Close to two decades ago Dahlia Rezik faced a struggle that many of us mamas deal with daily—strapping her daughter into a car seat while managing the tot’s bulky winter coat. Even though she felt defeated at the time, inspiration struck. This mom’s genius toddler coat invention is helping parents everywhere to overcome this obstacle with ease.
Car seats and puffy winter coats don’t mix. Along with making it almost impossible to strap in your kiddo, the added bulk can interfere with how the safety seat works. These issues leave parents with one choice—to wrangle their tyke out of their coat before strapping them in.
As any parent knows, getting a toddler to take off their coat (without exposing them to the winter chill or risking a major meltdown) is a momentous feat. To solve this problem, Rezik developed her own children’s coat. Instead of a zipper in the middle of the jacket, she moved it to the side. This allows mom or dad to move the coat’s fabric away from the seat’s straps, providing a tight buckle. They can then pull the fabric across the child and zip up the side closure.
After creating a prototype, the mom had it crash tested. Rezik told ABC Radio, “What I wanted to do was have the coat perform as similarly to no coat as possible, and that’s what it did.” The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) compliant coat is now available to buy online. Rezik’s company, Buckle Me Baby Coats, sells the outerwear for $79 to $150.
Traveling with babies and toddlers is easier than you think, thanks to these mom-approved hacks, snacks, gear and travel tips for plane travel and road trips. We even cover baby-friendly travel destinations, both near and far. Read on for the ultimate guide to traveling with baby on board.
What to Bring:
14 Can’t-Live-Without Hacks for Traveling with Baby
Before you board that plane or enter that hotel room, arm yourself with our best baby travel hacks. These 14 tips are certain to make your vacation a little less work and a little more enjoyable for you and everyone else involved.
The tickets are booked and the bags are packed; the only thing left to prepare is baby. And we all know that’s an adventure in itself! Here are the absolute must-have items, plus some I can’t believe I didn’t know about this! products that could make your trip easier.
What’s the key to flying with happy toddlers? Snacks. Lots and lots of snacks. The ideal treats not only fill up our kids’ bellies, they are easy to pack, don’t require refrigeration, aren’t super messy, and take some time to eat, so they double as an airplane activity. Read on for our favorite airplane snacks for toddlers, plus tips on how to pack, serve and even play with your food.
Whether you’re zipping through afternoon errands with your baby in tow or taking a cross-country trip as a family, bringing a stash of tasty, healthy snacks is key. Littles get hungry fast and frequently, so you want to have something on hand for quick and easy noshing. Bored of your usual nibbles? Here are 12 new treats for taking on the go, wherever you go!
Flying with a baby requires patience, mental toughness and killer organizational skills. But you’ve got this! Follow these helpful hacks and hints to make your journey a little easier and keep those skies friendly.
Get your motor running. Head out on the highway…with a baby? Sure! With a little preparation, your kid can be ready to hit the road and go exploring right alongside you. Read on for 10 ways to make your road trip go smoothly with baby on board.
A car seat: You won’t be able to leave the hospital without it. In fact, it’s one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your little one in his first year of life. We spoke with Emily Levine, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, a group with a mission to empower parents to keep their children as safe as possible while traveling by car, to get some important information to ensure you’re using the right seat, the right way, for your baby or toddler.
If you’re planning warm-weather travel, arm yourself with snacks, your GPS and some very good advice. Read on for our top 10 tips on keeping kids safe in the car on warm days.
Your sweet little baby might be the best adventure you’ve ever embarked on, but parenthood shouldn’t keep you tethered to your hometown. Going on vacation may be intimidating, but if you can manage the actual traveling(by car or plane) to and from your destination, the rest of the trip will be just as enjoyable (if not more) as your pre-baby sojourning days.
Isn’t it ironic that after having a baby—when your nerves are shot, you’re sleep deprived and you really need to go on vacation—traveling is the last thing on your mind? Well, it shouldn’t be. Especially when there are so many destinations designed with families of young ones in mind. From full-time (and free) resort nannies to stroller-accessible trams, these out-of-this-world locales go the distance when it comes to baby amenities.
A 2016 study published in The Journal of Pediatrics found that nearly 95 percent of new parents misuse car safety seats. You might think you’re the exception—but when it comes to your kid’s safety, it’s better to play it safe than sorry. Here are some of the most common car seat mistakes parents make—and how to fix them.
