World Traffic Safety Symposium Awards Volvo For Child Booster Cushion System

Volvo Cars? new booster cushion system is the automaker?s gateway to get the World Traffic Safety Symposium awards. The new system from the automaker is engineered to help protect children who have outgrown their toddler seats.

At the 2007 World Traffic Safety Symposium, a panel of judges from the Dept. of Transportation, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Automobile Association of America Foundation for Traffic Safety, the National Road Safety Foundation, and the New York Police Department Traffic Safety Division awarded Volvo the first prize in the Automotive Manufacturer category for this innovative safety feature. The award stands among three other safety acknowledgements: Public Service, Media Activity and Aftermarket Product Design.

The Swedish automaker has contributed several safety milestones in the industry including the Volvo brake caliper, seat belts, and airbags among many others. The latest, so far, is the booster cushion system which is a combination of the tougher side body structure, load limiting seat belts, inflatable curtain and other reliable parts to deliver a distinctive engineering solution that ensures safety and comfy travel experience. Volvo?s innovation is the world?s first two-step integrated booster cushion. This is why it deserves to receive a prestigious international commendation.

Our goal is to help protect occupants. This award acknowledges our efforts to help protect our smallest passengers, our children, noted Thomas Broberg, the Senior Safety Advisor for the Volvo Car Corporation in Sweden. This new seat, in conjunction with our refinements in side body structure and the inflatable curtain will have a significant reduction in child injuries.

The seat belt positioning is one of the essential considerations when ensuring safety of children of different heights. Several studies have shown that proper positioning with the use of a booster cushion helps lessen abdominal injuries caused by the child slipping under the seat belt. Field data in several studies supports these findings and stresses the significance of booster seats. Studies point out that the booster be designed to hold the belt snugly across the pelvis or thighs during a frontal impact.

The overall effectiveness of booster seats is estimated as 31 percent as compared to utilizing only a seat belt and as high as 75 percent as compared to no restraint at all. Getting all children of appropriate age and size to use booster cushion delivers a potentially noteworthy safety benefit.

According to a study carried out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 39.5 percent of the 664 children inspected in belt-positioning booster cushion were considered as critical misuse. The most common misuse was improper fitment of the shoulder belt followed by loose belt, improper fit of the lap belt and inappropriate age/fit.

We took into account the child's physical size and weight, seat belt misuse, child physiology, along with redesigning our vehicle side body structure and side impact inflatable curtain to come up with this new integrated two-step booster seat, said Broberg. There will be better fitment of our three-point seat belt, a wider age and weight range, and better attitude for the child who can now easily see outside with the added benefit of reducing driver distraction. Hopefully we will hear less often: 'Are we there yet?'

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field. You can visit Volvo brake caliper for more information.

To Grandmothers We Go

Shrink about This

Grandparents may have all the right intentions; however, the arrival of a toddler to their home can be overwhelming. Here are ten tips to help smooth the transition.

1. FORGET CLEAN Forego a straight or clean home. A toddler is not capable of adjusting to a new environment and transferring their skills as easily as an older child. He or she might be neat at home but find grandma's house confusing. Ignore the mess, otherwise you will scold and nag throughout the visit. That is not how you want to be remembered. Use a broom to push clutter out of the walk way to keep the house safe from falls. Clean up messy spills. If your toddler enjoys picking up you can sing together while you pick up the Lincoln Logs. Otherwise, let Mom and Dad teach their child to be neat, later. When the precious energy cyclone has gone back home, then you can clean in the silence to your hearts content.

2. DELEGATE SHIFTS Grandma, you are out of practice and you get tired more easily. Take turns with Grandpa and older children so that you can lie down in a quiet room and heal your nerve endings. Even thirty minutes will help you bounce back with a smile. If you wear yourself out you could resemble a Disney witch instead of a Norman Rockwell painting of a happy family.

3. MORNING CARTOONS PBS, Sprout and other stations provide a fun line-up of toddler shows like Curious George, Sesame Street and Blues Clues. Take advantage of the hypnotic state that the television creates in their impressionable minds to get yourself to the bathroom, take a shower and get dressed in shifts with your spouse. Beware of shouting, high conflict or violent shows on regular television that may trigger copy cat behavior.

