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Safe and Secure Baby :: News Archive
| 03/15/2010 |
CPSC Issues Warning About Sling Carriers for Babies
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is advising parents and caregivers to be cautious when using infant slings for babies younger than four months of age. Over the past 20 years, the CPSC has identified at least 14 deaths associated with sling-style infant carriers, including three in 2009. Twelve of the deaths involved babies younger than four months of age.
Due to lack of head control and weak neck muscles the sling’s fabric can press against an infant’s nose and mouth, resulting in suffocation within a few minutes. Airway restriction can also result from bending the chin toward the chest, limiting the oxygen supply.
Complications from being a low birth weight twin, prematurity or underlying illness may also have been factors in infant mortality. The CPSC urges parents of preemies, twins, babies in fragile health and those with low weight to use extra care and consult their pediatricians about using slings. When using a sling, make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times. If nursing the baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so the baby’s head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother’s body. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about frequently checking their baby in a sling.
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| 03/02/2010 |
Earthquake Safety Tips
With California and other parts of the world experiencing Earthquakes, it may be time to evaluate or prepare your earthquake plan. Southern California alone experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, but very few are large enough to cause significant damage. However, damage from big earthquakes can be limited by taking preventative steps. Identifying and securing potential hazards before the earthquake hits can both limit damage and prevent injuries after the shaking stops. Anything that is heavy enough to cause injury when falling should be secured with furniture straps or brackets. Fragile items that may be expensive to replace or dangerous when broken can also be secured with putty, museum wax or gel.
Many baby proofing items can be used to secure cabinets and drawers, preventing or reducing their contents from spilling onto the floor. Even expensive electronics can be individually secured with straps to reduce the potential for damage. Mirrors and framed pictures should be hung from closed hooks so that they don't bounce off the wall during an earthquake. If living in an older home, make sure that your water heater has been secured with two straps mounted into the studs or masonry of the wall. Finally, creating a disaster preparedness plan can help the entire family know what to do in the event of an earthquake.
For more information on earthquake safety, please visit www.earthquakecountry.info.
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| 01/12/2010 |
Child Passenger Safety Facts
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists motor vehicle injuries as the leading cause of death among children in the United States. However, the CDC estimates that more than half of the injuries could have been prevented if appropriate child passenger safety devices (car-seats) were in use. Indeed, statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that in the United States during 2008, 968 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 168,000 were injured.
The predominant factors in injury and death included children riding with an intoxicated driver and/or gross mis-use of the child's car-seat. Simply requiring children under the age of sixteen to ride in the back seat was associated with a 40% reduction in the risk of serious injury. The appropriate use of car-seats and boosters was found to reduce the risk of death in passenger cars by 71% for infants, and by 54% for toddlers ages 1 to 4 years.
Not driving while intoxicated would greatly increase the safety of everyone on the road. Unfortunately, there are some individuals either unable or unwilling to follow the above. As a result, the proper use of your child's car seat is all the more important. Studies regarding mis-use of child passenger seats suggest rates between 72 and 90 percent of car-seats are not being used correctly and may even contribute to a child's injuries. Manufacturer instructions should be read and understood prior to using any child passenger safety device as proper use is not uniform between manufacturers and child safety seats. Weight limits and installation methods do vary as do expiration dates on the seats. Having your seat checked by a Child Passenger Safety Technician can be useful if additional help is needed.
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| 11/20/2009 |
Holiday Safety Tips
The holiday season is quickly approaching and taking a few moments to consider toy safety is a must. When shopping for toys please keep in mind the following tips.
Scooters, skateboards and other Riding Toys can go fast. Falls can result in injuries or worse. Thus, properly fitting helmets and safety gear should be worn at all times. Small Balls and other Toys with Small Parts should not be given to children younger than age three due to the potential choking hazards. Children can choke or suffocate on un-inflated or broken balloons. Keep un-inflated balloons away from children younger than eight years old and discard broken balloons at once. Children under the age of six should not be given toys with small magnets as these present a risk if swallowed possibly resulting in serious injuries and/or death.
Injuries can also be prevented once the gifts are open. After opening gifts, immediately discard plastic wrappings or other packaging on toys before they become dangerous play things. Keep toys appropriate for older children away from younger siblings. Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to young children. Pay attention to instructions and warnings on battery chargers. Some chargers lack any device to prevent overcharging.
Common sense and following a few safety rules helps make the holiday season safer for everyone. For more information on holiday safety, please click here.
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| 10/30/2009 |
Halloween Safety Tips
Trick-or-treating this Halloween can be made safer for children by taking a few safety precautions. Parents and care givers should be sure to warn children not to eat any treats before an adult has carefully examined them for evidence of tampering. Kids' costumes should be flame resistant, and extra care should be taken around candles or open flames. Costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts should be avoided.
When going out at night, light and bright costumes, reflective tape and flashlights or glow sticks help keep kids clearly visible to motorists. Bags or sacks should also be light colored or decorated with reflective tape.
Young children should always be accompanied by an adult or an older, responsible child. All children should WALK, not run from house to house and use the sidewalk if available, rather than walk in the street. Children should be cautioned against running out from between parked cars, or across lawns and yards where ornaments, furniture, or clotheslines present dangers.
Children should go only to homes where the residents are known and have outside lights on as a sign of welcome. Parents should remind children not to enter homes or apartments unless they are accompanied by an adult. For more information on Halloween safety, please contact the Consumer Products Safety Commision.
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| 10/20/2009 |
Children Safer in Booster Seats Until at Least Age Eight
A new article in the Journal Pediatrics* reconfirms that the use of a child booster seat for kids ages 4 to 8 is safer than a seat belt alone. The study found that belt positioning boosters reduce the risk for injury in children ages 4 to 8 years old by almost 50%. Indeed, previous research has shown that booster seat usage in children aged 4 to 7 years old reduces the risk of injury by 59% compared with similar aged children in adult seat belts alone. The updated study reconfirmed the benefits to safety when using belt positioning boosters for kids aged 4 to 8. Based on these recent results, parents, pediatricians and health educators are encouraged to continue to recommend the use of belt positioning booster seats once a child outgrows a harness based restraint. Boosters should be used until at least 8 years of age or until a child has reached a height of 4 feet 9 inches tall. (*Pediatrics 2009; 124:1281-1286.)
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| 10/07/2009 |
The Dangers of Drowning Don't End at the Pool
The end of outdoor swimming and pool season doesn’t mean the end of drowning dangers for young children. Second only to pools, more children drown in bathtubs than in any other product in and around the home.
For the years 2003-2005, drownings reported by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for children under 5 show bathtubs to be the most frequent cause at (62%), followed by baby seats or bathinettes (15%), buckets and pails (11%), landscaping or yard products (6%), and other products (4%). Additional reports of non-fatal submersion incidents for 2005-2007 were also reported for the same products. The CPSC found that the majority of drownings and non-fatal submersion incidents involved children younger than 2 years old.
Due to the potential for drowning, parents are advised to provide constant supervision when children are in or around water. Anywhere there is water, there is a potential drowning hazard to children. Many of the reported drownings involved a lapse in supervision by caregivers, such as leaving the bathroom momentarily while the child was in the bathtub to answer the phone/door or to retrieve an item like a towel. In other incidents, an older sibling was left to watch a younger sibling.
The CPSC recommends parents and caregivers follow these safety tips when children are around bathtubs, bath seats, buckets, spas or decorative ponds or fountains:
Never leave young children alone
Always keep a young child within arm's reach in a bathtub
If you must leave, take the child with you
Don't leave a baby or toddler in a bathtub under the care of another young child
Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
For more information, please visit http://www.cpsc.gov/library/data.html.
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| 08/31/2009 |
Proper Use of a Helmet Helps Prevent Injury and Death
Head injuries to children from the use of bicycles, skateboards and scooters can be diminished or prevented by the proper use of an appropriate helmet. Indeed, bicycle helmets are 85 to 88 percent effective in mitigating head and brain injuries. As a result, the use of a helmet is the single most effective way to reduce head injuries and fatalities from bicycle crashes. A study done by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that universal bicycle helmet use by children ages 4 to 15 would prevent 39,000 to 45,000 head injuries, and 18,000 to 55,000 scalp and face injuries annually. (DOT HS 810 886W, NHTSA, 2008).
Many states have specific laws requiring helmet use for not only bicycles, but for skateboards, scooters and roller skates. In California, a properly fitted and fastened helmet that meets current safety standards is required for all children under the age of 18. (Cal. Vehicle Code Section 21212).
For more information from NHTSA regarding Bicycle Safety, please click here.
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| 08/13/2009 |
Safe And Secure Baby Receives 2009 Best of Westlake Village Award
Safe And Secure Baby has been selected for the 2009 Best of Westlake Village Award in the Children's Equipment category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
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| 08/10/2009 |
Safety Concerns with Infant Crib Bumper Pads
A study from the Journal Pediatrics concluded that many crib and bassinet bumpers are dangerous. Finding that their use prevented only minor injuries, the study was concerned about the numerous reports of injuries and death directly attributed to old fashioned crib and bassinet bumpers. Because traditional bumpers can cause death, the study concluded that they should not be used. (J Pediatr 2007;151:271)
Fortunately, the concerns regarding crib and bassinet bumpers have been addressed by a great new product by Breathable Baby. The award-winning Breathable Baby Breathable Bumper reduces the risks of suffocation, entanglement and climbing. Their exclusive A.C.T. (Air Channel Technology) fabric promotes air-flow and helps maintain air access for babies. It also collapses so babies can't use it to climb out of their cribs.
Safe and Secure Baby now carries the Breathable Baby Breathable Bumper in several different colors. Protecting against suffocation hazards lets both baby and caregivers sleep better.
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| 07/30/2009 |
Rear Facing Kids are Safer
A recent article published in the British Medical Journal explored why rear-facing in a car seat is safer for children until they are four years of age. The relatively large head mass and difference in cervical anatomy in young children led researchers to conclude that rear facing children are simply safer than their forward-facing counterparts. Indeed, the younger the child, the lower the crash force required to cause spinal injury.
Citing excessive stretching or transection of the spinal cord during a head-on collision while forward-facing, the article concluded that rear-facing car seats are safer and parents and physicians should be educated about the benefits. The study pointed to resistance to change from parents and healthcare providers that may be unaware that it is safer to leave children rear facing in their car seats for as long as possible. (BMJ 2009, 338: b1994.)
