Tag: safety

IIHS Rates Best and Worst Booster Seats

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) released its latest reports on children’s booster seat evaluations.  With safety in mind, IIHS, a non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, carries out research and produces ratings for passenger vehicles, as well as for certain consumer products like booster seats.  In reading the report, it’s not just the seat that’s important, it’s how the seat and seatbealt fit the child.  Most booster seats, unlike carseats, utilize a vehicle’s seatbelt.  Carseat.org (link to an informational PDF) says booster seats are typically used by children 4 until 10.

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.

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Clek Introduces Two New Designs

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Just in time for road trip season, Clek has introduced two new Paul Frank designs to its award-winning line of Olli Booster Seats.

The camoflouge-inspired Skurvy Camo Olli Booster Seat features a puzzle pattern with fun orange accents.  The Julius Hearts Me design highlights everyone’s favorite monkey, Julius, alongside of jewel-toned hearts.

Clek’s Olli, a backless, belt-positioning booster seat, is best suited for children whose height and weight are between 40-57 in./101-145 cm. and are 40-120 lbs.

I thought matching our convertible car seat to our car’s interior would be a good thing.  Now, years later, I’m sort of itching for more color and spunk, something that better matches our pirate and Julius fan.  With Skurvy Camo, it’s almost like Paul Frank had us in mind.

Olli Booster Seats retail for $100 and can be found at baby and kid stores that sell Clek products, including Babies R Us, Diapers.com and Buy Buy Baby.

Maclaren Issues Recall on all Strollers

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Over the weekend, news broke that Maclaren is issuing a recall for one million strollers. According to reports, this massive recall affects its production between 1999 and 2009, which includes the Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.

maclaren


On its website, Maclaren said,

in cooperation with the USPC, we are providing free of charge to all affected consumers and retailers a kit to cover the stroller’s hinge mechanism, which poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.

The CPSC and Maclaren will issue a press release on the recall tomorrow, but Maclaren began notifying its dealers of the recall in the past couple of days.

Because all Maclaren strollers are included in this recall, parents should:

• Stop using (or limit use of) all Maclaren strollers until you get a hinge cover. Even those dating back to 1999 are included in the recall.

• Order a hinge cover from Maclaren’s. More details will be provided Tuesday once the official recall goes live. (I will be sure to link)

As with all recalls, there’s no need to panic; your best bet is to stay informed and act accordingly to ensure safety, as far as your kid gear is concerned. I’ll post more details as I get them.

NKT Halloween Safety Tips

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

halloween_pumpkinThe spookiest time of year has finally arrived! Happy Halloween, everyone! As you put the finishing touches on the kid’s costumes (or if you’re like me, haven’t even started your own) let’s not forget the importance of safety. According to a report I read, statistics show that pedestrians are twice as likely to be struck by a car on Halloween night as they are the rest of the year. Not only are cars a concern, but so is the potential of getting lost.

There are plenty of sites and articles that offer advice on how to keep safe this weekend, but I thought I’d add my own two cents as well!
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Safety in mind, TRU unveils trade-in program

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Toys “R” Us wantslogo_tru to take some unsafe baby products off of your hands. Dubbed “cash for cribs” by the LA Times, the big box toy and baby retailer announced a national program that will give customers a chance to trade-in used cribs, car seats and other baby products in exchange for savings on a new item.

With safety in mind, TRU says the “Great Trade-In” event, which begins on Friday, August 28, puts focus on second-hand and older baby gear that may have been passed down, but could be potentially unsafe. According to Kids In Danger, a consumer advocacy organization, less than 30% of affected items are returned when a baby product is recalled. Those unreturned items that were recalled could be passed down and in some cases, perhaps become a cause for serious concern.

TRU’s Great Trade-In event, possibly the first of its kind in the juvenile products sector, lasts until September 20. All Babies “R” Us and Toys “R” Us locations will accept returns of any used cribs, car seats, bassinets, strollers, travel systems, play yards and high chairs in exchange for a 20% savings on the purchase of a new baby item, in any of the listed categories, from select manufacturers*.

Toys R Us, Times Square

With safety having paramount importance, baby and children’s product manufacturers must adhere to rules and regulations established by agencies like the CPSC. Even in my short time as a mom, I’ve seen sometimes the most trusted brands issue recalls. Off the top of my head, even after all of the research and recommendations, I can think of at least three items we’ve purchased that have had some kind of recall.

I know 20% off a new crib may not be much in terms of defraying costs for big ticket purchases (vs. free second-hand items,) but in my opinion, you can’t put a pricetag on your kid’s safety and well being.

Prior to the kid’s arrival, I had a debate with my parents about the safety of the beautiful, but second-hand crib they purchased for the nursery at their house. Not knowing the history of the drop-down crib and other second hand products they bought, I felt extremely uncomfortable.

This Spring, because of the ongoing safety hazards, Toys “R” Us said they have stopped ordering drop-side cribs because of safety concerns.

To my fellow new moms and dads, in addition to all of those wonderful recommendations you receive from family and friends, please continue to do your homework before buying baby and kid products. (Baby Bargains by Alan and Denise Fields is more than just a bargain resource, with its excellent rating system, I consider it a bible.)

Big kudos to TRU for helping consumers to filter out potentially unsafe baby products and the option to purchase safer alternatives. I’m hoping other retailers follow TRU’s direction to give more new parents a chance to provide a safe and healthy environments for all babes.
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Safety 1st launches Air Protect

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s no surprise that car seat innovation and car seat safety will always elicit a lot of attention from parents.  In our case, even though we rarely drive day-to-day, we do, however, drive 6-8 hour stretches quite regularly.  (With our next trip slated for tomorrow evening.)  Car seat safety, of course, is always paramount, as is comfort for driving long distances.  That said, all families have different needs when it comes to the big ticket kid gear such as car seats.

What’s great about the juvenile products market is that it’s always evolving, especially to meet all those different needs while maintaining the highest safety standards.  Dorel, the parent company of Safety 1st products, proves just that with its latest innovation.

air protect

Earlier this week, Dorel announced the launch of Air Protect, a new safety feature that was developed to protect children in the event of side impact collisions.  Dorel brought in the big guns for their latest innovation:  the company worked together with Kettering University’s Crash Safety Center to develop Air Protect, which, essentially puts a layer of air protection around the child’s head.

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