Child Safety is Not Ignored in a 2006 Honda Accord

When purchasing a new car, do you consider safety above all the other decorative features? If you have children, your answer should definitely be yes. Most parents use their cars every single day, often with their children riding along. For this reason it is so important to always be aware of your child's safety while riding in the car. Automobile crashes are the leading cause of unintentional death among children under the age of 14, which is why it is surprising to hear that up to 14% of children are still riding unrestrained in cars.

Your children are the most important investments you have. What measures are you taking to guarantee your children safety while riding in a car? One step you can take is to be sure the car you drive offers only the highest level of protection. The 2006 Honda Accord is a reliable vehicle that not only meets all government regulations, but exceeds expectations on all safety features. Every feature emphasizes protection for children, including the LATCH and Child-Seat Anchors and the Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS).

LATCH and Child-Seat Tether Anchors

By law, children must be restrained at all times while riding in a car. Child car seats are extremely effective at reducing the risk of death. In fact, they reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers. LATCH, standing for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a new car seat attachment system that was developed to make child car seats easier to use and safer. With LATCH, you no longer have to use seat belts to secure child car seats in your vehicle because of the lower anchors and attachments that are built into the car. This will make car seat installation easier and more secure. Most vehicles built in or after 2002 will have LATCH.

The 2006 Honda Accord is built with the outer rear seats featuring the LATCH system for child seats. It consists of 2 lower anchors and a single top tethor to make sure the car seat is properly mounted. It is estimated that about 85% of car seats are installed incorrectly. The LATCH system makes installation easy and completely secure. For car seats that are not compatible with LATCH, they can be safely mounted in the rear seat of any 2006 Honda Accord using the lockable seat belt retractor.

Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS)

The 2006 Honda Accord truly goes above and beyond any ordinary regulations with the safety features of front side airbags and OPDS. In the event of an impact to the side of the car, sensors will cause side airbag to immediately inflate. The airbag provide a cushion between the occupant's shoulder and door, ultimately protecting the driver's or front passenger's upper body from any significant impact. The OPDS uses a total of seven sensors in the front passenger's seatback to detect the height and seating position of the passenger. If a child or small-statured adult is leaning forward into the path of the side airbag, the sensors will deactivate it. The driver will immediately be notified by a warning light. Similarly, the warning light will turn off as soon as the passenger sits back in the upright position. This feature is convenient for parents with older children riding in the passenger seat. No longer are airbags a worry because of the advanced sensors that monitor your children for you. This feature is also built into the Honda CRV and Honda Odyssey.

The 2006 Honda Accord continues its tradition of being among the best cars on the market. Make safety your first priority with the 2006 Honda Accord. It will give you all the safety measures and precautions to keep your family safe.

The information for this article has been obtained from this Honda website.

About the Author

About the Author:Amber Sell is a Web Content Specialist for 10x Marketing in Orem, Utah. For more information about the 2006 Honda Accord, please feel free to contact SAM'S CLUB Auto today.

Infant Car Seats

Finding the best car seats for your child:
To escape injury in an accident, you will need to pick a seat suitable for the child's age and weight. They come in three main categories: infant, infant & toddler convertible and booster seats. Statistics show that most seats are installed incorrectly. Once you have purchased a seat make sure to follow the directions for proper installation.

Finding the best car seats for your child:
To escape injury in an accident, you will need to pick a seat suitable for the child's age and weight. They come in three main categories: infant, infant & toddler convertible and booster seats. Statistics show that most seats are installed incorrectly. Once you have purchased a seat make sure to follow the directions for proper installation.

Infant Car Seats:

A child under a year old needs to be secured in a rear facing seat. The disadvantage to buying an infant seat is that you will have to buy a convertible seat after your child reaches 20 pounds. An infant seat will cost between $60 and $150. If you are willing to spend more, there are plenty of extra options to choose from. Better quality material and cushioning, infant head inserts and boots, more recline positions and easier installation.

Infant & Toddler Convertible Car Seats:

These are larger than infant seats and will last through your child's toddler years. They are designed to be used until your child reaches 40 pounds. On disadvantage is that these seats are difficult to remove from the automobile. These seats are for newborn through about age 4. Your basic seat costs around $80. For more options such as leather or better quality fabric, belt adjustment and/or a cup holder, they run as high as $300. Click here for Toddler Car Seats

Booster Seats:

Booster seats are for children 3 years and up and who weigh at least 40 pounds. They are used with a lap and shoulder belt. Cost is between $60 to around $200.

Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Randy is owner of Profitable Home Businesses, How to Plan a Baby Shower and Las Vegas Weddings.

A Baby Stroller Buying Guide

Baby strollers help out a lot of parents in taking care of their baby, but be careful when buying one, because if you make the wrong choice, you could end up with a lot of trouble and inconvenience. So how can parents pick the right stroller? Well, you have to realize that different strollers are available for just about any kind of lifestyle. To help you pick one, first consider the main purpose for buying one, and then look for a stroller that?s suitable for your lifestyle and your baby.

Of course, when it comes to your baby, you know that safety is of the utmost importance. It would be wise to check the stability of the stroller, and try it to see if it remains solidly upright even if you hang a heavy diaper bag on its handles. The harness comes next. For babies who might be staying in the stroller for long periods of time, look for a five-point harness. A three-point harness will do fine if used occasionally for short walks outside.

When you find a stroller that seems right, try to walk it yourself for a while to get the feel of it. Check its handling to see if it corners easily, and make sure that your feet don?t hit the wheels when walking. This would come in handy when you have to hurry or maneuver in crowded areas. The height of the handles is also important for your comfort. If you?re tall, getting one with adjustable handle heights will be great for your posture. If you want more comfort, look for foam-covered handles.

Also think about the other features you may need from a stroller. Would you want a basket underneath it to carry the diaper bag? Or perhaps you?d like some trays to help you store and organize food, toys, milk, additional clothes, etc. A lot of these accessories can be bought separately, so fret not if you cannot find any beverage holder in your favorite stroller. Another important thing to consider is how easily you can fold and store it away when not in use.

There are around four common types of strollers available in the market. There are the lightweight strollers, weighing just under 20 lbs. but loaded with such features as storage baskets, reclining seats, and sun shades. These would be excellent for taking your baby on short trips. Standard strollers have bigger seating, storage capacities, and some even have music systems built in. These would be great for almost anything, and parent love the versatility they bring.

If you want to take your baby out while jogging, there are also jogging strollers available. Some parent buy one as a backup for their everyday stroller. Jogging strollers have sturdier wheels, brakes on the handles, and all-terrain suspension systems, which make them ideal for almost any surface. They are not recommended for babies under 6 months old, though. Some new parents who travel a lot also use travel systems, which comes with a standard stroller and an infant car seat that you can easily snap on to the stroller itself. When the infant car seat is outgrown by the baby, you can use the travel system as a standard stroller.

About the Author:

Chiun Masters is a writer for http://www.babydoublestroller.com, where you can find high-quality baby strollers. Visit us when you need good quality baby strollers.

Our Soul Is The Centre And Fount Of True Divine Bliss

Our belief that the source of joy is material objects is full of illusion. If this belief were to be true all material pleasures would have given satiation to all mankind in an equal manner. Or else all of mankind would have attained eternal joy without a speck of sorrow by now. Today all over the world we find people who have amassed plenty of wealth and grandeur and yet their lives are full of despair, agony and hopelessness. These material objects (TV, computer, cars, aircrafts, AC, movies etc) do not help in alleviating their pain and sorrow in a permanent manner.

The fact remains that all material objects are inert. Thus inert is after all inert. It has no potential of its own. On their own inert objects are incapable of giving us both, joy or anguish. Material objects lack the potential of joy and sorrow since they are inanimate. Thus they cannot induce sorrow or joy in us on their own. When we contact material objects with our sense organs, our mind gets attached to them which in turn induce joy or pain as the case maybe. Thus it is our mind/psyche, a conscious entity that manifests joy and pain in our inner self.

When man?s joyous soul contacts a sense object the object seems desirable and when a sorrowful soul contacts that object the object seems undesirable. All worldly objects are inert and hence by themselves cannot induce joy/sorrow in our psyche. It is man?s soul principle which contacts inert objects so as to label them as ?joy? or ?sorrow?. THE BELIEF THAT ETERNAL JOY CAN BE ATTAINED VIA MATERIAL OBJECTS IS NOTHING BUT AN ILLUSION AND AN EXERCISE IN SHEER FUTILITY.

The sad part of life is that man under the spell of spiritual ignorance refuses to accept that sense pleasures can give only transient joy and never eternal, infinite peace. Thus without realizing that it is an exercise in futility he hunts for joy day in and day out in material pursuits. He wastes his precious human life in amassing material wealth with the illusion that he will find eternal contentment and bliss. This is because he erroneously imagines that joy is in the object (TV, house, car etc) when in reality it is in his own soul. Thus while amassing material wealth he stoops as low as carrying out criminal, illegal and heinous acts which ultimately create his downfall. JOY LIES IN ONES SOUL AND NOT MATERIAL PLEASURES. JOY SHOULD BE SEARCHED FOR IN ONES SOUL AND NOT IN EXTERNAL MATERIAL OBJECTS, RELATIVES, PROFESSIONS ETC.

