Sunday, December 22, 2013
Giveaway at Living Montessori Now
Living Montessori Now is having a giveaway! They are giving away 5... 5! $100 gift cards to Alison's Montessori.
Friday, November 29, 2013
A Tale of Coat Hanging Woes
Every day we have a little kid or several little kids come to class. The coat rack we currently have is up way too high for them and I grow tired of having to put their items up and take them down. It would be great if they could become more independent in that area and I think they'd be happy to be able to do it themselves as well.
I've toyed with the idea of making one since classes started but don't really want to go through all of that. Tonight I decided I just want to buy one. I've only looked at one place so far. Fortuitously, Land of Nod is having a free shipping event + a 15% off coupon code. I found some wall racks and hooks that I think are pretty cool. I'm having a hard time choosing which to get though.
My favorite is really #3, it comes in some great colors. I'm thinking I could get two and have just enough, or get three (maybe blue, green, and orange or red?) just in case. I love the boldness of #1 and #2 though. #4 reminds me of my original plan which was to have cut off pegs with different colored tops in a piece of wood.
SMH at myself though. I keep not buying some other school supplies. They're bigger outlays though which is what I think is putting me off. The more I save, the more stingy I get, haha.
Help, please? :)
I've toyed with the idea of making one since classes started but don't really want to go through all of that. Tonight I decided I just want to buy one. I've only looked at one place so far. Fortuitously, Land of Nod is having a free shipping event + a 15% off coupon code. I found some wall racks and hooks that I think are pretty cool. I'm having a hard time choosing which to get though.
My favorite is really #3, it comes in some great colors. I'm thinking I could get two and have just enough, or get three (maybe blue, green, and orange or red?) just in case. I love the boldness of #1 and #2 though. #4 reminds me of my original plan which was to have cut off pegs with different colored tops in a piece of wood.
SMH at myself though. I keep not buying some other school supplies. They're bigger outlays though which is what I think is putting me off. The more I save, the more stingy I get, haha.
Help, please? :)
#1
#2
#3
#4
Which Is Your Favorite?
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Summer KCWC 2013
Wow, I'm amazed that I actually got some sewing done this time. Only three items, but that's more than I did last time (0). I sewed on Tuesday and Thursday. I had more items planned but didn't end up making them. I might sew something tomorrow.
I'm very pleased with what I did sew. I bought a coverstitch machine (a Brother 2340CV) in May. I used it once, played with it a bit and then it sat for weeks. I decided I was just going to dive in and use it. I'm pleased with it but need a lot more practice. I'm loving how it doesn't compromise stretch when used to hem and topstitch. I did both of the collars after sewing both shoulder seams since I like that look better.
Tried these outfits on my 19 month old niece. She looked so cute! I love how the fit of the Banyan bodice and the Skater dress/Swing top hybrid looked so comfy.
Top
I was so happy to finally see this outfit finished. I'd had it in my head for weeks. It evolved over time though. At first I was thinking to use a chartreuse green jersey from Girl Charlee to make leggings, I still might, but then I saw the linen at Joann Fabric and thought it would be perfect. I've been wanting to work with linen for years but had never bought any so jumped at the chance to get a half yard when it was on sale. I'm so in love with the combo. The Banyan tunic comes down a lot further on my niece than I thought it would though. Want to know a secret? Shhhhhh I messed up the back of the collar. I serged too wide and there's like, an 1/8" of collar in the back, lol.
Top
This was my second time using the Skater Dress pattern. The last time I made the dress with short sleeves. I really want to try the sleeveless soon. This top is actually a tester top. I was going to use the blue fabric for it but didn't want to cut into it until I knew it would work for sure. I ended up really liking it in this fabric though and instead made a banyan with the blue. I want to make some Coastal Craze Baggies to go under this in hot pink interlock.
