Mar 22 2016

Buying the right buggy for toddlers

Posted on March 22, 2016 by admin

As a new parent, you won’t get far without a reliable buggy. In fact, you’ll only stop needing a buggy once your child can walk comfortably for long periods of time — this can be anywhere up to the age of 4. With that being said, it’s important to choose the right buggy to suit your lifestyle. After all, it’s a piece of parenting kit that you’ll use extensively.

As your baby grows, you’ll need to make the transition from a reclining pram to the more convenient, lightweight, buggy. Otherwise referred to as an ‘umbrella stroller’ these are the best option for those children who can now carry their own weight and sit up comfortably. Weighing in at approximately 12 pounds or less, they’re easy to fold, making travel a breeze.

Coming in all shapes and sizes, picking the right model is a task in itself. But fear not, this handy guide will keep you on the right track and tell you what to look out for.

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Safety

Safety is the most important factor when buying a buggy, hands down. Always check the locking mechanism to ensure the collapse and opening works smoothly. Many are now marketed as ‘one-hand folding’, but try before you buy. The buggy should be simple to use and not fold accidentally when your child is sat in it.

Adjustable handles

Spending hours pushing a buggy is tiresome, especially if the handlebars are too low, or too high. Models which include adjustable lengths offer versatility for both mum and dad.

Seatbelt

Some form of restraint is another essential requirement. Choose one that has a five-point seatbelt. This wraps around the legs, waist and over the shoulders for a lock-down fit that you can unbuckle without any problems.

Storage

In your quest to find the most lightweight design, don’t sacrifice on storage space. Overlooked by many, it’s surprising how much difference a few additional side pockets can make. Shopping trips can be made much less troublesome with a large, accessible basket underneath.

Manoeuvrability

Depending on your lifestyle habits, you may want to consider a buggy with larger, pneumatic tyres. These can provide better stability on a variety of terrain, and offer a less-bumpy ride for your child on long walks. Alternatively, full swivel wheels give maximum manoeuvrability for shorter trips and on-pavement use.

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Maintenance

They’ll be plenty of accidents and spills along the way, so your ideal buggy should always be straightforward to clean and maintain. Buying a luxury model can be tempting, but sometimes the no-frills approach option is the most durable. Choose one with removable fabric covers, which can be cleaned without any hassle.

Follow this buying guide before investing in a toddler buggy. You’ll be informed to make the right decision and find the perfect model for your needs.

Images by Rachel M Coleman and foilman, used under Creative Commons licence.

Jul 1 2013

Dexter’s Throne! The BRITAX MAX-FIX Rearward Facing Car Seat!

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin

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A Big Boy car seat is one of those big milestone purchases that’s just as exciting for parents as for your child. Much like a first bed, first shoes, and first mobile phone, it involves lots of research and some head-scratching, it’s definitely a sign that they’re growing up!

Dexter was in a Maxi Cosi baby car seat for his first 13 months. Although it served us well, when tufts of his hair began to creep over the top of the headrest, we knew it was time to upgrade! But choosing a car seat is not an easy thing and Craig and I just couldn’t decide which car seat to buy. One of my most embarrassing parenting moments to date came when I mistakenly thought you had to weigh your child naked on Mothercare’s scales to see which car seat they are best suited to. Shoppers and sales assistants weren’t quite sure how to react when Dex got stage fright and wee’ed in the scales!

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When BRITAX offered to take away the stress and select a car seat on our behalf, I was relieved and eternally grateful. Craig has OCD when it comes to research and I was getting car seat fatigue. We just needed something safe, comfortable and that fits in our Ford Focus. I have to say that their suggested model (The BRITAX MAX-FIX rearward facing ISOFIX Group 0+ & 1 car seat... just try and say that after a few drinks!!!) was spot on and we couldn’t be happier.

So what makes this über sexy car seat so special?

It’s suitable from birth up until 18kg (approx aged 4)
It’s rearward facing which is considered the safest way for under 4′s to travel
It has a 5 point harness (with one pull adjustment) - If you’re scratching your head on this, check out why 5 point harnesses are so important
It has an ISOFIX system that allows direct connection to the car’s ISOFIX anchorage points (this bad boy won’t be moving anywhere!)
There are multiple recline positions for ultimate comfort - it’s supremely easy to adjust without disrupting a sleepy child
It’s ideal for small cars as it’s not as bulky as other seats on the market
It has deep, softly padded side wings to provide optimum side impact protection
It’s fully height adjustable with 5 different settings so it can grow with your child.

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I’ve taken some piccies outside of the car so you can best appreciate just how roomy this seat is. There’s plenty of depth to accommodate his bum and legs, and whilst being contoured around his tummy and back, there’s still plenty of wriggle room for my fidgety tot. When you make the upgrade you definitely appreciate how cooped up they’ve been in their baby seat - we’ve never had so many smiles on photo shoot before (we’re talking full-blown giggles)!

We took our seat to our local Mothercare to have it fitted. This isn’t necessary but I’d recommend it for total pice of mind. This installation video shows how simple it is if you are confident enough to pop it in yourself. I was really impressed that there were several green indicators to show that the foot prop and ISOFIX were fully secure and engaged. As we’d hold our hands up to being clueless first-time parents, this made us feel better.

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Once in, adjusting it to fit Dexter was simple.

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As regards transferring Dex to and from the seat, there are handy little harness holders at each side of the seat. You basically thread the shoulder harness through these whenever you plunk him in. This means you aren’t scrambling to find all the all the different components of the harness when you come to plug him in. Once the 5 point harness is locked, there’s a one pull adjuster to tighten (found near baby’s feet).