Material objects are enjoyed via the 5 sense organs viz. eyes, ears, tongue, skin and nose. It is only when are organs are active can we enjoy sight, smell etc. As long as man is youthful his sense organs are active and agile. During this youthful phase of his life he can fully enjoy sense pleasures but the more his body ages these very objects become distasteful and inconsequential. Suddenly an old person finds that all his pleasures attained via sense enjoyments have dried up to naught. The fact remains that when old age sets in our 5 sense organs become weak and thus are unable to enjoy those sense pleasures enjoyed in youth. These aged sense organs lose the capacity to enjoy sense pleasures. It is this weak potential of the sense organs that induce lifelessness and a sense of distaste for sense pleasures in ones old age.

Why restrict the above observations to old age merely? Many a time in one?s prime youth one experiences distaste for sense pleasures. This happens either if one is afflicted with an illness like typhoid, malaria etc or that an event like death of one?s beloved is announced. If our tongue is afflicted with ulcers even the most delicious food item induces aversion in our psyche. Indigestion too induces aversion for tasty food. Eye related diseases stop us from enjoying even the most alluring scene. THUS WE CAN SAFELY CONCLUDE THAT JOY LIES NOT IN SENSE OBJECTS/PLEASURES BUT IN THE EXPERIENTIAL CAPACITY OF OUR SENSE ORGANS.

Now the question to be asked is what is the nature of the capacity/potential of sense organs that enjoy sense objects? There are many people in this world whose eyes are attractive and beautiful to look at and yet they cannot see anything i.e. they are blind. In fact the anatomical structure of their eyes too has no defects as proved by medical tests. Their nerve functioning too is in proper order. Despite this they are blind. These observations have been noted for other organs of the body like nose, ear, hand etc too. The anatomical designing and nervous systems are in proper shape and yet these organs do not function. This proves that it is not the physical/anatomical organ (eye, ear etc) that is enjoying/experiencing their objects. Obviously there lies a separate and yet related entity/principle that is the one which is experiencing/enjoying sense objects. What is the precise nature of this experiencing principle? The answer is Consciousness. It pervades man?s entire physical body and thus bestows capacity on our senses in order to experience/enjoy sense objects. This conscious principle that pervades every pore of our body without exception is called soul or Atman. Eternal infinite bliss or Ananda lies in our soul. A living being experiences bliss in his soul. Bliss or joy lies not in material objects or in our physical sense organs. It is the sole monopoly of our soul.

It is man?s own soul that is the be all and end all of life. Without his soul man is but a heap of dust. When the soul leaves man?s body at the time of death his body is called a corpse. A corpse is quickly disposed off via burying, cremating etc. All relationships that exist in this world have their basis in our soul. If ones soul is related to an object, individual etc one loves that thing or person until then. When this soul based connection is snapped all our love, attachment too disappears. Someone is very attached to his/her friend. When one meets this friend ones heart rejoices. When one is physically away from this friend ones heart experiences the pain of separation. But the day this friendship ends (due to any reason) this very friend no longer is important for us and that he/she is just another ordinary human being in our eyes. Now no longer is one overjoyed on seeing this friend (of the past) nor is one unhappy when this friend goes far away from us. In fact sometimes this friendship becomes so much soured that when we meet this friend we find him/her very obnoxious. Thus love, joy etc are all related to ones soul and not to an individual, object etc. The world of joy lies in ones soul (Atman). SEARCH FOR JOY AND ETERNAL BLISS IN YOUR SACRED SOUL. SEARCHING FOR JOY IN MATERIAL PURSUITS DEVOID OF SPIRITUAL VALUES IS LIKE A THIRSTY DEER RUNNING MADLY TOWARDS A MIRAGE IN A HOT DESSERT IN SEARCH OF WATER ONLY TO LOSE ITS PRECIOUS LIFE DUE TO UNQUENCHED THIRST.

It is man?s own qualities and character that attract love and affection. Lack of such qualities and character renders his life futile and demeaned. Thus he is no longer liked by anyone and none look upon him as attractive. In order to understand this, take the relationship between a mother and her infant. As long as a child gets breast milk and affection from its mother, the child clings to her. The child loves its mother intensely. Not for even a moment does the child like to stay away from its beloved mother. Even if for a few minutes the mother goes somewhere the child wails aloud. But when this very child grows up and no longer needs its mother?s milk, he or she no longer cry or hanker for her attention. In fact these grown up children tend to stay separately from their parents and instead of breast milk they get attached to a bottle (could be milk or alcohol etc.). It is man?s inner personality that creates situations of love, affection etc in relation to others.

So the question asked is: Where is the source/fount of man?s special qualities? The answer is none other than our soul. We have already pointed out that without the soul man?s body is nothing but a stinking corpse. There is no question of love and affection existing in a corpse that is totally inert. It is the soul?s subtle power that controls man?s mind, vital force (Prana) and physical body. The moment the contact between the soul and the above 3 becomes imbalanced or weakened all our bodily activities too get disarrayed. An otherwise healthy and balanced body is now rendered weak and imbalanced. The vital force weakens a great deal and the mind becomes imbalanced and lunatic.

Under such fearful circumstances no individual of the world can love another individual nor harbor any goodwill towards anybody. Thus it is man?s own soul who is his true friend, relative and benefactor. The onus lies on man himself that he augments his character for the better and thus augments the value of his presence in society. It is most required that man turns to his beloved soul for joy, happiness and creativity. Man should search for joy, peace etc on an eternal basis in his very soul.

Joy does not lie in an individual?s body, sense objects etc. True joy rests in ones own soul. All the objects of the world are inert and lifeless. By themselves they cannot give joy or sorrow to anyone. We experience joy and sorrow only when our soul contacts objects or individuals. When this soul contact is snapped we neither experience pain or pleasure. It is our soul that influences objects etc so as to make them desirable or otherwise. Without this soul?s influence all material objects are insipid and lifeless. Inertness renders objects ugly and unwanted.

The more one?s soul gets attached to a person, object etc the more the latter become dear to us and the lesser the attachment of the soul the more one detests them. Bliss is related to ones sole only and not to any object etc. Thus love your soul and make it radiant and attractive. With this radiant soul one can contact the world of material objects and beings without undergoing bondage. Our soul is the centre of knowledge and wisdom. It is the foundation stone of bliss and peace. The seed of prosperity and all round progress lies hidden in it. It is the very substratum of heaven and salvation. The proverbial wish fulfilling tree (Kalpa Vriksha) grows not outside but it does so in our own very soul. Everything exists in the soul and the soul is the be all and end all of everything. One should meditate and worship the soul because it is the infinite store house of peace, prosperity and eternal bliss. He who masters his soul, masters the external world too. He who has seen his soul has seen all that needs to be seen. He who attains the soul has definitely attained all that requires to be attained. This is because the soul abounds in joy, peace and eternal infinite bliss.

It is sheer stupidity on our part to search for eternal joy in external material pursuits when the fact remains that true joy lies within i.e. in our very soul. Inert objects can neither give joy nor sorrow. If one analyzes this observation more closely it becomes clear that it is more prudent to search for joy within ones soul and not go astray like that deer which runs after an illusory dessert mirage in order to quench its thirst. Maya is nothing but our spiritual ignorance which erroneously induces human beings to focus on gross material aspects of the world. Such ignorant men do not make efforts to make a deeper and subtle analysis of life and this material world and thus they run miles away from true reality. Great seers of ancient India called Rishis have pointed towards eternal peace and happiness by saying: The light of research should be turned inwards (soul). The famous Western philosopher Carlisle too proclaims: Turn the search light inwards.

No force of attraction exists in objects or individuals. When our soul experiences oneness with them they appear dear to us. We all are attached to some special set of people and objects. But the moment we succeed in attaining them our attraction for them starts depleting. If for some reason our attachment towards these objects/individuals diminishes we feel a sense of aversion to them in spite of the fact that very recently they were very dear to us. The object/individual is the same yet for some time they are dear to us and later they fail to attract us any more. The reason for this is very clear; our attachment at the mental level towards these objects has diminished.

If we succeed in deeply imbibing this precept we can continue our attraction for people/objects for a long time span by remaining attached to them. But the idea is to enlarge our attachment to a wider range of objects/individuals of the world and ultimately a day will dawn when every pore of the cosmos will be dear to us eternally without exceptions. Despite being aware of this great spiritual truth people feign ignorance. In order to search for joy they run amuck after a few individuals and objects. If only one renounces this illusory mirage one can manifest oneness with the entire world and thus enjoy untold eternal bliss and peace.