I'm very pleased with what I did sew. I bought a coverstitch machine (a Brother 2340CV) in May. I used it once, played with it a bit and then it sat for weeks. I decided I was just going to dive in and use it. I'm pleased with it but need a lot more practice. I'm loving how it doesn't compromise stretch when used to hem and topstitch. I did both of the collars after sewing both shoulder seams since I like that look better.
Tried these outfits on my 19 month old niece. She looked so cute! I love how the fit of the Banyan bodice and the Skater dress/Swing top hybrid looked so comfy.
Pattern: Banyan Tunic (Also available in PDF form)
Size: 18 months
Fabric: ByBora Scandinivian Flowers
The funny thing about this fabric is that I accidentally clicked buy on it and then the lady accidentally sent the cut fabric to me. After it had traveled so far to get to me I decided to just pay for it and keep it. It was super expensive though O_O A lovely fabric. I'm thinking about getting some more to maybe make something for myself when I have some money to splurge.
Shorts
Pattern: MADE Kid Shorts in 'boy length' with added ruffle (The ruffle is kinda wonky :( I added it on the fly and was having trouble cutting straight even with a ruler, cutting mat, and rotary cutter. Then I was a bit frustrated ruffling the tiny circle. SMH. Next time I'll just do it flat and use my serger or ruffling foot.)
Size: 18 months
Fabric: Sew Classics Linen in Tobacco Potting + some cotton lawn I think I got from Fabric.com
Other: Cotton Ribbon bought from NearSeaNaturals.com
I was so happy to finally see this outfit finished. I'd had it in my head for weeks. It evolved over time though. At first I was thinking to use a chartreuse green jersey from Girl Charlee to make leggings, I still might, but then I saw the linen at Joann Fabric and thought it would be perfect. I've been wanting to work with linen for years but had never bought any so jumped at the chance to get a half yard when it was on sale. I'm so in love with the combo. The Banyan tunic comes down a lot further on my niece than I thought it would though. Want to know a secret? Shhhhhh I messed up the back of the collar. I serged too wide and there's like, an 1/8" of collar in the back, lol.
Pattern: A mashup up of the Skater Dress bodice and Mad Mim's Swing Top
Size: 18 mth-2T
Fabric: Interlock from Joann Fabric
This was my second time using the Skater Dress pattern. The last time I made the dress with short sleeves. I really want to try the sleeveless soon. This top is actually a tester top. I was going to use the blue fabric for it but didn't want to cut into it until I knew it would work for sure. I ended up really liking it in this fabric though and instead made a banyan with the blue. I want to make some Coastal Craze Baggies to go under this in hot pink interlock.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Other Useful Child Passenger Safety Information
Other (Many of these have sensational titles but they contain some useful information)
Crash data shows that children ages 12 and under are safest when riding in the back seat correctly restrained in a child safety seat or safety belt.
Children under age 12 should ride in the backseat to prevent airbag injuries and fatalities. The airbag deploys in an angle that will injure or kill a child, so if your child must ride in front, be sure you have an airbag turnoff switch.(x)
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Car crashes are the number one killer of children 1 to 12 years old in the United States. The best way to protect them in the car is to put them in the right seat, at the right time, and use it the right way.”
According to the Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 3 to 14 years old. For those aged 5–34 in the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death, claiming the lives of 18,266 Americans each year. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (x)
Here's an infographic illustrating it: link
Less children die by falling, suffocating, poisoning, and drowning than die by car accidents.
According to the Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children of every age from 3 to 14 years old. For those aged 5–34 in the United States, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death, claiming the lives of 18,266 Americans each year. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) (x)
Here's an infographic illustrating it: link
Less children die by falling, suffocating, poisoning, and drowning than die by car accidents.
