Is Baby Trend EZ Ride Travel System Eclispe a good travel system for babies?

Porscha

Need help on picking out a good travel system for my unborn son!!!! Want a light weight car seat and stroller

Answer
I wouldn't get a travel system. Most of the time they are made to rope you into a specific car seat or specific stroller, and one or the other isn't what you'd choose normally. SIDS is a risk for babies who are in a sitting position for more than an hour a day, the position lowers oxygen levels in their blood, so while the car seat is the best place for the baby in the car it's not once you get out of the car. It's MUCH better to put the baby in a stroller that lays flat, or a sling/chest-carrier. Even if the weather is bad you're hopefully just going to take the car-seat+baby into the house, then back again. Though having the car seat on the stroller is better than on a shopping cart, there's just no real good reason to worry about a stroller that allows the car seat on top of it. If you do use a wrap/sling/carrier for the first 3-6 months then you can also look at any stroller on the market safely and not be restricted to one that lays flat, which means you can really find a good lightweight one that will fit your lifestyle.

Rather than looking for a set, look for the car seat you want. This link has a list of recommended car seats that you can look over. I personally don't like BabyTrend because of the harness-clip that they had when I checked them out, it required a bit more coordination than the others. Basically it required you to put it together, then put it in at the same time. They may have fixed it by now, but it was annoying and I couldn't see my mom being able to do it. I prefer where you can put in one side then the other. However, if you try out a BabyTrend at the store and like it, it's a good brand.

Then if you really want a stroller that car seat will work with you can usually find one that will either go with it or allow you to use it with the stroller. Like, if you like a certain Graco seat, but like a baby trend stroller, you can look up the manual online or go to a store and look at it and usually find that most infant seats will secure into the stroller no problem. Since the strollers are less likely to be recalled, you can even find something on craigslist afterwards and usually save yourself some money.

If you DO want a travel system, I recommend looking at the Chicco line since they're well known for being a good car seat and a stroller that lays flat.

But if you want something that's very lightweight and will be easy to go through say stores and everything with baby, look at slings and things like the Ergo or Beco or Boba carriers. I've used mine for 2 babies now and I can't imagine going back to carrying the baby seat and trying to juggle it or even using the stroller for a newborn. They sleep so much better against you, and there's nothing quite like them looking up, touching your cheek, and laughing while you're shopping. :) I used the infant seat with my first and it was one of the lightest on the market... but it STILL hurt our shoulders and backs. I'd go with a wrap/sling/carrier first, stroller second, stroller with a car seat... never.

what is the Best travel system?

jenniferas

i am trying to decide on a travel system & needed to know which one is better.
yes it's the carseat & stroller combo thing

Answer
It really depends on what you're looking for. There is no universal "best" system for everyone. Some have lots of storage, but are heavier. Some are lighter, but more expensive. Some are more affordable, but lack in details that might be important to you (Do you want two cup-holders? Are the styles and colors important to you? How often are you going to be using the system? Et cetera.)

I did a ton of research on them because I wanted the best bang for my buck. I initially fell in love with the Chicco Cortina system because it was easy to use and small. The reviews are also mostly positive, and the negatives were about things that didn't matter too much to me (its fairly heavy and the under-seat storage isn't as expansive as most systems).

However, after a lot of thinking, my husband and I decided that a travel system wouldn't be the best for us. I live out in the sticks, and won't be pushing a baby carriage all that often. Lugging a travel system around just seemed like a whole lot of "extra" that we really didn't need. We ended up deciding on a Graco Snugrider infant seat and bought a lightweight Graco frame to attach the infant seat to--instant carriage! It just seemed silly to us to have a huge travel system to push and infant seat around in.

Once she grows out of the infant seat, we'll pick out a new stroller. If the small, lightweight system works for us, we can pick out a cheap umbrella stroller. If we decide that we need something a little more expansive, we can get a fancier stroller. In the end, it is potentially less expensive to do it this way, plus we'll be able to buy things once we truly know what we're going to need!

So, take a good long look at what you plan to do with the travel system. Think about what you need and don't need, and consider that things may change over the next few months.

Babies R Us has plenty of fantastic (and useful!) reviews of almost all of their products. Its been very helpful to me for picking out strollers, as well as plenty of other kinds of gear. Good luck!

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Baby Travel System Help?

Rocio

Okay so we are shopping for baby items now! Yay!
My husband and I really want a convertible car seat, particularly this one "Safety 1st Complete Air⢠65 Convertible Car Seat - Great Lakes" (here is the link http://www.sears.com/safety-1st-complete-air-153-65-convertible-car-seat/p-04918152000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2)
But we are wondering if this car seat, or a similar convertible car seat would work for those new "snap n go" strollers, where its just a base, and you should just "click" the car seat in.
We want a travel system, but wish they wouldnt come with just the seat for the infant. Which is why we want the convertible seat, it lasts longer.

(this is what that snap and go stroller im talking about looks like http://www.sears.com/safety-1st-clic-it-33-infant-seat-carrier-black/p-04901811000P?prdNo=23&blockNo=23&blockType=G23 )

Please help.