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| 07/01/2009 |
Be Smart About Fireworks Safety
During the upcoming holiday, parents and caregivers are urged to be smart about fireworks safety. For 2008, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reported seven fireworks-related deaths and an estimated 7,000 individuals required hospital emergency room visits for firework related injuries.
Fireworks are not legal in all areas. Consumers are encouraged to avoid buying fireworks that come in brown paper packaging, as this can often be a sign that the fireworks were made for professional displays and could pose a significant danger. Multiple injuries from sparklers to children under five have been reported. Indeed, sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees - hot enough to melt some metals.
If using legal fireworks, the following tips may help reduce injury. Never place any part of your body directly over a fireworks device when lighting the fuse. Move back a safe distance immediately after lighting. Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not fully functioned. Never point or throw fireworks at another person. Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap. Light one item at a time, then move back quickly. Never carry fireworks in a pocket or shoot them off in metal or glass containers. After fireworks fully complete their functioning, douse the spent device with plenty of water from a bucket or hose before discarding to prevent a trash fire.
Unfortunately, 70 percent of all fireworks-related injuries generally occur between June 20 and July 20 each year. To help prevent these injuries, children should never play with or light fireworks. For the best protection families should attend professional demonstrations.
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| 06/03/2009 |
Water Safety Important During Warmer Weather
As the summer months and warmer weather approaches, home and public pools across the country are opening. A new report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reveals that nearly 300 children younger than 5 drown in pools and spas each year, and about 3,000 require attention at hospital emergency rooms due to water related injuries.
Drowning often occurs when children gain access to a pool during a brief lapse in adult supervision. To reduce the risk of drowning, pool owners should adopt several layers of protection, including physical barriers, such as pool fencing equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates. If the house forms a side of the barrier, door alarms for pool access doors and/or a power safety cover over the pool should be used. Unfortunately, reports of children exiting the house via a pet door have been on the rise.
The Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct) went into effect on December 19, 2008 and requires all public pools and spas to have anti-entrapment drain covers, and in certain circumstances, an additional anti-entrapment system. For more information regarding pool safety, please visit www.poolsafety.gov, which serves as a valuable source for information about the P&SSAct and drowning prevention.
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| 05/12/2009 |
Furniture Tip-Over Injuries are Rising
A recent study published in the Journal Clinical Pediatrics suggests that injuries to children from furniture tip-overs is increasing.* Data taken from the seventeen year study period found that children under six were most often injured by television tip-overs resulting in head and neck injuries. Based on the time period evaluated, the study projected a 41.1% increase in the number of injuries to children under 17 from tip-overs. Pulling furniture onto oneself was most common in the four years old and under group.
Information from the Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC) regarding prevention includes: checking the stability of furniture and securing it if necessary; placing televisions low to the ground and near the back of their stands; and reducing any incentive for a child to climb on furniture. Simple steps such as avoiding placing toys or other attractive items in high places can help reduce injuries.
The majority of injuries looked at in the Clinical Pediatric study were preventable. With the increase in flat screen television use, caution should be exercised in both placement and properly securing the television and stand. The use of furniture straps and television brackets is a cost effective way to reduce serious preventable injuries to children.
(*Bethany L. Gottesman, Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MA, et al., Injuries From Furniture Tip-overs Among Children and Adolescents in the United States, 1990-2007. Clin Pediatr 2009; xx; first published May 3, 2009.
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| 05/04/2009 |
Lead in Toys
With recent recalls on toys and jewelry for lead contamination many parents are seeking additional information to help keep their children safe and secure. However, the major source of lead poisoning in children comes not from toys but from paint chips and lead dust found in older buildings. Until 1978, lead paint was commonly used in house paint. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that 38 million homes still contain some lead paint.
Lead is not generally absorbed through skin contact, but is ingested when children handle or come into contact with objects containing lead and then carry the contamination to their mouths. To most parents’ dismay, lead poisoning can occur with no obvious signs or symptoms. Federal guidelines define lead poisoning at 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. Recent studies suggest that this level should be even lower. The general consensus is that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year about 310,000 children ages 1-5 have blood levels of lead that require some type of treatment. Though a single exposure to lead could reach toxic levels, lead poisoning is far more likely from prolonged repeated exposure. Experts have found the most common risk associated with elevated lead levels in the blood have to do with developmental delays and an associated impact on brain development. Other concerns are kidney toxicity and abnormal blood production. Lead has also been found to be a carcinogen.
If there are concerns that your child suffers from lead exposure, see your health care provider. A blood test can be performed to check lead levels and help direct any treatment. With all of the various recalls for lead contaminated toys, it can be difficult for parents to stay informed. For more information on recalls the Consumer Product Safety Commission has a website www.cpsc.gov that lists all recalls with photos and descriptions of recalled products. You can also sign up for e-mail notifications of new recalls.
To help reduce the risk of lead contamination be sure to maintain the paint on your home, especially if it was built prior to 1978. If you think that your child has a lead containing toy, take the toy away, check for a recall on the toy and follow the instructions if the toy has been recalled. For more information on lead contamination, please visit the Centers for Disease Control by clicking here.
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| 03/18/2009 |
Majority of Unintentional Child Poisonings Occur in the Home
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) more than two-million calls each year are made to the nation's poison control centers as a result of unintentional poisonings from consumer products found in the home. It is estimated that 80,000 children are treated in hospital emergency departments for unintentional poisonings each year.
Children younger than age five account for the majority of the non-fatal poisonings. A recent review conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission staff found that 70% of poisonings involve children 1 to 2 years of age. Oral prescription drugs, non prescription drugs and supplements were involved in more than half of the incidents.
Parents, grandparents and caregivers are encouraged to have multiple layers of poison prevention protection in the home. Keeping medicines and household chemicals in their original, child-resistant containers, storing potentially hazardous substances up and out of a child’s sight and reach, and having the National toll-free poison control center telephone number, 800-222-1222, handy in case of a poison emergency are all important layers of prevention. Child proofing medicine cabinets, drawers and cabinets where potentially dangerous substances are located is another important layer of prevention.
As always, vigilant adult supervision, especially when using hazardous products is a must. Remember to keep items closed and in their original containers and leave the original labels on all products.
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| 02/24/2009 |
Protect Children from Tip-Overs
Over the last few years, emergency rooms have treated thousands of children for injuries associated with TV tip-overs. For the years 2000 through 2005, the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) received reports of 36 TV tip-over and 65 furniture tip-over
deaths. More than 80 percent of these deaths involved young children.
climbing onto, falling against or pulling themselves up on shelves, bookcases, dressers, desks, chests and television stands. In some these cases, televisions placed on top of furniture tipped over and caused traumatic and sometimes fatal injuries.
Simple steps can be taken to reduce or prevent these types of unintentional injuries. Adding furniture straps to anchor top-heavy pieces such as entertainment units, TV stands and bookcases is a great place to start when baby and child proofing. Securing electrical cords out of a child's reach and reminding children that they should not play with cords also helps. Even simple steps such as removing toys and the remote control from tall furniture and televisions helps prevent children from climbing to reach these items. No product is a substitute for vigilant adult supervision. However, properly securing heavy items may mean the difference between a close call and a trip to the emergency room.
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| 01/21/2009 |
Booster Seat Basics
There are essentially four stages of car seat safety for your child. The infant stage, the toddler stage, the booster stage and graduation into the use of your car's seat belts. The trick is determining when your child is ready for each stage. Generally, the hardest stage for most parents is the use of a booster.
Safety Belt Safe, U.S.A., a leading advocacy group for child passenger safety, has developed a five point test to help parents determine the right time for using a booster seat, generally from 4 to 10 years old.
1. Does your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.
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| 12/16/2008 |
Holiday Decorating Safety Tips
The holiday season is here and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to keep safety in mind as they decorate for the holidays. Flickering candles, blinking holiday lights and fragrant evergreens are beautiful staples of the holiday season, but when used improperly, these holiday decorating “must haves” can pose deadly dangers.
Each year, during the 60 days surrounding the winter holiday season, about 11,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms due to decoration-related injuries with falls, cuts, shocks and burns topping the list. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that each year an average of 240 fires involving dried-out Christmas trees result in 16 deaths and $13 million in property damage. An average of 13,000 candle-related fires are estimated by CPSC staff to occur annually, resulting in 170 deaths and $390 million in property damage.
When purchasing an artificial tree, DO look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree is more resistant to burning. When purchasing a live tree, DO check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and do not break when bent between your fingers. The bottom of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles.
In homes with small children, DO take special care to avoid sharp or breakable decorations, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children who could swallow or inhale small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
Indoors or outside, DO use only lights that have been tested for safety by a nationally-recognized testing laboratory, such as UL or ETL/ITSNA. Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets. Remember to turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
For more holiday safety tips, please click here.
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| 12/12/2008 |
Recall on Britax Frontier Combination Booster
Britax Child Safety, Inc. announced that it is conducting a voluntary safety recall on the Frontier combination Harness-2-Booster child restraints. The recall includes Frontier child restraints manufactured between April 1, 2008 and September 14, 2008 for Model #s E9L54E7, E9L54H6, E9L54H7 and E9L54M6 and between April 1, 2008 and September 17, 2008 on Model # E9L5490.
If the harness straps are repeatedly loosened one strap at a time, then the harness strap(s) may become detached from the metal yoke located on the back of the child seat. If the harness strap(s) becomes loose or detached then the condition can be corrected by inspecting the back of the child seat and reattaching the harness straps. If this condition occurs, the child may not be properly restrained, and in the event of a vehicle crash there could be an increased risk of injury.
To address this issue, Britax will provide two rubber caps that can be easily placed on the yoke slots to prevent the harness straps from detaching. The rubber caps have been specifically designed for the Frontier yoke to provide a secure fit and have been tested to verify their effectiveness.
No later than January 7, 2009, the rubber caps will be mailed with an instruction sheet to all registered Frontier child restraint owners with manufacturing dates prior to September 15 or 18, 2008.
Until consumers receive their remedy kit, they should confirm that their harness system is properly attached to the metal yoke and they may continue to safely use their child restraint.
Owners of the Frontier child restraint who have not registered their product or need to verify existing registration should contact the Britax information line, toll free at 1-800-683-2045 or visit http://www.frontierrecall.com/.
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| 12/11/2008 |
Safe and Secure Baby Supports CDC on National Child Injury Prevention Initiatives
Safe and Secure Baby is supporting a new global effort to reduce the number of unintentional injuries to children around the world. Currently, about 700,000 children die every year from unintentional injuries – more than from all childhood diseases combined.
