg photo of the contest winner may be requested (but not required) for promotion of the contest and digital cookbook.
Just for entering the Parent of the Month contest by September 15th one individual will have a chance to win this food safety cutting board and BBQ utensil set.
Rules and Regulations:
- Be sure to submit the name of the recipe in your email, and your answer to the skill-testing question, as well as your own name, mailing address, and telephone number.
- Your mailing address and telephone number will be seen by select staff from Swimming Canada and Chicken Farmers of Canada, and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to identify the winner of the contest.
- By entering the contest you acknowledge that Chicken Farmers of Canada and Swimming Canada will publish the winner’s name, province, and favourite recipe through social media properties and/or at swimming.ca, getswimming.ca, chicken.ca, and momstown.ca.
- One winner will be selected by a random draw from all entries that answer the trivia question correctly, submit their favourite recipe from chicken.ca, and register their child to join Canada’s Swim Team.
- The deadline for submissions is the 15th of every month and winners will be announced on the last Friday of each month on the Swim Parent of the Month webpage.
- The contest is open to all Canadians 18 years of age or older. Winners will be required to demonstrate proof of age in order to receive their prize.
- Employees and immediate or domiciled family of Chicken Farmers of Canada or Swimming Canada are not eligible to enter the contest.
- For Quebec residents, any litigation respecting the conduct or organization of a publicity contest may be submitted to the Régie des alcools des courses et des jeux for a ruling. Any litigation respecting the awarding of a prize may be submitted to the Régie only for the purpose of helping the parties reach a settlement.
Disclosure: I am participating in the Chicken Farmers of Canada campaign by ShesConnected. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.