Answer
The Safety First Complete Air is a great car seat... but it's not an infant snap-n-go type of seat. There's no convertible that will work with the snap-n-go strollers because they are all 'install and keep it there' seats. But really you don't need the snap-n-go Travel System. They're not worth it.

First, SIDS recommendations are that babies lay flat when they're not being carried. Even sitting in a car seat causes their oxygen level to dip and babies have died sleeping in car seats. Car seats are the safest place for them to travel in the car, but it's not for sleeping or spending long periods of time in.

Second, a snap-n-go stroller is cheapest NOW, but once the baby outgrows the infant seat (some as early as 6 months, most by a year or two) the stroller is garbage. You can't use it without the infant seat. And I'll tell you now, most babies want to sit up more from 6 months on. Compared with a normal stroller that will go to usually 50lbs and will last you for 5 years? No contest which is the better stroller. If you want something that lasts longer you do NOT want the snap-n-go, you want a normal stroller. I personally like the Baby Trend 'jogging' strollers with the big wheels for an economical choice. Try them out in stores. Small wheels tend to have problems going through sand (like at parks) and going up and over curbs/cracks/stairs are harder with small wheels.

To point it out, strollers are also rarely recalled and you can buy them used without worrying about an expiration date. So you can go on craigslist and buy a used one without it being an issue. The strollers that don't lay flat the baby can use once they can sit up while propped and their head is steady, usually from 4-6 months on. In the meantime, babies are usually very easy to carry, or get something like a Moby Wrap or Ergo and wear them (for the record, you can't put a baby seat on shopping carts, and using a stroller to go shopping is hard since it's not a cart, but put the baby in a sling/wrap/carrier and they'll fall asleep. It works WONDERFULLY.)

If you really want a snap-n-go you may be able to find one and a car seat to go with it on craigslist. Do NOT use the car seat in the car, that's not safe. However, if you're just using it for the stroller, then you should be able to do that.

Mommies: Did you buy a travel system?

New mommy!

I'm debating on what to buy exactly, there are just so many to choose from. So, my question is, if you love your travel system, what is it and why do you love it?

Answer
Yes,

I have twins and have the double snap and go with Graco safeseats.

With rear facing seats snap and go's just make sense. They are the easiest to use. You don't have to wake / unstrap the baby. Just lift the car seat from stroller to car back to stroller.

YOu can get them really cheap from Craig's list, and they work with most infant bucket car seats.

Without them, I am lugging TWO 40 pound car seats around. This is about impossible.

I bought it used. It was $180 for 2 car seats, 2 bases, and the double snap and go strollers.

My twins are 8 months and still in their travel system. They can use the travel system until they outgrow their infant bucket seats. With twins leg length can start to be a problem, but my guys are tall and still using it at 8 months, we just have to be careful with the twin in the back putting his feet out of the way when the front one goes in. Singletons don't have this problem.

My twins love outtings in the travel system and hate slings. Most babies love strollers, and I think slings look a lot worse then a stroller, so that is a pretty silly argument!

Seriously? Reason against travel system is it is made of plastic and cloth?

I can see someone not liking the look of them, I think strollers are neat, but slings look kinda tacky. But that is personal taste.

I am taking a trip today possible without the snap and go stoller, and dreading it. It means every bathroom stop I have to take my twins out of the car seats, which is undoing a bunch of buckles then wrestling them out of a backwards position, waking them up while putting them into something else (umbrella stroller) snapping THAT up, wheeling them into the bathroom with me, unsnapping the umbrella stroller wrestling them into the car seats OR removing the car seats (which involves pulling the car safety seat belts through loops) then doing the 5 point harnass AGAIN just to go potty. I can't leave them in the car at a gas station.

Okay, that does it, I'm taking the snap and go! I wanted the umbrella stroller there, but that isn't worth it! I'll take both or just the snap and go. Seriously, wrestling sleeping babies in and out of REAR facing car seats just to use the bathroom is a nightmare! Its a 6 hour drive and I can't hold it that long. :( Glad you asked this. lol.

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Travel system versus convertible car seat?

doglover

I am 25 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and I'm trying to decide whether to register for the travel system stroller/carseat combo or a convertible carseat that can be used longer and a separate stroller...is the convenience of the travel system really worth it? Help moms!

Answer
Being a mom is going to change your world. Whatever you decide, you should be able to use again and again, if you decide to have more kids.

I would choose the Travel System and have the convenience in the short run until your baby outgrows them, you can always upgrade at a later time. If if your baby outgrows the carseat that comes with the TravelSystem, you should still be able to use the stroller. Some do double duty and you make a double stroller out of the travel system.

Congrats on your new baby.

Travel System VS Convertible Car Seat?