This article is a little sad (not morbid), but a good wake up call about the dangers of any objects in the car that can quickly become a projectile in a car accident. It suggests buckling in your purse and water bottle or stowing those items in a center console if you have one. "In our child seat safety class we took at Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, we were told to avoid many “parenting” things that can quickly become dangerous projectiles: stick-on window shades, mirrors (the ones that strap onto the headrest are better), the clip on rear view mirrors, sippy cups, and toy bars. All items should be secured in the vehicle at all times." (x)
NZTA advertising campaign that targets everyday drivers and their passengers. Not the speedsters or hoons who recklessly drive at excessive speeds, but the people whose vehicle speed tends to creep above the limit at a level where they still consider themselves to be driving safely.This advertisement encourages the audience to consider aspects of a crash that they may not have considered before: that even with the best protection, you are still vulnerable. We want them to consider that the best way to stay safe is to control the way they drive. |
PA TECHS - Dangerous Projectiles - YouTubeA belted adult cannot protect a child during a collision. A crash impact can pull an infant from anadult’s arms with a force of 300 pounds or more. Infants and young children should ride in childsafety seats on every trip they take (x)
In an accident light items become heavy from the force. In the case of a baby held by a person , which the video simulates, the person won't be able to keep hold of the baby and the baby will just keep going forward.
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9. Can your baby ride on someone’s lap for short trips? No. Infants and children are never safe riding in another passenger’s lap. Most crashes happen close to home and at low speeds, not during long trips.
10. Is it okay to buckle two people in the same safety belt? Never double-buckle. Buckling two children in one belt isn’t safe.
Their heads can strike one another at the speed the vehicle was traveling during a crash, causing serious injuryor death. A child riding on an adult’s lap could be crushedby the magnified force of the adult’s body which equals more than one ton of force at just 30 mph.
Excerpts:
1) BUCKLE ALL THE TIME a. Secure unused child restraints–especially boosters as they are loose when child is not in it. Teach your child to buckle the booster upon leaving car.b. Make sure unused shoulder belts are not in reach of children as they can pose strangulation risk.c. Seatbelts are not for play, especially, Automatic seatbelts, as they can cause strangulation.
2) ELIMINATE PROJECTILES Anything in the car that is not secured is a possible projectile. In a crash, object takes on greater weight due to crash forces. This “new weight” can be calculated by multiplying the weight of object by the car’s speed at impact; a 5 lb. box at 25 MPH becomes a 125 lb. projectile.
a. Store all groceries, equipment, toys, etc. in trunk of car or behind last passenger seat
b. Use “crash tested” gear in car only if necessary. (baby mirrors, shade (the cling film ones are the only ones safe to use), etc.)
c. Store tethers on CRS properly so they don’t become a projectiles in a crash.
d. Pets require vehicle restraints. (35 lb. pet @ 45 mph becomes a lethal 1,575 lb. projectile in a crash.)
Excerpts:
Harness Straps: Straps need to be about as tight as you can get them without hurting the child. Try The Pinch Test each time you buckle your kiddo in, just to be sure.
Risk: Loose straps do not hold the child in the seat. They can be partially ejected, which can damage any part of their body that is caught, or totally ejected and fly into the window, seats, another person or out of the car entirely. This is the most common mistake.
Harness Height: For rear-facing, the straps must be AT OR BELOW the shoulders. For forward-facing, AT OR ABOVE. You may put a popsicle stick or butter knife in the slot to test, since sometimes the covers can make it hard to tell where the slot is in the shell.
Risk: When rear-facing, any additional space above the shoulders works similarly to having a loose harness — it’s dangerous extra room. Also, when hit head-on (as with 79%) of accidents, you want to prevent the child’s body from flying upwards against the back of the seat, but instead allow the seat to take the impact. Only having the straps below the shoulders keeps the child safely in place.
Excerpt:
The chest clip is designed to keep the harness straps properly positioned on the child’s shoulders; this is important because the harness is the component that keeps the child restrained in the car seat. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed that 59% of child harnesses are not tight enough. If the harness is loose and the chest clip is too low, one or both harness straps can slide off the child’s shoulders, allowing the child to potentially be ejected from the car seat in the event of a crash.In a collision, the chest clip can cause damage and/or internal bleeding to vital organs in your child's abdominal region, which is not protected by the ribcage.
