According to IIHS, it’s important to note that the Institute doesn’t conduct vehicle crash tests to evaluate boosters because boosters don’t do the restraining in a crash. It’s the fit of the belt that’s important.  A good booster routes the lap belt across a child’s upper thighs and positions the shoulder belt at midshoulder.

IIHS says that this year’s top-rated boosters outnumber ones that they don’t recommend.  Brands such as Britax, Chicco, Clek, among others make the list.  Read more to find out which seats make IIHS’ list.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s third round of booster evaluations:

Best Bets

Britax Frontier 85 (combination highback)
Chicco Keyfit Strada (dual highback)
Clek Oobr (dual highback)
Cosco Juvenile Pronto (dual highback)
Cybex Solution X-Fix (highback)
Eddie Bauer Auto Booster (dual highback)
Evenflo Big Kid Amp (backless)
Evenflo Maestro (combination highback)
Graco TurboBooster Crawford (dual highback)
Harmony Baby Armor (dual highback)
Harmony Dreamtime (dual backless)
Harmony Dreamtime (dual highback)
Harmony Secure Comfort Deluxe (backless)
Harmony Youth Booster Seat (backless)
Maxi-Cosi Rodi XR (dual highback)
Recaro ProBOOSTER (highback)
Recaro ProSPORT (combination highback)
Recaro Vivo (highback)
Recaro Young Sport (combination highback)
Safety 1st Boost Air Protect (dual highback)
The First Years Pathway B570 (highback)

Good Bets

Britax Parkway SG (dual highback)
Combi Kobuk Air Thru (dual backless)
Combi Kobuk Air Thru (dual highback)
Evenflo Symphony 65 (3-in-1 highback)
Graco TurboBooster Sachi (dual highback)
Graco TurboBooster Wander (dual highback)
Maxi-Cosi Rodi (dual highback)

NOT RECOMMENDED

Eddie Bauer Deluxe (combination highback)
Eddie Bauer Deluxe 3-in-1 (highback)
Evenflo Express (combination highback)
Evenflo Generations 65 (combination highback)
Evenflo Sightseer (highback)
Harmony Baby Armor (dual backless)
Safety 1st All-in-One (3-in-1 highback)
Safety 1st Alpha Omega Elite (3-in-1 highback)

The CNN article that prompted me to research more about this report just hit my inbox, literally minutes ago, and I’m sure some of you may have seen it already, too.  Because I have a squirmy, not-quite 3 year old, as a mom, I’m more familiar with carseats.  After extensive research, we found that the Britax Boulevard was the best seat for our family.  We go on many, many roadtrips, and so, we chose a seat that was highly rated in safety and one that would be comfortable for the kid who ends up sleeping in the seat for hours at a time.  That said, one time, we flew to my parents house for a quick trip and chose not to bring our big carseat since my mom had an older nephew’s old booster.  Bad idea.  The seat, one of the brands in the aforementioned “worst” list was a terrible fit.  It was poorly constructed, ill-fitted and seemed far less safe than other boosters I’ve seen in person.

In my research and experience as a kid product blogger, I’ve come across several less than desirable booster seats.  However, I just have to state the obvious, I’m not a safety expert.  That being said, sometimes it’s easy to pinpoint the better ones from the not-so-good ones.  But what it all comes down to when choosing a product that’s a good fit, it’s imperative to do your research, and if possible, “test” out the seats firsthand.  Babycenter has a great report on how to choose a booster seat that’s right for you.  And for what it’s worth, you can’t put a pricetag on your child’s safety.  Baby Bargains is also a trusted resource for parents.

Hosted by John Leguizamo, Nickelodeon’s Mega Music Fest merges together the energy of Nick Jr. characters with the vitality of music, which in turn will make the littlest music fans and big ones alike want to get loud!

If you’re an NKT fan on Facebook, hopefully, you didn’t miss a few of our teasers from the taping.  With so many fun characters onstage and animated, everyone was dancing and smiling throughout all the fun numbers. The aisles were packed with wee ones jumping and dancing; I can’t wait to see how that captured that element of the show on tape.