Generally one experiences grief and pain when one is separated from ones beloved people/objects. If one truly realizes that separation is bound to follow union just as death follows birth one will always be mentally prepared for separation at any point in time. When we inhale air we know that the very next moment it will be exhaled and thus our breathing activities continue smoothly and uninterruptedly. When we inhale there is no joy and when we exhale there is no grief. One dies and the other is born. Birth in any household is strongly related to the grief of death. It is only when one businessman incurs losses that another makes profits. If we mentally imbibe the fact that just like darkness-light, day-night, heat-cold etc separation follows union and that losses follow gain one will neither experience too much joy or sorrow in the realms of attachment/aversion and loss/gain in ones daily life. Our spiritual ignorance is that culprit which induces intense pleasure when we like something and intense hatred when we dislike something. Thus like pendulums or waves in the ocean we arise to great heights and then dash on to the ground with the same intensity. This is the root cause of our transient joys and grief which lead to emotional and mental stress. If only our thinking which is ensnared by spiritual ignorance is freed from the latter?s shackles and if only man deeply understands the relentless cosmic cycle of birth, death, creation, destruction etc he can become mentally serene, poised and contented on an eternal basis. In a flash this divine mental state can give us heavenly bliss and joy. It is the virus called spiritual ignorance or Maya that deludes our psyche and thus like children seated on a seashore we foolishly clap our hands in joy when waves arise to great heights and lament when they dash down with a bang on to the shore.

Nature has covered a bag of urine and feces with an attractive wrapper called the human body so that this foul smelling bag does not spread its stench everywhere. People are mesmerized with this attractive covering along with its youth. The eternal thirst for beauty can be easily satiated right from an enchanting flower to the innocence of a child but our distorted minds full of lewd lust agitates every male and female. Thus they end up doing things which they should totally refrain from doing. Slight scratching of the lowly urinary area can induce human beings to carry out undesirable lustful acts. If only the veil of illusion called Maya had been lifted from our psyche all our lustful thinking could be destroyed. Such a person overcomes all attachment and attraction for this transient body and instead the ever radiant soul full of bliss and serenity would have manifested in his/her bosom. Lewd lust could have been replaced by sacred divine love for all. Such sacred hearted couples could then have jointly showered this all encompassing love for world welfare and well being. Today?s hell like married life based solely on physical attractions could have been made more sacred and all encompassing. Households with the pillars of sacred ideals and human values could have then made the entire earth heavenly and divine. It is the witch called spiritual ignorance which mesmerizes our senses to mere physical attractions and consequently we lose the paradise of eternal soul bliss and peace.

If only man understands his true nature, goal of life and righteous duty his thinking and endeavor can become outstanding both materially and spiritually. Such a person is none other than God Himself because even the dust of his feet spreads the fragrance of sanctity in all directions of the world. But alas! The veil of ignorance in his mind has made a beast of him and he does not think twice while indulging in unethical lowly acts. It is ignorance that makes our life a living hell and thus we hear wails of anguish and grief just about everywhere.

AUTHOR: Shriram Sharma Acharya: founder of the International Gayatri Family: was a great Yogi: seer and incarnation of God who wrote volumes of scientific literature mainly on spiritual subjects for world welfare and peace. For more scientific e-books visit: http://www.shriramsharma.com/ (GOOGLE PR 4) and http://www.awgp.org/ (Google 5) KEYWORDS: Kundalini Yoga Gayatri e-books biography Guru world peace mind psyche god nerve subtle consciousness soul divine trance endocrine glands ESP Chakras plexus meditation concentration intellect prophecy thought thinking Cheiro Nostradamus Aurobindo bliss brain Vedas solar sun energy sacred pure sense organs Prana Avatar Upanishad light cell hypothalamus pituitary transformation futurist prediction serpent power life human ethics integrity character vagus Tantra Mooladhar atom neutron proton DESCRIPTION: Free e-books on Future Scientific Religion, Gayatri Science & Kundalini Yoga correlated to Neurosciences-ESP, Endocrinology for peace.

Consumer Reports to Review Testing Policies

Last January 4 of this year, Consumer Reports made public the result of their study on rear-facing infant car seats. But on the 18th of the said month, the said report was withdrawn due to fact that the result of the study was found out to be flawed.

What caught the public?s attention about the inaccuracy of the report is the statement made by the organization that ten of the twelve infant seats that the have tested provides poor protection. In reaction to the said error, Jim Guest, the President of Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, has this to say: ?We made a mistake, but we're committed to correcting it, preventing similar ones and most importantly continuing to serve the consumer interest. We've also not lost sight of our original goal and intend to work with leading experts to develop more realistic crash simulations, improve usability, and remind parents to keep children safely restrained.?

The organization, after the discovery of the flaw, publicly apologized to their subscribers by sending them letters and e-mails informing them of the error. The letters and e-mails also state that they are suspending all ratings and recommendations in the said study.

In their upcoming May issue, Consumer Reports will explain to its subscribers how the error was made and that they are taking steps so that such flaws will never happen again. The flaw is generally found in their testing procedure for side impact.

One of the steps that Consumer Reports will be taking is to discuss the tests that they will perform with outside experts. The organization is currently working with experts on the field on some of their tests and they will further increase their coordination with them. When a major test is being planned, the organization will now involve outside experts from every field concerned with whatever consumer product they are testing.

Another step that Consumer Reports is looking into is the refinement of their procedures when working with outside testing facilities. The organization is currently running most of their tests on their own facility while 11 percent of the tests are done on outside labs equipped with specialized equipments. From now on, Consumer Reports will be disclosing the outside lab they have collaborated with along with the result of the tests. They will also hire a consultant to review a particular lab?s testing procedures if necessary.

Another step that they will be doing is to review test findings which are unusual. These steps are needed to be undertaken on their future testing procedures so as to ensure that they will be providing accurate information to the public which would as accurate as a Volvo oxygen sensor when providing the needed information.

Glady Reign is a 32 year old is a consultant for an automotive firm based in Detroit, Mi. she is a native of the motor city and grew up around cars hence her expertise in the automotive field. For more information, please visit Volvo oxygen sensor.

Britax Car Safety Seats Review

Britax produces a wide range of car safety seats, has been in the industry for over 30 years and is an innovator and leader in the car safety seat market place.

If you are looking for your baby's first car safety seat and want rear facing then the Britax Companion offers you everything you need. This rear facing baby car safety seat has a 5 point harness, is suitable for babies from 4 to 22 pounds and has a height limit of 30. When the Britax Companion first entered the market its side impact protection was revolutionary and since then the design of this car safety seat has only got better. The anti-rebound bar significantly reduces movement in the event of an accident, you can purchase extra bases for multi-car installation and the car safety seat is compatible with the new Britax Previes and Britax Forerunner strollers for a complete travel system.

In you are looking for a convertible car safety seat then the Britax Roundabout ticks all the boxes and is about the best on the market. The Britax Roundabout car safety seat is easy to install, safe but stylish and really comfortable for your baby. As with all Britax car safety seats the Roundabout comes with a five point harness. It is forward facing with a weight limit of 33 pounds, a height limit of 40, comes in seven different patterns and the fabric cover is machine washable. It has the new LATCH system and has EPS impact foam around the baby's head and torso.

If you want a convertible car safety seat that has a higher weight limit have a look at the Britax Marathon. This car safety seat boasts all the same features as the Britax Roundabout but has a higher weight maximum (forward facing up to 65 pounds) and is suitable for babies up to 49. The Marathon will still fit in most cars but may prove too large to install rear facing in some smaller vehicles.

As with all Britax car safety seats the Britax Decathlon is built with safety and comfort in mind. The Decathlon, among many other features, has a 3-position crotch strap, patented HUGS harness system, push button release LATCH system, removable toddler pillow and an infant positioning system for newborn babies. The Decathlon car safety seat will provide good service to your baby from 5 - 65 pounds. The Britax Decathlon is certainly one of the best car safety seats on the market and should certainly be included in your short list.

The Britax Boulavard has head and torso safety wings to help protect your child in the event of an accident. Previous negative feedback about wings making it difficult to fasten a child into a car safety seat and only offering restrictive views to a child have been taken into account. The Britax Boulavard car safety seat wings come out at an angle making strapping in easy and enabling your child to look around while still affording that added impact protection.

This is not a definitive list of the car safety seats available from Britax but provides you with a good idea of the safety and comfort levels Britax car safety seats offer. Although Britax car safety seats aren't the cheapest on the market they are certainly high up in the safety list and are well ahead in new innovative features.

When considering price, bear in mind that your child's car safety seat is one of the most important purchases you will ever make. Paying top prices isn't always necessary but don't skimp on safety features and, if you want to save money, then think about length of use rather than cheaper initial cost by going for a convertible car safety seat with a higher upper weight and height limit.

About the Author

For more on car safety seats visit http://www.1st-4-baby.com.

How to Treat Diabetes by Juicing

Treating Diabetes by Juicing can be as simple as extracting the fresh juice from raw fruit and vegetables. People with diabetes mellitus cannot properly process glucose, a sugar the body uses for energy. As a result, glucose stays in the blood, causing blood glucose levels to rise.

JUICES USED TO TREAT DIABETES

Daily Juicing of vegetables and fruits can be used in any combination of the following: ginger, garlic, celery, pumpkin, cabbage, asparagus, parsley, spinach, leeks, spinach, beets and carrots. Juicing fresh green vegetables such as brussel sprouts and string beans is a wonderful health benefit as both are good sources of natural insulin. Nutrients such as silicon works to support the pancreas and are found in alfalfa, olives, asparagus, lettuce, mustard greens, radishes, cabbage and cucumbers. Use fruit combinations sparingly due to their high sugar content. Sweet juices such as carrot, beet, grape, apple or pear juice should be half diluted with water or mixed with other juices such as celery.