Recently, Cars.com released its 2018 Car Seat Check Honor Roll, which revealed the results of 85 vehicle safety tests. The site found that only nine percent of the 2018 and 2019 model-year vehicles tested earned perfect scores. Even though some cars are safer than others, choosing the right seat and using the correct installation method are both major parts in the child-car seat safety equation.
For Child Passenger Safety week, we spoke with Cars.com Editor-in-Chief—and certified Child Passenger Safety Technician—Jenni Newman about some of the more common mistakes parents make when it comes to car seats.
Car seats aren't like IKEA furniture, so a lot of parents just toss the manual. Reading both the manuals for your car seat and your car can help you to keep your baby safe.
According to Newman, "Some automakers don't recommend car seat installation in the middle position of the back seat, for instance." Newman also told us, "You want to make sure you comply with both the automaker's and car-seat maker's recommendations."
Choosing the Wrong Seat for Your Car
You have a car. You have a car seat. And now you have a perfect pair. Right? Not always.
Newman notes, "Not all car seats will work in all cars." The dimensions of your car's seats may rule out the use of some safety seats. So what should you do if your car and your car seat aren't compatible? Obviously, you could get a new car—but we're pretty sure getting a new car seat is the easier and less expensive option.
Car seats can be confusing—especially for first-time parents. If you think you probably-sort-of-maybe installed your child's safety seat correctly, it's best to get help from a pro.
Luckily, Sep. 29 is National Seat Check Saturday. The Safe Kids Worldwide website can connect you with a car seat check event in your area. If you can't make it to one of these events, check with your your child's pediatrician or your local police or fire department; they may be able to connect you with a certified passenger safety technician.
Using the Wrong Type of Seat
There are three main types of car seats: rear-facing, forward-facing and booster seats. Each type of seat has a sub-type, such as convertible, all-in-one, rear-facing only or combination. Always follow the guidelines set by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSTA).
If you're in doubt, ask an expert. A certified child passenger safety technician can make sure that you've chosen the right seat, too.
Switching Positions Too Soon
Switching your child from a rear-facing to front-facing position is a long-awaited rite of passage. What parent doesn't want to see their baby's smiling face in the rear-view mirror. But changing positions too soon can have serious consequences.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated its car seat safety guidelines to recommend that parents keep children rear-facing until the reach the height and weight maximum limits set by their specific car seat manufacturer. For some kids, that could mean they stay rear-facing until up to age 3.
Traveling with small children can make you feel more like a sherpa on Mount Everest than the jet-setting goddess you were before you became a mom. Between remembering to pack extra diapers, your toddler’s favorite lovey and strollers galore, it can feel overwhelming just getting to your destination. It’s no wonder that rental car agencies and other travel companies offer car seat rentals for families who would rather not lug one more thing through the airport.
With the holiday season approaching, many of us have planned trips to see family or vacations during time off school and work. If you’re traveling by car, then your child’s car seat is likely making the trip as well. But if not, it can be tempting to just rent a car seat at your destination.
But before you give in to this temptation, take note that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends children use only new car seats due to the risks associated with used car seats. It can be difficult to tell from visual inspection whether a car seat has been involved in a crash or subject to a manufacturer recall.
There is also no guarantee your car seat rental will be in good condition. According to a Consumer Reportsstudy, safety technicians examined car seats available from several large rental car agencies and found many were expired, had broken parts or were missing labels or infant carrier bases. And even if your car seat rental is in working order, there is no way to assure it will not be covered in crumbs, spills or unknown stains.
The bottom line? Car seat safety is not worth sacrificing for convenience.
Your best bet is to purchase an affordable, no-frills car seat at your destination or bring one with you. With devices such as the Baby Trend Snap-N-Go or Go-Go Babyz Travelmate, you can convert your car seat into a stroller. And, if your child is at least 4 years old, you can leave their everyday car seat behind and pack a small, travel-friendly booster seat like the BubbleBum.
Traveling with small children is no small feat, but with a little planning, you can ensure you keep your little ones safe throughout your journey.
I’m a Northern Virginia-based freelance writer, attorney and mom of two little ones. I have an eye for trends and a passion for words. My days are often spent stepping on LEGO bricks and relying on caffeine as a sleep substitute.
Every parent’s worst nightmare came true for North Dakota mom Hannah Mckinney Pope when she and her two-month-old daughter were involved in a terrible car accident. In a viral Facebook post about car seat safety, Pope details what exactly happened and how her infant daughter Robin actually slid out of her otherwise secure car seat.