4. DEVELOP A ROUTINE, ANY ROUTINE Duplicate the toddler's normal routine whenever possible. A clever little mind might try to manipulate their normal rules with new surroundings and the absence of Mom and Dad. Spanking or yelling at a toddler is useless and only confuses them more. They want to behave well, and will respond to rewards. Punishment can create a total meltdown as they do not understand cause and effect yet, only that you just hurt them. Use praise, treats and privileges to encourage good behavior. Riding in the car or at bedtime is a good time to recount all the things the child did right today, mentally reinforcing good behavior with lavish praise and appreciation. Grandma is so proud that you held her hand to cross the street and helped her by climbing in your car seat. What a good boy, you are. Thank you. Ignore the mistakes and most will just go away.

5. USE THE PARKS Get ye to the parks and playgrounds. Some cities have indoor museums in case of inclement weather. Keep your toddler in sight at all times, but do allow them to run, hop and spin. No one else can keep a toddler quiet or sitting still so why should you try to force behavior that is impossible at this age? Most people enjoy toddlers and are very tolerant of their exuberance. Helpful strangers are still strangers, so be cautious.

6. NAPS AND BEDTIMES Earplugs help to soften endless chatter, furious yells of I am not tired, and banging on your furniture. Some naps go really well and some are caretaker torture. Bedtime is very scary; do you remember being a child at grandmother's house with creeks and howling wind? I want my Mommy, comes to mind rather quickly. Do your best to make bedtime a happy ritual, never a punishment for misbehavior. Line the bed with stuffed animals, a sippy cup and a favorite blanket, and then hope for the best. You probably can plan on a late night the first few times you attempt to get them to sleep.

7. SAVED Check in the phone book for toddler indoor play areas. Most require you to remain with the child but amazingly you can get some work done amid the din and chaos. Sit at a back table and let your grandchild discover ways to play in a safe and highly stimulating environment. He or she will fall asleep as soon as you get back home and you will get a double break.

8. SUGAR Sugar lurks in fruit juice, bread and fast food as well as candy and cereals. If you want to make it a lot easier on yourself, skip the sugary treats and carry veggies, protein and whole grains with you. Organic fish and nut oils can really help enhance a healthy brain and body for you or your toddler.

9. TIME OUT The tantrums, yelling and stomping feet will happen from time to time, usually out of frustration. Help Grandpa to gain control of his temper and forgive him for losing his cool. Recognize when you or Grandpa need a time out to recover from the stress of a toddler who is trying to experience all facets of life in fifteen minutes. The crushing obligation and responsibility for the safety of your grandchild is weighty indeed. Your children trust you with their most precious gift, their child. If you need a break, take it before you lose your temper and do or say regrettable things. The toddler may not remember you are being a jerk, but your spouse will.

10. TODDLER TIME Downshift your hectic life to simplified tasks. Try to accomplish only the absolute minimum during babysitting occasions. Float into toddler time, be present with them. Do not think about the past or plan the future, just be right now. Have no expectations of getting anything done except keeping company with your wild and crazy charge. Return the undamaged toddler to his or her parents and let them worry about teaching manners or discipline. The kids will scream, Yes, the next time their parents ask, Do you want to go to stay with Grandma and Grandpa? Proudly you will smile at your spouse and whisper, Mission accomplished.

Dr. Molly Barrow holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is the author of the new book, ?Matchlines: A Revolutionary New Way of Looking at Relationships and Making the Right Choices in Love,? ISBN 159507158X. She is an authority on relationship and psychological topics, a member of the American Psychological Association and a licensed mental health counselor. Dr. Molly has appeared as an expert in the film, My Suicide, documentaries Ready to Explode and KTLA Impact, NBC news, PBS In Focus, WBZT talk radio and in O Magazine, Psychology Today, Newsday, The Nest, MSN.com, Yahoo, Match.com, N Magazine, Women?s Health and Women?s World. Please visit:

http://www.askdrmolly.com
http://www.DrMollyBarrow.com/
To read articles by Dr. Molly please visit: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MollyBarrow

Choosing the Right Car Seat Covers!

I always used to laugh when people bought a new car then put car seat covers over the seats. After all, many folks by a car because they like the style and colors of its interior, so I couldn't understand why they would then go and cover up one of the very things that they found attractive about the vehicle in the first place. That is until I became a family man with 2 kids and a boisterous hound called Tramp!

For those of you that have children, messy partners, and pets, will know only too well that if you plan to sell your motor at some point in the future then you will need it be in tip top condition in order to get the best resale price. Car sear covers can help protect your seats from general wear and tear, plus spills and splits. So, when the time comes to trade your vehicle in, your seating should look as good as the day you bought it.

