Planning to travel for the holidays? Here’s a quick list of 8 things to consider. View the full article here.

Plan ahead.
Use lists and calendars to help you stay organized.
Start packing a week or two ahead of time.
Pack a carry-on bag for baby.
If flying, book early and try to get direct flights whenever possible.
Consider your baby’s schedule when flying.
Know the rules, especially for airline carry-ons.
Give yourself plenty of time.

Even under the best of circumstances, air travel can be stressful. Packing, arriving at the airport on time, getting through security, and dealing with flight delays can wear on you. Add a baby to the scenario, and it’s even more of a struggle. But proper preparation can ease the process for both you and your baby.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
The best approach for parents flying with infants is to start preparing early. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has strict rules for air travelers, especially those with babies and children, and many airlines tack on a few of their own.
Check with your carrier. It will make your trip much easier if you understand and follow the rules.
Choosing Your Flight
• Whether you are traveling alone or with children, you should prebook your flight as far in advance as possible. In addition to the cost savings, having seat assignments made and boarding passes printed off from your home computer before you leave will save lots of time and hassle when you reach the airport.
• It’s not easy getting through to airlines by phone these days, but it is a good idea to call the airline you plan to use and ask questions. The best airfares tend to be online, so do your research before you call. They may match the price for you, but be aware that some airlines charge a premium for booking by phone.
• Let the airline know you are traveling with an infant. They might offer a discount if you are purchasing an extra seat
for the baby. You will need to reserve a window seat and bring your own FAA-approved car seat for the baby.
(See “Packing” below.)
• Traveling with the baby on your lap? For safety reasons, we don’t recommend this option but, if you must, consider bringing along a comfortable baby sling for added comfort and security. Be sure to check with your airline carrier first, since some restrict using these in flight.
• Although it’s not all that common unless you are traveling internationally, you may still need a ticket for a baby you hold on your lap.
• Check to see if the airline will offer an infant luggage allowance. You’ll need it, especially if you are bringing along a stroller. Some airlines charge a pretty hefty fee for extra checked luggage.
• Consider your baby’s routine, and try to avoid connecting flights. If you are traveling internationally across time zones, you might also want to try to start adjusting your baby’s schedule slowly several days before you fly.
• You might want to check the on-time records of the airlines and flights you are considering through an online tool like FlightStats.com, which also offers great information about real-time airport and flight status.
• Don’t panic if you aren’t able to book your seats—or at least not the seats you want. Just plan to check in with the ticketing or gate agent at the airport when you get there.