Make only as much juice as needed for immediate use. In storage including refrigeration, raw juices oxidize rapidly and lose their medicinal value in as little as 10 minutes.

Bitter Melon juice has been used to treat diabetes mellitus (according to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians). The plant contains at least three known compounds that can lower the body?s blood sugar level. Recommended serving per day is 2 ounces of fresh bitter melon juice.

Mangosteen juice used as a supplement under medical supervision may decrease blood sugar levels and benefit those with type 2 diabetes. Recommended dose per day is 1 ounce or 30ml of Mangosteen juice to be taken before a meal.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Grapefruit juice interacts badly with certain prescription drugs. Please check with your physician. Diabetics who are taking the following medication should not use bitter melon juice: chlorpropamine, glyburide, phenformin, or insulin. This can increase the effects of these drugs and lead to severe hypoglycemia. Diabetics should consult their medical professional before taking this juice.

MEDICAL PRECAUTIONS

If you have complications in pregnancy such as gestational diabetes or blood pressure problems please check the use of mangosteen juice with your physician. Always take fruit juices with food.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting fruit juice for children under 6 years of age to four to six ounces a day. Bitter melon is an abortifacient, so women who are pregnant or nursing should not take it. Do not give this melon to small children and infants due to its hypoglycemic effects. Bitter melon is also an emmenagogue, which means that it encourages or increases menstrual flow in women.

AVOID

Due to high sugar content, diabetes may be aggravated by excessive intake of sweet juices such as carrots and most fruits. Excessive intake of tomato and citrus juices could upset the body?s natural acid (pH) balance as they are highly acidic.

SIDE EFFECTS

According to the American Foundation of Traditional Chinese Medicine: If too much bitter melon juice is taken; it can cause mild abdominal pain or diarrhea. Multiple servings of Mangosteen juice tend to raise blood sugar initially even with as little as 15ml. This has been observed more often in people of Asian descent who are not obese.

PRELIMINARY TRIALS

Two preliminary trials found that aloe vera juice (containing 80% aloe gel) helps lower blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.

August 29, 2006 -- Drinking pomegranate juice may help people with diabetes reduce their risk of heart disease. In the small study, published in the journal Atherosclerosis, researchers examined the effects: of drinking a concentrated form of pomegranate juice. Michael Aviram, researcher of the Techion Faculty of Medicine in Haifa, Israel, says: Patients with type 2 diabetes (who were not dependent on insulin therapy) were tested. Blood sugar levels were not affected which suggests that the antioxidants found in pomegranate juice may be especially beneficial in reducing heart-related risks associated with diabetes.

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians in Seattle has a referral database of naturopathic physicians: who practice juice treatments throughout the United States. Daily juicing of primarily organic vegetables and fruits is a beneficial part of any long term program to treat diabetes. Juicing provides a highly effective and efficient way for the body to be able to absorb essential nutrients into the blood and cells. Drinking juice is one of the best and quickest ways for the body to utilize these nutrients within minutes instead of hours.

For more information on juicing tips try visiting juicertips.com where you can quickly and easily find tips, advice and resources on the benefits of juicing

Prepare for New Baby with These Tried and True Items

Search the net and you're sure to find list upon list of what you need for a new baby. Most of those lists go way overboard. Babies don't usually need much at all. Here's a list of what I found, through my own experiences, to be the most useful.

Clothing

Plenty of t-shirts and sleepers - If you only want to do laundry every few days figure around 4 t-shirts, and 2 sleepers per day. This may be a bit more than necessary on most days, but there will always be the occasional day, or days, when baby is spitting up more than normal, or has messy blow-outs. You'll appreciate the extra tees.

Diapers and Wipes

Disposables or Cloth - In today's internet world, you will find diapers and wipes in variety of styles, patterns and personalities. The options are even wider for cloth than they are for disposables, can you imagine? There are some really ingenious designs that make diapering a baby's tush almost seem exciting! And the following within the cloth diaper community feels the same way. However, beware, you may end up needing to one day admit My name is . And I'm a cloth diaper addict.

Can't talk yourself into cloth? No worries, the disposable diapers have come along way and while they aren't soft natural cotton and wool, they do keep your baby dry and don't leak.

How much of each? Only keep a couple jumbo packs of disposables on hand at a time. Babies grow so fast you aren't always able to gauge how soon they'll be into the next size. Planning on using cloth? A dozen or two dozen would probably be a good start. What I've seen is that cloth diapers are an addictive thing and you may end up with wonderful cloth diapers coming out your ears! Wipes? I always buy by the package and sometimes by the box. Making your own? A yard of flannel or fleece would probably yield a good start.

Blankets

Receiving blankets; those itty bitty blankets you wrap a newborn in, but after the first month aren't good for much baby wrapping. But if you, like most women, end up with a few dozen of them, they make great lap pads, burp pads, and for mom, use them to wrap your hair when you get out of the shower - they are light-weight so they don't fall over when you are tending to baby, or use them as a nursing pad when you are bra-less. They work just fine. They may also be used when baby is going bare - to catch any accidents.

On the other hand, a couple of really nice, kid-sized blankets are must have!

Sling or Carrier

The online mothering community has been inundated with every type of baby sling and carrier you could imagine, and then some; padded to unpadded slings, pouches, wraps and carriers. These, like cloth diapers, may lead to addiction, tread with caution! But a good carrier is a must have. You even see mothers in the public eye touting their babes in slings nowadays. It's no longer alternative, having paved a path into mainstream.

Structured carriers are great too. Do some research and where possible, give one a test run. Some communities offer baby wearing classes and have slings you can test. Some online shops will even send you a used sling to try, reserving cost on your credit card - then applied back when you return the carrier.

Sleeping Area

Co-sleeping has become more commonplace practice, but it isn't always for everyone. Not to mention, some moms, even the attachment parenting mom would like a place to lay baby. Some ideas include a bassinet or cradle, a travel crib, a Moses basket, or many others. This is something you may need to experiment with to find the best fit for you and the baby. Different stages of babyhood may require some changes.

Pad an out of the walk-way area of the floor with a couple receiving blankets and make a little nest for baby to lay. No extra expense.

Required:
Car Seat

Unless you live in a walking/biking community, chances are you'll need a car seat. For safety's sake, do your research on this one. An infant seat is nice when you can take it in and out of the car easily while baby sleeps, but any secure, up-to-date infant approved car seat is great, necessary! Also, take note that not all car seats fit all cars.

Optional:
Stroller

Most mothers who wear their babies say you don't need a stroller. Strollers don't have to receive use directly from the baby to be useful. It comes in handy to carry coats and jackets, drinks, purse or diaper bag, extra diapers, change of clothes, not to mention any purchased items on your outing. As an added benefit, it leaves mom pretty hands free - you get really good at pushing a stroller with one hand! If you opt for a stroller, choose one that has drink carriers.

Bouncy Seat

A bouncy seat comes in handy so often, that while I'd classify it as optional, for myself, it was necessary. I loved our bouncy seat as much as baby enjoyed it. I carried it everywhere with me, to the bathroom for instance. It was a great baby holder while I took care of bathroom duties, did the dishes and cooked dinner. Baby and I would sing, talk and play while I got chores done.

Diaper Bag

Any bag with a couple pockets works well. The younger the baby, the bigger the bag needed. As baby grows and has less accidents (i.e. spit up, bottom blow-outs), you'll get more efficient at packing just what you may need. Don't go overboard on a diaper bag with all the frills. A nice canvas bag, decorated by you and siblings, will work as a great bag for outings. Toss in a couple gallon-sized baggies for messes, a couple of receiving blankets for padding and you're good to go!
About the Author

Judi Cox is a work at home mom living in the Ohio Valley with her husband and 4 children. Judi's current online interests include working on two of her websites http://www.momslittlegarden.com and http://www.mommamuse.com.

Putting the Brakes on Infant Walkers

A mother at one of the message boards I frequent posted a question recently about using infant walkers. Her pediatrician had recommended she not use a walker with her five-month-old and she was wondering the reasoning behind it, since her son seemed to love it so much.

Parenting a small baby is filled with dangers and frustrations, and you constantly teeter between fear of everything that your baby comes in contact with and desperately trying to find something - anything- that will keep your baby entertained for a few precious minutes while you fix dinner, get dressed, or just not have to watch the baby. Any time you find something that seems innocuous, you are bathed in relief if your baby shows interest. And if you discover a toy she loves that appears to be developmentally encouraging, you feel as if you've struck the jackpot. I can remember a couple of weeks when the mobile in Maddie's crib was one of the few things that would calm her down if she was crying (and when wasn't she?); I could put her in her crib and turn the mobile on and she'd stare, entranced, while I used the time to, oh, get dressed or brush my teeth. During those times, I thanked God for that mobile and knew that if had cost ten times its price I would have gladly paid it for the peace it brought me.