J. K

This is DH & I baby #1. I'm not very far along with my pregnancy but I feel super overwhelmed at everything that has to be done before baby arrives. So I'm researching early as usual. lol With that being said I've had many friends that have used those traveling systems and said they loved them however when the baby got a little heavier they would complain the entire time carrying it saying it was too heavy and that their shoulders, back, etc. were starting to hurt frequently. So my thought was to get one of those convertible car seats and then buy a stroller with no traveling system but now those same ladies are saying 'no no no you are being silly.' My Mom is with me and says to get a convertible car seat and save the money in the long run.
I just want to know the opinions of others.
And if you used a convertible car seat what did you do with the baby when you went to a restaurant because as of right now thats the only way I think the travel system would be better.
Thanks everyone! :-)

Answer
Skip the travel system. This isn't a popular answer, but it's the truth. Travel systems encourage unsafe use of the car seat.

According to studies done, until babies are 3-6 months old they should be laying flat or being carried upright in someone's arms (or a baby carrier.) When they are put in a car seat, bouncer, stroller with an incline, swing, etc, their oxygen levels dip. The more premature they are the more danger they are in, and if they have any breathing issues the more danger they're in. The recommendation is that car seats are used for travel in cars, not for sitting, riding, being carried in, going in the stroller, being put on shopping carts, as a feeding chair, etc. And most dangerous of all, don't let the baby SLEEP in them. That's also why they are so adamant about a 45degree angle recline in car seats for infants, it helps them breathe. Some of the best strollers for newborns (like the Chicco, it lays fully flat and puts their feet up too so it's like a little bed) come with car seats to hook into them, basically negating the safest way for the baby to ride, and encouraging the parent to leave them in the seat.

Basically when you see a baby riding in an infant seat, sitting in one during dinner in a restaurant, that baby is in danger for the parent's convenience. I never felt comfortable leaving my daughter in a car seat in a restaurant... we actually bought a travel-high chair that reclined very well and used that, or just held her. Oh, the travel-high chair was so much better than a normal one as well. Perfect to take to a friend's house, or to a BBQ, and didn't take up as much room for us to use every day. See the second link, that's basically what we have.

So for safety reasons it's better not to use a travel system.

Add: Never, never, never under any circumstances put a infant carseat on a shopping cart! Not only is it bad for their breathing, it's not how shopping carts are designed and has been consistently warned against doing for years now because of the number of infants injured or killed from having their carseat put on the cart.

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what is the best stroller or travel system?

Q. new baby on the way and i am researching strollers, car seats, and pack n plays. what are the best out there?

Answer
Travel systems are bulky and unnecessary. When kept in a car seat a baby can have trouble breathing, and sleeping in the car seat is even worse. So I'm going to talk 'types' rather than brands.

CARSEAT: the current recommendation is to keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible, at least to 2 years old. Look at the first link for information about why rear-facing is so important. There are infant seats that rear-face to 20lbs, and some that rear-face to 30-35lbs. There are also the option of convertible car seats which can go from 5lbs-45lbs (depending on the brand) rear-facing and then forward to as high as 85lbs. The cheapest convertible that goes to 40lbs rear-facing but then is quickly outgrown is the Cosco Scenara available at Wal-mart for $40 (including shipping.) The point being that you want a seat that will rear-face a long time, or if you want to use an infant seat to plan on a rear-facing seat when the baby outgrows the baby seat. I do like the Graco-Snugride 35, which rear-faces to 35lbs, but I've found most babies want to sit up more by 10-12 months and it might be wiser to either get a convertible or get a cheap infant seat and replace it once they're large enough to want a new one.

STROLLERS:
First, for a newborn you want the baby to be able to lay flat (sitting up can decrease oxygen levels.) Also, there is research about babies who face their parents developing better than babies who are faced out towards the public. So, if you can find a stroller that lays flat and faces you then that's what you want. However, it's rather hard to find that, and I personally find that it's easier to get a baby wearing sling (like the Ergo or Moby Wrap) and wear the baby the first 6 months. After that they typically can sit up and it's easier to find a stroller that works for them. Strollers are rarely recalled so you can try them out in the store and then watch to see if someone sells it on craigslist or something. When you try them out try going over different obstacles, larger wheels tend to handle things like sand and obstacles better, but if you're using it for shopping then you want to try weaving in and out of tight corners. If you're using it on parks and trails then you want a different stroller than if you're riding the bus with your baby every day. It's all about where you live and what you're using it for.

Pack n Plays:
Wait on this one. See the second link. As of this year, pack-n-plays FINALLY have a safety standard, and as of last month they have adopted a safety standard for the bassinet attachment (before then they didn't.) There are a lot of deaths from pack-n-plays not working right, and they are not a good place to leave your baby to sleep. With these standards there are exciting changes that probably will happen in just the next year... but it also means there may be a lot of recalls and discontinuing of unsafe pack-n-plays. Also, Disney has just released the first ever machine washable pack-n-play (that's right... before this they were not washable. We can all gross out now.) See third link. To me, that means that the play-yards in the next year or two not only are going to be safer, but they're going to start to be washable! It is NOT worth it to buy a play-yard right now, you'll only regret it in a couple of years when they're better.

BABY CARRIERS:
When I say this I am talking about a chest-carrier, like the Moby Wrap or the Ergo. However there are some like the Baby Bjorn where the baby is dangling from their crotch, and this can contribute to hip dysplasia. The fourth link explains what you want to look for in a wrap, carrier, or sling (or even how to make sure they sit in a car seat.) There are several carriers on the market that hold the baby right, I do personally like the Ergo because it goes from newborn to 40lbs and allows a chest, hip, or back position, the versatility has been something that keeps us using it year after year.