Packing
• Start jotting down your packing list well in advance and count on making adjustments. Last minute packing leads to lots of stress and forgotten necessities.
• For items such as clothing, food and diapers, consider whether you will have access to laundry facilities and stores at your destination, as well as the length of your stay.
• If possible, leave those bulky items at home. Check into whether you can rent strollers at your destination, and ask about getting a playard or crib when you make your hotel reservation. One exception is the car seat. Because you can’t be assured of the quality and you can’t always tell whether a used or rental car seat may have been damaged or in an accident, you could be putting your baby’s safety at risk.
• Pack a small carry-on bag of essentials that will fit in front of your seat for easy access. Include diapers, wipes, a blanket, a change of clothes, food, and a plastic bag for trash and dirty diapers. Add some extras (especially diapers) in case of delays or cancellations, as well as a few first aid items.
• You will need to check your stroller, so bring a sturdy bag to protect it from the rest of the cargo. You can usually keep your stroller while in the airport if you want, but you may not have time to put it in its protective cover if you gate-check it. Consider checking it upon arrival at the airport and switching to a baby sling instead.
• If you are planning to use a car seat on the plane, it must be clearly labeled as FAA approved for air travel. Car seats can be cumbersome and difficult to install, and flight attendants are not allowed for liability reasons to help you. Be sure to carefully review your manufacturer’s instructions before the trip.
• If you haven’t purchased an extra ticket and the flight isn’t full, you may be allowed to take your FAA-approved car seat onboard and use it in a spare seat.
• Plan for yourself, too! Wear shoes that you can easily slip off and on at security and loose fitting, comfortable clothes. Bring a change of clothes in case the baby makes a mess, and pack some snacks like protein bars or fruit for a healthy pick-me-up.
AT THE AIRPORT
On average, it is recommended that you arrive at the airport at least 2 hours before check-in. Depending on the airport, weather, time of day, and other variables, the time it takes you to go through security can be much shorter—or longer.
Since you will be traveling with extra “gear,” do yourself a favor and give yourself the extra time. It will be much easier on you and the little one to wait awhile longer at the gate than get bogged down at security and risk missing your flight.
Checking In
Even if you printed your boarding passes at home, you will still need to check your bags. There are three ways to do this:
• Check them with a skycap, usually your quickest option. Many airports now charge a fee for this service or recommend a tip of $2 per checked item.
• See an agent at the ticket counter. Factor in time for potential lines. This is separate from the security check-in. This is a good option if you have last minute questions, and want to get or change your seat assignment. (You can also do this at the gate if you use the skycap or self-serve.)
• Self-serve kiosks. Although these are quick and convenient when traveling light, they can be the least attractive option for traveling with a baby, because you will still be responsible for taking your own check-in luggage to the x-ray area.
(continued on next page)
Essential Paperwork
• Make sure the baby is covered under your travel insurance.
• If you are traveling without the other parent, get written permission to do so. It’s also a good idea to carry a copy of the baby’s birth certificate or some other form of identification with you that proves you are the parent or
legal guardian.
• When traveling outside of the U.S., you will likely need a passport for the baby. This can be a time-consuming process, so apply several weeks in advance of your trip. Visit the
U.S. Department of State web site or check with your local post office on how to apply

If the link between parent and child is strong enough that kids can “catch” their parents’ stress, it may stand to reason that babies crave the physical connection that comes with a cuddle. It’s something that plenty of parents are more than happy to provide during the day but, when it comes to bedtime, the modern emphasis has been on teaching good sleep habits — and giving mom and dad a break.

Most sleep-deprived parents get to the point where they’re willing to try almost anything in order to get a good night’s rest. While some decry it as cruel, others have had success with the “cry it out” method — teaching babies to “self-soothe” by letting their nighttime crying go unanswered.

But is “crying it out” about establishing independence? Or is it just a way of making those early years easier for parents?

In an article published this week in Psychology Today, one researcher says that crying it out could be dangerous for children, leading to a lifetime of harm.

“A crying baby in our ancestral environment would have signaled predators to tasty morsels,” writes Darcia Narvaez, an Associate Professor of Psychology and Director of the Collaborative for Ethical Education at the University of Notre Dame. “So our evolved parenting practices alleviated baby distress and precluded crying except in emergencies.”

When babies are stressed, their bodies release the hormone cortisol, which can damage or even destroy neurons in their still-developing brains, researchers at Yale University and Harvard Medical School have found. That can lead to a higher incidence of ADHD, poor academic performance, and anti-social tendencies.

Human babies are hardwired for near-constant holding, breastfeeding, and having their other needs met quickly — the hallmarks of Attachment Parenting, Narvaez points out — in order for their brains to develop properly. Even Dr. Richard Ferber, whose sleep-training method is commonly called the Cry It Out Method, says that he never intended parents to completely ignore their babies nighttime tears.

“I’ve always believed that there are many solutions to sleep problems, and that every family and every child is unique,” he said in an interview with BabyTalk. “People want one easy solution, but there’s no such thing. I never encouraged parents to let their babies cry it out, but one of the many treatment styles I described in my book is gradual extinction, where you delay your response time to your baby’s wakings. I went to great pains in the second edition to clarify that that treatment is not appropriate for every sleep issue, of which there are many.”

