‘Safety Mom’ sounds off on alarming new ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, nonprofit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries, and property damage — from crashes on the nation’s highways.

The Highway Loss Data Institute shares and supports this mission through scientific studies of insurance data representing the human and economic losses resulting from the ownership and operation of different types of vehicles and by publishing insurance loss results by vehicle make and model.

Click to read all about it!

Many thanks to Mia at Go Kids Travel

REVIEW: Three Weeks on the Run With BubbleBum!

Look at Jenna’s daughter on her BubbleBum in a Taxi in the Big Apple……

Hi Buddies,

Please see recent article in theexaminer.com that we wanted to share with you

Governor Signs New California Booster Seat Law October 4th

Governor Brown just signed a brand-new booster seat law that becomes effective January 1, 2012. Existing law requires a child under 6 years of age who weighs less than 60 pounds to be secured in a rear seat in a child passenger restraint system that meets specified federal standards, but allows the child to ride in the front seat  if properly secured in a child passenger restraint system that meets specified federal standards, underspecified circumstances, including riding in taxis among, and if all rear seats are already occupied by children under 12 years of age.
This new bill prohibits a parent, legal guardian, or driver from transporting on a highway in a motor vehicle, any child under 8 years old without securing that child in an appropriate child passenger restraint system meeting applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. The new bill imposes fines and penalties for violations.
How does this affect you?  According to Katie Smith, Director of Safe Kids California,  in passing the new booster seat law, which will extend the current law by requiring children to ride in booster seats in the back seat until their 8th birthday, California joins more than 37 other states with strong booster seat laws. The law, which was co-sponsored by the California Coalition for Children’s Safety and Health, Safe Kids California, and California State Alliance of YMCA’s, mirrors the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Seat belts are designed for the average adult male, and do not properly fit a child who is not at least 4’9” tall. Children in the 6-7 year old age group are particularly at risk because they may be too big for many child safety seats and yet too small to fully benefit from seat belts. A booster seat raises the child to reposition the seat belt properly so that the lap belt lies snugly across the upper thighs rather than the stomach. The shoulder harness should lie snug across the shoulder and chest – the strongest part of the child’s body – and not cross the neck or face.

Auto collisions are the leading cause of death for children ages 4-12 and one of the leading causes of injury and disability. Parents who want to keep their children safe will check the law to ensure they are doing what is required to help avoid injury in case of an accident. We have long felt that it is a dangerous disservice to California parents to lead them to believe that by following the current law – which requires children up to six years old or sixty pounds to ride in a child restraint device in the back seat – they are doing what’s best to safeguard their children, when the data shows us otherwise. The fact is that using a booster seat, instead of a seatbelt, reduces a child’s risk of injury by 59%.

The new law, which will extend protection to 6 and 7-year-olds, goes into effect January 1, 2012. Acknowledging that seat belts fit a taller child appropriately, the new law includes a provision that a child under 8 years of age who is 4 feet 9 inches in height or taller may be properly restrained by a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat. To maximize safety, parents should select a car seat based on their child’s age and size, choose a car seat or booster that fits in their vehicle, and use it every time. Parents can check for car seat check-up events in their area to get help from trained safety technicians on proper installation and fit for their child.

As one of our Safe Kids Trauma Coordinators commented, the new law will “protect hundreds of children every year from intra-abdominal injury, lumbar chance fractures, or multisystem trauma from ejection due to inappropriate restraints.” We know the new law will save lives and we are elated!

To read the entire bill click here.  For access to an open discussion on the New Moms Examiner Facebook page please like the page and post your comments under the link to this article.

Look where BubbleBum was recently……..

Many thanks to the great folk at Babyrazzi.com for their recent review

Innovative Travel Product

The BubbleBum booster seat has been a huge hit over in the UK and is finally making a splash in the U.S. It was created by a mom who was frustrated over what was available on the market for traveling families who just can’t stand to lug around the bulky and heavy average child booster seat.

BubbleBum is perfect for the parents AND kids always on-the-go. It is designed for kids between ages 4 & 11 who weigh between 40-80 lbs.  It is an affordable, light-weight car booster seat  that comes with seat belt positioning clips in place of arm rests and fits in small spaces, making it possible to fit three kids in car seats across the back seat. It easily deflates after use allowing it to be stored in a backpack, flight bag, trunk or even a large purse. It weighs approximately 1lb, and because it is inflatable and soft-sided it is much more comfortable than a regular booster seat.

When I first read about the new BubbleBum booster seat and saw the words “inflatable booster seat”, I immediately thought there had to be some mistake.  How could a booster seat be ‘portable and inflatable’ and still be safe? Of course, I’m envisioning something along the lines of a pool toy – and that simply couldn’t be further from the truth.  The seat is made up of material similar to a life vest and memory foam, so in the event of a puncture during a crash, the BubbleBum will remain structurally sound.  Also, booster seats are supposed to be ‘covered’ in energy absorbing material, but the BubbleBum is made entirely of it.  BubbleBum meets all US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

This revolutionary new booster seat is available for only $39.99 (+S&H).

Source: http://www.babyrazzi.com/2011/09/30/innovative-new-kids-travel-products-the-bubblebum-and-the-snoozeshade/

posted 09/30/2011

Hi Buddies,

Thanks to EcoMama for her recent review of BubbleBum on www.greenwala.com

Have you ever tried traveling with a booster seat?  It’s a handful!  I schlepped a regular booster seat onto the train and it was hard, trying to manage a little kid and two suitcases and that big ole plastic booster seat. Since then I’ve had my eyes peeled for a solution, because trying to manage all that stuff is a big deterrent for me.  

Well hallelujah the solution is finally here.  Meet the BUBBLEBUM inflatable booster seat.  It comes in a small stuff sack that’s way easier to carry around than a bulky booster seat.  It inflates very quickly and is sturdy enough to withstand kids.  

 If you need to hop into a taxi or rental car after your plane ride, it’s right there in your carry on.  It’s designed for kids ages 4-11 and the bright purple makes it seem like more of a fun item as opposed to a chore for them.

 While I wouldn’t choose this for everyday use, it does the job it’s made for well.  This would come in handy not just for travel, but for play dates and when you want to carpool with another mom.  You know how it’s near impossible to fit a booster in the middle seat between two car seats?  Well not this one, it’s flexible so it fits thereby allowing you to conserve fuel and ride together.

Link: http://www.greenwala.com/profiles/eco-mama/blog/17563-BUBBLEBUM-Inflatable-Travel-Booster-Seat