Why do we need to double check car seat harness tension this winter

According to the UK Department of Transport, 60 to 80% of all car seats are used incorrectly, with harness tension being the single biggest failing. Getting the correct harness tension is even more difficult in winter as it is hard to tell whether you have a good harness fit if a child is wearing a thick coat.

Parents are being advised to double check the tension of car seat harnesses, particularly when their babies and toddlers wear thick coats or snowsuits this winter. The advice comes from baby company Morrck, who says many UK parents don’t realise the effect that thick outdoor clothing can have on the fit of car seat harness straps or the potential consequences of straps being too loose.

“Parents may be very surprised at the amount of slack a coat or snow suit can cause. For a car seat harness to work properly, the straps need to be tightly strapped against the child’s chest. When a child wears a snowsuit or thick coat, the straps are usually adjusted to the thickness of the coat, not the chest. If the car was in an accident, the coat could compress, making the straps too loose and reducing the level of protection for the child,” explains Isobel Thompson, mum of three and founder of Morrck, creator of the Baby Hoodie.

So, what to do? Always test whether you have correct harness tension when using a coat or snowsuit, simply follow the steps below:

1/ Put the coat on the child.
2/ Strap the child into the car seat and tighten to ensure a snug fit.
3/ Remove the child from the car seat – without loosening the straps.
4/ Take the coat off the child.
5/ Strap the child back into the seat – but don’t adjust the straps.
6/ Do the Two finger test. If you can fit more than two fingers underneath the harness at the child’s 7/ shoulder bone, the harness tension needs to be tightened or avoid using the coat in the car seat.

For more information on the Two Finger Test and the Baby Hoodie, go to www.morrck.com and click on ‘car seat safety’. You can also see the crash test results on this page.

Leave a Comment October 5, 2010

Come Travel with Me /the prologue/

100g summer sunshine
200g smiles on my kid’s face
2 tbsp Sunday chaos extract
50g adventure spirit
125g self-raising good mood
10 drops of fun
a handful of crayons
a pinch of travel wind
a pinch of “have-a-great-day” spell
secret ingredient

1. Preheat your family “get-together on Sunday” mood to max (mark 6).
2. Place the Sunday chaos on the bottom, draw the curtains and spread the summer sunshine evenly
3. In a happy family car add the /secret ingredient/, tight well to the back seat, mix with a handful of crayons and 10 drops of fun, then whisk it, shake it, beat it… until stiff.
4. Add the self-raising mood and the adventure spirit, a little at a time, whisking to incorporate, and then beat in the pinch of travel wind until well combined.
5. Spoon into your day and bake for a few hours – until golden on top and overflowing with happiness. Sprinkle with the “have-a-great-day” spell and enjoy!

Have you guessed what the secret ingredient is? – Please share your suggestions below and stay tuned – something very exciting will follow soon!

1 Comment June 27, 2010

Join GreenKiddie and Graco for the #kidstravelsafe Twitter Party! Let’s Talk About Travelling With Kids and Win Prizes From Graco Baby

To celebrate the Child Safety Week 21^st- 27^th June GreenKiddie has teamed up with Graco Baby to hold a #kidstravelsafe Twitter party on Sunday, 27^th June between 9pm – 10pm!

We’ll be tweeting about our challenges when travelling with kids, how to make the travel even more exciting for the children, so it can be enjoyable and less stressful for the parents. Most importantly, let’s talk about how to make our trips safe for the kids and the whole family!

Join us to share your travel stories, to get some great road safety tips, or just to have fun, chat to other parents and WIN great prizes from Graco!

How to join our #kidstravelsafe party?

1. Log-in to your Twitter account (or create one if you don’t have an account yet)
2. Type#kidstravelsafe in the “Search” field on “Home” tab. Click on “Save this search” so it’s easy for you to find it
3. Click on your #kidstravelsafe saved search on 27^th June, Sunday, at 9pm GMT and join the party!
4. Follow us on Twitter: @greenkiddie and @GracoBaby_UK

When I ask a question, tweet the answer to me and make sure you always include the hash-tag #kidstravelsafe.

We’ll be giving away three beautiful and comfy Graco changing bags. The Graco Sporty Bag comes complete with changing mat and messy bag. It features – handy pockets, includes plastic changing mat, nappy wipes box and leak proof bag, insulated pockets and is machine washable.

Don’t miss it and tell your friends to join in, too!Let’s prove we care about our kids’ safety!

Child Safety Week is the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s flagship community education campaign. It aims to raise awareness of the number of accidents that seriously injure or kill children and how to prevent them.

Get Ready for the Road Ahead with Graco! Make your smart car-seat selection and learn how to make your trip better for the whole family!

Leave a Comment June 19, 2010