What he does encourage is teaching children to soothe themselves during normal nighttime wakings. But many parents extend his advice to include all bedtime-related crying. That’s the type of crying it out sets kids up for stress-related problems, trust issues, anxiety disorders, reduced brain function, and a lack of independence, Narvaez writes. And since the problems are on a genetic level, they can’t necessarily be fixed later in life.

“In studies of rats with high or low nurturing mothers, there is a critical period for turning on genes that control anxiety for the rest of life,” Narvaez writes. “If in the first 10 days of life you have low nurturing rat mother (the equivalent of the first 6 months of life in a human), the gene never gets turned on and the rat is anxious towards new situations for the rest of its life, unless drugs are administered to alleviate the anxiety.”

Could a lack of nurturing explain our “Prozac Nation?” Narvaez points out that she’s witnessed the long-term physical effects of it firsthand.

“I was raised in a middle-class family with a depressed mother, harsh father and overall emotionally unsupportive environment — not unlike others raised in the USA,” she writes. “I have only recently realized from extensive reading about the effects of early parenting on body and brain development that I show the signs of undercare — poor memory (cortisol released during distress harms hippocampus development), irritable bowel and other poor vagal tone issues, and high social anxiety.”

The lack of nurturing, and the prevalence of parents who put their own needs in front of their kids’, may be to blame for the mental and physical health problems that are plaguing the United States now.

“If we want a strong country and people,” she writes, “we’ve got to pay attention to what children need for optimal development.”

By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor, Yahoo! Shine

Is Crying It Out Dabgerous for Kids

CHARLOTTE, N.C., November 2, 2011 — BRITAX today announced new fashion choices for its best-selling convertible car seat line with Side Impact Protection and True Side Impact Protection®. Nine new prints are being added to the line, which also offers Superior 360 Degree Protection with Revolutionary Head Safety Technology to dramatically reduce the risk of head injury.

The following car seat models will replace many of the current fashions with new styles, listed here:

Roundabout 55:
Gumdrop
Silver Lake

Boulevard 70:
Silver Birch
Zebra
Aztec

Marathon 70:
Chili Pepper
Azalea

Boulevard 70 CS:
Biscotti
Cowmooflage

Advocate 70 CS:
Zebra
Serene

Now available in new, funky prints, BRITAX’s convertible car seats are equipped with the same revolutionary head safety technology that lowers the child’s center of gravity, strengthens the child seat and manages crash energy.

Together, these features reduce head excursion and offer the most advanced protection to children. These include:
•    Integrated steel bars that strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash.
•    BRITAX SafeCell Technology™ with SafeCells that are designed to compress in a crash. This significantly lowers the center of gravity and counteracts the forward rotation of the child seat, which normally propels the child toward the front seat.
•    Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether® with a two-point attachment and staged-release tether webbing to anchor the top of the car seat. This minimizes forward-rotation and reduces crash forces reaching the child.

The updated fashions are available on the following: Roundabout 55 (SRP: $199.99), Marathon 70 (SRP: $289.99), Boulevard 70 (SRP: $319.99), Boulevard 70 CS (SRP: $339.99) and Advocate 70 CS (SRP: $379.99). They will be introduced at independent and mass retailers between November 2011 and January 2012.

For more information about BRITAX visit www.BritaxUSA.com, Twitter or Facebook.

About Britax Child Safety Inc.

BRITAX manufactures and markets lines of premium car seats, strollers, baby carriers and accessories.  Since its founding in Britain in 1939, the company has become one of the world’s most trusted juvenile products brands, known for its commitment to thoughtful engineering and top-quality, intuitive design.

