Babesta Beat AW 2017

HAVE CARSEAT

WILLTRAVEL HOW TO DO BABY ON BOARD RIGHT.

Aton cloud Q car seat in birds of paradise , $499.95; Mios stroller frame in matte black , 34342, $550.

INFANT CAR SEATS: As newborns, the first seat they’ll get is the infant car seat. It’s rear facing only and exists to manage the energy in an accident to minimize harm to the child. There are a plethora of features, from anti-rebound bars, load legs, telescoping side impact protection and more. For new parents (especially city parents), you look for a seat that is compatible with your stroller so that it makes a great travel system, and is light in case you have to carry it! But, the most important feature for city parents is the European seatbelt router, a small plastic piece on the back of the seat, that allows for safe installation without the base, only using the car’s seatbelt. City parents are always in and out of cars, be them Ubers, Lyfts, taxis and zipcars (as well as their own cars), so being able to install safely with the seatbelt is worth its weight in gold. The lapbelt goes across the front of the seat, while the shoulder harness wraps around the back of the seat, making for a super-snug and safe installation. Infant seats will last you about a year, but because they’re light and portable, they make sense for city folk who don’t want the larger convertible seat until they have to. TO USE

S tates are catching up to what the American Academy of Pediatrics has been saying: “Children under 2 years of age shall ride in a rear facing car seat unless the child weighs 40lbs or more or is 40 inches or more tall.” Several states have made, or are in the process of making this recommendation law (including New York). Whether law or not, it’s a great rule of thumb to keep your baby safe and sound on your next road trip. Let’s step back for a moment and give you the big picture of car seats. You’re going to go through 3-4 stages of seat until your child can travel in a car using simpl y the seatbelt: Infant car seat, convertible car seat, high back booster, and backless booster seat. Each solution is for a different age and stage, and you want to get to know your seats well. So many are installed incorrectly thereby putting children at greater risk of injury in an accident. There are plenty of youtube videos that can help (watch on your phone while doing the installation) or make an appointment with the Car Seat Lady—our go-to expert on everything car seat related.

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babesta beat autumn/winter 2017