BlogginMomma.com

Posted by cassie on Tuesday, 24 June, 2008 @ 9:30 pm

This is almost like a pre-fall sale, but great if you need to buy a seat now. I can’t say for sure what the prices will be but based on what I’ve read you can expect to pay ~ $20 more for a seat at this time than what you will in the fall sale. Again, this is based on conjuncture and what the prices were during the spring sale, which I unfortunately missed.

* I’m still in the process of compiling my list, so I’ll add the websites & prices tomorrow.

And, of course, this couldn’t come at a better time for me since I need to get a new seat for one of the boys. I’m still on the fence if I should upgrade Anthony to a Marathon and give the Roundabout to Vince or if I should just buy another Roundabout. I guess part of my decision will be based on price Based on FL law, I could go either way with using a booster seat when the time comes. HOWEVER (hold your horses before you blow a gasket) based on my personal beliefs - they will be in boosters!

According to Florida`s car seat law (http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/HighwaySafetyGrantProgram):

• All children 5 years of age or younger must be properly restrained no matter where they are sitting in the vehicle.
• Children through age 3 must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child safety seat.
• For children aged 4 through 5 years, a separate carrier, an integrated child safety seat, or a safety belt may be used.

Therefore, under the Florida car seat law, children over 3 years old may ride in a vehicle using a standard adult safety belt. (ACK!) The problem with this (according to advocates) is that most children under 80 pounds are too small for an adult seat belt. Adult seat belts can actually be dangerous to children because the belt cuts directly across their neck instead of snug across the center of their shoulder. This can lead to serious injury or even death in the event of an accident.

So what`s a parent to do? Car seat safety advocates recommend one of the following guidelines:

• The National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA) recommends that children over 40 pounds use a belt-positioning booster seat until they are 8 years old, unless they are 4`9″ or taller.
• The American Academy of Pediatricians goes a bit further and advocates for booster seat use until the child reaches 4`9″ in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age.