Chicco or Graco travel system?

Kristina

I'm not pregnant, my brother and his girlfriend are having a little girl so my mom and I are buying the car seat/stroller. She's due March 14 so we should already have the travel system :)

Which would you recommend and why? They are from Babies R Us

http://m.toysrus.com/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_us&url=%2Fproduct%2Findex.jsp%3FproductId%3D12319182&domain=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toysrus.com

http://m.toysrus.com/skava/static/product.html?type=TRU_product_us&url=%2Fproduct%2Findex.jsp%3FproductId%3D3980773%26prodFindSrc%3Dsearch&domain=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.toysrus.com

I have a $20 coupon :P thank you!

Answer
This will be a long explanation so please bear with me.

What model year was your brother's vehicle made in? If it was made in 2003 or newer, then the vehicle has the LATCH system and locking seatbelts. If your brother's vehicle was made after 1996, that means his seatbelts have child lock mode to keep the seat belt tight. Vehicles made before 1996 do not have a child lock mode for seat belts. This means that a locking clip will be needed to keep the seat belt tight. Some car seats come with built in lock offs to make installation easier. Even if his seat belts have child lock mode, the shoulder belt tends to push up on the base, causing the car seat to tilt, so having a car seat with a built in lock off is a really nice thing to have if your brother's vehicle does not have the LATCH system.

I will explain a little about the LATCH system- the LATCH system is a government standard that was suppose to make installation easier. Vehicles made after 2003 have factory installed lower anchors between the seat cushions. All car seats in the market have connecting straps and hooks. Some lower anchors are well in the seat cushion, making it difficult to connect a hook to an anchor. Here is a picture of push-in LATCH connectors: https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=push+in+latch+connectors&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&bvm=bv.42553238,d.aWM&biw=1280&bih=585&wrapid=tlif136097686879910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=9dseUdP0O-HhygHSyIHoAg#imgrc=ZLl99_cw8ZUe6M%3A%3BA6hc7I05D1HcLM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.britaxusa.com%252Fimages%252FLATCHConnectorCloseUp.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.britaxusa.com%252Flearning-center%252Fsuperior-ease-of-use%252Fpremium-lower-latch-connectors%3B200%3B200

The government always messes up everything they do- so there are flaws with the LATCH system. Sometimes a tight and proper installation will alude you, so again, it may be easier to install with the vehicle's seat belt. And if you install with the seat belt, it will be very helpful to have a child seat with a built in lock off. The center seating position is about 43% safer than the outboard seating positions, and the lower anchors are usually 99% of the time only made for the outboard seats. This means that if they choose to install in the center, they will need to use the vehicle's seat belt.

Here is more about the LATCH system: http://www.thecarseatlady.com/vehicles/the_latch_system.html

Using a locking clip can be a pain in the @ss because the car seat needs to be less than 1 inch side to side and front to back. It is a huge pain to re-buckle after putting the locking clip on. For example, here is an installation video with a locking clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc5CLIok3eU
The person makes it look easy, does't she? Normally, it is a 2 person job to get the seat in nice and tight. One person would hold it while another person would rebuckle. It can be a one person job, if you learn how to do it.

And here is an installation video with built in lock offs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7koBM82iYlw

The Chicco KeyFit 30 comes with push-in LATCH connectors and a built in lock off. The Graco Snugride 30 you were looking at does NOT come with a built in off and has hook style LATCH connectors. This makes installation more difficult.

I would go with the Chicco KeyFit 30. If you go with Graco, I would choose the Snugride 32 or 35 model as the base comes with a built in lock offs.

A newborn's car seat needs to be installed at a 45 degree angle in order to keep a baby's airway open. Car seats take up a ton of front-to-back space at the 45 degree recline. The Chicco KeyFit 30 takes up less front-to-back space than the Graco Snugrides. And if your brother and girlfriend have more children in the future, the Chicco KeyFit is narrower than most infant car seats making it ideal for a 3 across situation.

Both of these seats have their pros and their cons. I would read these super detailed reviews below. The reviews below were written by a child passenger safety technician.

http://carseatblog.com/9256/graco-snugride-30-review-the-snugride-infant-seat-for-smaller-babies/
Above link: Graco Snugride 30

http://carseatblog.com/16957/graco-snugride-35-infant-carseat-review-4th-generation-is-a-homerun/
Above link: Graco Snugride 35

http://carseatblog.com/5364/chicco-keyfit-30-review-infant-carseat-nirvana/
Above link: Chicco KeyFit 30

And remember that infant car seats can be outgrown really quickly- from as little as 6 months to as much as 18 months (for the tinest of children). The weight limit on infant car seats is an illusion- as the infant seats that go up to 30 and 35 lbs will normally be outgrown by height before the child hits the weight limit. Rear facing car seats are commonly outgrown when the child's head is less than 1 inch from the top of the seat and infant car seats have really short shells.