The Roots played my family’s theme song, “Lovely Family” (and probably many of yours, too!), which made the kid and husband light up and sing every single word.  DJ Lance, Muno, Plex, Toodee, Foofa and Brobee danced and sang along to a few of the songs that we know by heart, but it was, perhaps, the Vegetables that almost stole the show.  If you’re a YGG, I’m sure you know which song they were singing!

One of my favorites of the day, however, had to be Colbie Callait’s version of “Walking on Sunshine.”  The little ones might not know who Colbie is, but if they’re Nick Jr. fan, I’m sure they’d be familiar with her singing partner, none other than Kai Lan!

Throughout the show and in between performances, Leguizamo threaded silly bits about finding his dancing shoes for the party.  Sherri Shepherd even made a few onstage appearances, and kept the crowd smiling as she acted as the stage manager.   In addition to the live characters, there were special appearances onscreen from Dr. Phil and Justin Beiber, who added their own fun flair to the Mega Music Fest. Family favorite, The Laurie Berkner Band contributed to the Mega Music Fest with an on-screen version of “My Family.”

But it was the dancing, singing and music school-going quartet that made my kid’s day.  My guy was dancing with all the other toddlers and preschoolers in the aisles for almost the whole show, but when he saw Shout, Twist, Marina and Kiki appeared, he stepped it up.  The Fresh Beat Band, who had a few issues getting to the party, tied it all in, and as usual, they made it a great day.

As huge Nickelodeon fans and true music junkies, my family thought the Mega Music Fest was a great show, from start to finish.  The last number got everyone up and out of their seats, just like a good concert should!

The fun for us didn’t stop after the last number, either!  We were also invited to attend the amazing afterparty.  And when I say party, I mean PARTY!  Nickelodeon’s Mega Music Fest afterparty was a kid party extraordinaire.  From sweet treats to finger sandwiches (with no crust) to ice cream to french fries to chicken strips, the food selection was like a kid’s dream.

The afterparty had a cool seating area/play area where my kid spent almost the entire afternoon diving headfirst into pillows.  Nickelodeon kept the music theme going at the afterparty: there was a musical instrument creation craft area and a toy area with a variety of kid-sized music-inspired toys.  And really, anything that a kid would love, it was probably there at the afterparty.  Our favorite experience of the day was getting to meet some of our beloved Nickelodeon favorites.  We met and got pictures with Joe from Blues Clues, the Fresh Beat Band and we got to see our YGG friends again.

Nickelodeon’s Mega Music Fest is a fun musical showcase that I can’t wait to relive when it airs tonight at 8pm.  They hit it out of the park with their first Mega Music Fest, and it’s my hope that Nickelodeon makes it an annual event, and perhaps, a live festival that even more families can experience!

Be sure to tune into Nickelodeon at 8 for the Mega Music Fest.  And who knows, maybe you’ll see us in the audience!

Encore presentations of the Mega Music Fest will be shown on Tuesday, Sept. 7, at 10:00 a.m. ET/PT and on Thursday, Sept. 9, at 1:00 p.m. ET/PT.

There’s so many options, so many ideas, but only so much budget to go around.  I know the hurricane may or may wreak havoc on some parts of the east coast, what better time to share a new option for indoor playhouses.

Modern Playhouse recently debuted their new line of minimalist and sustainable indoor modular play structures.  Designed by momprenuers and San Francisco based designers Gitane Royce and Nisreen Witt, the playhouses were designed to be durable and safe for the children and environment.  Modern Playhouse uses FSC Certified wood products that are treated with non-toxic, non-formaldehyde containing, and naturally pigmented finishes. The metal fasteners and hardware contain no lead.

The Playhouses, which come in the Wedge or Circle option, also have furniture accessories that can be purchased separately.

I love the simplicity, yet contemporary edge to these playhouses, and their sustainable features make them even more attractive.  These gorgeous playhouses would be a great fit in our new playroom, but alas, at $1450, it’s not quite in the budget right now.