"My parents did it and I lived"You're right...congrats. Now, tell me how many people in the world cannot say that because...well, they aren't alive to say it. There are people who can say that they swam in shark-infested waters with steaks tied around their extremities and they lived...but I don't think I'd recommend it for everyone else to do.
Excerpt:
Why is a snug harness important? A study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed that 59% of child harnesses were too loose. Loose harness straps leave your child vulnerable to injury during a crash because they may allow your child to move out of position; they can even lead to ejection from the child seat during a crash.
Excerpt:
"I know what's best for my child!"
^If I had a penny for every time I have heard that...I'd have lots and lots of pennies.
Oh and don't worry if you are one of "those moms." I've been there! This is my son when he was 2 1/2 and this is right before his 5th birthday (he's playing around in his sister's car seat-he is actually FF in a Recaro ProSport) This is my daughter 2 months after her 4th birthday And this is her now, 2 months shy of 7 years old.. It's hard looking back and seeing just how horribly they were restrained (or not) in seats...and knowing that had I gotten into any sort of significant accident, chances are, they would not be here today.
"When you know better, you do better"
Excerpt:
Rule #7: Coats Are Not Allowed
A cop reports seeing a coat strapped into a seat, even after the child who had been wearing it flew out of it. Coats are not safe in car seats and almost all manufacturers have this rule in their manual as well. To understand why, place your child in a coat and put them in their seat and tighten the straps properly. Without loosening the straps, remove your child and remove their coat. Now place them back in the seat. That is how much room your child would have once the coat compressed under pressure, much like how you can squish a pillow if you sit on it. If there is more than a tiny bit of extra slack (like the difference between sweatpants and stretch pants), the coat is too bulky. Instead, try taking your child's coat off right before putting them in the seat, buckling them in quickly, and then putting their coat back on them backward. I also keep blankets in my car for safety in case I'm stranded, as well as for the kids to use in winter. I even just bought two patterns of the Kid Snuggie ($14.99 to $26.99) at Toys R Us for both of my children to use while in the car, or you can buy a car seat poncho.
Excerpt:
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 3 to 14.
Correctly used child safety seats are extremely effective and reduce the risk of death as much as 71%.
Nearly 73% of child restraints are not installed or used correctly.
Nearly half of kids 14 and under who died in crashes were completely unrestrained.
Excerpt:
Front air bags are located in the steering wheel to protect the driver, and in the dashboard of most cars to protect passengers. Front air bags are not designed to protect vehicle occupants in side and rear impact or rollover collisions. Because air bags (and seat belts) were designed to protect average-sized adult males and NOT children, they can be extremely dangerous to infants or young children seated in front of them. According to research conducted by CHOP, children exposed to air bags during a crash are twice as likely to suffer a serious injury.
Children younger than 13 years are safest when placed in the back seat of a vehicle, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Other air bag safety rules to follow include:
Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat with an air bag. In a crash, the air bag comes out of the dashboard with its force directed at the back of the infant's head if riding in the front passenger seat.
The rear seat is the safest place in the car for children younger than 13 years. If you don’t have enough room in the back of your car to safely transport the number of children who need to travel safely, please visit a car seat check in your area where a trained expert will help evaluate your situation. You may need to arrange to use a safer vehicle with enough back seat positions to keep all the kids safe.
All passengers ages 13 and older need to wear a lap and shoulder belt when riding in the front seat. Air bags are designed to work with the lap and shoulder belt to protect the occupant in the event of a crash.
Excerpt:
Being that the leading cause of death in children over the age of three is motor vehicle collisions, parents should do everything possible to get their kids to buckle up and to keep smaller children from sitting in the deathtrap otherwise known as the front seat.
In almost every category, black and Hispanic children fared the worst. Most strikingly, the proportion of infants and toddlers who were not restrained at all was ten times greater in minority populations.