Recent studies have focused on the international and domestic issues of childhood injuries. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released the U.S. based study: CDC Childhood Injury Report: Patterns of Unintentional Injuries among 0-19 Year Olds in the United States, 2000 – 2006.
The report highlights the leading killers and disablers of children, namely road traffic injuries, drowning, falls, burns and poisons. Based on the research and recommendations contained in these comprehensive reports, Safe and Secure Baby would like to remind parents and caregivers to take a few moments to evaluate their child's surroundings for potential hazards.
As a call to action in response to the U.S. report, the CDC’s Injury Center has launched a national initiative it calls Protect the Ones You Love: Child Injuries Are Preventable. The initiative brings together a network of childhood injury prevention professionals to identify policies and national/local strategies that will empower parents to help keep their children safe from childhood injuries. The CDC’s Injury Center has developed a number of resources, including fact sheets, podcasts, e-cards, and media and event planning guides to help parents keep their kids safer. Find these and other tools, all available free of charge, at http://www.cdc.gov/safechild.
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| 12/03/2008 |
Car Seats For Traveling
When packing for that much needed vacation, don’t forget about the often overlooked car seat that your child will need when flying to or driving at your final destination. Currently, all fifty states have some sort of mandatory car seat usage law on the books. Though California’s child seat law is better than some states, a few, such as Kansas and Washington go beyond California law in an effort to help parents keep their children safe. Thus, if you are driving through various states on your vacation, keep in mind that you may need a booster seat for your six or seven year old, even though California law does not currently require one.
Whether required by law or not, booster seats should be used, regardless of age, until your child reaches four feet nine inches in height. Car seat belts are designed for adults of that height or taller and simply do not fit correctly for smaller adults and children. An improperly fitted seat belt can add to or cause significant injury to the abdomen and neck.
The use of your car seat on a plane should not be overlooked. If you are going to take the seat with you for use when you arrive at your destination, consider using it on the flight. The Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 135.128) requires the airline to allow you to use your seat provided that an airline seat has been purchased for your child, the seat meets the requirements for aircraft use (a sticker on the seat will tell you if the seat is approved for aircraft use) and the seat is being used appropriately (this includes rear facing the seat if your child is within the manufacturers weight and height parameters). Often, the airline will allow you to use your car seat without purchasing a ticket for your infant, provided that space is available on the flight.
There have been several recent occurrences where flight attendants have refused to allow parents to use their seats on the plane due to the flight attendant’s misunderstanding or lack of training. Thus, if you intend to use your car seat on the plane to any destination originating in the United States, take a copy of the owner’s manual and the code section above. Having your child in a familiar, comfortable, five-point harness is the way to go when encountering sudden turbulence during any flight. Rear facing your infant, if possible, is preferred as well. Just look at how the flight attendants are sitting the next time you fly.
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| 11/15/2008 |
Upgrades Complete
Safe and Secure Baby has completed several upgrades to the website. We hope that these upgrades will make your shopping experience more pleasant and efficient. Many of the upgrades were performed behind the scenes and shouldn't impact the look and feel of Safe and Secure Baby in any way.
Thank you for your patience during the upgrade process. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email or toll free at (888) 801-2229.
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| 10/20/2008 |
Britax Frontier In Stock and Free Shipping
The Britax Frontier is now back in stock in all styles. For a limited time, use coupon code "freebritax" to receive free shipping on your Britax Frontier.
The Britax Frontier is a forward facing only car seat that is capable of harnessing your child to 80 pounds in a five point harness. It can then be converted into a High Back Belt Positioning Booster with side impact protection up to 100 pounds. Order yours today while supplies last and take advantage of our super fast shipping.
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| 10/08/2008 |
The Twilight Sea Turtle Has Arrived
The Twilight Sea Turtle has finally made its way to Safe and Secure Baby. Enjoy a peaceful night sleep under the Twilight Sea Turtle's starry night sky. This fun and educational nightlight is designed to help children sleep easier and also help bring awareness to endangered sea animals. The Twilight Sea Turtle's beautiful shell illuminates in three soothing colors while also highlighting five endangered sea friends: the Blue Whale; California Sea Otter; Knysna Seahorse; Leatherback Turtle and Vaquita Dolphin. The Twilight Storybook includes a Twilight Sea Turtle story which teaches children about endangered sea animals, a helpful Star Guide and an adoption certificate.
A portion of the proceeds from The Twilight Sea Turtle will be donated to an international conservation organization.
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| 09/24/2008 |
National Child Passenger Safety Week
September 21-27, 2008 is National Child Passenger Safety Week. Now is the time to have your car seat checked to make sure that it is installed correctly. When checking your child's car seat at the belt path, it should not move more than an inch in any direction.
It is estimated that more than 90% of car seats are improperly installed. Please take the time to make sure your car seat isn't one of them.
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| 09/10/2008 |
Safe and Secure Baby Returns from 2008 ABC Kids Expo
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to announce that its trip to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada was a success. Over the next few months, Safe and Secure Baby will be adding safety products from several manufacturers including: P'kolino, Neat Solutions, Cloud b, Kidco and more.
From Silly Soft Seating to Jumbo Baby Cubes, and dozens of baby products in between, these new products are the best in baby safety for 2008. Products will be updated and availabile for shipping as soon as they arrive at our store over the next few months.
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| 09/05/2008 |
ABC Kids Expo - 2008
Safe and Secure Baby will be attending the 2008 ABC Kids Expo Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 6-9, 2008. At the show, manufacturers from around the world will be presenting new and innovative products for children. Safe and Secure Baby will be there looking for new child safety products to add to our store. In an effort to educate our staff on all the new products, the majority of our work force will be attending the show. As a result, Safe and Secure Baby will be running on a skeleton crew during the show dates and will be unable to process rush orders. Our retail location will also be closed from September 6-9, 2008. We will be open again on September 10, 2008. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay that this may cause.
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| 08/29/2008 |
Recall by Habermaass Corp. Due to Choking Hazard
Habermaass Corp. announced a voluntary recall for certain Wood Infant Toys on August 28, 2008. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. The toys recalled include wooden rattles, pacifier holders, and stroller toys. The wooden rattles, pacifier holders, and stroller toys contain small pieces including glued on mirrors and/or prisms that can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants. The head of the ladybug puzzle pieces also poses a choking hazard.
Consumers should immediately take the recalled puzzles, rattles, pacifier holders and stroller toys away from children and contact Habermaass at (800) 468-6873 ext. 107, to receive a free replacement product or a full refund.
For more information on the recall and a list of covered products, please click here.
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| 08/22/2008 |
Conflicting Information Difficult for Consumers
Parents and Care Givers receive Car Seat Safety Information from any number of sources. Unfortunately, the advice can often be conflicting and sometimes dangerous. Many well meaning sources are providing statements such as: “Children over 1 year old and weighing between 20 lbs and 40 lbs should ride in forward-facing car seats.”
This is neither correct, nor the best practice for child safety. While children may ride forward facing at one year and over twenty pounds, for safety reasons they should not do so. Rather, the best and safest practice is to ride rear facing for as long as possible. Children should ride rear facing up to the maximum weight that their car seat allows, or until their heads are within one inch of the top of the shell. This practice is endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics and has been the subject of a recent article: Henary B, Sherwood C., Crandall J, et al. Car Safety seats for children: rear facing for best protection. Inj. Prev. 2007; 13(6): 398-402.
The Injury Prevention article found that children under two are five times safer riding rear facing. The article prompted a Commentary in the Journal Pediatrics, asking Physicians to promote better decisions than one year and twenty pounds.
Another incorrect, but often heard statement is: “Children ages 4 to 8 weighing between 40 lbs and 80 lbs should ride in booster seats restrained with lap and shoulder belts. A regular safety belt won't fully protect a child this size in a crash.” While it is true that many children should be riding in boosters, the age and weight recommendations above are potentially mis-leading. The word “should” infers that this is the best practice. It is not. Indeed, children should ride in a five point harness for as long as possible. Asking a four year old (or less) to sit correctly every time in a booster is placing far too much responsibility on the four year old for his or her own safety.
Advice can be widely obtained. However, there is no reason to accept advice that fails to maximize the safety of your child.
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| 07/15/2008 |
Safe Sippy is Back
The Safe Sippy by Kid Basix is finally back in stock. Created in response to the growing concern over chemicals used in plastic sippy cups, The Safe Sippy is made of food grade stainless steel. All plastics used in the Safe Sippy are certified or tested free of harmful leaching chemicals such as BPA and pthalates. The Safe Sippy now has a new and improved cap and valve system.
We expect the Safe Sippy to go fast, so order yours today.
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| 05/08/2008 |
Baby Bottle and Food Warmers Recalled by Munchkin Due to Fire Hazard
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Munchkin, Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of certain Baby Bottle and Food Warmers made by Munchkin. The recall involves the Munchkin Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmer with Pacifier Cleaning Basket 2-in-1 Design, model #13301 and lot number TP-1487. The product is used to warm food and bottles of various sizes. The set includes a main basket, a lift-out basket, an adapter ring, and a measuring cup. “Munchkin” is located on the front of the warmer and “TP-1487” is located on the bottom. Only warmers bearing lot number “TP-1487” are included in this recall.
Consumers should stop using bottle and food warmers with lot number TP-1487 immediately and contact Munchkin to receive a free replacement.
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| 03/21/2008 |
Pediatricians Urged to Give Correct Information
In the most recent issue of Pediatrics, a commentary urged pediatricians to ensure that every child is restrained properly for his or her age and size for every trip in a car.* The commentary recognized that pediatricians may not be providing parents with current safety guidelines advocating best practice.
Indeed, current research suggests that children under the age of two years are 75 percent less likely to die or be seriously injured when they are riding rear facing. In a recent article from Injury Prevention, it was found that the odds of severe injury to forward facing children age 12-23 months old was 5.32 times higher than a rear facing child. (Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.)
Since 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children ride rear facing to the maximum weight that their car seat will allow. Many seats now have a rear facing maximum of 30 to 35 pounds allowing longer rear facing benefits. The commentary also addressed the common myth that a child may be injured from legs contacting the rear of the vehicle seat and found no data to substantiate the fear.
Re-education of both parents and pediatricians can be difficult in light of long held beliefs that are unfortunately unsupported. The take home message for everyone is to keep children rear facing as long as possible to receive the maximum safety benefit.
* Bull, Marilyn J., Durbin, Dennis R.
