Choosing the Perfect Car Seat to Keep Your Child Safe

"There's no right or wrong way to choose a car seat," says AAA Public Affairs' Frank Mayko to parents looking for the perfect car seat for their newborn or the first forward-facing car seat for bigger babies.

"You have to research car seats and once your homework is done, the best car seat is the one that fits your child, fits your car, and fits your pocketbook."

Infants

Not only does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend all infants ride rear-facing starting with their first ride home, but in Connecticut the law requires babies ride rear-facing up to 1 year and 20 pounds.

There are two types of rear-facing car-safety seats: infant-only and convertible seats.

Ms. Mayko recommends infant-only seats, which are small and have carrying handles. Many come with a base that can be left in the car. Ms. Mayko says these fit the child perfectly, are convenient because they are easier to handle and have different weights.

Convertible seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing as children get older. While these seats can be used longer, they are bulker and don't have carrying handles or a separate base.

Forward-Facing Seats

Once your child has reached the highest weight or height allowed by rear-facing seat manufacturers, the child can ride forward-facing in a convertible seat. However, its best for him or her to ride rear-facing as long as possible.

While Connecticut state law permits children to move to a forward-facing seat position after one year and 20 pounds, this is the minimum requirement and Ms. Mayko recommends keeping the children rear-facing longer, if possible.

She comments, "If you saw the crash-dynamic videos and realized how it affects the human body--let alone an infant before the spinal cord and neck have developed, you yourself would want to ride rear-facing!"

Several types of car-safety seats can be used forward-facing:

-Convertible seats: convert from rear-facing to forward-facing seats.
-Forward-Facing toddler seats: can be used forward-facing with a harness for children who weigh 40 to 65 pounds or without the harness, as a booster--up to 80 or 120 pounds.
-Combination Forward-Facing booster seats: can be used forward-facing with a harness for children 40 to 65 pounds or without the harness as a booster, 80 to 120 pounds.
-Integrated child-safety seats: forward-facing seats are built-in some vehicles such as Mercedes and BMWs. Weight and height limits vary.

Mayko says, "The ability to change a baby to forward-facing all depends on the seat requirements, and each seat is different. When the toodler is the appropriate weight and height, parents can turn them forward-facing."

From the Child Passenger Safety column of AAA Connecticut Newsletter, January 2010

Great Parenting Tips & Articles

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PROBLEM-SOLVING: A MOST VALUABLE SKILL!

Many years ago, while learning from a variety of different authors (Edward DeBono, William Glasser, and others) I was introduced to the idea that problem-solving is a most valuable skill. Whether you're the President of the United States, a stay-at-home-mom, a college student, a teenager, or just about anything else, you're faced with problems—little ones and big ones—that need to be solved on a daily basis! And perhaps people with the most effective problem-solving skills enjoy more success in their personal and/or professional lives: their ability to problem-solve leads to less conflict, more tranquility, greater self-determination, and more.

Learning to problem-solve could be considered a normal part of growing up. As children grow and mature, they're expected to figure things out for themselves and, hopefully, they learn from their mistakes. However, if children are not given opportunities to problem-solve on their own, they'll remain helpless and dependent on others.

All too often, this has become the reality for too many children with developmental disabilities. We haven't expected them to become problem-solvers, so we haven't given them opportunities to problem-solve. Thus, many grow up to become adults who are seen as helpless, dependent, and incompetent, which leads to their spending their lives in sheltered, protective, segregated environments where others make decisions and problem-solve for them. This is a terrible tragedy! But regardless of the age of the person or the type of disability, we can take steps to prevent and/or reverse this dismal and tragic state of affairs.

We can ensure that children with disabilities are given opportunities to problem-solve, just like their brothers and sisters. They may need assistive technology devices (such as communication or mobility aids), accommodations, and/or other supports/modifications in order to problem-solve, and the same is true for adults with disabilities. Children and adults with disabilities can and should be more active in the development of their IEPs (Individualized Education Programs), ISPs (Individualized Service Plans), and/or other services, including therapies and interventions.