Only 3 percent of children aged 1-3 were in rear-facing car seats, and only 2 percent of children over 7 remained in booster seats. The rest were upgraded prematurely: the AAP recommendations stipulate that children should remain rear-facing until at least age 2 and basically for as long as they fit in the car seat, and that they should remain in booster seats until around age 11.
Having more kids in the car was associated with less seatbelt use, although they were more likely to stay in the back seat.
When the driver wasn't wearing a seatbelt, children had 23 times higher odds of not being buckled in.
Excerpt:
Materials deteriorate over time, especially plastic. Ever left a plastic toy shovel in the sun and see how it gets bleached, becomes brittle, or even cracked? The plastic that makes up your seat will do the same and weaken over time, especially if left in hot or very cold cars. Even in the best conditions, plastic just doesn't have a great lifespan. The harness can also develop elasticity that could allow more movement of your child's body than is safe, even when they're buckled in right. So car seat manufacturers take into account the average use and put that to the test to see approximately how much deterioration a seat can handle before it might have flaws that could risk your child's life.
Free Seats (OH), Car Seat Checks (OH), and Car Seat Advice
Free Seats, Car Seat Checks, and Car Seat Advice
Answer: Free child safety seat inspections are held monthly at Dayton Children's. Child safety seat inspections are also held at community events in spring through fall months. At a car seat inspection, if a seat is deemed to be unsafe for the child, the seat may be replaced. To make an appointment for a child safety seat inspection, call the Family Resource Center at Dayton Children's at 937-641-3700.
Families in need of a car seat may be referred to Goodwill/Easter Seals Car Seat Safety Program (937-461-4800 ext. 390, or to AAA Miami Valley/Ohio Dept of Health Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program (937-224-2826.) Applicants must be income eligible. An educational class may be required and a small donation may be requested.
Parents of children with special needs or disabilities can also call Goodwill/Easter Seals (937-461-4800. For more information on the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program, see http://www.odh.ohio.gov/
Other agencies serving families may have used child safety seats. Dayton Children's does not recommend used child safety seats if the crash history is unknown. Child safety seats expire about 6 years from the date of manufacture. It is very important that parents check the child safety seat recall history by going to www.nhtsa.gov. Click on Child Passenger Safety, then click on defects and recalls. Parents can also call Dayton Children's Family Resource Center at 937-641-3700 for recall information on any consumer product made for children.
Families in need of a car seat may be referred to Goodwill/Easter Seals Car Seat Safety Program (937-461-4800 ext. 390, or to AAA Miami Valley/Ohio Dept of Health Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program (937-224-2826.) Applicants must be income eligible. An educational class may be required and a small donation may be requested.
Parents of children with special needs or disabilities can also call Goodwill/Easter Seals (937-461-4800. For more information on the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program, see http://www.odh.ohio.gov/
Other agencies serving families may have used child safety seats. Dayton Children's does not recommend used child safety seats if the crash history is unknown. Child safety seats expire about 6 years from the date of manufacture. It is very important that parents check the child safety seat recall history by going to www.nhtsa.gov. Click on Child Passenger Safety, then click on defects and recalls. Parents can also call Dayton Children's Family Resource Center at 937-641-3700 for recall information on any consumer product made for children.
If you're interested in getting a Car Seat check I have a list of the upcoming ones in this area of Ohio.
Car Seat Safety Check (06-27-2013)
By appointment only!
Is your child riding safely? Take 30-45 minutes to get your child's car seat safety checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Find out if your car seat has been recalled or has expired. Should your child be forward or rear facing? Where should your child's car seat be located within the vehicle? What type of child safety seat is right for your child's height and weight? When is your child ready for a booster seat? What is the Ohio car seat law? Get answers at our monthly car seat check. Car seat checks at Dayton Children's are by appointment only and are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Can't make it during the day? Ask about our community car seat checks in May and October, 2013 or we can refer you to a certified child passenger safety technician located near your home. Call the MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center for more information or to schedule an appointment at 937-641-3700.
When:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Where:
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
Car Seat Safety Check (07-25-2013)
By appointment only!