Rear-Facing Car Safety Seats: Getting the Message Right
Pediatrics 2008 121: 619-620
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| 01/29/2008 |
Britax Car Seat Covers
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to annouce that both Britax Marathon Car Seat Covers and Britax Roundabout Car Seat Covers are again available. In the near future, we will also be carrying Britax Decathlon and Britax Boulevard replacement car seat covers.
The Marathon Car Seat Covers come with a matching belly pad and matching comfort pads. The Roundabout Car Seat Covers come with a matching belly pad.
Demand for Britax Replacement car seat covers has been tremendous and we are working hard to keep all items in stock. If you don't see the cover you like, please e-mail us at info@safeandsecurebaby.com and tell us what you would like to see. If we can order it, we will try to add it to our next order.
Thank you to everyone for helping to make Safe and Secure Baby a success.
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| 12/06/2007 |
Rear Facing Safest for Children Under Two
A recent study conducted by experts in injury prevention found that the use of Child Passenger Safety Seats (car seats) rear facing was much more effective than forward facing seats in protecting children in a car crash. It was reccomended that car seats be used rear facing in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions up to at least the child's second birthday.
The study, based on data taken from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) vehicle crash data base over a five year period, found a significant decrease in the likelihood of injury of children aged 0-23 months that were rear facing in their car seats.*
The take home lesson from this study is to keep your children rear facing in their car seats for as long as the car seat will allow. Many seats now harness children rear facing to 33 or 35 pounds, allowing parents to benefit from the added safety of rear facing to age two and beyond. Despite reccomendations from leading authorities like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), NHTSA and Safe Kids Worldwide, many parents are unaware of the added safety benefit of rear facing. Misplaced concerns regarding comfort and leg injury are most often cited as reasons for forward facing at one year. However, as found in the Injury Prevention study, optimum protection and a decrease in injury from side and forward facing impacts comes from rear facing.
* Car Safety Seats For Children: Rear Facing For Best Protection; Injury Prevention 2007; 13:398-402.
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| 11/29/2007 |
Holiday Toy Safety
Shopping safely for your children by being aware of potential hazards and providing age appropriate toys is especially important at this time of year. The Consumer Products Safety Commision (CPSC) advises that the leading cause of toy-related fatalities is from choking and aspiration of toy parts.
The Chinese government has recently signed new agreements to conduct pre-export inspections to prevent lead painted toys and other unsafe toys from being exported to the U.S.
However, in 2007, the CPSC recalled 61 toys involving more than 25 million product units. To help keep kids safe, consumers should stay informed and be aware of recalls by signing up to receive direct e-mail notification of recalls at www.cpsc.gov.
When shopping, keep in mind that toys for children ages 3+ do contain small parts that could present a choking hazard for younger children. Toys containing magnets should not be given to children under age six. If magnets or pieces with magnets are swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur. Any charging of battery operated toys should always be supervised by adults.
The following tips can be used to help choose age appropriate toys for children:
Be a label reader. Look for toys that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
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| 11/07/2007 |
Britax Companion Safety Advisory
In an effort to continually improve their instructional materials, Britax has updated the Companion User Guide. The purpose of this update is to provide further clarification on the adjustment of the buckle strap position and maximum height for infant carrier use.
Buckle Strap Positioning
The Companion features two buckle strap positions in order to accommodate infants between four and 22 pounds. The inner position should be used for infants weighing less than 11 pounds. Once the child has reached a weight of 11 pounds, move the buckle strap to the outer position and maintain this buckle position for the remainder of use with that child. Please note that you may move the buckle strap to the outer position prior to your child reaching a weight of 11 pounds, if your child’s growth and comfort necessitates this adjustment.
Maximum Height for Use
A child has exceeded the height requirement for the Companion when the top of the head is less than one inch from the top of the child restraint or the child’s height exceeds 30 inches (76 cm).
Consumers who own a Companion child restraint manufactured prior to November 1, 2007 and have registered their restraint will be sent an updated user guide and product labels to provide further clarification on product usage. Those consumers that have not registered their child restraint should contact Britax Consumer Services at 1-888-427-4829 or register their product online at www.BritaxUSA.com.
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| 11/02/2007 |
Prince Lionheart bébéPOD
With a recent recall on the Bumbo Baby Sitter Seat, Prince Lionheart has issued a statement to consumers to reassure them that the bébéPOD and bébéPOD Plus by Prince Lionheart are NOT subject to the recall initiated by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Consistent with the instructions and warnings for the bébéPOD, they should continue to be used on the floor - not on a raised surface - with diligent parental supervision required at all times.
It should be noted that the Bumbo Baby Sitter recall was not due to a manufacturing or safety issue with the seat. However, additional warnings will be provided to consumers stressing the importance of not using the seat on tables or elevated surfaces. The Bumbo and bébéPOD should only be used at ground level with constant adult supervision. It is important to remember that no baby proofing product is a substitute for parental supervision.
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| 10/22/2007 |
Britax Marathon Recall
BRITAX ANNOUNCES SAFETY RECALL
On October 19, 2007, Britax Child Safety, Inc. announced that it is conducting a safety recall on the Marathon child restraint, model numbers E9L06, E9W06, and E906. The recall includes production of the Marathon child restraint from May 23, 2006 through July 28, 2006 and with a top tether lot number of KGR 01 A.
Under certain circumstances, if a child exceeds 50 pounds and the vehicle manufacturer allows use of the top tether above 50 pounds, upon vehicle impact, the top tether hook may open and have the potential to release from the tether anchor. In the event of a crash, the child may move forward further than allowed under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. To date, no injuries have been reported or linked to this issue.
To address this issue, Britax will send all registered owners of the Marathon child restraint manufactured between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006 a top tether hook replacement. All Marathon child restraint owners should confirm their Marathon is affected by verifying the model number, date of manufacturer and top tether hook lot number of KGR 01 A as follows:
1. Is your Britax Marathon manufactured between May 23, 2006 and July 28, 2006?
* If YES, proceed to #2.
* If NO, your model is not affected by this safety campaign, no action is required.
2. Does your top tether hook have lot number KGR 01 A?
* If YES, your Marathon is affected by this safety recall notice. Verify that your child restraint has been registered.
* If NO, your model is not affected by this safety campaign, no action is required.
If your Marathon child restraint is involved in this safety notice, the top tether should not be used with children weighing over 50 pounds until the top tether hook replacement has been installed. Upon completion of the repair, the Marathon child restraint can be used with the top tether until the child reaches 65 pounds or until the recommended weight allowed by the vehicle manufacturer for top tether use.
For additional questions contact the Britax information line, toll free at 1-800-683-2045.
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| 10/11/2007 |
Lead and Toys Don't Mix
With recent recalls on toys and jewelry for lead contamination many parents are seeking additional information to help keep their children safe and secure. However, the major source of lead poisoning in children comes not from toys but from paint chips and lead dust found in older buildings. Until 1978, lead paint was commonly used in house paint. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development estimated that 38 million homes still contain some lead paint.
Lead is not generally absorbed through skin contact, but is ingested when children handle or come into contact with objects containing lead and then carry the contamination to their mouths. To most parents’ dismay, lead poisoning can occur with no obvious signs or symptoms. Federal guidelines define lead poisoning at 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood. Recent studies suggest that this level should be even lower. The general consensus is that there is no safe level of lead exposure for children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year about 310,000 children ages 1-5 have blood levels of lead that require some type of treatment. Though a single exposure to lead could reach toxic levels, lead poisoning is far more likely from prolonged repeated exposure. Experts have found the most common risk associated with elevated lead levels in the blood have to do with developmental delays and an associated impact on brain development. Other concerns are kidney toxicity and abnormal blood production. Lead has also been found to be a carcinogen.
If there are concerns that your child suffers from lead exposure, see your health care provider. A blood test can be performed to check lead levels and help direct any treatment. With all of the various recalls for lead contaminated toys, it can be difficult for parents to stay informed. For more information on recalls the Consumer Product Safety Commission has a website www.cpsc.gov that lists all recalls with photos and descriptions of recalled products. You can also sign up for e-mail notifications of new recalls.
To help reduce the risk of lead contamination be sure to maintain the paint on your home, especially if it was built prior to 1978. If you think that your child has a lead containing toy, take the toy away, check for a recall on the toy and follow the instructions if the toy has been recalled. For more information on lead contamination, please visit the Centers for Disease Control by clicking here.
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| 09/14/2007 |
September is Baby Safety Month
This September marks the 24th anniversary of Baby Safety Month, an annual observance led by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) since 1991. The theme of this year's program is “Out & About with Baby,” a reminder that baby safety is a shared responsibility of product manufacturers, retailers, health care providers, child advocacy organizations, government agencies, the community, parents and caregivers.
From carriers to car seats to strollers and more, there are a wide variety of products all parents and caregivers use to get baby out and about. With more options available than ever before, selecting the safest and best product for your baby is no easy task. Careful planning and selection is the best way to keep babies safe, whether traveling, at home or at play. For many products, manufacturers undergo voluntary testing to certify that their products meet JPMA safety standards. More than 2000 products in 17 different categories have received JPMA certification.
Keeping with JPMA’s theme, it is important to remember some simple safety tips when traveling outdoors with baby. Never leave children un-attended when near water. Based on statistics from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, water related injuries are among the top three causes of unintentional injury in the United States each year. The hot summer sun can also lead to injury. For babies less than a year old, preventing direct prolonged exposure is best. Dressing baby in light-weight and light-color clothing for those day trips in the sun is the best option. If you decide to use sunscreen, make sure that it can be used on babies. Some sun-screens are simply too strong for babies under six months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that sunscreen use on babies under six months be limited to small areas of the body for which adequate clothing and shade are not available. For older children, test the sunscreen on baby’s back for any adverse reaction before applying all over.
Playgrounds also present potential dangers for little ones. Despite great advances in playground safety over the last twenty years, about 200,000 children are injured on playgrounds every year. Children should be supervised at all times when playing on a playground. Make sure children remove bike and skate board helmets before playing and do not allow jump ropes and pet leashes to be attached to any playground equipment to help prevent potential strangulation hazards.
The more information you have about potential dangers, the more prepared you will be when traveling outdoors with baby. While you are out and about, keep an eye on your little one and enjoy the great outdoors.
For more information on Baby Safety Month and Playground Safety, please visit www.jpma.org and www.cpsc.gov.
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| 09/11/2007 |
Safe and Secure Baby Returns from 2007 ABC Kids Expo
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to announce that its trip to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada was a success. Over the next few months, Safe and Secure Baby will be adding safety products from several manufacturers including: Britax, Neat Solutions, Haba, Kidco and more.
