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You are here: Home / Archives for car seat

The CMR Car Seat Safety Twitter Party – September 16 @ 9pm #CMRCarSeatSafety

September 15, 2015 by Wendy S

It’s Child Passenger Safety Week!!

As a certified Child Restraint System Technician (CRST), I love to talk about car seat safety every week of the year!  But it’s so great that we have one week where everyone talks about car seat safety and how to keep our most precious cargo safe.

The Canadian Mother Resource knows the value of getting proper car seat safety knowledge to everyone and is having a twitter party to help get the info out!

NEW 2015 #CMRCarSeatSafety-horizontal

There will be prizes!

RSVP below to be eligible to win 1 of 2 convertible car seats (valued at approx. $300 each) as well as 1 of 2 $100 Visa gift cards.

For more info, click here.
 
RSVP below (Canadians only, please!) and follow:
Your host: @the_cmr
CMR Car Seat Expert: @mapsgirl
 
Co-hosts:
@fabrugalmama 
@listen2lena
@MultitestingMom
 
Sponsors:
@the_cmr
@HeritageFunds

While everyone is encouraged to participate, only Canadian residents (excluding Quebec and Nunavut) are eligible to win prizes.

Please be sure to enter your Twitter Handle “@yourTwitterhandle” in the Link/Blog Title field, and your Twitter URL “www.twitter.com/yourtwitterhandle” in the Link Field.

Filed Under: Car Seat Safety Tagged With: car seat, car seat safety, The CMR

Registering for baby? Not all Safety Items are actually safe

February 13, 2015 by Wendy S

Just becuase they sell it, doesn't mean it's safe @ mapsgirl.caI remember being a mom-to-be, walking up and down the aisles of the baby store and scanning all of the items that I thought would be required to keep my baby safe. 

Unfortunately, just because a company has a product and labels it as a “safety” item, doesn’t mean it will help keep baby protected.

There are many items on the “Top Registry Items” lists that parents shouldn’t be registering for, and I’ll explain why.  I’ve also given some suggestions of what you should do, and I end with a nice list of the items that are good to have!

What not to register or buy

Seat Savers

Don't buy seat saversThese are the protectors that you can put in your car under the child car seat. They are supposed to protect your car from the indents that can happen from the child car seat or from spills and crumbs. Since this device was not crash tested with the child car seat that you own, you do not know how it will react in a collision.  

NOTE: Car seat manufacturers will state is if any third party accessory can be used with or under the seat. Some do not even allow for the use of pool noodles or towels.

Suggested item – Nothing. It is best not to use them and install the car seat as it is described in the car seat owner’s guide.

Roll up Car Shade

Don't buy roller window shadeThese are the cute window blinds, that roll up into a metal holder at the top. They are supposed to protect your child from the sun. Unfortunately, the suction cups that come with them don’t stick forever. This could lead to the shade coming off of the window and falling directly on your child. During a collision, if the window was to break, the metal holder then becomes a projectile flying through your car causing further damage to your child or yourself.

Suggested item – The shades that come as a plastic sheet that clings to the window. If this was to fall off of the window, it won’t cause further damage to the occupants of the vehicle.

Cuddle Bags

Don't buy Cuddle BagThese are the bags that are designed to go inside the car seat and then zip up and over your child to protect them from the cold. These are not recommended because they come between your child and the car seat. The added fabric will be compressed during a collision and will cause the harness straps to be loose. This means that your child will not be held firmly in the seat and there is potential for injury to occur.

Don't buy bunting bagsSuggested item – You want the cover that goes over the entire car seat. There is a window in the top so that you can see the baby’s face. This type does not interfere at all with the harness straps and your child can be secured properly.

Bunting Bags and Baby snowsuits should also not be used in a car seat for the same reason; you will not get the harness straps tight enough and the bulky fabric will compress.  

Please read my post “A winter coat is for playing in the snow, not in a car seat!” to see more info on winter coats and car seats.

Suggested item –  put your child in a warm, but not bulky outfit, put them in their car seat properly and tighten the straps, then place a warm blanket over the top.