On that end, I recently had the chance to taste a sampler of Bison meat from High Plains Bison.  If you’ve ever had bison, then you know that its taste is distinctively different from beef and has less fat.  (You can see the marbling in the bison ribeyes below.)

Doing some research for this post, according to Bison Basics, grass-fed bison has less calories and more protein than lean beef, turkey and pork.  And according to High Plains Bison, while bison may not be considered health food, it is healthier.  Bison is low in cholesterol, low in sodium, a good source of iron and also contains a healthy dose of Omega 3 fatty acids too.

In our sampler pack, we had the chance to taste  High Plain Bison’s ribeye, Italian sausages and hot dogs.  The ribeye, quite simply, was one of, if not THE best ribeye I’ve ever tasted.  It was tender, flavorful, fresh and not as fatty as the beef ribeyes I love so much.  The hot dogs, too, had a great taste, but not too different to scare away the “traditional” hot dog lovers.  These, too, tasted lean, yet still juicy.  And those sausages…my husband still dreams about them!  The Bison Italian sausages had cheese and enough spices and flavor that they were fulfilling without having the need to add any additional condiments.  We enjoyed the ribeyes, sausages and hot dogs on the grill, which made them all taste that much better.

High Plains Bison contains no hormones, fillers, antibiotics or artificial ingredients, which most certainly attribute to its deliciousness.  Although High Plains Bison isn’t considered organic, the company says their products are all natural  since their animals do not feed on any animal bi-products, and they don’t feed off of grounds that have been sprayed with any chemicals.

I’ve enjoyed bison burgers in the past, but bison rib eyes, hot dogs and sausages were a first for us.  The prices of bison, as expected, are higher than conventional beef/pork options, but the quality, taste and the fact that it’s healthier outweighs the cost for me.  While we couldn’t have bison every day, per se, I can see us stocking up on High Plains Bison for family bbqs or special occasions…maybe like today, when we  (finally) close on our new house!

A big thank you to Anna of Mommy Poppins for being the connector, and for High Plains Bison for providing my family with the chance to try the aforementioned products.  Even though the bison pack was provided, opinions on NKT, as always, are my own.

Speaking of puzzles, today on The Mini Social, one of my favorite flash sale sites, is featuring Hape’s bendable Anamalz, Sporty E-racers and educational puzzles.  It looks like some of the toys are half off for a few days, making them great for stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts.  You do have to sign up, but the sales on The Mini Social are well worth it.

Fans can upload a :30-:60 second video demoing their Cool Trick for a chance to win a VIP Family 4 Pack and have their winning video played during intermission at the Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!: There’s a Party in My City show closest to their hometown. Oh, and it doesn’t end there, fellow Gabba friends, all participants are also entered into a sweepstakes where one fan will receive a five night trip for four to the Caribbean or Mexico and a three-month supply of organic snacks and meals from Plum Organics and Revolution Foods.

Another cool thing going on with the YGG tour is they’re teaming up with another NKT fave, Plum Organics & Revolution Foods!  Plum Organics & Revolution Foods are the official food of the YGG Live tour. I’m a big, big fan of the baby food pouches and the super cool Boon dispensing spoon, too.  And Revolution Foods’ delicious snacks are just as delicious too.  There’s a party in my tummy for sure.

For more deets on the Cool Tricks contest and to upload your video visit To enter the contest, participants must upload their video to Facebook at http://facebook.yogabbagabbalive.com.  Winners are determined by public vote in each tour market.

My cool trick right now would be cleaning bathrooms and spackling walls IN my rainboots!  (Renovating a home in the rain is so NOT cool.)

But, throughout this trying time, we’ve had each other.

The week before we moved out of our apartment, we had a photo session with our favorite family photographer, Maegan Dougherty.  It was a fun time, which yielded another set of great photos that serve as a great reminder of what’s truly important in life.