From first aid kits to Table Toppers, and dozens of baby products in between, these new products are the best in baby safety for 2007. Products will be updated and availabile for shipping as soon as they arrive at our store over the next few months.
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| 09/05/2007 |
ABC Kids Expo - 2007
Safe and Secure Baby will be attending the 2007 ABC Kids Expo Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 7-10, 2007. At the show, manufacturers from around the world will be presenting new and innovative products for children. Safe and Secure Baby will be there looking for new child safety products to add to our store. In an effort to educate our staff on all the new products, the majority of our work force will be attending the show. As a result, Safe and Secure Baby will be running on a skeleton crew during the show dates and will be unable to process rush orders. Our retail location will also be closed from September 7-10, 2007. We will be open again on September 11, 2007. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay that this may cause.
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| 08/16/2007 |
Britax Announces Recall on Decathlon
On August 17, 2007, Britax announced a recall for the Britax Decathlon, for model numbers beginning with E9L47. The Decathlon's were manufactured from February 12, 2005 through July 31, 2007.
Britax has determined that under certain circumstances, when the harness adjuster strap is pulled from an extreme side angle, the bezel may separate from the child restraint shell allowing the adjuster to move out of position inside the shell housing. Under these circumstances, caregivers may experience some difficulty while trying to properly adjust the harness.
There have been no reported accidents or injuries as a result of this issue.
The affected child restraints should not be returned to the Britax retailer. Britax will provide a free repair kit and detailed instructions to all owners beginning August 17, 2007. Consumers that have not registered their child restraint should contact Britax at 1-800-683-2045 or www.DecathlonRecall.com to order a repair kit.
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| 07/26/2007 |
Travel and Car Seats Do Mix
When packing for that much needed vacation, don't forget about the often overlooked car seat that your child will need when flying to or driving at your final destination. Currently, all fifty states have some sort of mandatory car seat usage law on the books. Though California’s child seat law is better than some states, a few, such as Kansas and Washington go beyond California law in an effort to help parents keep their children safe. Thus, if you are driving through various states on your vacation, keep in mind that you may need a booster seat for your six or seven year old, even though California law does not currently require one.
Whether required by law or not, booster seats should be used, regardless of age, until your child reaches four feet nine inches in height. Car seat belts are designed for adults of that height or taller and simply do not fit correctly for smaller adults and children. An improperly fitted seat belt can add to or cause significant injury to the abdomen and neck.
The use of your car seat on a plane should not be overlooked. If you are going to take the seat with you for use when you arrive at your destination, consider using it on the flight. The Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR 135.128) requires the airline to allow you to use your seat provided that an airline seat has been purchased for your child, the seat meets the requirements for aircraft use (a sticker on the seat will tell you if the seat is approved for aircraft use) and the seat is being used appropriately (this includes rear facing the seat if your child is within the manufacturers weight and height parameters). Often, the airline will allow you to use your car seat without purchasing a ticket for your infant, provided that space is available on the flight.
There have been several recent occurrences where flight attendants have refused to allow parents to use their seats on the plane due to the flight attendantÂ’s misunderstanding or lack of training. Thus, if you intend to use your car seat on the plane to any destination originating in the United States, take a copy of the ownerÂ’s manual and the code section above. Having your child in a familiar, comfortable, five-point harness is the way to go when encountering sudden turbulence during any flight. Rear facing your infant, if possible, is preferred as well. Just look at how the flight attendants are sitting the next time you fly.
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| 07/09/2007 |
Britax Announces Consumer Advisory for the Britax Regent
On July 9, 2007, Birtax Child Safety announced a Consumer Advisory regarding the Britax Regent. Britax will be providing a free product update kit to all owners of the Regent manufactured between November 10, 2005 and June 18, 2007. The use of the kit is needed due to modifications of the seat and revised instructions requiring the use of the long belt path method of install with children weighing 22-40 pounds, and the short belt path method of install for children weighing 40-80 pounds. The use of the recline bar is now required for all installations.
Britax believes that this product update will enchance the performance of the Regent child restraint. Consumers who registered a Regent child restraint manufactured between November 10, 2005 and June 18, 2007 will be sent a product update kit along with complete instructions. For those that did not register their Regent, please contact Britax at (888) 427-4829.
Regents manufactured after June 18, 2007 contain the product improvements and new instructions. Update kits will begin shipping on July 10, 2007. Britax advises consumers to obtain and install the product update kit as soon as it is received. For more information, please click here.
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| 06/29/2007 |
Pointing Your Child in the Right Direction
Urban myths are often difficult to put down once they gain acceptance. Too often we have been told that it is perfectly acceptable to turn our children forward facing in their car seats at one year and twenty pounds. However, ever since March of 2002, the American Academy of Pediatrics has been advising parents to keep their children rear facing for as long as possible so as to reduce the risk of spinal injury. Both car seat manufacturers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have recognized the increased safety benefits of extended rear facing by designing and testing Child Passenger Safety seats with higher rear facing weight limits. Indeed, the one year and twenty myth stems from a previous generation of car seats that simply weren’t designed to accommodate longer periods of rear facing. As awareness of the benefits of extended rear facing emerged, so did the technology of car seats for additional protection of our children.
Adding fuel to an outdated myth are minimal legal requirements found within the vehicle code. Assembly Bill 881, currently before the California Senate, is aimed at codifying an absolute requirement for rear facing if a child is under age one or less than twenty pounds. However, what is legal and what is safe are entirely different things. Arguments that a child’s legs may be injured if rear faced beyond legal minimums have no weight as there is simply no reported evidence of any such injury. Unfortunately, every year there are reports of severe trauma to children including spinal injury and brain damage which would likely have been prevented had the child simply been rear facing as allowed by the child’s car seat. Further, the choice between a leg injury from extended rear facing or spinal injury should be an easy one.
Another barrier to safety and the perpetuation of the myth is a parent’s perception of forward facing as a milestone in their child’s development. Recognizing the fact that each step up in a child restraint comes with a corresponding reduction in the safety of the child is difficult for some parents. Each step up from an infant car seat, to a rear facing convertible, to a forward facing convertible, to a booster seat to regular seat belts, offers less protection to the child from the previous phase. We should be looking at prolonging each phase by taking advantage of the newer technology incorporated within the new generation of car seats.
While you and I may be the safest driver out there, it’s the other car with the inattentive driver that may plough into us when we least expect it. Despite how well we drive, or think we drive, there are others with less proficiency or unexpected circumstances beyond the best of our control. So, if or when a collision occurs, having your child in the safest possible position as allowed by your car seat will help to reduce or entirely eliminate potential injury. As with any advice on car seat safety, it is imperative that you always read your car seat manual and car owner’s manual to make sure your child’s seat is properly installed. For more information on Child Passenger Safety or to become a child passenger safety technician, please visit www.safekids.org/certification.
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| 06/27/2007 |
Closed for the Day
Safe and Secure Baby will be closed on Thursday, June 28, 2007 to allow all of our staff to attend an educational seminar on motor vehicle safety. We will be open again on Friday, June 29, 2007 with our normal business hours.
Due to all staff attendance at the seminar, all shipping will be delayed by one business day. That means orders placed after the close of business on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 through Friday morning will ship on Friday, June 29, 2007. If you are ordering with expedited shipping, please take note of the one day delay. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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| 06/04/2007 |
Warmer Weather Brings Hidden Dangers
With the start of warmer weather and holiday weekends, families everywhere are preparing to open their pools for the season. Unfortunately, warmer weather brings increased reports of drowning deaths from inexpensive, inflatable pools. The Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) reported 17 drowning deaths involving inflatable pools in 2005, up from nine in 2004 and 10 in 2003. Small inflatable pools, about 2-feet deep, can cost as little as $50, and larger pools, up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide, can cost under $200. These pools often fall outside of local building codes that require barriers.
On average, 350 children under five years of age drown each year in swimming pools. The CPSC estimates that another 2,600 children under age five are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year following submersion incidents.
It is important to remind all parents and caregivers to increase supervision when pools are set up and attempt to reduce the risk of drowning by using layers of protection. This includes placing barriers around your pool to prevent access, using pool alarms, closely supervising your child and being prepared in case of an emergency.
Parents often think that if their child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming. However, children can slip under the water quickly and silently. Even people near the pool report hearing nothing out of the ordinary.
That’s why Baby Proofing your pool and potentially hazardous areas of your home is so critical. For the home, there are hundreds of available products to help you with baby proofing. Even simple measures such as turning the thermostat on your water heater down to 120 degrees can prevent serious scalding burns.
When examining your home for potential dangers, make sure you get down to baby or toddler's eye level. This may mean crawling around your house to look for attractive but dangerous hazards. As you move throughout your house, ask yourself three questions. If my baby touched that, will she get an electrical shock? If my baby put that in her mouth, could she choke on it? If my baby ran into or fell off of that, would she be injured, bruised or burned? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may want to take preventative measures by either removing the hazard or baby proofing.
Remember, the best and most effective baby proofing comes from responsible supervision. No product on the market is better. However, taking a few moments to see the world as your child does, locating hazards before they become injuries and proper use of baby proofing products gives you the knowledge and extra time to help keep your babies safe. Baby Proofing your house and pool can give you those few extra seconds that could mean the difference between an injured child and a close call.
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| 05/23/2007 |
Warmer Weather and Window Safety
Every year, in the United States, nearly 5,000 children fall out of windows with twenty-eight percent requiring a hospital stay. A ten foot fall can result in spinal injury, broken bones, paralysis and head injuries which could be fatal. Nearly 20 children die each year from preventable window falls. With warmer weather approaching, Safe and Secure Baby would like to remind parents about the dangers of open windows.
Though many parents believe a screen will provide adequate protection, a screen is merely designed to keep bugs out and is not capable of preventing a child from falling. Adequate protection can be found by using window guards, a child safety gate or other baby proofing device to prevent a window from opening enough to allow your child to fall through.
Whenever possible, open windows from the top, not the bottom. To help protect your child, windows should not be opened more than four inches. However, it is important to make sure that an adult can open the window fully in the event of an emergency. If children are near windows, keep them closed and locked. Moving furniture and other objects that could be used as ladders by children to access windows is also a good idea. When opening a window for ventilation, select one that a child cannot reach.
Finally, never assume that an unlocked window is childproof. In the event of a fall, the use of shrubs and soft edging such as wood chips or grass under a window can provide cushion and may reduce any resultant injury.
For more information on Window Safety, please visit the National Safety Council.
