Posts filed under 'car seat safety'
Airplane seats and car seats come in different sizes. While the trend towards carseats with special safety features continues to grow, so too does the width of the carseats. Unfortunately, the width of airplane seats is not following this same trend, and many travelers are finding their carseats are wider than the airplane seat. One of the narrowest and lightest seats around is the Cosco Scenera. This convertible car seat can be used rear-facing from 5-30 lbs, and forward facing from 22-40 lbs. Weighing in at around 10 lbs, this seat is lightweight and bulk-free. With a width of 17.5 inches, it fits nicely into the average airplane seat (the narrowest Air Canada seat is 17.83”). Don’t have a Cosco Scenera? You can rent them from Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals (Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria) for just $35/week.
June 13th, 2010
If you’re traveling with kids or are have babies coming to visit, and are wondering what brand of carseat to rent, read on. We’ve installed hundreds of seats at Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals (Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria) and can offer you this advice: the Britax Roundabout carseats are one of the easiest seats to install tightly because the LATCH connectors on both sides of the seat can be tightened individually. A tight installation is very important as it limits movement of the child seat and therefore limits movement of your child during a crash. You can read more about the Britax LATCH connectors here.
June 9th, 2010
The other day I was walking by a parked car and something caught my attention. A kitchen booster (yes, the plastic ones you use for eating) was strapped into the back seat with the seat belt and was being used as the car seat. I waited around a while for the owner to come back but eventually gave up and continued down the street completely stunned and appalled. I’ve also seen a bouncy chair being used as a car seat. Different countries and even Canadian provinces have different car seat regulations. While some may balk at them, the regulations are there for good reason, and there is good reason to NEVER use a kitchen booster or bouncy chair in replace of a car seat. After all, isn’t your child the most precious of all cargo?
Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals has certified car seat installers on staff. Here are a couple of key things to remember to insure the safest, secure attachment of a car or booster seat:
- Know the age and weight of your child. The height is important as well but as long as your child’s head remains at least 1 inch below the top of the seat, that is suitable.
- ALWAYS, refer to the car seat manual and your car’s manual. Read both before installing the seat. All cars have been tested with child seats and they will tell you the best position to install the seat, where the anchor bolt is, etc. Don’t guess. When in doubt, whatever you do, don’t make up some system that “appears” safe. It won’t be.
- Do NOT use both a seatbelt and latch system to secure your car or booster seat. Cars have NOT been tested using both a seatbelt and the UAS system at the same time. You may think it’s safer but that may not be the case.
- Some cities have locations where you can go to have your installation reviewed. Check with your automobile association for more information.
DON’T DO THIS:
May 20th, 2009
Wee Travel is pleased to announce the opening of our new Travel Store. We search the globe for innovative travel products that make traveling with children safer, easier and less stressful. Here’s five products we think everyone should have for their trip:
CARES Airplane Child Restraint
Why we like it: The only FAA alternative to a car seat allowed on planes. This attaches directly to the back of the airplane seat and augments the regular airplane seatbelt by restraining torso to seat and not just waist.
gogo Kidz Travelmate
Why we like it: If you need to bring a car seat on your trip, you no longer have to worry about how you’re going to carry it through the airport. This marvelous invention allows the your seat (and child) to be wheeled around the airport just as you would wheel a suitcase.
Car Seat Protector Bag
Why we like it: If you plan to send your car seat cargo, this bag has a ton of extra compartments and is water resistant and made from heavy woven nylon. Best of all, if you have a gogo Kidz Travelmate, the car seat protector bag has 2 openings at the bottom for the Travelmate wheels, and an opening at the top for the Travelmate handle, so you can wheel the seat through the airport.
Airplane Seat Covers
Why we like it: If you’re wary about letting your child lie down on the filthy airplane seat, then these disposable seat covers are for you. Just pop them over the headrest and pull them over the seat, and your seat is clean and sanitary. Made from a soft polypropylene, these seat covers can be washed and re-used.
Travel Tattoos
Why we like it: If you have a child that likes to wander, your kids and you will love these child friendly tattoos. The tattoos are customized with your phone number, so you can easily be contacted if you and your child get separated. The tats are easy to remove with the included alcohol wipe, but they will stay on in the bath so one tattoo can last you an entire vacation. 