NOTE: Cuddle bags and snowsuits are great for use in a stroller; just not in a car seat.

Mirrors

Don't buy baby mirrorThe cute mirrors that allow a parent to use the rear view mirror to see their rear-facing child are not recommended.

Not only could they come loose and become a projectile object in a collision, their sole purpose is to distract the driver. The driver of the car should be watching the road and vehicles around them when driving. If they are taking the time to look at the baby in the back seat, they are distracted.

Suggested item – Nothing. If you need to tend to a crying baby in the back seat, pull off the road to a safe location and then do what is required for the child.

Bumper Pads (baby bedding)

Bumper PadsBumper Pads are not suggested because if a child gets caught in them, they could suffocate.

Suggestion item: Nothing.

The only thing that should be on the mattress is a good fitted sheet and nothing else should be in the crib.

 

“Baby on Board” signs

Don't buy baby on board signFor the same reason that roll up shades are not recommended, hard plastic baby on board signs should not be used as the suction cups detach and then it is a potential projectile in the car.

Suggested item: If you truly feel that you need a sign, get a magnet for the back bumper of your car. It is outside and can’t hurt the passengers inside the vehicle.


3rd Party Protective Padding that goes around the harness straps

Harness pads are dangerous! @ mapsgirl.caThe basic rules is: “If it didn’t come with the car seat, don’t use it.” Reason being is that everything that comes with the car seat has been crash tested with that seat and is safe to use. Many car seat manufacturers have started including these pads with the car seats so it’s not as much of an issue. Do not add anything to the harness straps of your child’s car seat.

Suggested item: If the harness should be too close to the child’s neck and the seat didn’t come with the protective pads, try to pull the child’s shirt collar up a bit so that the harness doesn’t rub.

Safety Items that are good for new parents:

  • new mattresses for the cribCheck mark @ mapsgirl.ca
  • baby sound monitors
  • gates
  • door knob covers (prevents the door from being opened)
  • cupboard and drawer locks
  • plug covers
  • fridge/oven locks
  • blind cord winders (to prevent strangulation)

See more great car seat info on my Pinterest board!

Follow Wendy | mapsgirl.ca’s board Car Seat Safety on Pinterest.


Other car seat info:

[catlist id=”52″ numberposts=’10’]

Filed Under: Booster Seats, Car Seat Safety, Forward Facing, Rear Facing Tagged With: baby, best practice, car seat, car seat installation, car seat safety, registry, shopping

Read my #carseat tips at @The_CMR and join our #CMRCarSeatSafety twitter party!

June 12, 2014 by Wendy S

 I am very excited to announce that I will be sharing lots of Car Seat Safety knowledge at The Canadian Mother Resource as their Car Seat Expert!

CMR_BA-CarSeat-Badge

Not only will I be writing articles for the website, but we’ll be having Twitter and Facebook parties too!

 We have our first Twitter party coming up!!

#CMRCarSeatSafety Twitter Party

Join the @The_CMR #CMRCarSeatSafety Twitter Party - June 19 - 9pm EST

Join The CMR’s Car Seat Expert (me!) and our sponsors
for great car seat safety tips and
over $1500 in prizes, including 4 Evenflo Platinum Symphony car seats!
(Note: Prizes open to Canadian residents only.)

When: Thursday, June 19th
Time: 9pm to 10pm EST
Hosts: @the_cmr, @mapsgirl (that’s me!)
Co-hosts: @fabfrugalmama, @listen2lena, @mommygearest, @chancesmommy
Lead sponsor twitter handle: @EvenflobabyCA

RSVP!

Please RSVP with your @twitter_handle and http://www.twitter.com/twitter_handle!

or
image_preview

Filed Under: Car Seat Safety Tagged With: car seat, car seat safety, twitter party

A winter coat is for playing in the snow, not in a #carseat !

October 23, 2013 by Wendy S

 

The weather in Ontario, is starting to get colder. Colder weather means warmer clothes, and soon we’ll be in winter coats.

Wearing a winter coat in a car seat is dangerous.

