Scotts Weekly Review - Safe and Sound Car Seat

This weeks product review is on Safe & Sound Car Seat, Pyper has just about grown out of her capsule, I'm a bit sad about that as it meant we had to buy another car seat ... so more money down the drain. But once again it's all about safety so there's no excuse really.

We got the Safe&Sound Car Seat as a gift and initially I thought "it's a good looking car seat". Here's what I found:



Pros

• Certified up to a weight of 18kgs
  
• Sturdy with lots of cushions and padding
  
• Pretty dirt resistant from what I can tell

Cons

• Needs hooks in the car to lock the seat in place
  
• Only reclines in the back facing position
  
• Quite expensive
  
• It has a 3 point (6 straps) harness - quite complicated to put on and secure

Safety dads - corner bumpers

There was a story in the news recently about a 2-year old boy who fell of the sofa, hit his head on the corner of a low dining table and needed 13 stitches. Not great - another reminder for all parents to baby-proof your house before it's too late. So I saw these in IKEA the other day and just had to post a photo - what a simple design to protect corners ... and they look kind of cool. You gotta love the Swedes ... they gave us ABBA, the Swedish Chef, Swedish Tanks (Volvos) and now the IKEA corner bumper! YAY! You can get them in lots of colors for around $5. Nice. Whatever type of corner bumpers you end up getting ... it doesn't matter, just get some. They are a very good investment in the safety of your house when the little ones are about.

And NO, I haven't been asked to write about this by IKEA ... I just like their stuff.

-Stef

Say your name

When your child gets lost somewhere in a mall or park you can help them find their way back to you by getting them to learn/memorize some essential information. You can start with children as young as 2 years ... here's a list in order of complexity:

1. Child knows his/her own name
   
2. knows the first name of their dad, mum or guardian (i.e. not "mummy" or "daddy" but the actual name)
   
3. knows the name of the suburb / street where they live
   
4. knows the full name of their dad, mum or guardian (i.e. firstname and lastname)
   
5. is able to correctly spell the full name of their mum, dad or guardian
   
6. knows where dad, mum or guardian work (name of the company/organisation)
   
7. Is able to correctly say the full home telephone number / work or cell numbers of any parent/guardian
   
8. knows the full home address including house number and can spell the street name

There's some homework for you! :-)

-Stef

What you need to know about cyber bullying

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, it is estimated that 10-40% of today's kids experience cyber bullying in one form or another. For some, bullying may seem like a rite of passage. But for others, the negative effects of cyberbullying can be debilitating. Distractions that arise from cyber bullying can make students lose focus in school, be withdrawn from their families, and fall victim to all levels of harassment. As dads we must be aware of what's going on to be able to intervene, help or support.

What is cyberbullying?
Cyber bullying is like traditional bullying, the behavior is the same, but technology is used to expand the environment in which bullying takes place. E.g. posting embarrassing videos and texting hateful words/threats all fall under the realm of cyber bullying.

What can I do about it?

Kids safety - lead and asbestos exposure

As dad, you think of everything to keep your kids safe. You cut off access to electrical outlets, keep the cleaning supplies out of reach, and kid-proof anything (literally anything) sharp or pointy. But what about the air your kids breathe? What about what they put into their mouths? Yup - there are some things your little ones shouldn't be exposed to: lead and asbestos.

Lead is found in lots of places that you might not expect:
* pipes
* paint
* water
* household dust
* pottery/porcelain
* soil

But what's so bad about lead? Ingesting lead can result in lead poisoning, and since kids like to put things in their mouths, they're more susceptible. In children, lead poisoning symptoms can resemble those of the flu. Stomachaches, headaches, tiredness, and irritability may lead to further, more dangerous effects like brain, liver, and kidney damage, slowed development, and hearing loss.

Avoiding driveway deaths

Driveway incidents with toddlers and small children resulting in injury or death is still a big issue in many western countries. Recently the Child Safety Foundation of New Zealand has released information about what can be done to reduce the death and injury toll. Here's a summary of the information:

1) Simple, straightforward procedures are more effective than expensive equipment (such as driveway / vehicle cameras)
"Installing reversing cameras on a vehicle can certainly be a positive move. However, at an estimated cost of between $300 and $950, cameras will be beyond the financial reach of many families. Moreover, as fixed devices, they have only a limited ability to monitor the swift movements of children at play."

2) Always check before you get into your car and start reversing that there are no children around and likely to be in your path. This rule applies to people visiting a home with children, as well as to the parents themselves.

Dads and seatbelts

Very powerful ad with an important message ... well executed and great to watch! Well done.

-Stef

Making sure you stay around to see your children grow up

We've recently come across a nice little site called safetyandstyle.com. They basically sell stylised work and safety gear. So if you want to make sure everyone knows you're the world's biggest Harley fan - get a Harley Davidson hard hat. I didn't realise that stuff existed - what a great idea though. Be safe and go in style.

Safety is a huge issue for dads working in hazardous environments - so if there are products out there that make guys want to wear safety gear more often because they're kind of cool ... well that's great. After all there are too many sad stories where something happened to dad and he didn't get to see his children grow up or couldn't do the things he wanted to do with them because of some accident at work or doing DIY stuff at home.

So check out the site and gear up!

-Stef

Never shake a baby

Gifts for Christmas - babies and young children

Picking the right gift for kids or family can be quite challenging. Here's a different take on the usual "what to buy" lists ... In addition to all the toys and games you may want to give children for Christmas how about buying presents that help protect them from injuries at home, at play or on the road.

Here are some ideas:

* A car booster seat. Jazz it up and let their imagination run wild (e.g. tell them it's a rocket ship or a fairy chariot!). Kids are safer in a booster seat until they're big enough to fit an adult seat belt properly. The easiest way to tell: If your children are under 148cm or 4'10" tall, they still need a booster seat.

* A cycle helmet. If Lance Armstrong uses one, your kid can wear one too. Let them pick their own helmet and while you're at it, get one for yourself and walk the talk.