Another day over at this year’s KIM conference with some big news from Dorel. Here are some fun things I got to play with today along with Dorel’s big news.
Safety 1st Incognito Backless Booster
Here it is everyone! Designed with big kids in mind. The colors match most vehicle interiors and no armrests mean that no one can see they’re in a booster.
Hello from New Mexico!! I got the awesome opportunity this year to attend the KIM (Kidz in Motion) conference in New Mexico. This is the first national conference I’ve attended so I am like a kid in a candy shop.
The Graco TurboBooster is likely the most popular booster seat on the market today. It has so much going for it — it’s light weight, easy to use, and fits most children well. The same basic design has been available for well over a decade. Child Passenger Safety Technicians and caregivers alike are fans of the TurboBooster because of its simplicity and excellent belt positioning. At the very reasonable $50-$60 price for the highback version, and $30 or less for the backless version, it’s an excellent option for many families.
If your child’s seat is installed using lower anchors and the seat belt is within their reach, it poses the risk of strangulation if the child begins to play with it, particularly if your seat belt has a switchable locking retractor. Remember to buckle the seat belt before or after installation (just tuck it between the vehicle seat back and the car seat, don’t thread it in the belt path) and engage the locking mode by slowly pulling the seat belt all the way out.
The ProRIDE allows rear facing from 5-40 lbs, up to 22.5″ seated height or 1″ from the top of the shell – whichever happens first. Although it starts at 5 lbs, the bottom harness slots are 10″ and much too high to fit a newborn, as a rear facing child must have the straps positioned at or below the shoulders.
Looking for an inexpensive or lightweight booster, or something narrow for your three across? The Evenflo Big Kid (LX or Sport)/Amp may be for you! These boosters function as high back and backless boosters.
Confused by the differences between Graco’s rear facing only seats? You’re not alone. Graco recently changed the names of their rear facing only seats and added 4 new models.
Their current models are the SnugRide Classic Connect (original 22 lb version), SnugRide Classic Connect 30, SnugRide Classic Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect 30, SnugRide Click Connect 35, SnugRide Click Connect 35 LX, and SnugRide Click Connect 40.
So you want to skip the rear facing only seat for a new baby? Makes sense; instead of purchasing a car seat that will only be used for the first year, pick one that will be used for four or five years. Seems smart, right? Sure! However, choosing a convertible for a newborn can be tricky; newborns are teeny little creatures with a unique set of needs, and not all convertibles are created equal when it comes to fitting a brand new Little.
*This seat has been replaced with the Cosco Scenera NEXT* The Cosco Scenera is a back to the basics, no frills, convertible car seat. It’s a plastic shell with a fabric cover, and there really isn’t much else to it. But the beauty of this seat is that for $39, it will fit the average 0-3 year old child, and it meets all the same safety standards as a $300 convertible seat does.
The child passenger safety world is full of outdated information that has been spread by well meaning individuals. One of the most common misconceptions is which position the handle on a rear facing only seat must be in while in use in the car.