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| 04/27/2007 |
National Playground Safety Week
Despite great advances in playground safety over the last twenty years, about 200,000 children are injured on playgrounds every year. To help make parents aware of the dangers, Safe and Secure Baby joins the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in recognizing National Playground Safety Week. Parents and care givers are encouraged to make sure backyard, childcare center and community playgrounds are safe and that children are always supervised while at play.
To help prevent injuries from falls and other hazards on public and home playgrounds, the following safety tips are recommended:
Never attach ropes, jump ropes, clotheslines, or pet leashes to the equipment due to potential strangulation hazards.
Make sure children remove helmets before playing on the playground due to entrapment and potential strangulation.
Purchase play equipment that meets the latest safety standards.
Smooth sharp points or edges, close open "S" hooks and cover protruding bolts.
Check spaces in guardrails and ladders which should be either less than 3 1/2 inches or more than 9 inches so that they don't present an entrapment hazard.
Always supervise young children to make sure they are safe.
Install and maintain at least 9 inches of wood chips, mulch, or shredded rubber (for equipment up to 8 feet high) or sand or pea gravel (for equipment no more than 5 feet high) as shock absorbing material under the playground.
Install protective surfacing at least six feet in all directions from play equipment. For swings, the surface should extend, in back and front, twice the height of the suspending bar.
For more information from the CPSC on home playground safety, please click here.
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| 04/20/2007 |
California Seeking New Car Seat Laws
A recent study published in the March 2007 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine evaluated recently enacted booster seat laws on appropriate restraint use by children in motor vehicles. The study concluded that changes to state car seat laws should include children through at least age seven to maximize proper restraint use and reduce injuries to children. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007; 161(3):270-275).
Consistent with the article's findings, California has introduced new legislation (AB 881 (Mullin)) which will strengthen California's child passenger safety laws. The bill, if passed, will make several changes to existing law. Significant changes include: requiring children under the age of 8 to use an appropriate car seat; requiring children under 8 years old to ride in the back seat of the car; requiring children under 1 year and 20 pounds to ride rear facing; and permitting children less than 8 years old but taller than 4 feet 9 inches tall to use a seat belt rather than a car seat. The Bill is currently working its way through committee, and if passed, would become operative January 1, 2009.
It is hoped that other states will follow California and attempt to improve their child passenger safety laws.
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| 03/16/2007 |
Poison Prevention Week
Every day thousands of new parents assume the responsibility of caring for and protecting a child. However, many first-time caregivers are unaware of the dangers of unintentional poisonings from personal care products, over-the-counter pain relievers and cleaning substances.
On March 18, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Poison Prevention Week Council are kicking off National Poison Prevention Week to educate and inform consumers of the dangers associated with unintentional poisonings. In 2005 alone, about 91,000 young children visited hospital emergency rooms and more than one million calls were placed to poison control centers as a result of unintentional poisoning.
To help prevent unintentional poisoning, CPSC recommends the following safety steps:
Keep all household chemicals and medicines locked up, out of sight and out of reach.
Use child-resistant packaging properly.
Call 800-222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning.
When products are in use, never let young children out of your sight.
Keep items in original containers.
Read and leave the original labels on all products.
Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine. Check the dosage every time.
Avoid taking medicine in front of children.
Refer to medicine as "medicine," not "candy."
Clean out the medicine cabinet periodically and safely dispose of unneeded and outdated medicines.
For more information, please visit the CPSC.
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| 03/13/2007 |
Britax Regent Classic Cover Recall
On March 9, 2007, Britax announced a recall for the Britax Regent, model number E9L3998 in the Classic fabric only. The Regent's were manufactured from December 18, 2006 through January 18, 2007. It should be noted that this is not a performance recall and is being done to meet compliance standards under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213.
The models affected by this notice have an incorrect warning label applied to the seat cover. The correct warning label provides warnings and precautions to prevent improper use of the child restraint. The recall applies only to the fabric designation Classic and model number E9L3998. This recall does not apply to any seat sold by Safe and Secure Baby.
For those seats affected by the recall, owners will receive, free of charge, a corrected Regent Classic Replacement Cover. To obtain a replacement cover, please contact Britax directly at (888) 4BRITAX.
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| 03/06/2007 |
Baby Proofing
Baby Proofing your home can be an overwhelming task for new and veteran parents. When examining your home for potential dangers, make sure you get down to baby or toddler's eye level. This may mean crawling around your house to look for attractive but dangerous hazards. The three main areas of Baby Proofing include electrical safety, suffocation hazards (including drowning) and bumps/burns/falls. Some hazards overlap into multiple categories.
As you move throughout your house, ask yourself the following:
If my baby touched that, will she get an electrical shock?
If my baby put that in her mouth, could she choke on it?
If my baby ran into or fell off of that, would she be injured, bruised or burned?
Babies can drown in as little as 2 inches of water. It is a good idea to be on the look out for potential drowning hazards as well.
No amount of Baby Proofing can take the place of responsible adult supervision. However, Baby Proofing can give you those few extra seconds that could mean the difference between an injured child and a close call.
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| 02/09/2007 |
Safe and Secure Baby and NHTSA Unite to Remind Parents of the Importance of Child Passenger Safety
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 7,500 lives have been saved by the proper use of child restraints during the past 20 years. Yet, motor vehicle crashes still remain the number one killer of children ages 4 to 14 in America. The reason? Too often it is the improper use or non-use of child safety seats and booster seats.
That’s why Safe and Secure Baby is joining with NHTSA and other state and local leaders around ValentineÂ’s Day this year to commemorate Child Passenger Safety Week (Feb. 11-17).
In 2005, an average of five children ages 14 and younger were killed and 640 were injured in motor vehicle crashes every single day. While 98 percent of America’s infants and 93 percent of children ages 1 to 3 are regularly restrained, not enough children ages 4 through 7 are restrained properly for their size and age. Only 10 to 20 percent of children ages 4 through 7 who should be using booster seats to protect them are actually in them. However, children ages 4 to 8 who are placed in booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a seat belt, according to a study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
For maximum child passenger safety, parents and caregivers simply need to remember and follow the 4 Steps for Kids:
1) For the best possible protection keep infants in the back seat, in rear-facing child safety seats, as long as possible up to the height or weight limit of the particular seat;
2) When children outgrow their infant seats they should transition to a convertible car seat and ride rear facing up to the maximum weight limit for the seat. A forward-facing child safety seat may then be used, in the back seat, until the child reaches the upper weight or height limit of that seat (usually around age 4 and 40 pounds);
3) Once children outgrow their forward-facing seat, they may ride in booster seats, in the back seat, until the vehicle seat belts fit properly. Seat belts fit properly when the lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt fits across the chest (usually at age 8 or when they are 4 feet 9 inches tall);
4) When children outgrow their booster seats, they can use the adult seat belt in the back seat, if it fits properly (lap belt lays across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt across the chest).
For more information about Child Passenger Safety Week and the proper use of booster seats, please visit www.SeatCheck.org.
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| 02/07/2007 |
When should you use a forward-facing car seat for your child?
Children should remain rear-facing until reaching the maximum weight for their car seat, as long as the top of their head is below the top of the car seat back. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children remain rear-facing as long as possible. (PEDIATRICS Vol. 109 No. 3 March 2002, pp. 550-553.)
There is a general confusion for most parents about the "at least 1 year and 20 pound" marker that causes many parents to convert their seats to forward facing too early. Though current recommendations allow a child that is 1 year and 20 pounds to ride forward facing, it is by no means the safest way to ride.
Children's Hospital of Philadephia (CHOP), a leading organization for child passenger safety, offers several suggestions regarding common parent mistakes:
"Sometimes a toddler is smaller or larger than "at least one year and at least 20 pounds." If that's the case, here's what to do:
Under age 1, but more than 20 pounds
Use a convertible seat with a higher weight/height limit until your child reaches at least age 1. Keep your toddler rear-facing up to the maximum weight allowed by your convertible seat and as long as the top of her head is below the top of the safety seat back. Check your car seat instruction manual for weight and height guidelines for your seat.
Over age 1, but not yet 20 pounds
Smaller children need to be rear-facing until at least 20 pounds, even if they have reached 1 year of age.
If you are using a rear-facing infant-only seat, continue using this seat as long as your baby hasn't outgrown the seat's height limit. The seat may be used until your child's height has exceeded the seat's height limit or your child's head reaches the top of the safety seat. Another option is to use a rear-facing convertible seat that is suitable for heavier and/or taller babies. Check your car seat instruction manual for your seat's weight and height limits."
All safety experts agree that children should ride rear facing as long as possible as dictated by the car seat's rear facing weight limit.
For more information regarding child passenger safety click here.
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| 01/18/2007 |
Consumer Reports Withdraws Infant Car Seat Report
On January 18, 2007, Consumer Reports retracted their negative report on infant car seats which left many parents anxious over the safety of their children. The intial report, released January 4, 2007, stated that most of the seats tested "failed disastrously" in crashes at speeds as low as 35 mph.
However, Consumer Reports has been made aware by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) that the speed at which Consumer Reports tested exceeded 70 mph.
It should be noted that all seats tested by Consumer Reports, with the exception of the Discovery Embrace, perfomed adequately in 30 mph frontal crash tests, the standard for seats sold in the United States. MSNBC has reported that additional testing performed by NHTSA, representing 38.5 mph crashes, was unable to reproduce the dramatic failures reported by Consumer Reports. Indeed, the testing performed by NHTSA found that the seats stayed in their bases as designed.
The proper use of a child seat is safer than traveling without one. Due to the tremendous media coverage of the now withdrawn Consumer Report, every effort is being made by Child Passenger Safety Organizations to accurately advise parents about their infant seats. It is important to remember that all Infant Seats on the market have passed strict Federal Requirments and testing. The best child seat out there is one that fits your child, fits your car and will be used correctly every time.
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| 01/08/2007 |
Consumer Union Report and Media Coverage
There has been much buzz about the Consumer Union's Report on Infant Car Seats. It should be noted that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has confirmed that "child restraints designed to pass the current 30 mph standard are providing very good protection to children in frontal crashes, and there is no evidence suggesting that designing child restraints to withstand higher crash forces could have prevented or mitigated any of the serious or fatal injuries in cases studied by the Institute." NHTSA Docket 11707, Entry 31.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) also advised that the 30 mph sled test "is more severe than approximately 98% of the frontal impact crashes nationwide" UMTRI cautioned against increasing the speed of the test, noting:
"Increasing the velocity of the test is not likely to increase safety, but will increase consumer cost of child restraint systems. In addition, designing child restraints to pass a test at higher crash severity may lead to child restraint design changes that make the restraints less effective or more easily misused at lower severity crashes, which occur much more frequently." NHTSA Docket 11707, Entry 43.