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To recline baby, you simply twist a knob at the base of the seat. This is fabulous as you can do it when they’re asleep without them even realising. Better still, there are knobs on each side so it doesn’t matter whether baby rides behind the driver or passenger seat.

Adjusting the headrest is easy peasy too. You flip open the console at the back of the chair, and can set the height with just one hand (recommendation is that the highest visible part of the seat belt should be in line with the top of baby’s shoulder).

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The verdict? Dexter LOVES it. He’s always been a brilliant traveller and we’re yet to experience a meltdown, but he seems even happier now he has room to stretch his legs. We went ahead and bought a baby seat mirror from JoJo Maman Bebe that allows us to check in on him throughout the journey. When he’s not sleeping away, he’s watching the world slide by out of the window (as car seats give children a natural boost he’s able to see much more than before). I must admit I was looking forward to having him face us when we upgraded, but you can’t beat a rearward facing seat for promoting sleep on long journeys. As he can’t see us, he’s learning to entertain himself and get in those zzz’s!

At £275, it’s unbeatable value for money. As it will last you from birth to approx age 4, you simply won’t find a first class car seat any cheaper. Although there is always to temptation to buy car seats secondhand on eBay - if there’s one piece of advice you take from this post, I hope it will be that you don’t buy a pre-loved car seat. You can’t be sure they haven’t been involved in an accident and that all is in perfect working order - it’s not worth the risk.

In terms of features, safety and comfort, I’d give the BRITAX MAX-FIX a 5/5. Having researched all about shield protection alternatives, I’m utterly convinced children are safest in a BRITAX and I’m delighted Dexter is now in one.

BRITAX are all over the web! It’s well worth following them on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube for all the latest news and tutorials. Don’t forget you can also buy direct from the BRITAX online store too with free delivery!

DISCLAIMER: I was sent a BRITAX MAX-FIX for the purposes of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Mar 25 2013

BRITAX Pro-Harness Campaign - Why 5 Point Harnesses are the Safest Car Seat Restraint

Posted on March 25, 2013 by admin

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Leader’s in child safety & car seat technology BRITAX recently contacted me with news of their Pro-Harness Campaign. The aim is to educate parents about the optimum standard in car seat harnesses, and arm them with the best possible advice for keeping children safe whilst on the move.

They are keen to stress that the five point safety harness is the safest harness for strapping in our tots, and warn about the dangers of the alternative - the increasingly popular shield system. It makes for very interesting reading and could just save your child’s life.

Recommended FIVE POINT SAFETY HARNESS

Not recommended SHIELD OR SAFETY CUSHION

With such an overwhelming choice of baby and child car seats available, it’s a case of ‘information overload’ for parents. Walking around your local baby store you’re immediately confronted with a tower of seats in all sorts of designs and sizes - coupled together with the varying car seat stages, price points, quality and safety details, it’s all incredibly confusing.

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All of us want the best for our children and wouldn’t compromise their safety. Making sound and reasoned choices supported by research is the least we can do. So here’s the low-down.

In the last four to five years, there has been a rise in popularity in the use of Shield systems. Although, a legally approved system, Shields are not tested for the risk of ejection and other critical life threatening injuries that could be sustained in the event of a crash. They claim to work in a similar way to an airbag, be less restrictive for a child, and are easier and faster to fit. They state that your child is better protected from severe spinal injuries by distributing the energy across the whole of the upper body with less forces being applied to the neck - but tests have shown this is simply not true.

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BRITAX, the leader of in-car safety, abandoned Shield systems as continued research into what actually happens in the event of a crash provided real evidence that Shield systems do not provide the optimum safe environment for children. Following rigorous testing in their own in-house crash testing facilities they determined that the five point harness better withstood crashes from multiple angles and speed collisions.

Click on the BRITAX microsite to see video content of what happens in a roll over crash when a shield is used.

http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/why-five-point-harness-britax/start

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So what is the real danger of shield systems?

No fixed point restraining upward movement of a child’s body = the child can partly or fully eject from the seat
They transfer most of the forces generated from a crash to the chest and soft abdominal area = there is a great deal more force on the lower spine which increases the risk of serious life changing injuries
They do not fasten snugly across a child’s pelvis & adjust to the contours of the child’s body = allows more forward and side to side movement
Not covered with energy absorbing padding to protect the head = The child’s face is often the stop point in the head movement

12161809281371254023jean_victor_balin_tick.svg.med Why is a five point safety harnesses the safest option?

Offers a much snugger fit than a shielded seat = In the event of a crash, the harness immediately restrains the child, spreading the crash force out across the strong bones of the body
Decreases the forces a child experiences during a crash as forces are diverted from the child along the harnessing to the five points of contact with the seat
There is less stress to the spine as forces are being moved away from the parts of the body containing vital organs
The shoulder contact points stop the risk of ejection, whilst the crotch strap stops the risk of submarining
The child is at much less risk of an improper installation
Same restraint system used in racing cars

And if you needed any more convincing…

In a shield system the force on the whole spine is significantly stronger than in a harness system as there is more forward movement of the child’s body. Should the accident be one of side impact – which accounts for 1 in 4 accidents (and 20% of child car seat crash fatalities), the child has limited upper body restraint causing greater risk of serious injury.

BRITAX is continuously striving to ensure that parents understand the technology and innovation that is incorporated into all BRITAX products, ensuring they have peace of mind that they have done their utmost to keep their children safe. To keep abreast of all their latest campaigns visit the website, follow them on Twitter, and like them on Facebook.