I met Maegan on a message board I used to frequent, and was immediately drawn to her photos.  Shortly after the kid was born, Maegan shot our first session and made our memories that much brighter.  Her photography has graced our Holiday cards, were the source for our kid’s headshots, they line my mom’s refrigerator, and soon, after all this waiting, these photos will line the halls of our new home.

Maegan has this charm about her that just makes the kid warm up to her, even when he wants nothing to do with a camera—sort of like how it went a few weeks ago.  And please, let’s not even talk about me being photographed.  I’m the antithesis of being photogenic, and somehow, Maegan has been able to capture a few photos of me NOT blinking or looking freakishly foolish.

From the few sessions we’ve had with her over the years, Maegan’s been able to candidly capture our family at our home, in Hoboken, a place that we’ll forever associate with the start of our little family.  The big smiles, immeasurable amount of love, even in a tiny space that we called home.  And for that, I’m so grateful.

As a journalist who also studied graphic design in college, I am big on visuals–captivating visuals that tell a story.  And that’s exactly what Maegan’s photography does.

Maegan Dougherty is based in northern New Jersey and specializes in portrait photography and does commercial shoots as well.  Her portfolio is visual proof of how well she works with kids and families.

If you’re in the area, I not only recommend her, but I vehemently suggest you get this talented photographer on your go-to list!  My family photos are one of my most prized possessions, and I love her dearly for capturing these moments in time.

Giveaway

If you’re in the Tri-State area, listen closely: Maegan has generously offered an NKT reader a mini-session!

The winner would have a spot on one of Maegan’s mini session days, location and dates to be determined (must be in 2010.)  This is for a 20 minute custom portrait session, with at least 10 professionally edited picture in a gallery for viewing and ordering prints, along with a CD.  This mini-session is worth approximately $400.

You can choose any one of her upcoming mini-session dates, but it looks like she has an upcoming session Saturday, August 28th in the New Providence/Summit area and one in Montclair on Oct. 3rd.  People, the holidays are right around the corner!  Get the family pix while you’re still sun-kissed!

To win a mini session with Maegan Dougherty there are two mandatory entries:  comment here on NKT AND on Maegan’s blog and tell us why you’d love to win this mini session.  Multiple entries are encouraged!

For extra entries:

• Like Maegan Dougherty Photograhy on Facebook
• Leave a comment on Maegan’s Facebook page and tell her that Jen from The Next Kid Thing sent you!
• Like NKT on Facebook
• Tweet about this giveaway and be sure to @jenrab
• Share this giveaway on any social media site

Please comment below for ALL extra entries.  The winner of this giveaway will be selected via random.org. 

Disclaimer:  We paid for our photo sessions with Maegan.  I was not compensated for this post, and as always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

The lineup of Mamas & Papas products that are now available in the U.S. include:

The Urbo, Sola and Luna-Mix (below) comprise M&P’s travel system compatible strollers that are now available in the U.S. Both the Urbo and Sola come with or without bassinets.  The Urbo is more reminiscent of a pram, whereas the Solas has a sleek, modern silhouette.  The Luna-Mix is a three-wheeled stroller that has a compact fold and can be coupled with complementary or contrasting accessories.

Light weight strollers that offer a convenient carrying strap, perfect for urbanites trekking on public transit, as well as parents who seek a swift option for strolling. Each stroller varies in features ranging from basic to reclining seat to extra cushion for comfort. Trip, Trek, Tour (below), Cruise and Voyage

High chairs that don’t compromise style, safety or flexibility, the Loop Highchair boasts a high-lacquer white shine and bright green seat pad accessories and the Go Eat Highchair is a black and white chair that features convenient fold-up capabilities.

Many babies and their parents rely on bouncers for the first few months to soothe and play.  Mamas & Papas offers the Magic Astro (below), Apollo and Ripple bouncers that feature music, toys and plenty of cushion to cradle any sweet babe.  With its MP3 compatibility, the Magic Astro sounds like both gear and a gadget that would’ve landed a spot on my must-have baby list.