We can stop being "helicopter helpers"—constantly hovering—and allow children and adults to make their own decisions (knowing they will make mistakes and learn from them, just as people without disabilities do). When they come to us to solve their problems, we can respond with, "What do you think you should do about that?" We can then provide suggestions, if appropriate, and let them arrive at the solution. Imagine the personal growth an individual experiences when our actions send the message that we believe in their capacity to problem-solve; imagine the lessons they'll learn; and imagine how their lives (and ours) can change in the process!

There's much more we can do; this brief review can get us started. Let's put our own problem-solving skills to work in figuring out how to ensure the people with disabilities we care about become effective, successful problem-solvers in their own lives!

Copyright 2009 Kathie Snow, www.disabilityisnatural.com; all rights reserved.

VISIT DISABILITY IS NATURAL

Check out the Explore sections for over 100 innovative, thought-provoking articles on language and attitudes, children/family issues, and more! Click here to begin exploring life-changing strategies, new ways of thinking, and more.
Visit the Store—check out the Disability is Natural book and DVD, as well as posters, magnets, bookmarks, badges, and other goodies featuring more than 25 bright, positive, colorful designs to generate positive attitudes and actions!

Click here to visit www.disabilityisnatural.com.

MAKING FRIENDS with music & art

Music and art can be a vehicle for exploration, expression, socialization and skill building.

Learn how to use the power of music to foster communication through vocal and instrumental improvisation. Art materials will be used to draw, paint, or mold, and provide tactile experience, learning and enjoyment.

WHO: Children from Birth to Three WHEN: Wednesdays from 10:30 am. - 11:30 am - 12 week session
WHERE: STAR Rubino Family Center 120 East Avenue, Norwalk (park below in the back)

This program is made possible through the generosity of the Barbara Benton Memorial Fund of the Fairfield County Community Foundation . Call (203) 855-0634 for information.

Private Insurance Coverage for Treatment of Autism

In the 1008 February session, the insurance and real estate commission introduced Raised Bill 5696, "an act requiring insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorder therapies." As raised, the bill required individual and group health insurance policies delivered, issued renewed, amended or continued in Connecticut on or after January 1, 2009 to provide coverage for the treatment of pervasive developmental disorders (also known as autism spectrum disorders) including psychiatric, psychological, therapeutic and habilitative care based on the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis, which is sometimes referred to as "in-home behavioral support."

Numerous people spoke at the public hearing. The committee favorably reported a substitute bill on March 11, 2008 that eliminated the coverage requirement of the raise bill. Instead, the substitute bill required individual and group health insurance policies delivered, issued, renewed, amended or continued in Connecticut on or after January 1, 2009 to provide coverage for phycial, speech and occupational therapy service fo rthe treatment of autism spectrum disorders to the extent those services are covered and benefit for other diseeases and conditions under the policy."

Public Act 08-132 passed. It defines "autism spectrum disorder" based on the American Psychiatric Association's most recent disagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.

It applies this requirement to the group and individual: (1) health insurance policies that cover basic hospital, medical-surgical or major medical expenses (2) HMO contract covering hospital and medical expenses and (3) hospital or medical service contracts. Due to federal preemption, this requirement does not apply to self-insured plans.

Taken from Janet L. Kaminski Leduc, Senior Legislative Attorney

MIRA-FLEX GLASSES HELP WITH CHILDREN'S VISION PROBLEMS

New technologies and equipment have enabled early diagnosis of vision problems from the very first months of life. With appropriate corrections, these challenges can be resolved early in the child's life, resulting in improved learning and communication skills. However, to achieve optimum results in the shortest time period, it is necessary to intervene using the most appropriate methods depending on the child's age and needs.

For over 20 years, Miraflex has dedicated itself to the development of the most suitable children's frames, assuring for each age bracket, the best mix between practical and aesthetic.

Call 866-647-2359 or 408-445-8485 or go to http://www.miraflex.info/!