Infant walkers can seem like such a godsend: babies who hit 5 or 6 months seem eager to be moving, almost straining to charge forward. Their joy at having some control over their movement is plain to anyone who watches them in such a toy, and you wonder how it could be bad for them. Sure, everyone's heard the stories of babies in walkers falling down stairs and dying, but is that it? If you put a gate across your stairs, doesn't that solve the problem and make the walker a safe and even beneficial toy for your child?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. I've heard repeated questions from mothers about walkers, bewildered moms trying to figure out why this seemingly great toy is so vehemently opposed by many medical professionals. So I've tried to gather the information for you and break down a few common misconceptions about the walker, to help everyone understand why it's not the best toy for a baby.

We don't have stairs/ I always use the child protective gate/ I never leave my child alone in the walker. How can it possibly be a health hazard to them then? The most obvious danger to a baby in a walker is the most visible one - the stairs. Many babies have died after walking themselves to the edge of a staircase and falling down it. But that's not the only way accidents can happen. The walker can get caught on an edge of carpet, a doorframe, or a piece of furniture, causing the walker to tip over. Baby can hit his head against a coffee table edge or become trapped under the walker. According to a study published in 2002, one in every three babies who use a walker will suffer significant injuries including skull fractures, finger amputation, spinal cord injury, and death. That's one in three. No matter how closely you watch your baby, no matter how quickly you move, you may not be able to prevent that accident. And think about the injuries such as burns or poisonings that happen because babies are able to reach things that would otherwise be inaccessible. According to the AAP, 8,800 babies under the age of 15 months went to the emergency room as a result of using a walker in 1999 alone.

How can a walker be bad for my baby developmentally? My son is already almost standing, and loves being able to move himself around. Isn't this helping him learn to walk sooner by giving him practice? You would think so, but no. Walkers encourage use of your lower legs, but not your upper legs which are so important to standing. That makes sense, since it's for babies who aren't yet able to support themselves. So you're not giving the standing muscles any type of a workout, and you're actually helping the skill develop backwards.

See, motor skills mature in a baby from the head down. That makes sense since the top's where the brain is. If you notice, babies begin to control their waving arms before their legs; babies have fine motor skills in their hands before their feet. Development travels down. You can see the natural progression in the way babies begin to move. First, the head lifts off the ground. Then the head and the back. Then babies push onto all fours. Then they begin to practice balancing by sitting. Then finally, they stand. There's a flow to this that is organic and natural, and moving a baby to a walker before their body's ready to walk disrupts that. A 1998 study proved that babies who used walkers hit their developmental milestones like crawling and walking later than babies who didn't. And this wasn't 10 babies; it was 109 babies between the ages of 6 and 15 months. In addition, this study reports that there's a neurological disconnect between what babies are actually doing and what they are aware they're doing; the plastic tray prevents them from seeing their feet, which keeps them from connecting what's going on down there with what they are experiencing. So there's no motor development learning going on. On average, babies who didn't use a walker began walking at about their 10th month, while those who used walkers were on average 12 months old when they began walking.

I'm not convinced. My mom used a walker and I began walking when I was seven months old! And anyway, my grandmother used a walker, my mom used a walker, and none of us kids got hurt. Seems like a mom's wisdom is better than these obscure studies. First off, there are exceptions to every rule. For every child who began walking at 7 months there's one who didn't start until 14 months. That's why studies are done with large numbers of babies instead of one or two. Second, my parents' generation didn't use car safety seats, and none of my parents' friends' babies died, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to use a car seat. Studies have shown they save lives, and I know I'm keeping my baby safe by using one. Watching my child die in an emergency room because I didn't use a car seat because everyone I know got on fine without one is not an option to me.

Studies can be found to support anything. Anyone can take numbers and twist them to suit their argument. I totally agree, so there are several links at the end of this to articles I've drawn from or read to write this piece.

Here's the bottom line: the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly discourages the use of walkers. They have been petitioning the U.S. government since 1995 to ban walkers, and renewed their efforts after Canada in 2004 banned the sale or advertising or importing of ANY new or used walkers. So the AAP says not to. Your doctor says not to. Don't you think there's a good reason for it?

http://www.drgreene.com/21810.html
http://www.cwru.edu/pubaff/univcomm/rel-archive/babywalk.htm
http://www.chiropractors.asn.au/aboutchiro/press/280402.html
http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZZDGTUP5D.htm
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/washing/banbabywalkers.htm

About the Author

You can read more by Jennifer at her weblog at http://www.1mother2another.com. Part diary of a new mom's journey, part support community for mothers, and part referral site for all things mommy, 1Mother2Another is the sympathetic,sagacious, and street-savvy girlfriend you always wished you had.

Birth of a Parent

Birth of a Parent

 by: Barbara Eastom Bates

So youre pregnant. Congratulations! Your life is about to change in ways you might find unthinkable (and were not even talking about the surrender of your once slim waistline to proportions most comparable to that of a Dr. Suess character). Pregnancy is the beginning of a new life for a baby, but also a new life for you as a parent. If this is your first baby, you may be filled with an endless list of questions and concerns. If youre a veteran of the labor and delivery room, youve got a better idea what to expect, yet every pregnancy, like every mother and child, is different.

Making Choices

While pregnancy and birth have physiologically been the same since the beginning of time, your options as a pregnant woman today are greater than at any previous time in history. After confirming your pregnancy, your first (and arguably most important) decision to make is choice of caregiver. While traditionally in the U.S., maternal care has been provided through obstetrical physicians and hospital births, there is a growing movement towards the return of low intervention, midwife-assisted births.

How do you know which is right for you? Consider what is most important to your birth experience (always remembering that birth is anything but predictable and flexibility is vital). Are you interested in birthing naturally, without the aid of drugs or invasive procedures? Would you rather give birth at home or in a birthing center as opposed to a hospital? A midwife may be the right choice for you. Conversely, if you know upfront youll want an epidural at the first sign of labor pain youll probably find the anesthesiologist at your local hospital to be your best friend.

Keep in mind, each choice has its pros and cons and its up to you to weigh which option is the best for your needs. If you give birth at home and have complications, youll need to be transported to the hospital. Epidurals may provide excellent pain relief (or not), but have potentially serious, although rare, side effects. Some birthing centers will not accept a mother attempting vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC). Being an educated consumer in your pregnancy will allow the best possible birth experience and beginning for your new baby.

Planning for Baby

Somewhere around middle to late pregnancy (usually about the time you can no longer see your toes because of your protruding middle), youll want to start making accommodations at home for your baby's expected arrival. If this is your first, trust yourself to the care of an experienced mommy friend who can prevent New Mother Shopping Syndrome, i.e., going to Babies R Us and spending an exorbitant amount of money on baby paraphernalia that, not only do you not need, but you will never use. Yes, the mommy bear that emits sounds of the womb is cute. No, your baby will not be fooled. This is the time to cultivate self control, which will particularly come in handy when your precious baby has become a 16-year old who has just wrecked the family car.

Babies actually need very little in the way of gear for the first few months of life. If youre planning to family bed, you can skip the nursery furniture altogether. Some good choices of useful items include a five-point harness convertible car seat, a quality hospital grade breast pump if youre planning to breastfeed (Medela is the gold star standard), and plenty of onesies for sleep and play. A baby sling is also useful for helping mom get things done around the house while still meeting the baby's need to be held, and also for discreet public breastfeeding. Skip the infant carrier, which can only be used for about six months, at which point youll have to purchase a convertible seat anyway. Also unnecessary (at least for now) are baby toys, gyms, etc., which will not be of interest to the baby until at least six months of age.

Delivering the Goods

Prepare for labor and delivery by compiling a plan for your caregiver sharing your wishes for birth. Discuss your feelings on all types of medical intervention including the use of epidural, IVs, amniotomy, fetal monitors, episiotomy, etc. Remember that a birth plan is simply that, a plan. Since no one knows exactly how any given birth will proceed, it is not a guarantee of any kind. While the mothers experience with birth is important, the ultimate goal is a healthy baby, whatever it takes to achieve it. A birth plan is simply helpful in communicating the type of birth experience you would like to have, and if you have made a wise selection in caregiver, you will have someone who will work with you to honor these wishes to the extent they are possible. You may want to hire a doula to assist during labor. A doulas purpose is to support and be an advocate for the mother, and can be helpful in achieving the mothers goals towards birth.

Surviving the First Weeks

After nine months of waiting and planning, your baby is finally in arms. What next? Despite that you might feel youve gotten away with something when the hospital staff actually allows you to leave with your baby (whom you think you have no idea how to care for), remembering a few simple tips can help things go more smoothly.

Feed your baby on demand. Dont try to schedule feeding sessions, which can be detrimental to establishing proper milk supply if breastfeeding, and simply isnt good for baby.

Keep a record of wet and soiled diapers for the first few weeks to assure baby is taking in enough breast milk or formula.

Hold baby as often as possible. Contrary to what grandma might tell you, he cant be spoiled.

Always remember to place your baby on his back to sleep and tummy to play, to lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Call your pediatrician if your baby develops a fever, or if you have any questions or concerns.

Most importantly, remember motherhood is a work in progress and cut yourself some slack. You will make mistakes, learn, grow and change. Both babies and parents are born, and neither reaches their full potential overnight.