And because babies just can’t have enough cool toys when on the go: Mamas & Papas offers Made with…Love Activity Spiral, Travel Charm and The Jumbles Collection, which look like such sweet, fun play things.  These guys would make great shower gifts, carrier and stroller toys.  I’m doting on the Are We There Yet Charm Toy (below.)

Mamas & Papas product pricing varies by product description ranging from the Urbo stroller at $499 all the way to the travel toys at $9.99.  Mamas & Papas products are available exclusively at select Babies ‘R’ Us stores.  An expanded selection of Mamas & Papas gear and accessories will also be available at Toys”R”Us Times Square, Babies”R”Us Union Square and FAO Schwartz Fifth Avenue in NYC, as well as online at Babiesrus.com/MamasandPapas.

On one of my recent trips to Target I found a new magazine called Yum Food & Fun for Kids.  Always, in search of new ideas on how to improve my efforts in the kitchen and at the dinner table, especially where the kid is concerned, I think this new publication fills a void at the newstands.

Unlike other parenting magazines, Yum Food & Fun for Kids has an emphasis on food, feeding and recipes.  There are tons of great kid-centric cookbooks out there, but it’s always nice to have a monthly rotation for new recipes and ideas.  Some of the recipes could tilt more towards the healthier end of the scale, but I really do appreciate how this magazine encourages cooking and baking wholesome food.

Time is of the essence for all parents, so I love Yum Food & Fun’s Simple Suppers section.  Since I picked up the September issue, which appears to be the very first issue, I’m not quite sure if this will be a regular feature or not.  Simple Suppers, a section devoted to easy weekday meal ideas, includes a grocery list and pantry ideas.  They provided a variety of easy-to-make recipes that are kid friendly, but can be “spiced” up for parents, too.  Veggie quesadilla recipe, might not sound like something all kids might enjoy, but perhaps it could be a starting point. It calls for zucchinis, but I can see adding sauteed broccoli and carrots to appease my kid.

Naturally, because I review kid products, I’m also a fan of the magazine’s product section called Pretty Please.  I’m positively in LOVE with that adorable Hello Kitty lunchbox. They even include a few products you might have seen on NKT before!

My biggest complaint about this new magazine is that they are promoting their website in the masthead and on the folio, BUT as of today, their site is still under construction.  In general, most of us are social media savvy (it’s a fact that many of us get our news from the web FIRST nowadays) yet Yum Food & Fun for Kids doesn’t seem to have a presence in the social media space at all.  As a former print editor who has transitioned to the web, I think they missed an opportunity to promote and enhance the print edition of this new publication.  I’m a big believer that all publications should have strong websites and a social media presence to complement their print edition.

Otherwise, I’m a big fan of this magazine, and would love to see it flourish.  And maybe even pitch a story or two?

At $5.99, I do think this publication is on the pricier side, but its definitely one that I’d keep in the kitchen as a resource.  Yum Food & Fun for Kids can be found at Target.

I typically cover girls’ products, trying my best to go beyond princesses and dolls.  Ultimately, many girls love princesses and other girly-ish toys, but other that, what else is there?   Two words: cupcakes and pets.

I was introduced to Petcakes, a new collectible plush toy, at the Time to Play Spring and Summer Showcase.  Well Made Toys, the brains behind these plush toys, had the foresight to combine two things that many girls crave:  lovable pets and the ongoing trend of cupcakes.

The pets have silly hats that look like frosting and are in a cupcake holder.  At first sight, they look like plush cupcakes, but after a closer look, they’re cute little pets, too.

Wouldn’t these PetCakes make ideal birthday gifts for the party circuit?

The first series includes four “flavors:” Twinkle Sprinkles, Coco-Coconut, Blueberry Buddy and Randy Candy.  PetCakes retail around $12 and are still very new, so I don’t have any information yet on where to find them.  I will be sure to update as I get more information.

I received a product sample to facilitate this review, but as always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

*By the way, our family deserves a world of thanks for not only putting up with us, but for giving us a place to stay so that our family can stay together while we wait to close on our house.  Much love to our super supportive family members, including my newest assistant product reviewers.