Pope was driving her minivan with her daughter strapped in the back when she was involved in the accident. Her van flipped twice, back to front and finally rested on its side. Baby Robin was ejected from her car seat, and thankfully only sustained a hairline fracture in her arm and a few cuts. So what happened?
When Pope located the car seat in the vehicle, they were astonished to find that the straps were still pulled tight and locked. Additionally, the seat was still securely locked in the car seat base. In essence, the car seat did its job and was safely installed.
The reason Robin was ejected was because the after-market sheepskin strap covers Pope installed that did not come with the car seat. In a statement to Good Housekeeping, she states a car seat instructor identified that “the sheepskin seatbelt strap covers quickly [slid] against her daughter’s shirt causing her to fly out of the seat.”
This incident serves as a reminder that parents should exercise extreme caution when using any products related to their child’s car seat safety.
The Car Seat Lady reminds us that “Anything in the original box with the car seat (or sold separately AND specifically allowed by the seat manufacturer) has rigorous standards it must meet; most importantly, it has been crash tested with that particular car seat AND proven to be safe.”
Rule of thumb? Stay away from the cute accessories you buy separately and stick with those that came with your seat. Hannah Pope learned the scary way that safety trumps style every time!
A car seat: You won’t be able to leave the hospital without it. In fact, it’s one of the most important purchases you’ll make for your little one in his first year of life. We spoke with Emily Levine, co-founder of The Car Seat Lady, a group with a mission to empower parents to keep their children as safe as possible while traveling by car, to get some important information to ensure you’re using the right seat, the right way, for your baby or toddler. Read on for nine do’s and don’ts of car seat safety.
A big issue, Levine says, is keeping straps snug. Most kids are riding around with straps that are too loose. Not sure how tight to make the straps? Levine provides this as a rule of thumb: the straps should be tight enough so that only one finger can fit between the straps and the child’s body at the collarbone, and that you can’t pinch the strap over itself at the collarbone, Levine says. This short video provides a how-to on ensuring properly tightened straps.
“Tight straps won’t hurt a child, but loose straps in a crash can have terrible consequence,” she adds.
DON’T skip the seat because of inconvenience.
Levine says one of the most troubling mistakes happens when parents decide to skip the car seat altogether.
“We see this all the time in taxis around the city or in friends’ cars to and from playdates,” she says. “This is an especially big problem in cities where families rely on taxis to get around.”
The risk of injury is significant for a child who is unrestrained in the event of a crash. The laws of physics don’t change just because you are in a taxi, on vacation or only going a few blocks.
“Is it really worth risking your child’s life to get to music class on time?” Levine asks, offering more advice. “The very best recommendation I can give is to use an appropriate car seat every time you are in a car, regardless of who is driving, whose car it is or where you are.”
DO keep your toddler rear-facing until at least age 2.
Previously, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advised being one-year-old and a minimum of 20 pounds as the minimum for turning your little one forward-facing. However, since 2011, that has changed, with the minimum being 24 months old — but preferably longer. In California, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and New Jersey, new laws require that toddlers stay in rear facing car seats until their second birthdays.
“All kids should remain rear-facing until they are at least 24 months old, but preferably longer, until they have outgrown their convertible car seat’s rear-facing height or weight limits,” she advises. “Kids are much more flexible than adults and are comfortable sitting rear-facing despite what it may look like to us grown-ups. A child who is turned around too early is at risk for head, spine and neck injuries.”
DON’T use the infant car seat as a seat for the baby when you’re at home.
Simply put, the car seat is for the car; it’s not a bouncy seat or a crib or a bassinet. It’s a car seat for use in the car, Levine says.
She also offers this tip for urban parents who rely on taxis or ride-sharing transportation, like Uber, “If you have a stroller with a bassinet, use the bassinet for walks unless you are planning to take a taxi during that same trip.”
DO consider how often you’ll be installing the car seat and where in the vehicle you’ll need to place it.
This is especially helpful when you’re purchasing a car seat or adding one to your registry.
“If you prefer to install the car seat in the center position (the safest place in the car), make sure it will install easily with the seat belt, since most vehicles do not permit installation with lower anchors in the center position,” Levine advises.