About The Author

Barbara Eastom Bates is the author of the upcoming release, Basic Training for Brides-to-Be, and editor-in-chief of Operation Military Spouse, http://www.operationmilitaryspouse.com.

opmilspouse@yahoo.com

Baby Strollers and Carriers Know What To Look For When Buying Them

Baby Strollers and Carriers for New Parents

Just about to have your first baby? Congratulations!!! You are about to embark
on one of the greatest moments in Life. I remember having our first child. What
a fantastic experience. The fun of the anticipation leading up to the birth was
like Christmas eve for a four year old!

The part of having you baby that can be a bit overwhelming is the preparation
period. Especially for first time parents. You have the nursery to decorate, a
crib to buy, clothes, formula, bottles, bottle sterilizers, bibs, diapers, a
diaper Genie, bouncers, toys, blankets, and of course a carrier and stroller so
you can actually leave home again! Whew!!!!

I'm just going to focus on strollers and carriers because without them, you are just about stuck at home for 3 years.

An Array of Products Available For Today's Baby

With out first child, we wanted everything to be perfect. (Since then, I
have discovered that we were not alone). So when shopping for that first
stroller, we had little experience at what was a good choice. Our shopping
methods revolved around safety and comfort for the baby (which is important). We
looked at a lot of strollers and eventually purchased the Cadillac stroller
that had a long sturdy frame, extra soft wheels (for added comfort) and a seat
that looked like a miniature Lazy Boy recliner!

It had a ton of extras! unfortunately for us, we didn't think past the stroller
itself.Things like... one of us would actually have to lift this heavy thing out
of the trunk and unfold it and its many components EVERY time we went out with
the baby! The thing must have weighted sixty pounds!

The other half of the formula we missed was the fact that every time we went
some where, we had to unbuckle junior from the car seat (a five point harness
mind you) and carefully and gently lift him from car seat firmly fastened in the
back seat and place him gingerly in the stroller seat, then buckle him in there.
Only to return from a fifteen minute stroll through the drug store to go through
this routine once again! Let's hope it wasn't raining!!!

After about four months of this self inflicted, back straining, time consuming
regimen, we both agreed that we needed a more practical, but still comfortable
stroller.

We Discovered the Experienced Parents Secret Weapon for Easy Travel

After four months of being the new parents with the we'll do it our way,
thank you attitude, we talked with some friends that had kids. We watched
parents that had figured out the secret weapon for quick and easy travel with a
newborn. Travel systems! I wish I could meet the person that invented these gems
- I would thank them for their fine contribution in life.

The baby carrier/stroller combination has to be the most ingenious invention
since the automobile! Don't believe me? Try the routine I described above for
just two weeks and you'll agree.

These strollers have a baby carrier that attaches to the frame with the baby
facing you, the more practical way - especially in the first six months. The
carrier detaches with a simple tug on a latch handle that locks the carrier to
the stroller.

A car seat base that comes with the travel system is securely attached to the
back seat in the car by the seatbelt. You simple snap the carrier into the
base with one click and you are ready to go! This is especially great when your
little one is sound asleep and you don't want to have to wake her up as you move
her back and forth from the car seat to the stroller.

Safety Is Always an Issue

These travel systems are built with strict standards to insure that your
baby is safe and secure, while giving you a lightweight and fast way to move
from the house to the car, the car to the store and back again. Always be sure
that your carrier is securely fastened and be certain that you only buy a rear
facing carrier/car seat for an infant. Many new designs are reversible to let
your newborn grow into your new investment.

Design is Another Important Area

Of course as you decide on your travel accessories, you want to look closely
at how easily the stroller folds up and unfolds. Pick it up a few times to be
sure it isn't going to be too heavy for you to pull out of a trunk. And you'll
want to choose one that looks cool too. But definitely choose portability and
convenience over looks. Trust me on this one ;)

The Cost Factor

As a first time parent myself, I know that money can be tight. One thing you
will want to think hard about is the safety of your most prized possession.
There are things in life that you cannot put a price on. Your child's safety is
one of them.

I'm not suggesting that you overspend, but definitely don't cut corners on
equipment that you will use for transporting you child on a daily basis. The
aggravation of cheap equipment isn't worth the few dollars saved.

Look No Further - Online Shopping For Your Baby Needs

Keep in mind as you start to look for baby strollers and carriers, you now have the ability to shop the planet for the best items for your baby! As
ecommerce gains speed, literally millions of items are purchased and shipped to
buyers front doors every day! Hey, you don't even need to get out of your
pajamas to research and shop for the best baby products available.

Best of luck with your new family member and be sure to get the travel system
that makes sense for you!

Baby Strollers and Carriers for New Parents

Just about to have your first baby? Congratulations!!! You are about to embark
on one of the greatest moments in Life. I remember having our first child. What
a fantastic experience. The fun of the anticipation leading up to the birth was
like Christmas eve for a four year old!

The part of having you baby that can be a bit overwhelming is the preparation
period. Especially for first time parents. You have the nursery to decorate, a
crib to buy, clothes, formula, bottles, bottle sterilizers, bibs, diapers, a
diaper Genie, bouncers, toys, blankets, and of course a carrier and stroller so
you can actually leave home again! Whew!!!!

I'm just going to focus on strollers and carriers because without them, you are just about stuck at home for 3 years.

An Array of Products Available For Today's Baby

With out first child, we wanted everything to be perfect. (Since then, I
have discovered that we were not alone). So when shopping for that first
stroller, we had little experience at what was a good choice. Our shopping
methods revolved around safety and comfort for the baby (which is important). We
looked at a lot of strollers and eventually purchased the Cadillac stroller
that had a long sturdy frame, extra soft wheels (for added comfort) and a seat
that looked like a miniature Lazy Boy recliner!

It had a ton of extras! unfortunately for us, we didn't think past the stroller
itself.Things like... one of us would actually have to lift this heavy thing out
of the trunk and unfold it and its many components EVERY time we went out with
the baby! The thing must have weighted sixty pounds!

The other half of the formula we missed was the fact that every time we went
some where, we had to unbuckle junior from the car seat (a five point harness
mind you) and carefully and gently lift him from car seat firmly fastened in the
back seat and place him gingerly in the stroller seat, then buckle him in there.
Only to return from a fifteen minute stroll through the drug store to go through
this routine once again! Let's hope it wasn't raining!!!

After about four months of this self inflicted, back straining, time consuming
regimen, we both agreed that we needed a more practical, but still comfortable
stroller.

We Discovered the Experienced Parents Secret Weapon for Easy Travel

After four months of being the new parents with the we'll do it our way,
thank you attitude, we talked with some friends that had kids. We watched
parents that had figured out the secret weapon for quick and easy travel with a
newborn. Travel systems! I wish I could meet the person that invented these gems
- I would thank them for their fine contribution in life.

The baby carrier/stroller combination has to be the most ingenious invention
since the automobile! Don't believe me? Try the routine I described above for
just two weeks and you'll agree.

These strollers have a baby carrier that attaches to the frame with the baby
facing you, the more practical way - especially in the first six months. The
carrier detaches with a simple tug on a latch handle that locks the carrier to
the stroller.

A car seat base that comes with the travel system is securely attached to the
back seat in the car by the seatbelt. You simple snap the carrier into the
base with one click and you are ready to go! This is especially great when your
little one is sound asleep and you don't want to have to wake her up as you move
her back and forth from the car seat to the stroller.

Safety Is Always an Issue

These travel systems are built with strict standards to insure that your
baby is safe and secure, while giving you a lightweight and fast way to move
from the house to the car, the car to the store and back again. Always be sure
that your carrier is securely fastened and be certain that you only buy a rear
facing carrier/car seat for an infant. Many new designs are reversible to let
your newborn grow into your new investment.

Design is Another Important Area

Of course as you decide on your travel accessories, you want to look closely
at how easily the stroller folds up and unfolds. Pick it up a few times to be
sure it isn't going to be too heavy for you to pull out of a trunk. And you'll
want to choose one that looks cool too. But definitely choose portability and
convenience over looks. Trust me on this one ;)

The Cost Factor

As a first time parent myself, I know that money can be tight. One thing you
will want to think hard about is the safety of your most prized possession.
There are things in life that you cannot put a price on. Your child's safety is
one of them.

I'm not suggesting that you overspend, but definitely don't cut corners on
equipment that you will use for transporting you child on a daily basis. The
aggravation of cheap equipment isn't worth the few dollars saved.

Look No Further - Online Shopping For Your Baby Needs

Keep in mind as you start to look for baby strollers and carriers, you now have the ability to shop the planet for the best items for your baby! As
ecommerce gains speed, literally millions of items are purchased and shipped to
buyers front doors every day! Hey, you don't even need to get out of your
pajamas to research and shop for the best baby products available.

Best of luck with your new family member and be sure to get the travel system
that makes sense for you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela Constantine is a stay at home mom with an online information website
www.baby-strollers-and-carriers.com

Insurance Companies Work To Keep Health Care Affordable

For many families, finding affordable health insurance is a task akin to the search for the Holy Grail. Depending on where in the country you live, a family health insurance plan can cost as much as $800-$1000 per month. Even when you split that cost between employee and employer, that's a major chunk of nearly anyone's monthly budget. And while it's popular to swear under your breath at the greed of the health insurance industry, a look at the cost of medical care is an eye-opening shock for many people. The expenses associated with a broken arm, for instance, can easily mount into several thousands of dollars.