I took photos of Lauren in her car seat to prove my point. I tell parents to do this test so that they can see how dangerous it is to wear a winter coat in a car seat. (Lauren is squinting due to the sun.)

With your child in their winter coat, put them in the car seat and tighten it as tight as you can.

Here is Lauren in her car seat in her winter coat. I pulled the harness as tight as I could get it.

It passes the “Only 1 finger” test. It has to be tight enough, right?

UPDATE:  It’s best practice to use the “Pinch Test” to check to see if the harness is tight enough.

Pinch Test

(From: Britax)

 

Take the child’s coat off but don’t touch the harness

When Lauren takes her coat off, you can see how loose the harness truly is.

In a collision, the force will compress the bulky coat and then the harness will be this loose. As if the coat isn’t there.

Lauren shows how far she can pull the harness out and how far she can lean forward. This is very dangerous in a collision. The harness is to hold the child firmly in the seat to reduce movement during a collision.

In just her sweater, we pull the harness tight. This is safe.

Watch this segment from the Today Show(aired December 14, 2015):

(aired December 14, 2015):

 

“But my child will be cold going from the house to the car in just a sweater!”

This is the comment I hear most from parents. If you get a 3-in-1 coat that has an inner jacket and an outer shell, you can remove the outer shell before harnessing your child in the car seat.

For a child in an infant seat, you can harness them in the seat and then place a warm blanket over the top before taking them out to the car.

I hope these photos help you understand why a child should NEVER wear a bulky winter coat in their car seat.

How to keep them warm?

Here are some great suggestions from the Car Seat Lady on how to keep your child warm: http://thecarseatlady.com/warmandsafe/

swaddlingintheseat

 

Not all children will be this lucky:

Here is a story of an infant, in a snowsuit, who miraculously survived being throw from their car seat during a collision. They were ejected from the car seat because the harness was too loose.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/149235/the_important_winter_car_seat

Please comment below if you have any questions.

I am here to help your child be safe while in a vehicle.


Filed Under: Car Seat Safety Tagged With: car seat, photo, safety, winter

back seat to front seat to drivers seat

June 3, 2011 by Wendy S

It’s hard to imagine that little baby eventually driving your car, but it will happen.  And most parents I know who have teenagers love to remind me of how quickly time passes.

A question I get frequently from parents of older children is:

“When Can they sit in the front seat?”

VISOR_DECALIt is recommended that children aged 12 and under remain in the back seat.  There is absolutely no rush for your child to be in the front seat.  
 
Children should not ride in the front seat until their skeletal structure is strong enough to withstand the 300 km/hr impact of the air bag.  This doesn’t happen until after they are 13 years of age.  
 
Most vehicle manufacturers put a warning about air bags on the front visor.  The front airbags are controlled by a computer and if that computer isn’t programmed properly, the airbag won’t work the way you think it should. Recently a car manufacturer recalled one of their vehicles because the air bag sensor system was faulty. 
 
Don’t take a chance. Keep your child in the back seat.
 

“Can I borrow the car?”

Before you child is asking this question, you want to make sure they they have been given the proper driver training.

Inspired by a twitter conversation, YD’s wrote this article to help prepare parents become a passenger: Is your child ready to drive and are you ready for the passenger seat?

Young Drivers of Canada has prepared a very thorough check list for choosing the right driver training for your child


Please note: I am a certified Child Restraint Technician in Ontario, Canada. Please check your local laws about car seats and always read your vehicle owner’s manual and car seat manual before installing your child seats.This data will be updated as required.


 

More Car Seat Information:

Rear Facing Seats

Forward Facing Seats

Boosters and Seat Belts

Riding in the Front Seat

 

Filed Under: Car Seat Safety, Front Seat Tagged With: back seat, car seat, cpsw, front seat, safety

Follow MapsGirl On…

mapsgirl@gmail.com

Why “mapsgirl” ?

Wendy is a cartographer! She draws maps!

When not mapping, Wendy is also a mom to two daughters. They are the inspiration of this blog. Passionate about child passenger safety, Wendy was a certified Car Seat Technician in Ontario, Canada from 2008 to 2020. [Read More …]

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