Dog seat covers are generally made for the rear seats of the vehicle. There are a lot of choices today for specially made pet covers for the car. It's always worth going for good quality animal seat covers so that you can relax and not stress about the dog eating or scratching through the rear seat while on the move. There are many different designs, shapes and materials around today, so you should be able to easily find something to blend with the interior of your motor.

Since there are so many companies around which produce a huge variety of car seat covers made from all types of materials, we're no longer stuck with those awful leopard skin or fluffy fabrics that we used to have. And now that the world of online shopping has opened its doors to everyone, there is an even greater choice available than ever before.

Protective seat covers now come in high quality leathers to the basic cloth types, (which many folks use as temporary protection when moving garbage and the like). But some custom made car seat covers are so well made today that they look even better than the original fabrics, and can actually enhance the car's interior. Gone are the days of loosely fitting baggy types as today's customized seat covers are a very snug fit with no sagging ends.

Messy toddlers can often play havoc with the inside of your car and even the best behaved youngsters make a mess at times. They're not at fault, they are just doing what kids do best which is making a mess at every possible opportunity!

Good baby seat covers can both protect your car seats, and cushion the baby at the same time. If you know someone who is about to have a baby, then a baby car seat cover is a great gift and quite unique, as it's a gift that most people don't think about. As most parents take their baby out and around town on errands and trips, the baby car seat cover is a must have!

Lots more articles on autos and car accessories including a piece on Choosing a Baby Car Seat, plus a look at the Best Booster Car Seats and a piece on what to look for when Buying Cheap Tires and Wheels. For these articles and more, visit Keeping Cars dot com

Nearly Everyone Uses It and So What?

Occasionally a prospective client comes to me very gungho about getting publicity and declares that they envision coverage in every major newspaper in the country and on every network broadcast. After all, their logic runs, our product is something everyone uses -- we have close to 150 million customers a year in the U.S. alone.

Whoa! I reply. That's not enough of a reason for the media to do a story. Nearly everyone uses a toothbrush and a wallet of one sort or another, but how often do you see stories about either of those items in the papers or on the nightly news? Prevalent doesn't mean interesting or timely. So let's brainstorm about what would entice the media to consider something about your item newsworthy.

By putting a spin on something ordinary, or identifying some unusual aspect of something ordinary, you have a good chance of getting major media hits. For instance:

* Create a controversy. E.g., claim that 90% of Americans use each toothbrush far too long.

* Give an award. E.g., a prize for the world's rattiest wallet.

* Offer surprising facts about your product. E.g., how long ago people were using toothbrushes surprising similar to today's.

* Show an unexpected clientele using your product. E.g., wallets for toddlers or for nudists.

* Piggyback on the news. E.g., play up the connection if there's a toothbrush scene in a new feature film or a popular sit-com.

* Do a survey. E.g., what percentage of people never leave the house for any purpose without bringing their wallet.

* Compile a set of useful tips. E.g., ten ways you should never use a toothbrush.

* Donate your product or a gift certificate to a good cause. E.g., a new wallet for every high school graduate in your home town.

* Offer a freebie. E.g., a free call-in line for questions about dental hygiene.

* Invent a new use for your product. E.g., wallets designed for efficiency at security checkpoints.

* Tie your product to economic trends. E.g., what toothbrush sales reveal about recessions and economic booms.

* Do something anachronistic. E.g., create wallet carriers, which a butler can hold out for the man in the house when he comes home from work.

* Sponsor a charity event. E.g., the Toothbrush Ball.

* Do something about your environmental impact. E.g., recyclable wallets.

* Celebrate an anniversary. E.g., your 10 millionth toothbrush sold.

* Create regional variations. E.g., the Tall Texan wallet, the Seattle Surprise, the Plains Packer.

* Get offbeat endorsements. E.g., from a punk rocker, a bartender, a has-been politician for your toothbrushes.

* Feature employees with stories. E.g., an over-80 wallet designer, marketing vice-presidents who are twins.

* Run an event for kids. E.g., develop a show that travels to day-care centers on how to brush teeth.

Once you have a newsworthy angle, then the ambition to get your story into every household in the country makes more sense!

Marcia Yudkin is the author of the classic guide to comprehensive PR, 6 Steps to Free Publicity, now for sale in an updated edition at Amazon.com and in bookstores everywhere. She also spills the secrets on advanced tactics for today's publicity seekers in Powerful, Painless Online Publicity, available from www.yudkin.com/powerpr.htm .

Keys To Becoming A Great Parent Part 2

In part 1, I covered two keys to becoming a great parent.

Key#1: Don?t Assume That Becoming A Great Parent Is Instinctive

Key#2: Be Willing To Learn From Others Who Have Been There Before You

Now, lets move on to Keys 3 & 4.