February 11th, 2009
The holiday season is just around the corner. Visions (aka nightmares) of crowded airports, wailing children and mountains of luggage are already occurring far too often in our heads! Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals both sells and rents a few items that will surely make traveling with your young ones easier and safer.
The CARES Child Aviation Restraint attaches directly to the back of the airplane seat and augments the regular airplane seat belt by restraining the torso to the seat and not just the waist. It’s FAA approved, and is the only alternative to a carseat permitted on planes. Wee Travel rents it for $5/day and $25/week or you can purchase it for $85 plus shipping and tax.
The GoGo Kidz Travelmate is is a car seat attachment that allows the seat (and child) to be wheeled around the airport just as you would wheel a suitcase. It’s the perfect solution for parents who want bring a car seat on the plane, but are wondering how to manage carrying it through the airport. The gogo Kidz Travelmate fits most convertible and toddler seats. Wee Travel rents it for $5/day or $25/week.
The GoGo Kidz car seat protector travel bag accommodates most standard car seats. If you have a gogo Kidz Travelmate, the car seat protector bag has 2 openings at the bottom for the Travelmate wheels, and an opening at the top for the Travelmate handle, so you can wheel the seat through the airport. It’s the perfect solution for parents who need a carseat at their destination. Wee Travel rents the car seat travel bag for $25/week and sells it for $50.
November 25th, 2008
If you’re traveling with wee ones, it’s usually easy to find a company at your destination where you can rent all the baby gear you’ll need for your trip. However, if you’re traveling with toddlers, it’s not always easy to rent a toddler bed. Well, Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals has found the perfect solution for you. The Aerobed for Kids is a super comfy inflatable bed that you can take with you on vacation. The bed comes with a powerful hands free plug in pump that inflates the bed to 8 inches in less than a minute - and the bed deflates in 15 seconds. It has a 50″ x 25″ sleep surface that is surrounded by four inch sides. It comes with a mattress pad and a carry bag. The Aerobed is made out of a puncture-resistant non-allergenic PVC material, and it supports up to 150 lbs. Retails for about $80.
June 13th, 2008
If you are traveling with small children you are going to need a car seat. Now, do you bring your own or not? Many people opt to rent a car seat at their destination, however, if your destination doesn’t have a baby equipment rental company, or if you just want to bring your own, be sure to check out the gogo Kidz Car Seat Protector Bag. It’s made of a heavy woven fabric that will protect your seat so you can safely send it cargo. Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Well, believe it or not, car seat protector bags are hard to come by in Canada. Wee Travel sells them for $50. If you live in Vancouver, Toronto or Victoria, you can even rent one from them for $3/day.
May 29th, 2008
Now here is something that Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals thinks every traveling parent should have. It looks like a UFO, so your kids will love it. But the Loopa Gyro is actually a revolutionary bowl that keeps the snacks in the bowl and off the floor no matter how your child grabs, turns, swivels, dips and spins it. That means no more dealing with tears or hungry tummies when you’re on the go and the snack bag mistakenly gets dumped upside down on the car floor or pavement! Sells online for $9.99.
May 5th, 2008
Now this is amazing. At least we at Wee Travel Baby Equipment Rentals think so. MomSpit is a no-rinse cleanser which lets you clean your little one anytime, no matter where you are - no water or sink needed. It works like magic and smells amazing. Just rub a little onto hands or face. Dirt will disappear. No rinse needed. Its antimicrobial properties leave skin clean, fresh, moisturized and smelling yummy. It comes in great scents: Fig and Green Tea; Lemon and White Tea, and there’s unscented, too. It contains no alcohol, mousses brilliantly, absorbs quickly and feels great. How can you NOT have this in your diaper bag?
April 2nd, 2008
Want some tips on traveling with your wee ones? Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers and Preschool-Age Children by Shelly Rivoli is the book everyone’s been talking about lately. This little gem is everything the title boasts.
In fact, it’s so good that it has just received a Gold Award in the 2008 NAPPA Parenting Resources competition, and as a result, will be featured this summer as one of the top-recommended books for new parents in 30 parenting publications across the US. As if that’s not enough, it has also been nominated for two ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards and is currently 1 of 10 finalists in Travel Guides and 1 of 13 finalists in Parenting Books. What are you waiting for? Shop at Amazon.com and order online. Be sure to sign up for Shelly’s blog and have tips delivered right to your inbox.
March 18th, 2008
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