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Can any one give me better idea abt travel system?

smile

we are planning to buy travel system for our 1st baby and after reading all reviews, we kind of confuse between 3 travel system,1:Safety First Safety 1st Acella Sport Travel System, 2:Cosco - Travel System, Thorndale, 3:Graco - LiteRider Travel System with SnugRide.. I love safety1st travel system but i dont know how good is that so if anyone use this and have idea which one is good for 1st time parents..
thanks for ur answer

Answer
Safety 1st and Cosco are the worst carseats on the market. You couldn't pay me to use one. I'd go with the Graco. They're all cheaply made and built and aren't that great in crash tests when compared to the models which have internal steel supports that will protect baby better than the plastic. The only ones that have this are Mia Moda, Britax, Chicco, and Peg Perego seats. I wouldn't waste money on an infant seat when I can spend a couple hundred dollars on a really good steel frame seat (Sunshine Kids Radian, Britax Marathon, Fisher Price Safe Voyage (cheap at 165 dollars) which will hold your child in a 5 pt harness to 65 lbs. You'll only be using the infant seat for the first 3 or 4 mos as a carrier. Baby will outgrow it or will just be too heavy to lug around. Get a good seat and just get a cheap stroller. More economical and safer.

I can't choose which travel system to get for baby, help Im going mad!!!!!!?

Elle C

its between

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4089524

&

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3904368

both good travel systems. & i love the way they look and the reviews are good. of course not EVERYONE will love it but the majority did. I love the first one. well the look of it better. but the other is just idk I love it too.

Answer
Get the Baby Trend stroller, but not the car seat. The car seats are a pain in the neck to buckle (you have to hold the buckle parts together while you push them in, at the same time, which can be very difficult and annoying.) The stroller though is easy to push, quiet, and works very well for 2 months up. I wish mine had the speakers. :P We bought a speaker for $20 though, and that works well. The large wheels make it easier to push in sand, dirt, grass, up curbs, over cracks, etc. So I definitely love that stroller.

As for Safety First, I'm not a fan after we had one and it started giving problems after a short period of time (car seat I mean.) The stroller also looks like a basic one, and they tend to give handling problems. I'd have to go to Babies R Us and try the stroller to see how far back it lays. It says it has a multi-position recline, but it doesn't say at what age you can use the stroller. From what I'm reading, they expect you to use the car seat in the stroller to use it from newborn on... which is dangerous. You don't want to use car seats in strollers do to breathing problems.

I'm not a fan of being roped into a travel system. You can usually find the car seat and stroller of your dreams if you don't try to buy them together. Baby Trend jogging strollers are wonderful, but I don't like their car seats. The Chicco strollers lay completely flat, making them perfect for newborns up (and you can usually find them on craigslist or used for cheaper) but I don't particularly like them because the wheels aren't those large wheels that work so well for obstacles. Car seats, I like the Chicco, Graco Snugride 35, Britax... the Safety First one might be okay but like I said I ran into problems with their brand in the past.

Add: For the record, the Baby Trend is classified as a jogger, but the instructions say to use it mostly as an 'all terrain', and not just a jogger. I've never jogged with mine. You don't have to jog to use a jogger, they're made for more than that.

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baby travel?

oes

traveling by plane with three month old baby, any tips to make it smooth?

Answer
I've been flying internationally and domestically with my children since they were 2 months (now 8, 6, & 4 months). At least three trips a year are the children and I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. In addition to that, we do another 8-10 international and domestic flights a year as a family. I have never had any problems with my children on any of the flights. Here are a few tips and suggestions:

1.) You will need to have all your baby's documents in order. It is a good idea to keep a copy of his notarized birth certificate with you. Keep your doctors name and number with you. Also get the name and number of a doctor where you are visiting in case an emergency should come up. Another thing you should consider bringing with you is your childs immunization book. That way if any emergency should arise while you are on vacation (no matter where you are) the treating physician will at least have some verifiable information to go on. This book also usually includes what your child is allergic to, and some small but very helpful notes from your doctor. Verify what travel documents you will need in advance to make sure you have everything.

2.) Infants up to the age of 2 are free on domestic flights, and only charged taxes on international flights if you hold them as a lap baby, meaning that he will have to sit in your lap the entire time.

Try to book a bulkhead (front) seat where you will have more room, and a bassinet. Bassinets are limited, and not available on every flight. If the bassinet is available (they can only be used in bulkhead seats) it will attach to the front wall for you to put your child in (however you can not use this during taxi, take-offs, landings, or turbulence).

This is not the safest way for a child to fly and the airlines recommend children under 40lbs have their own seat with a child safety device - a CRS (Child Restraint System) - because it is safe for the child (especially during turbulence), makes them feel secure, is more comfortable for both parent and child, will help your child sleep, and gives both of you the opportunity to relax a bit. A CRS is a hard-backed child or infant or child safety seat that is approved by the government for use in both motor vehicles and aircraft.

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use. Almost all car seats pass this requirement.