Among the world’s largest manufacturers of car seats, the company offers more than 8 car seat models in the U.S. and Canada — forward-facing, rear-facing and convertible.  The seats are designed to keep a child rear facing and in a five-point harness longer, and can accommodate a child from “birth to belt” (i.e., 4 pounds to 120 pounds).  The company’s car seats consistently lead the industry in energy-management technologies that go well beyond the safety requirements of government agencies, offering superior 360-degree protection. The company’s innovations include BRITAX SafeCell Technology™, True Side Impact Protection® and Side Impact Cushion™ Technology.

The BRITAX stroller line is constantly evolving to meet the modern family’s lifestyle needs. The line offers versatility; a lifespan beyond one child; lightweight solutions for easy travel; and smooth maneuverability.  With thoughtfully designed details inspired by a mom’s daily interactions with her child, parents can rest assured that their children are safe and comfortable in BRITAX strollers.

Built for comfortable extended wear, the BRITAX BABY CARRIER line is made for baby and designed for parent.   The carrier introduces the CarryLong™ System, which reduces the risk of back and shoulder strain during extended wear by distributing weight across the shoulders, back and hips.  BRITAX also addresses the limited weight capacity ranges associated with leading soft-structured baby carriers by accommodating infants through toddlers from 8 pounds up to 32 pounds).

BRITAX USA is located in Charlotte, N.C., and employs more than 200 people.  For more information, visit www.BritaxUSA.com.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Four popular booster seats from BRITAX Child Safety Inc. — the FRONTIER® 85 SICT Combination Harness-2-Booster™ seat, the FRONTIER® 85 Combination Harness-2-Booster™ seat, the PARKWAY® SGL and the PARKWAY® SG belt-positioning booster seats — were given “best” and “good” ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in a 2011 study released in October, 2011. The independent study tested how well various booster seats provide proper vehicle seatbelt positioning on a child.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111013/CG86517)

The FRONTIER 85 SICT, FRONTIER 85 and PARKWAY SGL were among 31 booster seats to receive a “best bet” rating, and the PARKWAY SG was among five to earn a “good bet” rating. Researchers evaluated 62 boosters.

“At BRITAX, we encourage parents to keep their children safe in car seats as long as possible,” said Jon Chamberlain, president of BRITAX. “We work to develop car seats that can accommodate older, larger children while still offering the most advanced safety features. These favorable IIHS ratings for our entire line of BRITAX combination and booster seats reflect our long-standing commitment to keeping children safe.”

The BRITAX FRONTIER 85 SICT and FRONTIER 85 Combination Harness-2-Booster seats allow children who weigh up to 120 pounds to ride in booster mode. The booster seats accommodate older children and have unique features to help parents ensure a correct fit. Color-coded vehicle belt guides, arm rests and an option to add the SecureGuard™ accessory, help position the booster seats properly and safely secure the child. Additional features including Side Impact Cushion Technology® on the FRONTIER 85 SICT and True Side Impact Protection® on both the FRONTIER 85 SICT and FRONTIER 85 divert crash forces away from the child.

The BRITAX PARKWAY SGL and PARKWAY SG belt-positioning booster seats feature SecureGuard™, color-coded vehicle belt guides to indicate the path and positioning of the vehicle lap and shoulder seat belt, and arm rests to provide a secure fit and proper belt positioning. Both booster seats have True Side Impact Protection® which deflects crash forces away from the child. The PARKWAY SGL is equipped with the ISOFLEX Flexible Lower LATCH Connection System which secures the booster seat to the vehicle, prevents it from becoming a projectile when not in use, and stabilizes it during a crash.

All children whose weight or height is above the forward-facing limit for their car seat should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle seat belt fits properly, which is typically between 8 and 12 years of age, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Many states have age, height and weight requirements for the use of child restraints which can be found at the Governors Highway Safety Association website.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is an independent, non-profit, scientific, and educational organization dedicated to reducing the losses — deaths, injuries and property damage — from crashes on the nation’s highways.

SOURCE BRITAX

While instances of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) have dropped dramatically in the past 20 years, experts say that popular crib bumpers don’t contribute to that statistic.

Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011 (MedPage Today) — Breastfeeding and immunization protect babies against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) but bumper pads don’t, according to updated guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The recommendations — last revised in 2005 — go beyond SIDS and focus on providing a safe sleeping environment for infants to reduce the risk of all sleep-related deaths, such as suffocation.

Supine sleeping position, first recommended by the AAP in 1992, remains the cornerstone of SIDS prevention, along with a firm sleeping surface, and no bed sharing.

“Overall, we are making good progress in understanding SIDS and the importance of the infant’s environment in preventing suffocation deaths,” Rachel Moon, MD, who chaired the guideline writing committee, said during an AAP press briefing. “However, we still see evidence of unsafe sleeping practices, and we hoped to address those in these new guidelines.”

Read the rest of this entry »

October 4, 2011 | 5:35 pm

Children in cars will be required to ride in a booster seat until they are 8 years old under a new law signed Tuesday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Current law requires booster seats for children until they reach the age of 6 or weigh at least 60 pounds.

Sen. Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) said that does not go far enough, and Brown agreed. Exceptions will be made for any child 7 years old or younger who is at least 4 feet 9.

Similar legislation was vetoed twice by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The new law will go into effect on Jan. 1.

–Anthony York in Sacramento

Electronic gadget maker Binatone licensed the Motorola name for a line of baby monitors that debuted in 2011.

Binatone has been expanding their video offerings in recent months and now have four models (and a fifth coming in 2012). All video monitors include infrared night vision, lullabies, sound/light display, room temperature monitor and a two-way intercom feature. The main difference is the size of the screen.

The basic MBP20 ($130) has a 1.5” color LCD screen, while the MBP33 ($160) has a 2.8” screen. The MBP35 adds a 3.5” screen, plus a sleep mode for power saving, The camera also has a battery for 3.5 hours of wireless monitoring.

The BMP36 ($200; pictured) also has a 3.5 screen, but adds a camera that can pan, tilt and zoom.

For 2012, Binatone will add a new model: the MBP2000 ($400) which works on a wifi network and can be expanded with up to four cameras. You can record up to 30 hours of video on a Micro SD card. The receiver also doubles as a telephone and answering machine. At $400, it looks like Binatone is throwing in everything including the kitchen sink for this model.

Parent feedback on these video monitors has been quite positive, with few reports of static or interference. Much of that credit probably goes to the monitor’s 2.4 GHz FHSS technology—FHSS stands for frequency-hoping spread spectrum—which enables strong, secure reception. Both the MBP33 and MBP36 have FHSS, while the simpler MBP20 works on DECT.

Perhaps the biggest complaint about these cameras is their weak night vision—compared to other brands, the Motorola night vision pictures are not very clear.

Rating: A-

A EXCELLENT-our top pick!
B GOOD-above average quality, prices, and creativity.
C FAIR-could stand some improvement.
D POOR-yuck! Could stand some major improvement.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 4th, 2011 at 11:03 am and is filed under Baby Monitors, Reviews, Video baby monitors. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Jessica Yadegaran, Contra Costa Times

Not a single blue decoration was in sight. No one exchanged baby advice, or played games that involved sniffing melted chocolate in diapers.

Instead, the baby shower for Esteban Guzman of San Leandro involved a lot of beer, barbecued meat and a highly anticipated game between the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers.

“It was just a bunch of guys who have no idea about babies but wanted to help their buddy out,” says Guzman, 34, recalling the “kegs for diapers” party he had last October, when his girlfriend, Noemi, was pregnant with their now 8-month-old son, Dante. “And if they did have advice, I probably wouldn’t have taken it since they’re a bunch of knuckleheads.”

Modern fathers are more

Tips for a successful diaper party

• Keep the grub simple. Grill some burgers or offer finger foods, such as chips and salsa, chicken wings, pizza and pretzels.
• What to play. Football will be on the tube or you’ll be playing poker. Those are the only games you need.
• Skip the favors. Unless your buddies love cigars or some such gift, there is no need to indulge.
• Don’t forget the diapers. Make sure to bring a variety of sizes. Babies have a tendency to grow.

