Baby Care and Parenting Tips

Do You Really Need To Take The Car Seat With You?

In a word, Yes.

SAFETY

Consider what the FAA website states about flying with kids, “FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a Child Restraint System or device during the flight is the smart and right thing to do.”

COMFORT

Use the car seat your child is already comfortable in. Flying with kids involves a lot of change and disruption…you can help them be as comfortable as possible by bringing the familiar car seat. Happy Child = Fun Trip

YEAH, BUT I HAVE TO BUY AN EXTRA TICKET

Consider whether you really want your child to be on your lap the entire flight. The days of counting on an empty seat are over. In their attempt to stay financially afloat, airlines are eliminating routes and trying to maximize the number of passengers on each flight.

TIP: Ask your airline for a discounted fare when flying with kids. Many airlines now offer discounts of up to 50 percent for children less than two years of age.

RENTAL AND UNFAMILIAR CAR SEATS

If you decide to leave the child seat at home, what will you use at your destination? Getting a car seat from a car rental agency can be a problem. Cleanliness is often an issue

- It’s hard to know if you have the rental agency car seat installed and adjusted properly – Confirm, confirm, confirm your child seat reservation with the car rental agency

TIP: If you don’t want to rent a child seat through a car rental agency or need to rent other types of baby equipment, there are many baby equipment rental companies you can find on the Internet.

ONE OTHER POSSIBILITY

Some of you may have heard of the CARES: Child Aviation Restraint System. It is the only harness restraint ever approved by the FAA. It weighs about 1 pound and is basically a small harness the child uses while in the airplane seat (not to be confused with the lap harness type restraint that is not recommended by the FAA). CARES Is a good product, but…your child will still need their own airplane seat and a seat for driving upon arrival. Some parents take CARES on board for the airplane seat and check the car seat as luggage. But, that still requires carrying the seat through the airport and putting it into some type of protective bag/case to keep it clean and intact. I still much prefer having my kids in their own familiar car seats on the plane, especially since I would have to buy the CARES and a protective bag for checking the seat as luggage.

USE A CAR SEAT CARRIER

My preferred method for taking the car seat when flying with kids is to use a backpack style car seat carrier.

If you plan to travel a lot with your baby, you should consider adding a baby car seat to the list of equipment you definitely need to have. Having a car seat for your baby is the only way you are going to keep your baby secure as you drive your car. Not only is it a requirement by law but it is also an investment in the safety of your child.

Typically, car seats are miniature seats that snugly secure your baby as you travel about in your car. The seats are firmly and safely attached to free seats in the vehicle. There are hundreds if not thousands of car seat designs you can select.

When looking for a baby car seat you should consider the following:

1) Comfort:

Some car seats are roughly made and it will show in the craftsmanship. Rough edges and tough padding will make travel uncomfortable for your child. It would be best to find seats with a comfortable build. Padding that is soft yet firm is an added bonus. Make sure there are no sharp edges around and within the seat area. This could cause a bruising or gouging hazard so keep all those edges blunt.

You want to consider designs that support your baby’s back and neck. Babies can’t hold their neck up, so they will need a seat that will make sure that his or her head is kept in a comfortable position. This should be all the more important considering how babies love to wiggle and squirm.

2) Quality:

Check the seat for any irregularities in its design. Look for areas that are susceptible to breaking and wearing out. The baby seat should be lightweight and easy to manage, yet tough enough to ensure the safety of your child. Remember that the most important aspect here is safety. So keep a parent’s eye out for any design flaws that could contribute to such.

When attached to a car seat, the baby’s harness shouldn’t wobble to and fro. It should be stable and secure to ensure that your baby does not get rocked violently.

Stay away from second-hand car seats as they could already be damaged or worn out. This will compromise your child’s safety, so it is best to refrain from even considering such equipment.

3) Complexity:

Does the harness take too much time to secure? If so you might want to consider other models that allow for a more straightforward approach to securing and removing your baby from the harness. Of course, even if this is the case do not forget that the most important aspect of any car seat is its safety. If you were to choose between a harness that was a little complex but safe, and one that was easy to secure but comes off on its own, go for the former.

However, you will still have to worry about how hard it is to detach such a harness. Go for baby car seats that allow for maximum safety and easiest securing of children. Also try reading the manual for each baby car seat to find out the guidelines and functionality each one offers. This will give a better idea on comparing each baby car seat by make and function.

4) Size:

The size of the car seat will generally depend on how large your baby is. Make sure, however, that the harness goes over the pelvis of your baby and not over his or her stomach. If the harness goes over the stomach instead, you should consider getting a different baby seat. The baby’s hands and feet should also fit snugly within the car seat to avoid getting injuries to these parts. If the seat is too big for the child, it will show since you will notice that he or she does not fit the seat snugly.

Every baby is a blessing and you, as parents, are stewards of this blessing. You have waited long enough to welcome him to the outside world. If you are a first time parent, you may find these tips helpful in looking after your newborn.

1. Feed your baby right. Whether you have decided to feed your baby with breast milk or infant formula, make sure that you are giving him the right amount and at the right time.

Studies have proven that breast milk is still the best nourishment for newborn. However, if you have decided to use infant formula, check its label for the proper quantity and time interval for feeding your baby, unless your doctor recommends otherwise. Help your baby burp after feeding.

2. Have your baby get enough sleep. Newborn babies spend most hours of the day sleeping. During the first few weeks, your baby may sleep for only 30 minutes to 3 hours. After six weeks or more, you will notice that the sleeping pattern of your baby will change.

Do not be bothered if your baby keeps on sleeping as it helps in the mental and physical development of a child. However, you should wake him up if it is time to feed him.

3. Know the proper way of bathing your baby. Bathing a newborn for the first time can be the most terrifying experience for a first time mom. You do not have to bathe a newborn baby everyday.

It is enough to bathe him two to three times in a week using only a sponge. You should do this quickly since your baby is not yet used to cold environment.

Make sure that the umbilical cord will not get wet to avoid infection. You can only do tub bathing once the umbilical cord of your baby falls off.

4. Take good care of your baby’s delicate skin. His skin is very sensitive and so you should only use products for babies. They are also prone to skin rashes which are normal. However, if the rashes cause irritation and fever, you should consult your pediatrician.

5. Know when to give your baby his medicine. When your baby was required by the doctor to undergo certain medication, you should observe proper dosage and be conscious on any possible adverse reaction of your baby to the medication.