Many airlines offer half-price tickets so parents can be guaranteed that their child can travel in a CRS device. You should call your airline to ask for a discount and/or ask what the airline's policy is for using empty seats.

If you haven't booked a separate seat for your child, be nice on check-in and see if they can "block" the seat next to you. They will then only use it if they absolutely need it. This way you can get a seat for your child free (but only if it is available, and that won't be know until last minute).

3.) You can take a stroller and gate check it. It will not count towards your checked luggage. This means that you will be able to use it all the way up until the time that you board, and one of the handlers will take it from you at your departure gate, tag it, and put it in a special compartment for you. When you exit the plane, it will be waiting for you at the door as well.

4.) Not all children have a problem with the pressure changes in their ears. If yours does however you'll want to know how to help. For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:

*If your child is nursing, nurse him
*Give him something to drink (formula, water)
*Give him a pacifier to suck on
*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears
*Gently but with some pressure, rub his neck repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

5.) As long as your child is with you, you are able to take as much formula, breast milk, regular milk, or juice that you will need for you child for the duration of the time you will spend in the airport and on the flight (as long as it is within reason).And no, you will NOT have to taste it - no matter what form you bring it in.

All that you must do is:

1. Separate the milk from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size (1 liter) zip-top bag.
2. Declare you have the items to one of the Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm.

New regulations also allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz (100ml), -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food, yogurt, cheese, puddings, etc. with you also as long as they are in containers less than 3oz (100ml)
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm#10

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

6.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of diapers, wipes, ointments and other essential things. Just remember the new law regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm
You can usually find travel size baby products in stores and they are wonderful for plane use. One thing I always like to carry with me is hand sanitizer! I always wipe the trays down with that (followed by a baby wipe) and use it for my kids after taking them to the bathroom (even though they wash their hands). I know that airplane bathrooms are not the cleanest, so that is why I try to be vigilant.

Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your child. You will need this in case he gets sick, spills something on himself, or in case your luggage gets lost. Bring any medications that you might need for your child should he gets sick or that he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz (100ml) rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.
http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making him sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well. I have also seen where it backfires; a parent gives their child a dose of Benedryl to make them sleep, but instead it gets the child more hyper and the parents get absolutely no rest on the flight (and neither does anyone else).

You should be respectful of other passengers and always change your child's diaper in the restroom. They do have diaper bed changers in there, although they can be a little small. Usually the bathrooms with the diapers beds are the handicap ones (they usually tend to be toward the rear of the plane), so they tend to be a little bit bigger and it does help. I also know some people who say that instead of using the changing table, they say to put the toilet seat down, use the toilet as a seat for yourself, and lay the baby across your knee to change their diaper. To make it easier on yourself, make sure that you undress your baby so that he has just a diaper on while at your seat. Grab your diaper, wipes, and ointment or baby powder (whatever you use for changing your childs diaper) and head to the bathroom. This will help to make the procedure faster and easier. Try to change your childs diaper as close to boarding as possible. This will help to make you baby feel fresh and more comfortable for take-off (which could also mean less problems).

7.) Make sure to pack one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal. I always bring a small pillow and blanket from home for my children (even now) because I know 100% that they are clean, and my children are accustomed to them.

8.) Don't worry about what the other passengers are going to think or say should your baby cry. This will only add stress, which your child can pick up on, and it could make him cry longer and harder. Instead, just relax, and handle the situation like you would if you were at home. Most times the other passengers are very understanding anyways and some will even try to help you. Which reminds me, if help is offered, take it.

I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules and regulations for the US, EU, UK, and Australia, offers tips and tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/flying_children.html

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

I'm interested in purchasing a stroller that's a 3 in 1 travel system like the Quinny Buzz.?

I intend to purchase the infant car seat (maxi cosi mico) that's compatible with the Quinny Buzz, but do not want to purchase the bassinet. Question is do I really need to purchase the additional bassinet for my newborn or can I just use the infant car seat even though it doesn't recline fully. I know newborns need to stay fully reclined for the first several months. But just want to know if the infant car seat can replace the bassinet.

Answer
If, I understand you correctly, you are buying the travel system, but not the bassinet. Since the car seat attaches to the system, an infant is fine in it.
Just use the Cozi Dozi infant insert that appears to come with it or buy a separate one to keep the baby's head from flopping to the side too much.
The car seat should recline enough (45 degrees) in the cart, just like it should in the car.
Actually, newborns don't have to stay FULLY reclined, just mostly. The double stroller I used didn't fully recline in the front seat, and infants weren't supposed to be in it, not because of the position, but because of the possibility they'd slip out through the leg holes.
I've seen many of these systems (other brands) with the car seat attached, so I don't believe there's a problem.

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Twins......stroller help?

Q. I am looking for a double stroller travel system for twins. Do they make the double stroller that fits both car seat carriers at the same time? I have been looking every where for one that does that and all I can find is the kind the only fits in front not back.

Does anyone know if the car seat on a double stroller fits in the front and back?

I hope I explained correctly.