— Athena Serapio, San Bruno event planner

involved than ever in prenatal care and their babies’ first years, but they like to celebrate the milestone their way.

Good grub. Alcohol. Bad jokes. Most daddy showers, or diaper parties as they are called because guests bring diapers in lieu of gifts, lack the frills of traditional baby showers. But experts say the purpose is the same: to support the parent-to-be as he transitions into this new life passage.

Luckily for Guzman, it’s football season, so he sent out an email to his buddies. Come over Sunday afternoon, it said. I’m buying a keg and firing up the grill.

Ed, Esteban’s older brother, a father of two, arrived with six boxes of diapers. He knew from coed baby showers he’d attended with his wife that this affair would not involve dreaded games or favors. There would be no wrapping paper to throw away. No gift registry to follow.

“Guys don’t do those kinds of things,” says Ed, 40. “It was more of a handshake and congratulations and, ‘OK, where’s the food?’ ”

Also missing were the war stories, Ed says. “No one talked about how difficult it is to breast-feed or how you don’t get any sleep when you have a baby. It was more of a celebration.”

Another guest, Joe Fernandez, a bachelor who made his first trip to Babies R Us for the occasion, says the diaper party was a way to help Esteban close one chapter in his life and begin another.

“Time becomes much more precious when somebody becomes a father and you don’t see them as often, so you want to send them off properly,” says Fernandez, 35, of Walnut Creek.

Men are much more involved in the baby world than they were even a generation ago, so cultivating networks with like-minded guys is just as crucial as it is for Mom, says Judy Levit, an Oakland marriage and family therapist.

“They don’t talk about their feelings, but they know why they’re there,” Levit says of diaper parties. “If they’re going to be up all night with the baby and changing diapers, they need guys they can talk to. If they’re going to be supporting their wives, they need support.”

As much as the diaper party is dad’s last hurrah with the boys, it’s important to keep it casual, says Athena Serapio, a San Bruno event planner.

“I think men in the Bay Area wouldn’t want too much fuss and fluff,” says Serapio. “No favors, no decor and possibly no baby games at all.”

You can play around with themes such as poker or football, but remember, no gifts. Just diapers.

Guzman’s friends were so generous, he and Noemi didn’t have to purchase a single diaper until just last month.

“It was very touching for me to see them come together like that,” he says. “They even brought different sizes. That was what I was most shocked by.”

CHARLOTTE, N.C., September 08, 2011 — BRITAX, with its Head Safety Technology, remains at the forefront of car seat safety innovation.  Building on its commitment to child passenger safety (CPS), BRITAX is partnering with Safe Kids USA, actress/CPS technician Ali Landry and Spokesmoms.com to spread awareness of child passenger safety.

BRITAX, Safe Kids, Landry and Spokesmoms plan to educate parents about both the importance of child safety seats and the best practices for car seat use leading up to Child Passenger Safety Week, September 18 – 24, 2011.  The public service effort includes press interviews with CPS Technician Ali Landry and the celebrity Red CARpet event, presented by Spokesmoms.com, in which celebrity parents drive national awareness for child passenger safety.  Through their combined initiatives, parents will be reminded that head injuries are not only the most frequent injuries that occur during front and side impact crashes, but also the leading cause of vehicle crash-related deaths for children up to 12 years old (source: Child Injury Led Design and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 2010).  At the Red CARpet event, Landry and other celebrities will be signing select Next Generation convertible car seats that will be given to lucky winners of our sweepstakes on September 30th.