Is your child riding safely? Take 30-45 minutes to get your child's car seat safety checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Find out if your car seat has been recalled or has expired. Should your child be forward or rear facing? Where should your child's car seat be located within the vehicle? What type of child safety seat is right for your child's height and weight? When is your child ready for a booster seat? What is the Ohio car seat law? Get answers at our monthly car seat check. Car seat checks at Dayton Children's are by appointment only and are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Can't make it during the day? Ask about our community car seat checks in May and October, 2013 or we can refer you to a certified child passenger safety technician located near your home. Call the MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center for more information or to schedule an appointment at 937-641-3700.
When:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Where:
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
Is your child riding safely? Take 30-45 minutes to get your child's car seat safety checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Find out if your car seat has been recalled or has expired. Should your child be forward or rear facing? Where should your child's car seat be located within the vehicle? What type of child safety seat is right for your child's height and weight? When is your child ready for a booster seat? What is the Ohio car seat law? Get answers at our monthly car seat check. Car seat checks at Dayton Children's are by appointment only and are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Can't make it during the day? Ask about our community car seat checks in May and October, 2013 or we can refer you to a certified child passenger safety technician located near your home. Call the MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center for more information or to schedule an appointment at 937-641-3700.
When:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Where:
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
Car Seat Check at Evenflo (08-22-2013)
By appointment only!
Is your child riding safely? Take 30-45 minutes to get your child's car seat safety checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Find out if your car seat has been recalled or has expired. Should your child be forward or rear facing? Where should your child's car seat be located within the vehicle? What type of child safety seat is right for your child's height and weight? When is your child ready for a booster seat? What is the Ohio car seat law? Get answers at our monthly car seat check. Car seat checks at Dayton Children's are by appointment only and are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Can't make it during the day? Ask about our community car seat checks in May and October, 2013 or we can refer you to a certified child passenger safety technician located near your home. Call the MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center for more information or to schedule an appointment at 937-641-3700.
When:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Where:
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
Is your child riding safely? Take 30-45 minutes to get your child's car seat safety checked by a certified child passenger safety technician. Find out if your car seat has been recalled or has expired. Should your child be forward or rear facing? Where should your child's car seat be located within the vehicle? What type of child safety seat is right for your child's height and weight? When is your child ready for a booster seat? What is the Ohio car seat law? Get answers at our monthly car seat check. Car seat checks at Dayton Children's are by appointment only and are scheduled between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. Can't make it during the day? Ask about our community car seat checks in May and October, 2013 or we can refer you to a certified child passenger safety technician located near your home. Call the MeadWestvaco Family Resource Center for more information or to schedule an appointment at 937-641-3700.
When:
Thursday, June 27, 2013
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
10:00 am to 2:00 pm by appointment only
Where:
The Children's Medical Center of Dayton
Family Resource Center
1 Children's Plaza
Dayton , OH 45404
If you'd like to check for other upcoming car seat checks you can look at the calender here.
Car Seat and Booster Advice
You can get expert information from Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST) and learned Child Passenger Safety Advocates from the following places:
Find a CPST near you on this site.
Car Seat Safety This is an Open Facebook Group. They have pictures of lots of different kids of different sizes in different seats and boosters. It's likely that if you're wondering what seats will fit in your vehicle(s) that someone might have suggestions. They also have a ton of CPSTs who answer questions. 4 of them service Ohio! If you don't live in Ohio you can still look at the CPST list in their Files section to find some near you.
Car Seats For The Littles This is a Closed Facebook group, meaning that you have to ask to join and then wait for admin approval. Similar to Car Seat Safety. It also has a group CPST list. I'm a member of both. It has albums comparing different seats as well as an extended rearfacing album.
Car-seat.org This is a forum that helped me out A LOT when I was getting started in this area. You can post a question without registering. They also have a ton of CPST and Child Passenger Safety Advocates. They have a Car Seat Measurements area, very helpful if you want to know all the dimensions of a carseat or booster. They also have an area for questions, car seat chat, coupon codes and deals, carseat swaps, and more.