Answer
Hi I'm a mim if twin girls 6mos old and I have the baby trend snap and go and it adjust to almost any car seat and two car seats fit at one time it is so light weight and durable i call it the cadillac of strollers and I would be lost without it steers really good cause i'm a pretty bad driver but this does it with ease and it fold up easily to.I love like i said I'd be lost w/out it. I bought it online at target you most likely will have to by online cause most stores only carry the one for one car seat. but i paid $100 and got free shipping. so happy hunting hope i helped.its not side x side if thats what u wanted.

Best Carseat/Stroller travel system?

BlueBlue

When my baby is old enough, I will take him to my MIL's country to visit my husbands family. I will want a carseat that I can use on the plane and in the cars over there.

Does anyone have any experience with this?

What are the best for this type of situation?

Also, are there any that are good for travel that grow with the child?

Thank you so much. I am a first time mom and just trying to get educated as much as possible before my bebe arrives.

Answer
http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=101887706&c=

This is the baby travel seat that is sold through the skymall.com site, we bought two for our twins and it is the cat's behind! Snap, the handle comes up, Snap, the wheels go down, and it's a stroller. You just pop them back up, into the rental car it goes and you're on the way. We didn't even take the kids out to convert it until they weighed around 25 lbs. VERY comfortable for the little guys, too, and it comes with a bag and sling so you can carry it over your shoulder if you need to, but we went from our car as a seat, pop the wheels, right to the gate, folded it up, took it on the plane, back on the ramp and wheels down and on our way in about a minute. (With two babies, not just one.. )

A little expensive but worth EVERY PENNY. They still fit the twins and they're 4 now! We've about worn them out.. :)

My only comment would be the wheels are small so they can fold, and you can't push these in gravel or cobblestones really well, but concrete or carpet they're fine.

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Can anyone give me advice on a stroller/travel system??

allybd76

Any advice? good/bad.... Any suggestions or experiences are appreciated.

We registered for the Eddie Bauer® Adventurer Travel System - Cambridge, but I read some reviews and many people have not given favorable reviews. PLEASE HELP!!!

Answer
Go to Babies R Us and test drive strollers.. We got ours as a gift a Graco Travel system.. The infant car seat was nice, but we didn't use the stroller very much.. Then when we had another baby two yrs. later we ended up buying a tandem stroller with a standing/sitting jump seat.. Joovy ! I love it.. Becasue it folds nearly flat and weights quite a bit less than our Graco. The infant seat adapter comes with it! I would suggest maybe buying a used or borrowing a Graco travel system if you can.. They are nice, but really heavy and take up a ton of room and they are a pain to fold... If it were me and I was looking for a stroller I would opt for getting a car seat that was for 5lbs-40lbs or 80 lbs and getting a regular lightweight stroller... Especially if you have more than 1 vehicle if you wanted a base for each car atleast for the graco strollers it's an extra $40... However, I got one at a garage sale for $10.. It's all dependant really on how much you want to spend and how much you are going to use it.... Look at ebay or Craigslist and see if you can get one used.. I'm selling ours with an extra infant seat/base for $70. The Graco's atleast retail for $170 for the travel system.... Good luck

Where can I find car seat/stroller travel systems for girls that are NOT pink and under $200?

highgoals2

Where can I find car seat/stroller travel systems for girls that are NOT pink and under $200?
I live in northern Indiana. I can order online (for stores that offer online purchases)

Answer
Things to consider. Why? I mean, except for transporting your baby in the car, a car seat should not be used for things like riding in the stroller, or on shopping carts, or things like that. It comes from the studies done in the last year or so that shows that a baby left to sleep or sit in an inclined position for too long can get into an oxygen lowered state. Ie, it's not good for them to be in an inclined position like a car seat for longer than 2 hours full in a day, until they're older than about 6 months old.

Now, since recalls done on strollers are far less than recalls done on car seats, you can get the stroller from someone selling second-hand (just doublecheck recall lists) and get a better car seat. The Chicco brand stroller, for instance, lays flat, making it usable from newborn on up. :) On Ebay, I can see a few for under $100 (make sure they say fully reclining.) I'm sure you could find some at Craigslist as well. :) Otherwise, you could consider using a baby chest carrier for the first few months until your baby is old enough (3-6 months) to sit at a slight incline, then you can get a stroller that nearly reclines all the way.

If you do that, my favorite travel system is the Baby Trend, at least to recommend to people. It's under $200, the car seat is one of the top safety rated (though the buckles are a pain in the neck I'll warn you now), and the stroller is a jogger that you can use as a stroller. I LOVE ours. They recline far enough back for about 2+months, so I wouldn't put a newborn in it, but if you can last the 2 months then it lasts to 40lbs. Only negative is that the basket is only rated to carry 5lbs, so you can't bring a huge diaper bag with you (or if you do you have to carry it.)

Shoot though. If you're dead set on a travel system, you can always find someone selling the stroller that goes with a travel system, buy that for a cheaper price, and then use the rest of the money to get the car seat, and get it cheaper that way. But I'm not a fan of travel systems. To me it seems like it ropes folks into thinking a baby should sleep in the car seat and it's just not safe.
=

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Why is America better than Canada and Mexico?

x_abbie_20

Why is America so much better than Canada and Mexico?
Only the people saying America is better have come up with actual reasons so far.