She continues, saying, “In this case, you’ll want to consider a car seat with built-in locking devices, which greatly ease a seat belt installation. If you’ll be using lower anchors to install the car seat, look for push on connectors instead of the hook style, since the push-on connectors are much easier to use. Extra safety features like anti-rebound bars and rigid latch are worth considering as well.”
DON’T put the car seat on top of the shopping cart.
Just because it looks like it can fit and you’ve likely seen dozens of other parents doing it at Target or the grocery store, DON’T. The shopping cart does not securely hold the car seat in the top basket and puts baby at risk for injury.
Along the same lines, a car seat should never be placed on the counter or table, the bed or any other surface where a fall could cause injury.
Remember, when your baby is in his or her car seat outside of the car (like when you’re carrying the infant seat in the house, with the baby inside), the straps should be tightly secured. This is a huge problem that parents are mostly unaware of, Levine says.
DO seek help to make sure you’re using the car seat properly.
A car seat can save your child’s life — but only if it’s used properly. Make sure you are using yours the right way by having the installation inspected by a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) or instructor, Levine says. Inspection stations in your town can be found on SeatCheck.org. Inspection spots are located all over the country, including at many hospitals and fire stations.
DON’T automatically take a hand-me-down car seat.
Always be wary of hand-me-down car seats, Levine warns.
“They might look like they’re in good shape, but they may be missing parts that you don’t know about, or may be expired, broken or recalled,” she says.
Even if you’re using a car seat for a sibling, you should double check recall lists and find the expiration date before you start using it for a new baby.
Read the instruction manual that comes with your car seat.
“Many types of misuse can be corrected by a quick (but careful) look at the instruction manual,” Levine explains. “If you have questions or are confused, call the car seat manufacturer for clarification instead of guessing.”
For more information on car seat safety, visit TheCarSeatLady.com or take advantage of other resources from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration here.
What is your biggest car seat pet peeve? Share it below.
Baby, it’s cold outside! But that doesn’t mean you need to stay inside and get stir crazy with your little one. Winterize your baby gear with warm accessories so you can both get some fresh air without freezing those tiny fingers and toes. Scroll down for our picks.
photo: JJ Cole
Snuggle Up for a Stroll The easiest way to keep your baby warm while walking from here to there? Outfit your stroller with a specially designed sack like the JJ Cole Urban BundleMe. The water-resistant bag will keep your kiddo so warm you may not even have to bother dressing her up in mittens and a coat — as long as she won’t be getting out of the stroller, that is! Also great: It’s machine washable just in case it quickly gets covered with slush from those messy city streets. $49.95 at jjcolecollections.com.
Kiss Cold Hands Goodbye Forget leaving your hands exposed to icy air — that stroller bar gets too cold to hold! 7AM Enfant’s genius Stroller Warmuffs attach to the handlebar and allow you to slip your hands inside to keep them warm. We love that you can slip your hands out just as quickly to adjust a hat and shoot a text to the mom you’re on the way to meet, all without a chance of losing your gloves. $38 at giggle.com.
Cuddle Him With a Carrier Cover Whether you’re a fan of Ergobaby, Moby or Baby Bjorn, this snuggly fleece-lined cover will fit your carrier. If snow starts falling, never fear, the Jolly Jumper Snuggle Cover is water repellent, too. We also love that there are pockets to keep your hands warm and that it’s machine washable. $26.23 at amazon.com.
Stay Safe & Warm in the Car Proper car seat safety can be tricky. Experts say not to dress your babies in bulky winter snow suits and coats, but also frown upon some types of warm car seat covers that may hinder car seat straps. The Cozy Cover gets a nod of approval because it adds warmth and protection from snow, but only covers the top of the seat, so it doesn’t interfere with safety. $27.83 at cozy-cover.com.
What are you doing April 12? Join 500 babywearing parents at MommyCon at the Parc 55. The popular convention features fab speakers on topics such as birthing, breastfeeding, babywearing, car seat safety and more. Red Tricycle will be there, plus shopping and giveaways. Enjoy 15% off tickets when you use the code RedTri. Click here for tickets.
Join other modern families at MommyCon as the popular convention heads to Chicago for the second time. The all-day event features a fab assortment of speakers on topics such as birth, breastfeeding, babywearing, car seat safety and everything in between. You’ll get to hear from bloggers like The Baby Guy NYC, The Leaky Boob, The Badass Breastfeeder and The Honest Toddler. Join MommyCon on March 1 and get ready to have fun with likeminded, naturally-focused parents.
