Travel Baby

It’s important to choose a car seat designed for your child’s age and weight to give him or her the best chance of escaping injury in a crash. There are three main types of car seats — infant car seats, infant/toddler convertible car seats, and booster seats. Below are the facts about car seat options and some tips for making educated purchasing decisions for each car-seat type:


If your baby is less than a year old, he or she must ride in a rear-facing car seat.


One choice is to buy a rear-facing infant car seat (suitable for babies up to 20lbs), that will fit your baby snugly during the first few months and often comes with a handle for easy carrying. And, if you’re looking for the utmost in convenience, select a travel system. Infant travel systems include a ready made car seat and stroller combination.


The downside to the infant car seat is that you’ll spend $60 to $150 on the seat and your child will outgrow it in 6 months to a year. You’ll have to upgrade to a convertible car seat once your baby reaches 20 lbs. If this is a concern for you, you can buy a convertible car seat that will face the rear for your newborn and can turn around to face the front for your baby once he or she reaches 20 lbs.


However, some parents feel that their newborn is “swimming” in a convertible car seat and prefer to use an infant car seat until their baby gets big enough to sit in a front-facing car seat.


No matter what you decide to use for your infant, you’ll eventually need a convertible car seat.


Regardless of the choice you make as to whether to use a convertible car seat from day one or use an infant car seat until your baby weighs 20 lbs, you’ll need to buy a convertible car seat at some point. Convertible car seats are larger than infant-only car seats and are designed to grow with your child through the toddler years. Most convertible car seats fit babies up to 40 lbs (usually around age 4) and some convert to a booster car seat and are safe for children up to 80 lbs.


Convertible car seats range in price from $80 to $300.


For toddlers weighing more than 40 lbs and big kids, you’ll need a booster car seat.


Booster car seats are designed for children age 3 or older who weigh at least 40 lbs. They are designed to use your car’s lap and shoulder seat belts. They literally boost your child into a position that makes it safe to use the car’s seat belt system.


Booster car seats are essential to your child’s safety because using your car’s seat belts on a child without a booster seat can actually cause injury. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that children who’ve outgrown their convertible car seats use a booster car seat until they are 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall.


Some booster seats provide back support and you should choose one of these options if your vehicle seat is low or has no head restraint. A backless option is fine for vehicle seats that offer plenty of support behind the head.


Booster car seats range in price from $60 to $200.

By: Bob Russell

Have you ever been in public and seen some poor parent or grandparent struggling to open a massive stroller? These “one handed” operations usually require several hands to open and close, which is not always possible when you have a squirming infant or toddler to deal with as well. Convenience strollers provide an alternative to parents or grandparents who want a stroller but do not want to have to deal with the size and hassle of the larger strollers that come with baby travel systems.

Convenience strollers are lightweight strollers that fold up easily to stash in your car’s trunk. They are more durable and comfortable than umbrella strollers, but less bulky than the single stroller that comes with a baby travel system. They typically forgo the luxuries like parent cup holders or huge under-carriage baskets. They do have conveniences, such as a cup holder for the child or a small basket for carrying necessary items, but the main goal of the stroller is to be compact, comfortable, and convenient to use.

Convenience strollers do not attach to infant carriers, so many parents wait to use them until the child is able to sit up on his own. However, many of these lightweight strollers do recline fully, so infants can use them comfortably, just not with the infant carrier.

Whenever you purchase a stroller, whether it be a normal sized stroller or a convenience stroller, you need to be concerned with safety. If you plan to use the stroller with a baby, not a toddler, you need a 5-point safety harness restraint system to keep your baby where she needs to be. Always check the weight guidelines on a stroller before using it to make sure that your baby fits properly. Stability can also be a concern. Some types of lightweight strollers, such as umbrella strollers, can tip easily. Convenience strollers tend to have sturdy wheels and strong suspension systems to add stability for your baby. Finally, locking wheels will protect your baby from rolling away when you park the stroller, so this is an important safety feature.

If you have decided that convenience strollers fit your lifestyle well, there are some features you may wish to look for as you shop. First, look for a stroller that has adjustable handles. This will ensure that the stroller is comfortable for all of the adults that may be using it, no matter how different they are in height. Next, look for a stroller with a sunshade. This will protect your baby’s delicate head if you are out on a sunny day.

You will also want to note the age that the stroller’s manufacturer says you can safely begin using the stroller. Some are not safe to use until a baby is six months old, so make sure you check this if you intend to use the stroller with a young infant. Finally, consider the storage options you need. Do you need and under-the-seat basket? You can find convenience strollers with this feature. What about a cup holder for your child? This is also available, but not all models have it.

Convenience strollers help fill the gap between the larger single strollers which are heavy and sometimes difficult to store and the much smaller umbrella strollers which are very limited in features and capabilities.

By: David Cummings

Strollers are seen everywhere now a days. Many parents rely for strollers in order to aid them in their daily activities. Without strollers many parents are hampered from enjoying other things in their life with their baby. As time progresses, different brands and styles of strollers have appeared in the store. A lot of features are added from time to time to ensure that the baby and the parents get only the best comfort and safety in using them. In the past, a usual baby stroller is designed for the purpose of having the baby lie flat while the mother or father pushes the wheel. Now strollers are made to suit the needs of a growing baby. Manufacturers have even created strollers with travel system in order to make traveling convenient for the baby and the parent. They have become a must-have for parents due to the convenience and safety it can offer for the baby and his or her parent.

Travel system strollers have become popular to parents nowadays. Most parents opt to buy travel system strollers as compared to the usual stroller. Travel system strollers come in different styles and colors that appeal to stylish parents. These usually come in a set that includes a baby stroller so that the parents can bring their children along when they stroll or during short walks in the park, an infant car seat used as an infant carrier and a car seat base that can be seat-belted into a vehicle. Why has a travel system stroller become a must-have for parents? Well, the travel system eliminates the hassle of waking up a sleeping infant. It provides convenience both for the parent and the baby in different ways.

But just like buying an ordinary stroller, purchasing a travel system stroller must be done carefully, taking into consideration the most important things. Buying a travel system stroller is as complicated as buying a brand new car. There are a lot of things that you have to consider.

The car seat keeps the baby safe in the car. In choosing a travel system stroller make sure you choose a car seat that fit tightly in your car. A car seat must be easy to install and use. A 5-point harness is best for infant car seats. Choose a car seat where your baby can fit and is safe and comfortable. There are cases when a ready-made travel system does not satisfy your style. You can actually design your own travel system with a car seat and a stroller separately. A parent may also choose to buy a universal stroller frame that can be snapped to the car seat bottom instead of buying a full size stroller.

For information you can visit the different reviews available in the internet to ensure that you get only the best quality for your baby’s travel system strollers. Travel system strollers are must have’s that are guaranteed to make your travel worry-free and hassle-free.

By: Michael Lavaglio