Key#3: Be Quick To Admit When You?re Wrong

For some reason, many parents fail here. You must understand that being a parent does not mean you are always right, and that?s ok. Whether its breaking promises, overreacting to their bad behavior, errors in discipline, or something else, we parents mishandle situations with our children all the time. The key is how do we handle it when we mishandle something concerning them. I must admit, I have had to apologize to my 3 1/2 year old son more times than I care to mention because of how I?ve handled things with him. If you will be quick to admit it when you make a mistake with your child, you?ll pave the way for receiving honor and respect from them that you will get no other way. Let?s face it, they know we are not perfect, they just want us to be willing to admit that we know it, too.

I can?t explain how awesome it is to look your child in the eyes and say ?I?m sorry. Daddy blew it big time. Will you forgive me?? In addition, to the fact that it builds a healthy relationship between you and your child, it also serves as a great example to them about resolving issues within relationships.

Let me tell you a story that I think helps prove this point. Our family recently took a vacation to Sea World. Right before we left to come home, we wanted to take a family picture to commemorate our trip. However, for some reason, my toddler didn?t want to cooperate. As a matter of fact, he didn?t just refuse to smile, he threw a temper tantrum as well. He wanted to ride the roller coaster and insisted on getting his way. As a result, we didn?t get our picture, and he didn?t ride the roller coaster. Now, although I talked with him about the situation, he never really apologized for his actions. Then, two days later, after we were home from our trip, he comes over and cuddles with me on the couch. I simply say, ?I love ya, Bub!.? And, he responds with, ?Next time we go to Sea World, Dad, I?ll take that picture.? Of course, that makes me want to hop in the car immediately and drive the 3 1/2 hours to take him to ride that roller coaster. The point is, he sees in his Mom and Dad a pretty good example of someone who makes things right when they mess up. And believe me, we mess up a lot. His statement was his way of making things right.

Key#4: Spend quality time with your children

It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race we call the American Dream. Sure, we want to provide for our children and we want them to have a better life than we did, but when that pursuit requires sacrificing quality time with our children, then we need to reevaluate what we are doing and why we are doing it. Your children need you. They don?t need the next high tech gadget, or the latest trendy clothing, or the newest toy on the market. Oh, sure they may want those things, but the thing they need most is time with you. I have never met a parent who said that they regretted spending time with their children, but I have heard plenty with regrets about not spending quality time with them.

One of the things I remember most about my parents, is the fact that they both spent quality time with their children. They were actively involved in everything we did. They were always on the sidelines at sporting events, they were always in the seats at plays and band concerts, and they were always our biggest fans. Your children grow up fast and the older they get, the less time you get to spend with them. Don?t let the years slip by before you realize you missed so many opportunities to spend time with them. Look for those opportunities, make those opportunities, schedule those opportunities, and seize those opportunities. I guarantee you will not regret one moment of quality time you spend with your children.

Tim Stone is a veteran of youth ministry with over 15 years of experience in that field. He currently serves as youth pastor at Freedom Fellowship Church in Magnolia, TX. He is also the founder of EquippingParents.com, a website designed to inform and equip today's parents. For more tools and resources go to http://www.equippingparents.com

Safety 1st

Safety 1st is of the most reliable brands on the market. Some Safety 1st products include car seats, strollers, baby monitors, gates, bouncers, and much more. Safety 1st products make the transition from a baby to a toddler easier. Listed below are some products you might be interested in that make life a little easier.

The Safety 1st Tandem Stroller is a double stroller with stadium seating so that both children can see out the front. It has a reclining front seat, cup holders, rear brakes, a large basket, and a canopy with storage pockets. Best of all, the Safety 1st Tandem Stroller has a compact fold and a carrying handle and can easily be taken from place to place.

A great Safety 1st car seat is the Intera Convertible Car Seat. This seat is the only one that can be used as an infant seat, toddler seat, high-back booster, or a backless booster. It can hold any child between five and one-hundred pounds and is LATCH equipped. The seat also reclines in three positions, has a five point harness, and a removable cup holder. The Safety 1st car seat is perfect for any growing baby, and all parents who want maximum use out of their money.

Another one of the many, innovative Safety 1st baby products is the Color View Video Monitor. This set has a crib mountable camera, portable monitor, and two .5 inch high resolution screens. Other features are a brightness control, auto night sensor, AC adapter, and a picture off/audio only switch. This modern-day baby monitor is excellent for technology-savvy and panicky new parents.

