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Top 10 mistakes when buying a car seat

by: Linda Jenkinson

There is no doubt that a good quality car seat is one of the most important purchases the parent of an infant or toddler can make. A properly installed car seat can be a real life saver in a crash. In addition, a car seat can keep the baby comfortable and happy on those long road trips.

Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes parents make when buying these important safety items. Listed below are some of the most frequently seen mistakes made when buying and installing a car seat.

1.Buying a car seat that is difficult to install � Proper installation is the most important part of buying a good car seat. Inspections of car seats reveal that the majority of car seats are installed improperly. Car seats that come with incomplete or poorly worded instructions, or those that are overly complicated to install, can be dangerous.

2.Buying a car seat that does not properly fit your vehicle. Most car seats are designed to fit most models of newer cars, but owners of older or more exotic cars may have problems fitting car seats properly. If you are unsure if the seat you chose will fit your car, be sure to check with the auto dealer.

3.Not looking for the seal of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Parents should only buy car seats that meet or exceed this federal standard.

4.Buying a car seat that is too small for your baby � All car seats carry a maximum height and weight rating. Be sure to buy a car seat that provide room to grow.

5.Choosing a car seat that is not compatible with your car�s seat belt. Not all car seats are compatible with all styles of seat belts. If you are unsure what type of car seat you need, be sure to consult with the manufacturer.

6.Not ensuring that the car seat fits the baby properly. Particularly with larger car seats, a small baby could accidentally slip out of the seat. It is important that infants one year of age and younger ride only in a rear facing car seat. Only after the baby is older than one year and weighs between 20 or 40 pounds should he or she be switched to a front facing seat.

7.Not checking for safety recalls. There are a number of safety recalls on car seats every year, and it is important to check for recalls on the model car seat you are considering.

8.Not choosing the fabric carefully � It is important to choose a fabric that is machine washable. In addition, a cloth upholstered seat is often more comfortable for the baby.

9.Not buying a car seat as part of a travel system � It is possible to buy a car seat that is part of a three part travel system. That means that the car seat, infant carrier and stroller are all integrated into one handy unit. This combination is often a more convenient and cost effective solution than buying the items separately.

10.Buying a car seat that is poorly made - Poor construction may be the biggest problem with some car seats. Be sure to check the quality of the car seat, watching especially for any sharp edges or loose parts.

About the author:
Linda, mother of two is an inspired author of the
Baby Strollers Guide and the
Baby Products Guide

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Baby Cold Symptoms and How to Give Care
by: Leroy Chan

Remember how miserable you felt when you last had a cold? Can you imagine what your baby must feel when he experiences a cold for the first time?

Viruses are responsible for causing colds. Infected people spread the viruses when they sneeze or cough nearby healthy people. The virus gets into the nose and throat where it multiplies.

What Are The Symptoms?

When your baby has a cold, there will be a number of symptoms. He will be sneezing and have a runny nose. He may have a sore throat and it may be difficult for him to swallow. His glands may become swollen.

He may not feel like eating much and he could become irritable. A cough may develop. He may get a slight fever or have a body temperature of 101 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

When to Seek Medical Advice

If your baby is three months old or less and has cold like symptoms, you should contact a pediatrician immediately. Cold like symptoms in a baby three months old or less are misleading and could lead to a serious ailment.

On the other hand, if your child is more than three months old you should contact a doctor if you notice that he is breathing loudly and his nostrils expand out with each breath. His nails or lips are becoming blue. His mucus is thick, runny and green. He has a cough that hasn�t gone a way for more than a week. His ears ache. His temperature is more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit. He has become more drowsy or grouchy.

How to Care For Your Baby

Medical experts tell us there is no cure for the common cold. However, there are ways to alleviate the miserable symptoms your baby undergoes.

Make sure he gets plenty of rest and extra fluids. If he has a fever, give him acetaminophen or if he�s older that six months he may take ibuprofen (but don�t give it to your baby if he is dehydrated or continuously vomiting).

If your child has a cough and is under three years old, don�t give him a cough suppressing medicine unless it was prescribed by a pediatrician. Coughing rids the lower respiratory tract of mucus.

If your baby has nasal congestion, you can use a rubber suction bulb to draw out the mucus from his nostrils. If the mucus is too thick, you can apply saline nose drops to soften the mucus before extracting with the bulb. A humidifier can also be used in the baby�s room to help liquefy the nasal secretions.

Concluding Thoughts

The best way for your baby to avoid a cold is to not have him near people who are infected. But if your baby gets a cold, the best thing you can do is make it comfortable for him. Soon his cold symptoms will disappear and he�ll be back to health, that is, until the next episode. But by now you�ll be ready for that, won�t you?

To learn more about newborns and what you can expect during your baby�s first year visit: http://www.firstyearbabyadvice.com

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