InshaAllah, I hope to be a CPST with extra Sepcial Needs training one day but it likely won't be soon since there aren't any classes nearby and I can't even drive myself to get to ones that are farther away.
Booster Seat Information
Booster Seats
Boost ‘em in the Back Seat
Boost 'em in the Back Seat is a six-minute video that delivers preventive messages about the importance of booster seat and rear seat use to parents.
Boost 'em in the Back Seat is a six-minute video that delivers preventive messages about the importance of booster seat and rear seat use to parents.
A bit cheesy at times but very interesting. I liked that they had a black medical man speaking.
maxi-cosi crash-test: adult belt is not enough - YouTube
The video was done with 10 and 6 year old size dummies. All of the dummies submarine out from under the belt. They don't have mature hip bones to hold the lap belt down. Their bones don't have adult's bones' strength. So you're looking at internal injuries from the belt riding up, and potentially spinal injuries from the body moving over the belt, or hip injuries from the legs impacting the front seats, etc.
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Why is Ohio requiring booster seats?
Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 4 to 8 in Ohio, according to AAA. Eighty-nine were killed and more than 21,000 injured in auto accidents between 2002 and 2007 in Ohio alone, the association says.Their chances of being harmed in an accident dropped by 59 percent if they were in booster seats and seat belts, according to one study. "It's absolutely the right thing to do because children in this age group are at too great of risk if they're simply wearing an adult safety belt," said AAA spokesman Brian Newbacher. Using seat belts alone isn't safe for young children. The lap belts fall against children's stomachs and can injure vital organs when small bodies are hurled forward in a crash. And children often push aside shoulder belts because they cut across their necks. (x)
Using a booster seat with a seat belt instead of using a seat belt alone for a child this age reduces the risk of injury in a crash by 59 percent. Researchers with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimate that more than half the children killed in motor vehicles in motor vehicle crashes each year would be alive today if seat belt use and child safety seat use were at 100 percent.
Why isn’t the seat belt enough?
Seatbelts are designed to fit the average adult — not children of any age. The strap cannot touch their necks and the lap belt should be across the hip bones, not the soft belly. Children need booster seats until they’re 8-12 years old, AND 4’9″ and preferably also 80-100 pounds.
Seatbelts are designed to fit the average adult — not children of any age. The strap cannot touch their necks and the lap belt should be across the hip bones, not the soft belly. Children need booster seats until they’re 8-12 years old, AND 4’9″ and preferably also 80-100 pounds.
Risk: Children who are not large enough risk many things similar to putting a child in a booster too early — damage to their internal organs, throat and windpipe and the entire body in general. (x)
Young children who are placed in vehicle belts rather than booster seats are twice as likely to suffer devastating injuries, including severe damage to the brain, liver, spleen, stomach, and spinal cord. Most children need to use a booster seat until age 10-12 for maximum protection and improved comfort in the car. (x)
A child who isn’t big enough for a booster can slide out under the belt, called “submarining”, can have the belt sit on their belly or neck and cause internal damage to the gut or the esophagus and trachea. A child who will not sit upright, with the belt over their hip bones and over their collar bone, or tries to put their arm over the belt or the shoulder belt behind their back is not mature enough to sit in a booster, and a child who constantly falls asleep in the car should also be in a harness or they can be seriously injured in a crash. There’s some debate that heavier (60-70 pound+) children may be safer in a seatbelt, but currently the recommendation is still to wait until they outgrow their harness. (x)
Kids over 40 pounds should use a belt positioning booster seat or a child safety seat with a harness that can be used to a higher weight limit. It is recommended that a child ride in a booster seat until he or she is about 8 years of age and approximately 4 feet 9 inches tall. Many children do not reach 4 feet 9 inches until they are 10 to 12 years old. When safety belts fit children correctly, after 8 years of age, both the lap and shoulder belt should be used. (x)
Just like with going into a booster, the bare minimum is not the safest practice. In more and more states, the law is that children may not go without a booster seat until they're 8 years old AND 80 pounds or 4'9". Most children don't hit 80 pounds or 4'9" until they're preteens, though, making the "8 years" limit the requirement they hit first, but not the only one that matters.