So whether you’re selecting baby or toddler products, Safety 1st is a leading, dependable choice which makes a variety of merchandise to help raise and protect children.

About the Author

LynnMarie is On-Line Editor for Babyage.com which is one of the top online retailers of Infant and Juvenile Products including an extensive line of Strollers for infants and children.

Tips For Traveling With A Toddler

 



Tips For Traveling With A ToddlerSubmitted By: April Aguren  

Traveling is an exciting time for the entire family, and if you are taking a toddler along on the trip, you?ll need to plan ahead with activities, snacks, and all the right tools to stay organized.

Traveling with kids is much more fun when everyone is well-prepared for the adventure; this means packing the right items, making sure there are enough activities to keep the kids busy, and keeping everyone?s safety in mind. Whether you?re planning a short weekend getaway or a few weeks on a family vacation, here are some simple tips for traveling with a toddler:

1. Car seats, baby carriers, strollers, and booster seats. Making sure you have a safe car seat, a stroller and booster seats available, will make it much easier to travel to different venues with your toddler. Car seats can ensure a safe drive, while your own collapsible stroller will make it simple to tour and visit different areas without having to rent equipment. Leave room in your car to pack the stroller easily, and take along a booster seat if you have some extra space. You may also want to bring a sling or baby carrier to reduce the amount of gear to pack if your child is not too heavy for you to carry. Most slings can support a child up to 35 lbs. Check with your sling?s/carrier?s manufacturer for details.

2. Comfortable clothing. The right outfit for the day of traveling is important, since you want your toddler to be comfortable and enjoy the experience. Light-colored clothing works best, especially if you?re traveling to a warmer climate. You?ll want to pack at least two outfits for the days you?ll be traveling on the road or in an airplane, as your toddler may spill food and drinks on their clothes and that will require an outfit change.

3. Diaper bags and accessories. You?ll need a place to store those extra diaper bags, toys, videos, snacks, and clothing, so that everything is within easy reach. If you are traveling by car or van, pick up an organizer bag that you can just hang over the car seat, or a tote-style box/organizer that you can slip into the trunk of the car.

4. Puzzles and games. Puzzles and games will keep your toddler and kids busy during those very long travel times, so make sure you?re taking along a tote bag of their favorite toys, coloring books, and games. Games don?t have to contain lots of pieces when you?re on the road ? think about simple activities such as coloring books with crayons, picture books, and activity books that will keep them occupied. You also may want to create a surprise bag of little games/treats for each hour/certain number of miles passed. This keeps them entertained and wondering what will come next.

5. DVDs and media activities. A portable DVD player, an iPod, or just a simple CD player are other activities that can keep your toddler and kids occupied on a long trip. Rent some of their favorite movies for the DVD player, or just pick up some fun books on tape for them to listen to. These activities can keep kids busy for a few hours, and are especially valuable for those extra-long trips.

6. Snacks and food. Taking along enough snacks is essential when traveling with kids, especially since you don?t want to waste lots of money on food and snacks along the way. Packing your own snacks and food will also ensure that your kids can eat healthy when traveling, so think of simple and tasty snacks the whole family can enjoy. Fruit wedges, granola bars, peanut butter sandwiches, and even homemade trail mix are great foods for traveling, and can make long hours of traveling much more fun.

7. Immunizations and medical records. If you?re traveling out of the country, you?ll need to have your kids immunized against various diseases and conditions, but you?ll also want to have everyone get a health checkup before leaving and upon your return. Make an appointment with the doctor or physician at least two to three weeks before your travel dates, so that everyone can enjoy the trip in the best of health.

8. Passports, visas, and identity cards. Make sure you have all of the paperwork and materials you will need for your travel plans well ahead of time, and pack all of these in a separate case for easy access. All of your personal records need to be in an easily accessible place in case of emergency, so be sure to make a place for these and keep them on close-at-hand during your trip.

Whether you?re traveling on a long road trip or taking an airplane ride with your kids, making sure they are comfortable, safe, and enjoying the experience should be a top priority. Stay organized and plan ahead, using all of these simple strategies, so that you can deliver a fun vacation the whole family will enjoy!

About the Author:

April Aguren is the owner of ChildToGo.com, a kids? travel accessory website. She has traveled extensively as a marketing event manager for work and with her family for fun. She is also the author of the ebook, Wedding Bells: an eguide to planning your wedding. For more information on travel accessory gear for your baby, toddler or preschooler, see her site at www.childtogo.com.

Article Tags: kids, snacks, traveling