Royal Fail

So the press is going nuts about Prince George.

Aden + Anais Swaddle Blankets are getting selling like hot cakes, since William and Kate swaddled George in the blanket to go home.

 

 

I'm not seeing a whole lot of press on the way George was put into that car seat. I remember bringing my youngest home from the hospital and the nurse saying to me, "You are not going to put that sweater jacket on him are you?" Coats and jackets are not supposed to be used under the strap of a car seat. I thought that was pretty bloody ridiculous. 

 

Here it looks like Prince George isn't even fully strapped into this car seat. Look his little arms are hanging out. The straps should go over his shoulders. He was swaddled before strapping him in. The belt is supposed to go under the blanket. 

 

You can swaddle, but do it after the baby is buckled in. Like so:

Source

I got this information on this website. It talks about how to swaddle a baby, while in the car seat.

 

1. Buckle the baby into the safety seat and make the straps snug. There should be NO blankets or bulky clothing under the straps or on the baby's body.

 

2. Take a blanket and, while keeping the baby's arms down at the sides, tuck the blanket very tightly along the sides of the baby's body and underneath the baby's legs. Of course if it is very hot outside don't do this, since the baby will overheat.

The 2 week old baby in this photo is buckled tightly into her Graco Snugride 35.  You can't see the straps due to the swaddle, but rest assured that she's ready to go for a ride (just as long as the carrier handle is moved to an approved position for use in the car!)

Does Your Child Make a Mess in their Car Seat?

A product called Kiddie Kangaroo really helps with potential messes.

You may be thinking, "Why do I need another baby accessory? Many car seats come with cup holders."

I'm a mom of two and for a few years we watched two more. Having room in the car was important! Traditional cup holders are hard plastic, take a lot of room, are hard to wash, and do not fit all cups.

Once your child starts drinking from a cup, they are often picky about which cup they drink from. Some have big bases, while others are skinny. The Kiddie Kangaroo fits all types. I love the elastic that holds it all in place. It also protects the car seat from spills and other accidents.

Some Features of The Kiddie Kangaroo:

• Pockets are simple to remove and add.
• Pockets wipe clan and are washable.
• It can be used in more than just their car seat. Moms and Dads that buy them have used them in strollers, any car seat and some high chairs.
• The material is waterproof to help it stay clean from spilled accidents. This makes it easy to wipe up!
• There are pockets on each side that have velcro strips to be placed where needed for the best sit of the seat. The velcro divider can split up the pockets for specialized storage. It also helps it to fold flat to allow for larger items such as toys and books.
• They come in many styles: Black, Blue Camo, Pink, Pink Camo and Red.

Mom4Life has The Kiddie Kangaroo marked down. 

This should help with some additional traveling for the summer! 

They are originally $19.99 and marked down to $14.99. Remember Mom4Life has no shipping or tax added within the US!

Disclaimer: This product was not given to me to review. I'm simply spreading the word for a great company, deal and a product that is outside the box.

Car Seats

A Few Car Seat Safety Tips:

• Did you know that car seats are not any good after 5 years? This is when the spacing of my kids became critical. I didn't want to buy all new car seats. You can spend an arm and a leg on infant car seats alone.
• There is also this rule I didn't know about until my second child was born. Babies/kids are not supposed to have a coat on while in a car seat. Crazy! I went to take my youngest home from the hospital in a thin sweater, a nurse told me that nothing loose should be on him. You're supposed to pile blankets on top of them to keep them warm. The likelihood of people following that rule in Omaha, Nebraska is slim. Think about the people that do not have a garage! My kids complain that they are cold even when I do have them in a coat. It does make sense that I have trouble getting my skinny kids buckled in their car seats when they are bundled up with their coats on.

A Few Things That the Average Joe Does:

• Many people have more then one car seat for each of their cars! Ya, more expense, but it beats trying to get a car seat out of one vehicle and in another.
• There are places that recycle old car seat, and give you a discount on other things in the store. Toys R Us/Babies R Us do this. They do not do this all the time, so you have to check their ads. They also do not discount the whole store. Usually it's a discount off something for baby at their  stores.
• There is also programs in place in most larger cities where you give them an old car seat, and they give you a new one. We did this to get my parents a car seat. They even help you fit it right in your car! We found out about the program through our pediatrician office. The bad part about this is that you don't get to pick a brand/color. 

A Car Seat Giveaway:

• A Giveaway Addicted Mommy is hosting a great giveaway! 
• One of her readers will win a Sunshine Kid's Juvenile Kids Radian XTSL (ARV: $299.99)!

The Features Include:

• Rear-facing: 5 - 45 lbs
• Forward-facing: 20 - 80 lbs (and up to 53") in a 5-point harness
• Steel alloy frame and aluminum reinforced sides
• SuperLATCH™ installation up to 80 lbs - no seat belt required
• Easy-Tite™ adjuster for quick and easy tightening, installs in 1 minute
• Adjustable head support, reinforced for complete side-impact safety
• Energy-absorbing EPS foam panels on all sidesSafestop® energy-absorbing harness system
• 5 shoulder and 3 buckle positions for proper harness fit
• Fits 3-across in a mid-size vehicle and offers more shoulder space
• 3-in-1 infant/toddler full body support cushions
• Folds flat for travel and storage, includes convenient carry strap
• 2 recline positions in forward-facing mode