It is important to note that as of January 8, 2007, the crash tests results and protocols used by the Consumer's Union have not been shared with the Juvenile Product's industry or the government for proper evaluation. Even the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) has questioned the scientific validity of Consumer's Reports' conclusions as highly questionable.
To the extent that the Consumer Reports' article undermines confidence in the use of infant restraints, it does the public a disservice. The fact remains that child restraints that are not subject to a recall and are being used properly, are highly effective at reducing death and serious injury in the real world.
Safe and Secure Baby urges all owners of child passenger restraints to fully read their owner's manual and install the seat according to the instructions. Registering your car seat with the manufacturer is also a must to receive prompt notice of any recall or manufacturer reccomendation. The Britax Companion and Chicco Key Fit sold by Safe and Secure Baby, continue to meet or exceed all Federal Safety Guidelines.
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| 12/22/2006 |
The Britax Vigour, Monarch and Boulevard are Back in Stock
The Britax Vigour, Monarch and Boulevard are Back in Stock at Safe and Secure Baby. Due to the tremendous response and buzz about the Vigour Stroller, we expect to rapidly move through our inventory.
If you are looking for the Britax Vigour, Monarch or Boulevard place your order early to receive one of these great Britax products. If you can place a Britax product in your cart, then it is in stock and available to be shipped or picked up from our store.
As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us by email or toll free at (888) 801-2229.
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| 11/27/2006 |
Britax Boulevard Recall
On November 22, 2006, Britax announced a safety recall on certain Britax Boulevards manufactured from March 1, 2006 through August 1, 2006 with model number E9L57. Under certain situations, a forward facing tethered Boulevard, used with a child weighing 50 pounds or more, may cause the top tether hook to open or break and release from the tether anchor during a crash. While the likelihood of this occurence is rare, the result could cause the Boulevard to move from an upright to a reclined position.
No accidents or injuries have been reported and the recall was based upon a periodic investigation by Britax of its own seats. Britax has requested that all inquiries regarding the recall be made directly to Britax at (800) 683-2045.
For those seats affected by the recall, Britax recommends discontinuing use of the top tether when children reach 50 pounds. The tether may be used for all rear facing applications, and forward facing until your child reaches 50 pounds.
Only Britax Boulevards manufactured between March 1, 2006 and August 1, 2006 are affected by this recall. No other Britax product is included in the recall. All registered owners of the affected seats will be notified by Britax.
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| 11/16/2006 |
Holiday Safety Tips
With the coming of the holiday season and the giving of presents, the Consumer Product Safety Commision (CPSC) is reminding parents and grandparents to pay attention to the age appropriateness of toys. The CPSC has provided the following Safe Shopping Tips:
Magnets – For children under age six, avoid building sets with small magnets. If swallowed, serious injuries and/or death can occur;
Small Parts – For children younger than age three, avoid toys with small parts, which can cause choking;
Ride-on Toys – Riding toys, skateboards and in-line skates go fast and falls could be deadly. Helmets and safety gear should be sized to fit;
Projectile Toys – Projectile toys such as air rockets, darts and sling shots are for older children. Improper use of these toys can result in serious eye injuries:
Chargers and Adapters – Charging batteries should be supervised by adults. Chargers and adapters can pose thermal burn hazards to children.
The following tips can be used to help choose age appropriate toys for children:
Be a label reader. Look for toys that give age and safety recommendations and use that information as a guide.
Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Look for sturdy construction, such as tightly-secured eyes, noses and other potential small parts.
For all children under 8, avoid toys that have sharp edges and points.
For more information on recalls and product safety, please visit www.cpsc.gov.
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| 11/02/2006 |
RC2 Recalls Toy Keys Due to Choking Hazard
On November 2, 2006, RC2 Brands issued a recall on Toy Keys marketed under the brands Learning Curve and The First Years. The “Shake ‘n Jingle Keys,” “Shake & Jingle Keys,” “My Jingle Keys” all by The First Years and the John Deere “Real Keys” are toy keys, with three colored keys attached to a blue, red or green remote control with electronic features. Various colored buttons on the remote activate sounds. Only toy keys with the letter “F” in the date code stamp listed between date codes 2015F01 through 2636F04 on the packaging and product are involved in the recall. The date code can be found on the back of the remote control. Toy keys with “TE” in the date code or yellow sides on the remote are not included in this recall.
The Toy Keys were sold at department stores and independent toy stores nationwide from August 2005 through October 2006 for about $6. Consumers should stop using the recalled toy keys immediately and contact RC2 for a free replacement toy.
For additional information, contact RC2 at (800) 704-8697 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the Learning Curve’s Web site at www.learningcurve.com.
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| 10/13/2006 |
CPSC Warns Older Window Coverings Pose Strangulation Risk to Children
From 1991 through 2004, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received reports of about 200 strangulation deaths involving cords and chains on window coverings. Strangulations can occur when young children become entangled in the inner or outer cord on the window covering. Most strangulation deaths involved the outer pull cords. At least 20 of these deaths involved the inner cords which run through horizontal blinds.
Outer pull cord deaths typically involve children ranging in age from 7 months to 6 years. Inner cord deaths typically involve children ranging in age from 9 months to 20 months who are placed in cribs or playpens located within reach of window coverings. In all cases, the children became inadvertently entangled and died from strangulation.
The following are steps consumers can take to help prevent strangulation from window coverings:
Move all cribs, beds, furniture and toys away from windows and window cords, preferably to another wall
Keep all window cords out of the reach of children
Lock cords into position when lowering horizontal coverings or shades
Repair window coverings, corded shades and draperies manufactured before 2001 with retrofit cord repair devices, or replace them with today’s safer products
Consider installing cordless window coverings in childrenÂ’s bedrooms and play areas
For more information, please visit the CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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| 10/06/2006 |
Britax Companion Recall
On September 29, 2006, Britax Child Safey, Inc. issued a safety recall for their Companion Child Restraint System, Model No. E9L14, manufactured between October 31, 2003 and June 6, 2004. Britax has decided that certain Companion child restraint systems fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213. No accidents or injuires have been reported, but an internal investigation has demonstrated that a limited number of the infant carriers have an incorrect assembly.
Caregivers may continue to use the Companion Infant Carrier as an infant carrier or as a child restraint without the base. The affected restraints should not be returned to the Britax retailer. Owners of the Companion, Model No. E9L14, manufactured between October 31, 2003 and June 6, 2004, should contact Britax directly at (888) 427-4829 to see if their infant car seat is affected by the recall and for possible replacement.
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| 10/03/2006 |
Baby and Parenting Workshop
On October 28, 2006, Safe and Secure Baby will be conducting free Car Seat Inspections in conjuction with Mother's Guild in Ventura, California. Inspections will be by reservation only from 10:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Mother's Guild, 3130 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, California. Please call (805) 667-2115 to make your reservation. Space is limited and reservations will be taken until all spots are filled.
It is estimated that nearly 9 out of 10 car seats are incorrectly installed. Take this opportunity to make sure your child's car seat isn't one of them.
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| 09/13/2006 |
Safe and Secure Baby Returns from ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to announce that its trip to the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada was a success. Over the next few months, Safe and Secure Baby will be adding safety products from several manufacturers including: Britax, Neat Solutions, Haba, 4moms, Kidco and more.
From high chairs to Table Toppers, and dozens of baby products in between, these new products are the best in baby safety for 2006. Products will be updated and availabile for shipping as soon as they arrive at our store over the next few months.
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| 09/08/2006 |
ABC Kids Expo
Safe and Secure Baby will be attending the 2006 ABC Kids Expo Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 11-13, 2006. At the show, manufacturers from around the world will be presenting new and innovative products for children. Safe and Secure Baby will be there looking for new child safety products to add to our store. In an effort to educate our staff on all the new products, the majority of our work force will be attending the show. As a result, Safe and Secure Baby will be running on a skeleton crew during the show dates and will be unable to process rush orders. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay that this may cause.
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| 08/16/2006 |
Safe and Secure Baby Offers Life Saver Swimming Pool Fencing
Safe and Secure Baby now offers Life Saver Pool Fencing in the Southern California area. Life Saver is a premium mesh pool fencing system specifically designed to provide a barrier around residential swimming pools for toddlers and young children. For more than a decade, Pool Saver has been providing top of the line products to keep your children safe. Retain the beauty of your pool and landscaping while providing effective protection for your child.
Please contact us at (888) 801-2229 for more information or to have a Life Saver swimming pool fencing professional provide an on-site estimate.
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| 07/11/2006 |
2006 NHTSA Ease of Use Ratings
The NHTSA's Ease of Use Ratings program strives to prompt child restraint system (CRS) manufacturers to improve their products and make them easier for consumers to use. "A" ratings demonstrate that manufacturers are being particularly mindful of Ease of Use criteria when introducing new car seats and improving older models.
The Britax Companion, Britax Boulevard, Britax Roundabout and Britax Decathlon all were given overall "A" ratings. The Britax Marathon rated an overall "B" mostly due to labeling issues.
To check other car seat ratings, please visit NHTSA's website.
When choosing a car seat it is important to remember that the best child safety seat is the one that fits your child properly, is easy to use, and fits in your vehicle correctly. The best way to ensure a proper fit in your vehicle is to try installing the child seat before purchasing.
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| 06/09/2006 |
Child Safety Seats vs. Seat Belts Alone
Recent studies published in the June 2006 Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine have evaluated the effectiveness of car seats vs. seat belts alone in reducing fatal injuries to children during a car crash. Over the 5 year study, children ages 2-6 years old in a properly used car seat were 28% more likely to survive a fatal crash than with a seat belt alone. The study concluded that efforts should be made to increase proper child restraint use through improved laws and education. (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006; 160:617-621).
Consistent with the article's findings, California has introduced legislation (AB 2108) which will strengthen California's child passenger safety laws. The bill, if passed, will make several changes to exisiting law. Significant changes include: requiring children under the age of 8 to use an appropriate car seat; requiring children between 8 and 12 years old to ride in the back seat of the car; and permitting children less than 8 years old but taller than 4 feet 9 inches tall to use a seat belt rather than a car seat. It is hoped that other states will follow California and attempt to improve their child passenger safety laws.