To further support our commitment to safety, BRITAX will make a contribution to Safe Kids USA for every birthday wish made to our Next Generation car seats by our BRITAX Facebook fans September 18th – 24th.  Visit facebook.com/britax to learn more.  Finally, BRITAX will also kick off a monthly convertible car seat sweepstakes from September through December, 2011; visit www.BritaxUSA.com/HeadSafety/Gallery for complete details.

BRITAX is well-known for its revolutionary head safety technologies that reduce head excursion on impact and offer the most advanced protection to children. These include:
•    A re-engineered lower center of gravity that allows the child to sit lower and creates stability in the event of a crash.
•    Integrated steel bars that strengthen the connection to the vehicle and reduce forward flexing of the child seat during a crash.
•    BRITAX SafeCell Technology™ with SafeCells that are designed to compress in a crash. This significantly lowers the center of gravity and counteracts the forward rotation of the child seat, which normally propels the child toward the front seat.
•    Energy-Absorbing Versa-Tether® with a two-point attachment and staged-release tether webbing to anchor the top of the car seat. This minimizes forward-rotation and reduces crash forces reaching the child.

For more information about BRITAX Head Safety Technologies, visit www.BritaxUSA.com, or connect with BRITAX on Twitter or Facebook.

About BRITAX Child Safety Inc.
BRITAX manufactures and markets lines of premium car seats, strollers, baby carriers and accessories.  Since its founding in Britain in 1939, the company has become one of the world’s most trusted juvenile products brands, known for its commitment to thoughtful engineering and top-quality, intuitive design.

Among the world’s largest manufacturers of car seats, the company offers more than 8 car seat models in the U.S. and Canada — forward-facing, rear-facing and convertible.  The seats are designed to keep a child rear facing and in a five-point harness longer, and can accommodate a child from “birth to belt” (i.e., 4 pounds to 120 pounds).  The company’s car seats consistently lead the industry in energy-management technologies that go well beyond the safety requirements of government agencies, offering superior 360-degree protection. The company’s innovations include BRITAX SafeCell Technology™, True Side Impact Protection® and Side Impact Cushion™ Technology.

The BRITAX stroller line is constantly evolving to meet the modern family’s lifestyle needs. The line offers versatility; a lifespan beyond one child; lightweight solutions for easy travel; and smooth maneuverability.  With thoughtfully designed details inspired by a mom’s daily interactions with her child, parents can rest assured that their children are safe and comfortable in BRITAX strollers.

Built for comfortable extended wear, the BRITAX BABY CARRIER line is made for baby and designed for parent.   The carrier introduces the CarryLong™ System, which reduces the risk of back and shoulder strain during extended wear by distributing weight across the shoulders, back and hips.  BRITAX also addresses the limited weight capacity ranges associated with leading soft-structured baby carriers by accommodating infants through toddlers from 8 pounds up to 32 pounds).

BRITAX USA is located in Charlotte, N.C., and employs more than 200 people.  For more information, visit www.BritaxUSA.com.

About Safe Kids USA
Safe Kids USA is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 1 to 14. More than 600 coalitions and chapters across the U.S. and 19 member countries across the globe bring together health and safety experts, educators, corporations, foundations, governments and volunteers to educate and protect families.  For more information visit www.safekids.org.

About Spokesmoms.com
Spokesmoms, Inc. is an intuitive product review platform whose aim is to promote and aggregate the fragmented voices of mom opinions and reviews for juvenile products. Spokesmoms rewards moms for posted reviews, rating reviews, links moms with like-minded reviews, simplifies their quest for the best products and makes recommendations based on their personality and needs.

In addition, Spokesmoms facilitates the communication between juvenile product Manufacturers and their clients – the moms! Spokesmoms offers Manufacturers ways to syndicate current social media content, promote brand viability to target audiences, request surveys of new products and ideas and showcase mom reviews on multiple websites.

Founded by Ali Landry and her passionate partners, Spokesmoms will continue to strive to connect brands, causes and moms together.  The power of one voice is incredible when united with many.  For more information visit www.spokesmoms.com.