The Health Insurance Industry has a stake in keeping people healthy.

The high cost of health insurance is the direct result of the high cost of medical care. It's a simple matter of economics. The more it costs to take care of each subscriber, the more the insurance companies have to charge all their subscribers. This cost/expense ratio is what has made most health insurance companies embrace the idea of providing preventive care to their subscribers. It's a simple matter of business sense - healthy people don't cost the insurance companies a lot of money.

Accidents may be the first type of medical need that springs to mind when people consider buying health insurance, the major insurance companies all agree that accidents aren't the major cost drain on medical resources. That place is reserved for chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure. Because of this, it makes good business sense for health insurance companies to encourage their subscribers to adopt preventive health strategies. That pays off in special benefits for health conscious consumers.

** Preventive Health Benefits Help Keep Costs Low

Among the benefits that have become commonplace for major health insurance providers are routine physicals, medical screenings for all subscribers, discounts on health club and gym memberships, payment of dues for weight loss groups and lowered subscription fees for non-smokers.

Some health insurance companies and HMO's go even further in their preventive efforts. Because of the high risk of serious injury or fatality for infants in automobile accidents, Fallon Community Health Plan of Massachusetts has for years teamed with local organizations to provide free infant car seats to families with newborns. In the same spirit of prevention, many HMOs offer free stress management and stress reduction workshops to all subscribers because stress has been identified as a leading risk factor in nearly every major illness.

** Seeking a Cure
The quest for affordable health care has also prompted health insurance companies and HMOs to help fun research and health initiatives all over the country. The health insurance industry underwrites millions of dollars of medical research annually in an effort to lower the costs of health care. Their dollars fund grants to enroll low income and other hard to insure populations, and to offer eye, dental and health care to inner city and poor rural populations. The industry estimates that routine preventive eye and dental care, as well as routine medical screenings and physicals can identify illnesses at early stages and prevent conditions and costs from escalating out of reach.

** Get the Most from Your Health Insurance
You pay for it - you should certainly get the most possible benefit from your health insurance plan. Here are some suggestions for ways that you can make your health insurance plan work for you:

- Join a gym.
Check the benefits that your HMO or health insurance plan offers. Chances are good that one of them is a discount good on membership at a local gym or health club. Get fit - it saves THEM money... but it saves YOUR life.

- Lose weight.
Take advantage of nutritional counseling and memberships in weight loss support groups to get down to your ideal weight. Added bonus? Many health insurance plans offer a lower tier cost for subscribers who are at healthy weights.

- Quit smoking.
Non-smokers are another group that often enjoy lower health insurance premiums. Many HMOs and health insurance providers offer free smoking cessation programs to help you get smoke free and healthy.

- Attend medical screenings and health fairs.
Many health insurance providers sponsor 'wellness fairs' where you can have your blood pressure tested, get free medical screenings and learn about alternative medical techniques like massage therapy, acupuncture and yoga. Take advantage of special events to learn more and get healthy.

It may be popular to demonize the health insurance industry, but today more than ever, the health insurance industry has a stake in keeping you healthy. Find out what your health insurance company has to offer you by visiting their web site, or calling customer service.

About the Author:

Deb Powers is a freelance writer who regularly writes for FreelanceRite, the right way to get original content for your web site and newsletters. For information on purchasing original content for your use, visit FreelanceRite at http://www.FreelanceRite.com.

Baby Safety Part Two

We do whatever we can to keep our babies safe. There's so many precautions we need to take, that we sometimes take for granted that the manufacturers of baby supplies will put out products which are safe. Sadly, this is not always the case. Many times we find out from baby's getting injured, or worst, with the product. Always go over any baby supplies you buy with a fine tooth comb to make sure it meets with your safety requirements.

The main accidents that occur with high chairs is babies falling from them because the restraints were not used. Babies love to stand up in them, and many babies like to climb on the tray, unaware that it can't hold their weight. Deaths have occurred from them slipping down under the tray and strangling on the restraint straps. High chairs should have a waist strap and a strap that runs between the legs. Never leave a child unattended in a high chair. Too many accidents can happen too quickly.

Playpens are many parent's savior. It's wonderful to have a safe place to put the baby where we can take care of things around the house. However, deaths have occurred with playpens mainly when the drop-sides of mesh were left in the down position. When left down, the mesh hangs loosely, forming a pocket or gap between the edges of the floor panel and the side. Young infants, even a few weeks old can move to the edge and fall into the loose mesh, get trapped and suffocate. Deaths have also occurred when they have a rotating hinge in the center of each top rail to enable the product to be folded. These deaths resulted when the top rails collapsed and formed an acute 'v' shape that entrapped the child's neck. Make sure if the playpens or cribs have this mechanism that it locks automatically when the rail is lifted into the normal use position. To fold it, it should have a button or other release mechanism that must be used to release the latch. Make sure you always show any one who will be sitting with you baby how to operate any equipment correctly. Improper set-up can cause it to collapse. Never leave your baby unattended with the side down. Even when they are not in the playpen leave the side up. Children may try to climb back into the playpen, pinching their fingers on the unlocked hinge mechanism. Also, never use a pad that does not fit snugly and never add a second pad or mattress. Babies have suffocated when trapped between mattresses or between the playpen's side and mattress.

Walkers are another wonderful invention, but babies will take full advantage of their now mobile selfs. Make sure you keep them well away from stairs. Uneven floors and thresholds can make the walker tip over as well. They are also able to get into other rooms more quickly - so pay careful attention to the kitchen, especially while cooking. Baby gates are a great safety tool, and every home with a baby should use baby gates.

Other hazards are back carriers -- make sure the baby is at least four-five months old. By then the baby's neck is able to withstand jolts and not sustain an injury. The cycle carriers should not be used before a baby is one-year-old. Developmentally, children are just learning to sit unsupported around nine months old. It is not until this age that infants have developed sufficient bone mass and muscle tone to enable them to sit unsupported with their backs straight.

Do not sit babies in carriers on an elevated surface. Deaths have occurred from an active baby tipping the carrier over and off of the elevated surface.

You just got back from a nice walk with your baby and he has fallen asleep in the stroller. I know it's tempting not to disturb him, for fear of waking him, but deaths have resulted by infants wriggling feet first towards the front of the stroller and when their bodies passed through the opening between the hand rest (grab bar) and the front edge of the seat, they became trapped by the head and strangled.

You can always check with the Consumer Products Safety Commission web site to get the latest recalls and read up on dangers caused from different products, along with safety check lists to go by in purchasing baby products.

References from Consumer Products Safety Commission

About the Author

This article has been submitted in affiliation with http://www.BabyNameVote.Com/ which is a site for Baby Names.

Evenflo Strollers Love On Wheels

The Evenflo stroller have beautifully designed fabric and seat harnesses to keep the baby safe and secure. You can have a complete travel system which has a car seat included, but many of the models accept an Evenflo car seat, such as the Evenflo Portabout or the Discovery Infant.

Some people say that some models of evenflo strollers are not well suited for a larger toddler (they are however designed for up to 40 pounds). However evenflo strollers provide comfortable ride for children. There are strollers in the Evenflo line for twins and models specifically for rougher terrain. Evenflo strollers are generally quite lightweight and easy to push. This makes strolling around quite a bit more convenient for the parent or caregiver.

In the past some complained that Evenflo strollers did not have enough storage capacity. However the last years have seen good improvements in the newer models. The reclining seat is a real bonus for both the child and the parent. It can be folded down quickly and easily if the little one falls asleep while you are out. This means you can get on with your day and not have to worry if wee little Jr. is comfortable while sleeping.

Luckily evenflow strollers are quite easy to maneuver if you go shopping. Some strollers simply don't mix well with store floor plans, however evenflow strollers tend to have very good turning ability and don't take up a lot of floor space.

Overall evenflow strollers are sturdy, comfortable strollers that both you and your child will like. There are many components that can be adjusted quickly and easily to match your specific needs. This is nice if one of the parents is taller than the other and being able to adjust the push bar to the right height for each parent is important.

About the Author: Helen Walters provides a variety of information on issues important to parents. http://www.evenflo-stroller-info.com is home to a large selection of articles and reviews of Evenflo Strollers.

BabySkim Guide To Traveling With Baby

Traveling with a baby can sometimes mean that you are so consumed with ensuring that you have everything you need to care for the baby on the trip that you forget things you need for yourself. The best thing to do is to prepare a checklist of what you need and then check off each item as you pack it.

A sample checklist should include the following items:

Diapers/ pampers

Blankets

Sleepers

Baby wipes

Baby lotion and soap

Extra pacifiers

Bottle

Formula, food, water and/or juice

Resealable plastic bags

Extra clothes - at least one or two outfits per day

Nightlight

Car seat

Portable crib

Collapsible stroller

Sun hat and sun screen Toys

Plastic for use in changing the baby

Any necessary medicines

Extra shirt for yourself

Burping pad

Washable bibs

Feeding spoons

Kettle, if the hotel room does not have kitchen facilities

The packing for a trip involving a baby should start weeks in advance to ensure that no detail is overlooked. As you pack each item or article, check to make sure you have added extra in case of accidents.