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| 05/23/2006 |
Memorial Day Reminder
With the start of warmer weather and Memorial Day weekend quickly approaching, families everywhere are preparing to open their pools for the season. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning about the increase in drowning deaths reported in inexpensive, inflatable pools, and again reminding parents and caregivers to take critical steps that will help protect children from drowning hazards in all types of pools.
CPSC has reports of 17 drowning deaths involving inflatable pools in 2005, up from nine in 2004 and 10 in 2003. Small inflatable pools, about 2-feet deep, can cost as little as $50, and larger pools, up to 4-feet deep and 18-feet wide, can cost under $200. These pools often fall outside of local building codes that require barriers.
The CPSC is reminding all parents and caregivers to increase supervision when pools are set up and attempt to reduce the risk of drowning by using layers of protection including pool barriers. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool.
Parents may think that if their child falls in the water, they will hear lots of splashing and screaming, and that they will be able to come to the rescue. Many times, however, children slip under the water silently. Even people near the pool report hearing nothing out of the ordinary.
For more information visit the Consumer Products Safety Commission's website at www.cpsc.gov.
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| 05/12/2006 |
Successful at JPMA
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to announce that its trip to the Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) Tradeshow in Orlando, Florida was a success. Over the next few months, Safe and Secure Baby will be adding safety products from several manufacturers including: Chicco, Britax, Tots in Mind, Neat Solutions, Sunshine Kids, Philips, Laskal, JJ Cole, 4moms, Mommy's Helper, DadGear, Kel-Gar and more.
From gates to car seats, and baby products in between, these new products are innovative and exciting. Products will be updated and availabile for shipping as soon as they arrive at our store.
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| 05/03/2006 |
Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) Trade Show
Safe and Secure Baby will be attending the 2006 Juvenile Products Manufacturing Association (JPMA) Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, May 8-10, 2006. At the show, manufacturers from around the world will be presenting new and innovative products for children. Safe and Secure Baby will be there looking for new child safety products to add to our store. In an effort to educate our staff on all the new products, the majority of our work force will be attending the show. As a result, Safe and Secure Baby will be running on a skeleton crew during the show dates. We apologize for any inconvenience or delay that this may cause.
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| 04/04/2006 |
Booster Seat Basics
There are essentially four stages of car seat safety for your child. The infant stage, the toddler stage, the booster stage and graduation into the use of your car's seat belts. The trick is determining when your child is ready for each stage. Generally, the hardest stage for most parents is the use of a booster.
Safety Belt Safe, U.S.A., a leading advocacy group for child passenger safety, has developed a five point test to help parents determine the right time for using a booster seat, generally from 4 to 8 years old.
1. Does your child sit all the way back against the auto seat?
2. Do your child's knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?
3. Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?
4. Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?
5. Can your child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to make both the shoulder belt and the lap belt fit right for the best crash protection.
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| 03/17/2006 |
National Poison Prevention Week
March 19 to 25, 2006 is National Poison Prevention Week. In 2004, about 85,000 children visited hospital emergency rooms due to unintentional poisonings. The Consumer Products Safety Commison suggests the following tips to help prevent unintentional poisoning:
Keep items in their original containers with original labels. Read labels before use. Grandparents should use child-resistant packaging and keep all household products and medicines locked up, out of sight and out of reach of young children. Older children should be aware of the dangers associated with poisonings and help their parents keep younger siblings in sight. Use child-resistant packaging properly by closing the container securely after each use. Call (800) 222-1222 immediately in case of poisoning. Do not put decorative lamps and candles that contain lamp oil where children can reach them. Lamp oil can be very toxic if ingested by young children. Always turn the light on when giving or taking medicine so you can see what you are taking. Check the dosage every time. Avoid taking medicine in front of children.
With just a little effort, we can all help prevent unintentional poisonings and keep our kids safe.
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| 03/10/2006 |
Car Seat Inspections
Safe and Secure Baby is pleased to announce that it is now offering car seat inspections by nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Available M-F, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at our store in Westlake Village, California. Inspections are $25.00 (free with the purchase of any car seat). Inspections generally take 20 minutes per car seat. Please call (888) 801-2229 for an appointment for a car seat check.
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| 03/07/2006 |
Child Passenger Safety Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease control, motor vehicle injuries are the leading cause of death among children in the United States. During 2004, 1,638 children ages 14 years and younger died as occupants in motor vehicle crashes, and approximately 214,000 were injured. ThatÂ’s an average of 5 deaths and 586 injuries each day. Of the children ages 0 to 14 years who were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2004, half were unrestrained.
The importance of properly securing your child in a child restraint can not be over emphasized. Check your child's car seat today. If you can move the seat more than an inch in any direction at the belt path, it is incorrectly installed. To find a certified child passenger safety technician near you, please visit our resource page.
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| 02/14/2006 |
National Child Passenger Safety Week
Now is the time to have your car seat checked to make sure that it is installed correctly. When checking your child's car seat at the belt path, it should not move more than an inch in any direction. It is estimated that more than 90% of car seats are improperly installed. Please take the time to make sure your car seat isn't one of them.
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| 02/01/2006 |
Britax Shipment
Safe and Secure Baby recently received a large shipment of Britax Companion Infant and Britax Boulevard Convertible Car Seats. Place your order before 12:00 p.m. and we will ship your car seat to you the same day for free. Choose your fabric and your child will be safely riding in style.
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| 02/01/2006 |
Booster Seat Focus
Safe and Secure Baby Reminds Parents of the Importance of Booster Seats. Every year children suffer needless injury. Children ages 4 to 8 who use booster seats are 59 percent less likely to be injured in a car crash than children who are restrained only by a safety belt, according to a study by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). According to NHTSA, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death for every age 3 through 33.
A positive relationship between drivers using safety belts and children being restrained shows 92 percent of the children who were transported by belted drivers were restrained compared to only 62 percent of the children transported by unbelted drivers.
That’s why Safe and Secure Baby is joining with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ad Council and others around Valentine’s Day this year to commemorate Child Passenger Safety Week (Feb. 12-18). The primary goal this year is to remind all parents and other adults responsible for children traveling in motor vehicles -- if the kids are under 4 feet 9 inches tall, they need to be in a booster seat. It is estimated that only 10 to 20 percent of children ages 4 to 8 use booster seats.
As children grow, how they sit safely in a car, truck, van or SUV changes. For maximum child passenger safety, parents and caregivers simply need to remember and follow the 4 Steps for Kids:
1. Use rear-facing infant seats in the back seat from birth to at least one year of age and at least 20 pounds;
2. Use forward-facing toddler seats in the back seat from age one and 20 pounds to about age four and 40 pounds;
3. Use booster seats in the back seat from about age four to at least age eight—unless the child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller; and
4. Use safety belts in the back seat at age eight or older or taller than 4 feet 9 inches.
It is imperative to remember all children under age 13 should ride in the back seat.
Many parents are under the false impression that children who have outgrown child safety seats can move right into regular safety belts. So this year on Valentine’s Day, and during Child Passenger Safety Week, we are working hard to remind all parents, grandparents, and child care providers to use a booster seat to raise their kids to the right height in the car. If they are under 4 feet 9 inches tall, put them in a booster seat.
Some parents or caregivers may regard booster seats as a hassle to use or a pain to convince their children to use. However, protecting the ones you love means getting past the temporary complaints and perceived hassles.
Use a booster seat because you love them.
For more information about Child Passenger Safety Week and the proper use of booster seats, visit www.boosterseat.gov.
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| 01/10/2006 |
Child Passenger Safety Week
Sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), February 12-18, 2006, is Child Passenger Safety Week. As motor vehicle crashes are the number one leading cause of death of children in the United States, please take a few moments to have your car seat inspected by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. It is estimated that nearly 9 out of 10 car seats are incorrectly installed. Make sure your child's car seat isn't one of them.
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| 12/05/2005 |
Britax to Increase Prices on All Car Seats
Effective January 1, 2006, Britax is increasing the MSRP on all car seats. The "compare at" price on our website reflects the recent Britax price change. Effective January 1, 2006, our prices on all Britax products will increase to Britax's MSRP in accordance with Britax's Pricing Policy that we reported on previously.
The cost of most car seats will increase by $20.00. For example, the Britax Marathon will increase to $269.99, the Britax Decathlon will cost $289.99, and the Britax Companion will increase to $189.99.
If you need a Britax car seat, now is the time to buy! Order now before the price increases.
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| 12/01/2005 |
Child Passenger Safety
The proper use of a child restraint (car seat) can reduce injury and death to children by almost 70%. Unfortunately, in 2003, the National Safe Kids Campaign found that almost 82% of car seats in use were being mis-used or were improperly installed. When installing your car seat, plese refer to the manufacturer's instructions as well as your car's owenr's manual for information on how to properly install your child's car seat. You can also have your installation inspected by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). For information on where to find a CPST or have your car seat checked, please visit our resource page.
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| 09/24/2005 |
Britax Decathlons IN STOCK!
The long awaited and anticipated Britax Decathlon Onyx, Britax Decathlon Tiffany, Britax Decathlon Hamtpon, and Britax Decathlon Tribecca car seats with LATCH are now in stock! Safe and Secure Baby is an authorized retailer of all Britax products.
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| 08/02/2005 |
Britax Revises Internet Pricing Policy to Allow Free Shipping!
Effective immediately, Britax has revised its internet pricing policy to allow online retailers to offer free shipping on Britax products.
Although Britax has not officially "set prices" for their products, Britax has stated in no uncertain terms that they will "cancel all orders and indefinitly refuse to accept new and future orders" if an online retailer sells their products for less than their internet minimun resale price. The internet minimum prices for the most popular Britax products are as follows: Britax Marathon ($249.99); Britax Roundabout ($199.99); Britax Companion ($169.99); Britax Decathlon ($269.99).
The prices on all Britax products at Safe and Secure Baby reflect Britax's internet minimum resale price. Additionally, we now offer free shipping on all Britax car seats.
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| 08/01/2005 |
Britax Receives "A" Ratings from NHTSA
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave an overall "A" ease of use rating to the Britax Decathlon, Britax Companion, and Britax Husky car seats. To see the full details of the NHTSA report click here. You can find all of these products at Safe and Secure Baby.
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| 07/18/2005 |
Britax Introduces Pricing Policy
Britax has introduced a new internet pricing policy that will go into effect August 1, 2005 that applies to all online retailers of Britax products. All pricing on britax products WILL increase dramatically.
For example, the Britax Marathon will increase to $249.99 plus the actual shipping cost. We are no longer allowed to offer free shipping on any Britax products.
We will honor our current pricing on any order placed prior to August 1, 2005.
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