Answer
America has capitalism. The latest new cancer medicines were invented in America because of capitalism.

Because of America's strong capitalistic values, most of the stuff in the world was invented by Americans.

And, most Asian countries survive by making copies of U.S. inventions. (China and India both devalue their currency to make their products look less expensive than American products. Japan also devalued its currency in the 1980's.)

American inventions:
Plasma tv, electronic tv, lcd screens, cellphone, digital signal processing (used in all cellphones). Java(used in most cellphones), DVD and CD's (optical recording), computer chips, personal computers, laptop computers, digital audio players, microwave ovens, digital camera, laser printers, inkjet printers, computer hard drives, computer chip manufacturing (America still leads the world in chip making), fluorescent light, advanced LED's, OLED, digital watches, GPS, GPS navigation, mouse, keyboard, operating system, high level computer language, USB, remote controls, MASER, email, transistors,refrigerator,electronic calculators, VCR, internet, telephone, satellite communication, portable communication radios(walkie talkie), digital satellites, stabilized rubber(shoes, condoms, tires, etc), nuclear powerplants, moon rovers, martian rovers, copy machine, best modern medicines, iron furnace stove, electric stove, air conditioning, airplane(engine-powered), computer animation(motion picture), aspartame(sugarless sweetner), assembly line, automated teller machine (ATM), prepared baby food, bag (flat-bottomed paper), bandage (adhesive), barcode, barbed wire, blood bank, blow dryer, bra, bread slicing machine, portable camera, food cans, can openers, cardboard (corrugated). carbon 14 dating, cash register, cat litter, mail order catalogs, breakfast cereal, chewing gum, laptop computer, personal computer, oral contraceptives, cotton gin, crayons, credit card, heart defibrillator, smoke detector, artificial diamond, disposable diapers, dishwasher, drinking fountain, electric chair, modern rocket, escalator, fiberglass, freeze dried food, frozen food, genetic engineering, electric guitar, coat hanger(wire), electric iron, jeans, jello, kevlar, laundromat,lipstick, electric motor, morse code, nylon, paper towel, parking meter, phonograph (records), petroleum jelly, Post-it Notes, potato chips, car radio, electric razor, safety razor, revolver (gun), roller coaster, safety pin, Scotch tape, stapler, first successful steamboat, drinking straw, sunscreen, tampon(cotton), teflon, telegraph, toilet tissue, disposable tissue, tractor, automatic signal lights, viagra, video games, washing machine(electric), computer databases, handheld computers, glass bottle making machine, CCD(digital chips used in all digital cameras) which are used to convert light into pictures(also used in missiles made by the U.S., Russia, and Europe), DSL, CAT Scans "diagnostic X ray systems", laser ranging, laser multiplexing, air brakes, silicon solar cells, digital light processor, digital signal processor(used in all digital telephones), fiber optic wire, nearly all types of lasers, first laser medical treatments, microprocessor, automated telephone switches, radiator, modem, word processor, ethernet, 3-D computer graphics, nuclear submarines, liquid fuel rocket (invented in 1910's), etc.

Also, most of the chips made in Asia are still designed in America.



Many Canadians receive government-funded U.S. medical treatments in the U.S.. Canada's medical systems pays for sending many Canadian patients to the U.S. to receive cancer treaments, advanced body scans, etc.. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070904155843AAxWW7f "Democrats, If The U.S.'s Healthcare System Is So Bad Then Why does the Canadian government pay for patients to travel to the U.S. for treatment?"

Staying healthy in Central America?

Getsbetter

I will be traveling to El Salvador in a months' time. I have gone before and got a little sick from the food and water. I tried to avoid it as much as possible but it still got to me. As far as eating, what's the best solution: shopping for a few items and cooking them myself, or eating in mainstream restaraunts(instead of the street vendors, and little "kitchens")? I will be on a tight budget, so I can't go to high end places.

Is there a way I can boost my immune system to survive the trip as healthily as possible, or vaccine, or supplement I can take? Also, I will be taking my nursing 7 month old along with me. I'm thinking keeping her on the breast the whole time will cut out as much exposure she gets to possible sickness? I will be there for a week.

Answer
I haven't been to El Salvador but I imagine it's basically the same as Mexico and my home country, the Philippines. Given the tight budget, I guess staying at the Hilton is out of the question. LOL

Seriously, I would suggest you splurge on bottled water and canned foods (or what you said, do your own cooking). You'll breeze through the one-week stay just fine...you'll be okay.

I'm more concerned about the baby. It's really a good idea to breastfeed her - just to be on the safe side. Just make sure that even before you leave, she's already used to breastmilk so the transformation would not be so sudden. And also, bring lots and lots of diapers......her skin may not take too kindly to the local brands (and the familiar brands maybe costly). And don't forget her usual colds meds (consult her pedia) - some babies don't adjust well with weather changes.

Re: something to boost your immune system...consult your family doc...I'm sure there's something out there for you...be sure to mention that you'd be nursing your baby.

Have a safe trip and have fun........God bless.

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