Simply go through a sample day at home and make a list of everything the baby needs when not travelling. Add extra to the list. Bring a camera and plenty of film or if you use a digital ensure that the memory card can store lots of pictures.

Car Safety Tips

The single biggest threat to your babies life as documented every year by every relevant US government agency is the threat when they are travelling in the car with you, friends or family.

Here are a few tips to make sure your baby will always be safe when travelling in a car.

Car Seats

When buying a car seat, make sure you look for;

A label that clearly states that it meets or exceeds the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards

That the car seat is setup exactly and will suit a child of your weight and height

Really be that the seat you choose fits your child perfectly - Infants one year or younger and up to 20 pounds must be placed in a rear-facing seat, toddlers (older than 1 year and between 20 and 40 pounds) may use a forward-facing seat, and children who are between 40 and 80 pounds need to be placed in a booster seat.

Check recent car seat recalls before making a purchase

Be aware of the type of seat belts your car has; all car seats are not compatible with all seat belts

Consider choosing a seat that is upholstered in fabric - it may be more comfortable for your child.

What Type of Car Seat Should I Get My Child?

It's a law in every state that children need to be in a safety car seat until they are 4 feet and 9 inches tall, or about 8 years old. That's when you can use the car's safety strap. But if your infant has gotten to big for their baby safety seat what type of seat should you get next? And how can you tell if your child has outgrown their safety seat? This article is about choosing the right booster seat for your child. There are many choices and you want to make the right one. So let's get started.

Age is not the best determining factor but a good rule of thumb is about age 4. Size is a better judge, so at 40 pounds your child should be using a booster seat.

The different types of booster seat you will most likely run into are:

?High back booster seat
?No-back booster
?Convertible seat
?Overlap seat
?Integrated seat

When picking a booster compare it to the models side by side so you can see the differences. Remember safety is your number one concern so never buy used. Also make sure you understand the directions and that it is put in correctly.

Make sure it fits in your car. And that the child is conferable in it. A crying kid in a car can be tuff for parents and the child.

A booster chair can last until the child is 8 or about 4 feet and 9 inches tall before they use a safety strap. So your investment will be for 4 years. The cost can be anywhere from 50 to 200 dollars. we have seen leather ones that can cost as much as 290. How much should you pay? I would pay as much as I could for safety. 300 dollars over 4 years is about 8 bucks a month that?s less than the coffee you get at your local coffee hut in a week.

Just do your research and make sure you have a 30 day return on anything that you buy just in case the child hates it.

Remember all new baby car seats sold in the U.S. have to pass safety tests to be sold. That means that if you buy new you will be getting a seat that has passed the standards that the government has put on all child safety seats. That's why we recommend that you buy new and not used. Used you have no idea how old it is or if it was involved in an accident. Safety first should be your motto.

For more information on this article or others go to Articles on baby seats.

Debbie Dee is a work at home mom who has 3 children and 2 dogs. She writes for Articles on babies and runs her own baby shop online.

Ways for treating babies that have colic using only natural ingredients.

For any parent whose baby has suffered or is suffering from colic can you tell, it is one of the most painful experiences that they have ever had to deal with in their lives? Nothing can be worse than seeing your own baby in pain and not being able to relieve it for them or even take the pain away. So finding a relief for colic has become a top priority for these parents. Today you will find that there are many types of colic remedy available that may come to your baby's rescue. However each baby is unique and you may find that yours responds to some or a combination of colic remedies that are available. But us poor parents the only way of finding the right one for ours is by the trial and error method, which will hopefully provide the right amount of relief for them. But one thing is for sure that the days of waiting for it to pass have long gone, especially for those looking for the answer. No longer does your baby have to suffer needlessly and neither do you, but if you find that using the tried and tested techniques of proper feeding and burping are not working, then try some of the more effective remedies which are now readily available instead.

Firstly there is music and sound. Not only traditional lullabies, but both classical music which has been composed specifically for infants and the heartbeat/womb sound CDs are now becoming extremely popular as external remedies for helping to relax the baby suffering from colic. There are a number of websites around which can offer these types of CDs for you. Also other parents have found that by placing their baby in its car seat on top of a running dishwasher, washing machine, clothes dryer or close to a vacuum cleaner which is turned on seems to work. The other tried and tested method used by many parents is a gentle shhhhhing sound in the baby's ear as well as soft whispers and humming or singing can also calm them.

The next thing to look at is the baby's diet. Many baby's who are bottle fed show an improvement when the formula being used is changed for a different one, say one may with soya. Also mothers who are breastfeeding should pay close attention to what they actually eat to ensure that their baby does not have a negative reaction to certain foods in their diets. By trying to eliminate items which seem to be common culprits of causing colic one at a time for week and see if there is any improvement in the colic to your baby. Such products you should consider eliminating from your diet are dairy, caffeine, chocolate and gas producing foods (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, peppers, melons, tomatoes, citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit etc), beans and peanuts).

You could then look at using gripe water, but check the ingredients contained in it before buying it. There are many that are on the market which claim to be natural but do include artificial ingredients and preservatives. Certainly many infants who have colic find that their digestive systems would rather not have these potential irritants placed in them. So it always better to read the label as not all gripe waters can help you, but there are many effective and safe ones that can, just carryout a search of the internet and you should find some that are suitable for your needs.

If you really want to do something different then give your baby and warm aromatherapy bath or massage. Just add a few drops of lavender oil to some warm bath water and then follow this up with a massage. It is best if you focus the massage on the stomach area to help relieve the trapped gas which is causing the pain. There are many books available that can help you learn these baby massage techniques as well as on the internet. You can also purchase specially oils made with lavender, chamomile and fennel which are specifically designed for using for massaging your baby and these can also be found on the internet. If you want you can also purchase a very popular baby massage tool called a Snukkles on the web as well.

Now we will look at swaddling. Many parents have found that there upset or distraught baby will become soothed when swaddled or held close to their mother or father's chest as the sound of their heartbeats is reminiscent to the baby of the comfort and safety that they felt in their mother's womb. Many mothers have found that their babies when attending nursery become soothed if upset by being swaddled. The methods of folding soft stretchy blankets are easy for you to learn and you will find both instructions and diagrams online as well as being able to get books and magazines on the subject. There is product already on the market called SwaddleMe which is ideal for this purpose and can be easily found on the internet.

The final method we are going to look at is motion. This involves the parent either walking, rocking or some other form of gentle movement which most infants/baby's find very comforting. Some parents swear that a good old fashioned rocking chair is all you need to accomplish this. Whilst other parents have found that pushing the child around in their pram or out for a drive in the car also works. Another thing to try is putting your baby in a chest carrier or sling and just wandering around the house carrying out chores as it is all hands free. You could also walk with your baby facing down across your arm and with your hand under their abdomen and just apply gentle pressure, this is often known as the colic hold position and seems to be quite effective in some cases. However as many babies like to be outside and all enjoy being put in a swing, maybe using a combination of this with other things may be what bests suits your baby.

About the Author

Kerris Samson a Work from Home Mum living in Spain who has set up a number of sites dedicated to all forms of natural treatments and remedies for the various ailments and illnesses that people are attacked by in today's modern society. If you would like to learn more then please visit www.remedy.wiki101.info.

An Overview Of Infant Car Seat Covers

Most moms worry about their babies all the time. Moms worry have even more apprehensions about proper baby care during travel. Parents know that infant car seats are the law in the United States and most are thankful for it. Having a separate and safe seat for their babies is as important as sticking to speed limits and forms a vital part of baby care.

But what if these seats are not properly maintained? Jagged and rough edges will develop and harm baby arms and feet during the drive. Covering up these seats with soft covers becomes necessary to keep your baby warm and snug during your travels.

Infant car seats are meant for babies less than one year old and weighing not more than twenty pounds; infant toddler seat covers are for babies more than a year old. Babies of all age groups fit into these seat covers for toddlers. Infant seat covers are best suited for babies only a few months old, as they support the body at all the right parts and guarantee a safe journey.

The best car seat cover for your baby is the one that fits the baby seat perfectly and can be installed and used easily and correctly during every ride. But it is important to keep your baby in the rear seat of your car, especially if the front seats have air bags, to avoid suffocation in case of accidents. The car seat covers aim to provide a soft ride for the baby, without discomfort from the hard edges of a baby seat.

Baby Brella is one of the popular brands of infant covers for car seats. Their patented designs use fabrics that are lightweight and resistant to water and snow. Babycentre.com provides a wide range of fleece seat covers with soft lining for car seats. Apart from being resistant to wind, water, and ultraviolet rays, they are machine washable and have a double-layer fleece exterior with shearling inside. With their reinforced zippers, they fit seats with three or five harnesses.

Seat Covers provides detailed information on Seat Covers, Car Seat Covers, Dog Car Seat Covers, Truck Seat Covers and more. Seat Covers is affiliated with Portable Massage Chairs.

By Ross Bainbridge