A booster seat is designed to place a child higher on the vehicle seat so that the lap/shoulder belt fits correctly. Seat belt fit varies from car to car and from person to person. It is safest for your child to remain in a booster seat until the adult seat belt system fits him/her properly as follows... (x)
Booster seats are for older children who have outgrown their forward-facing child seat. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is best for children to ride in a seat with a five-point harness for as long as possible, at least to 4 years of age. If your child outgrows his seat before reaching 4 years of age, consider using a seat with a harness approved for higher weights and heights.
Some factors to consider when determining if your child is ready for a booster seat may be:
 | Your child reaches the top weight or height allowed for their forward-facing seat with a harness. (These limits are listed on the seat and also included in the seat’s user guide.) |
 | Your child’s shoulders are above the top harness slots in their forward-facing seat. |
 | Your child’s ears have reached the top of their forward-facing seat. |
 | Your child meets the age and size requirements of the booster seat. |
 | Your child meets the requirements of your state laws regarding booster seat use. |
 | Your child's maturity level - if your child is a wiggle worm or sleeps frequently in the vehicle, he may not be ready for a booster seat. |
Excerpt:
Most kids need to ride in a booster seat from about age 4 (If mature and heavy enough) until age 10-12.
If your child isn’t using a booster, try the simple test below the next time you
ride together in the car. You may find that your child is not yet ready to use a
safety belt without a booster.
Excerpt:
A booster seat raises and positions your child so that the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt fit properly. A booster seat keeps the lap belt from causing injury to the child's abdomen and keeps the shoulder belt in place to give the child upper body protection. In the event of a crash, an adult seat belt that does not fit a child properly can actually cause injury rather than prevent it, because it doesn't fit over the strong parts of the child’s body.
Types
High-Back Booster Seats
We recommended that you use a high-back booster if your vehicle has a low seat back. A low seat back does not offer any support for your child’s head either by the vehicle seat back or the head rest.
Backless Booster Seats
If your vehicle seat or head rest do provide support for your child’s head, you may use a backless booster seat.
Combination or All-in-One Car Seats, Used as Boosters
When your child outgrows the height or weight limits of the harness, remove the harness and use the seat as a booster. Be sure to carefully follow the instructions on how to convert your seat to a booster.
Excerpt:
Most kids aren't ready for boosters until they're 5 or 6 years old.
While it's best to keep your child in a 5-point harness as long as they still fit, eventually they'll need a booster. Your child is ready for a booster when they can do these things and you can follow these guidelines:
The child must be 4 years old and 40 pounds, as a bare minimum and can:
- Sit upright without slouching or leaning (forward or side-to-side) for the entire car ride.
- Never put the shoulder belt under their arm or behind their back.
- Rarely or never fall asleep in the car (unless they can stay in position upright as they would be while awake)
- Will obey these rules 100 percent of the time, every time.
- Fit in a high back booster with the shoulder belt across the middle of their collarbone -- not the neck -- and have the lap belt go across the tops of their thighs/pelvis -- not against their gut.
There are also videos help parents choose the right kind of restraint for a child's age and size and provide general information on installation and use. They also explain why children should be in seats both directions, boosters, and older children in seatbelts. They have real people as well as simulated crashes with crash dummies. They show what happens to unrestrained children in car crashes. They go flying around the car.
A booster must be used with a lap/shoulder belt. They can never be used with only a lap belt, in fact, no one should ever be in only a lap belt. It's not safe even for adults.
A booster must be used with a lap/shoulder belt. They can never be used with only a lap belt, in fact, no one should ever be in only a lap belt. It's not safe even for adults.
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