LilSugar

Freakonomics Authors Say Car Seats Can Be as Effective as Seat Belts

babysugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:00:32 -0700

Maybe our parents weren't so wrong after all. At least that's what the authors of SuperFreakonomics would have us believe. Moms and pops take every precaution to protect their wee ones from harm, including installing top of the line car seats with the highest safety ratings. On Good Morning America, dads and writers Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner told Robin Roberts that car seats may not be the key to keeping tots protected. Rather, the two men argue that harness restraints, like a regular old seat belt, will guard children against harm like a car seat or booster. While they don't promote ditching the seats all together, the below video does make one wonder about the modern day approach.

Check out the video and let me know if it sways your safety thinking at all.

Video courtesy of ABC

Have You Driven Without Your Child Secured in a Car Seat?

LilSugar — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 05:00:32 -0800

The ladies on The View were pretty upset when a recent episode of The Bachelor featured a young child riding in a limo without a car seat. While we don't know the specifics of the shoot, this is a situation many mamas have found themselves in. Whether it was an emergency situation or a conscious choice, have you ever driven with your child not secured in a car seat?

Lil Links: Should Children Be Allowed to Ride Shotgun?

LilSugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:00:19 -0800

Should kids be allowed to ride shotgun? - Parent Dish
How to survive the first weeks of motherhood with some semblance of your sanity - Alpha Mom
Woodpeacker walker puts tiny steps on the green map - Inhabitots
Sandbox time for Sammy Black - Celebrity Baby Blog
Kate Winslet and kids wrapped up in New York - Celebrity Baby Scoop
iPhone apps target new parents - Fit Pregnancy
Let's sleep on it - The Poop
Balancing work and motherhood - Momversation

New Year's Resolutions: Be Careful While Driving

LilSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 09:00:00 -0800

The car isn't just a mode of transportation for mothers, it becomes a place to multitask. A convenient setting to make quick calls, munch on a bit of breakfast or to swipe on mascara at stoplights. Motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States so Evenflo has launched a campaign asking mamas to do their part in making vehicles safer. As part of A Mother's Promise, they are asking women to post their pledge to their offspring (from slowing down to double checking car seat installation) on the website's wall. What will you do to ensure the safety of your children while on the road?

Mommy Alert! Check Your Car Booster Seat For Safety

LilSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If your child has outgrown their carseat and rides in a booster, take a look at this recent report. For the first time, the transitional seats that youngsters ride in were tested. And, the results for some mainstream brands aren't great. To see if your child's chair made the best bets, good or bad list, read more.

According to the report:

Best Bets

Good Bets

Not Recommended

Lil Tip: Car Safety

LilSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:30:16 -0700

If your kids aren't in the car, make sure you designate a spot in front of the garage or driveway where they should stand when a vehicle approaches. While growing up, it was an automatic for my siblings and me to wait on the landing in our garage when a car was pulling in or out. And today with more and more parents driving SUVs, the likelihood of a tot getting stuck in a blindspot increases.

As protective parents, we should take note of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman's recent tragedy. His 5-year-old daughter, Maria was killed this week when his teenage son accidentally hit the child while driving outside their home. I make a habit of having my kids hop in the car anytime my husband or I pull out of the driveway regardless of whether or not they are coming on the excursion. It takes a few extra minutes to buckle them in, but grants piece of mind.

Does your family have a car safety plan?

How Much Do You Know About Infant Car Seats

LilSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 07:00:54 -0700

Lots of parents use their infant car seats for more than shuttling their wee ones around town. Babies sleep, eat and even relax in the slouched seats, but this may not be the best idea.

A new study in Pediatrics suggests that these car seats may put newborns at risk for decreased oxygen levels. According to researchers, when placed in car seats, baby's heads tend to turn and this positioning can affect the amount of oxygen their brains receive. Doctors are suggesting that parents limit the amount of time lil ones spend in the seats, urging them to limit their use to travel, and not for overnight sleeping.

Before changing your car seat habits, take this quiz to see how much you really know about them.

Take the quiz

Should CPS Investigate the Heene Parents For Child Abuse?

babysugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:34 -0700

In the case of Richard Heene, the acronym UFO may mean something else: Unruly Father Overacts. While the giant Jiffy Pop saucer may have attracted the whole country's attention, it was the parents' history of taking their three children on storm chases that made me raise my eyebrows. While I may have little in common with people who race after hurricanes, I would like to think that moms and dads always have one goal in mind - the safety of their children. Putting babes (unbuckled and all) in the back of the family car to videotape record-breaking gusts of wind and funnels of debris seems flat-out mad. But it was the silver balloon that had Child Protective Services (CPS) questioning the Heene household.

Officially declared a hoax, it seems the larger concern now is making sure the children are being cared for in the best possible environment. One source claims Richard Heene used his sons as pawns to gather media attention. While it may be questionable to parade one's offspring around on television, it is another to ask children to lie and support felony-inducing behaviors. Not only are the boys learning how to break the law, they are being dragged through a media circus and are sure to face judgment thanks to their parents. Do you think CPS should investigate the parents to see if they are guilty of child abuse?

Who Installed Your Car Seat?

LilSugar — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 05:00:15 -0800

For most new parents, installing the car seat is a crucial process that can be pretty complicated, and a lil scary. Some couples choose to tackle the task on their own, while others leave it to the professionals (AAA, local firemen, etc.). Even seasoned parents opt to have someone else install their rear and forward facing car seats, while others whip out the instruction book and get to work. What about you?

Source

Tell Mommy: Do You Think Carseat Labels Lie?

LilSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 12:00:13 -0700

My son surprised me on the ride home yesterday when he leaped from his seat while I was driving. I hadn't forgotten to buckle him in or secure the harness. For the past few months he's been slowly, but surely, learning to wiggle his way out of the carseat. He used to suck in his breath before slipping one arm out, followed by the other. Then, he'd use both hands and all the pressure the lil rascal could muster to pinch the red button until it released. That was all before he realized that he could lift the Velcro flap and latch to loosen the straps himself. But, now my guy has become impatient and honestly, I can't blame him. To see why I feel bad for the guy, read more.

I paid a bundle for the carseat, which was supposed to accommodate him until he weighed 60 pounds, barely fits. He's tall for 21-months and average weight so it's a bit ridiculous that we are cramming him into contraption that had a label saying it would suffice until he was six years old. His limbs hang and he looks pretty uncomfortable, but it's the law so there's nothing much I can do aside from explore other options and cross my fingers he tips the scales at 33 pounds sooner than later so we can move him to the built-in tot seat in our vehicle. Have you run into this dilemma?