Car Safety is very big in our home; all my kids know that I will not start the car until they are snug in their car seats; my teens know that as well as my 5 year old. The boys HAVE to wear seatbelts no if’s and but’s and the princes has to be in a car seat at all times.
Did you know that Car crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 1 through 12 years old? It is a sad but true statement and I read it every day in our local newspaper that yet another accident and a child is in critical condition or lost it’s life. It makes me so sad as a mom myself to hear stories like that know if the child was in a car seat the outcome could be different.
There are many different car seats on the market in different prize ranges, sizes and for different age groups. I decided to put together a few tips to keep your little one save on the go that will make your life a bit easier and keep your family happy for a long time.
1. Don’t ever buy a used car seat; whether it be from a yard sale or a friend giving you a seat. This is the one item besides shoes that should be purchased brand new. You don’t know how safe the seat is ~ don’t jeopardize your child’s health and well being by saving a few bucks at a yard sale.
2. Car seats do have expiration dates, did you know that? Car seats do have an expiration date and it is to understand the risks associated with using an expired or old car seat. The reason for an expiration date is because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car seats less safe to use. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations. Important warning labels may wear out and instruction books may get lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.
3. Replace the seat if you had an Accident. YES!! If the seat was occupied during an accident, even the smallest fender bender, it needs to be replaced with a new seat for safety reason. Trash the old seat and be sure to cut straps and destroy it as much as possible so no one will take the seat and use it for their child. Something you may not know, your insurance will replace the cost of the seat if the seat was occupied during the accident; call them and let them know you need a new seat. I had no idea and when someone told me, I called my insurance and they said “Yes, go purchase a replacement and bring by the receipt”, within a week or so I had my money refunded. Insurance don’t want you to know that, but it is part of your policy, if you are not the at fault party contact the fault party’s insurance for a car seat replacement.
4. Take time to install the seat. This is a very important step; don’t rush it. Take your time, read the car manual and the seat manual and install the seat accordingly. It can be difficult to get it tight,but you need to make sure the seat is as tight as possible. If you need help a lot of fire stations or police stations will be able to help you install your seat correctly.
5. Pick the right seat for your car and your child. Just like One Size fits all isn’t always true, that’s the same with car seats. Not every car seat fits into every car nor fits your child. I have a big expensive seat that I loved in my Expedition, it fit perfect and my daughter has it since she was 1; when I bought the mini van, the seat did not fit at all; was too big, too bulky and just wasn’t fitting on the mini van seats, so the big seat is now in my husbands Expedition and I bought a different seat that fit my car as well as my princess; try the seats out, let the kids sit in them as well. It’s not a simple run to the store pick the cheapest seat or expensive seat and you are set. It all depends on the fit!! it has to be safe for your little love bug.
These are 5 of my personal tips that I share with all my friends over and over, I’m very picky about car seats and will not allow my princess to ride in a car without her very own seat. Of course like I said some seats don’t fit in every car, sometimes it’s difficult to take out the seat you have and at times it’s a spur of the moment that someone else may need to pick her up. I found a great solution and couldn’t be happier.
We’ve come to love the folks and products at Safety1st over the last few years; wonderful products that keep the safety of the child and Mom’s in mind. The new BOOSTAPAK is the perfect solution for families on the go that need a car seat for their love bug 40-80 pounds or over the age of 4.
It’s a bag, it’s a seat it’s a super cool safety tool that can be take anywhere by your child. I love that the BoostAPak is a 2-in-1 sensation booster seat that doubles as a backpack. Kids have the convenience of a travel bag and can use it to stay safer when switching from one car pool in the morning to a different one on the way home. The compact size fits easily into an airplane overhead bin making it ideal for family trips too.
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Backless Booster: 40-80 pounds and 43" - 52"
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Moves easily from car to car – great for car pools
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Travel friendly: fits easily into an overhead bin
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Unique, patented fold-out seat belt guides
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Durable plastic shell
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High visibility reflective trim
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Removable cover for easy spot cleaning
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ID tag
If my princess wants a sleepover at her BFF, I can pack her clothes in the back of the seat, zip it up and she can carry the booster seat along with her night clothes as a backpack to her friends house. If we plan on a trip by plane, like our trip to Germany next summer, we can use the backpack as a carry on with her toys and books and once we arrive in Germany we have our very own booster seat with us, no hassle, no worries and knowing that my princess is safe is priceless.
This booster seat is by far the best thing since sliced bread and I can’t say enough about it. If grandma needs to pick her up from school, the booster seat is with her and has simple instructions on how to install the seat printed right inside; simple as 1-2-3.
Isn’t it cool? no more worries, no more… We need a second seat. This simple yet powerful booster seat will be your little ones faithful companion no matter where they need to go or who will need to pick them up; it is always ready to go. Just love it. It is also lightweight, my princess can carry it on her back without a problem.
The back of the seat is also cushioned with nice thick straps and a nice back cushion, making it very comfortable to carry the seat around.
For more information, be sure to visit Safety1st on the web and don’t forget to follow on Facebook or Twitter to keep up with all the newest safety information. You can purchase the Safety1st BoostAPack through Amazon.com or any of your favorite retailer that sells Car seats and booster seats and retails for $69.99, making this a very affordable option to keep your kids safe.
Do your kids use a car seat or do you not worry about it? Would love to hear your side of the story.
We received the product for our honest review; all opinions are 100% our own and no other compensation was nor will be received. Affiliated links may be included in the post.
Daisy says
That is such a cute design! I love that it is so portable and doubles with storage room. I need this for my son, especially when he goes places with friends and vice versa.
Barb W. says
What a neat product! I love how it’s transportable and that it has a compartment to store extras like toys and such. Very cool! I’ll have to keep this in mind for our granddaughter.
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Carlee C says
That looks so cool! I would totally love to have one of those for the kids. It would be perfect for trips to their grandparent’s houses.
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Pam says
My kids are old enough now that they do not have to use a car seat but they still have to buckle up before we start the car! I like how that booster seat can hold stuff too!
Rebecca Parsons says
I got one of these and they are so nice to have. Very convenient.
Terry (My Journey With Candida) says
How great! It’s a bag, It’s a seat it’s a BoostAPack. This would work out great for my Grandson who is just turning 4.
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Annemarie says
What a genius idea! I would love to have one of these when I take my grandchild. Thanks for sharing I am definitely going to check it out!
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Liz says
Love your idea of taking it to Europe with you. What peace of mind that will bring since you don’t have to worry about finding something over there. Also, I didn’t realize there were expiration dates on car seats! I knew about not using them if they were ever in an accident, but didn’t know they had use by time!
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Amberlee Cave says
That is awesome! I am in the market for a booster seat for my oldest and I think we may have a winner. Thanks for sharing!
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Pepper says
I love how it’s multi purpose and can use it as a backpack and put things in it! Very awesome for traveling.
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Sarah Bailey says
What a great idea – it looks so cute as well – I would never think it was a booster seat if I saw a child wearing it. x
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Amber Edwards says
I had no idea that insurances covered the cost of a new carseat after a wreck! That should would have been nice to know when we had our car accident 7 years ago! we had two car seats at the time that has to be replaced. Blah.
I love the boostapack! I would totally use that as soon as my daughter is big enough! I love how easy it is to move from car to car so she would always have the safety booster chair with her!
Tough Cookie Mommy says
I love this product. They really have thought of everything including safety, storage, style, etc. My seven-year old still uses a booster seat because he is under the 100 lb requirement and we always make sure that his seat is secure. I like the idea of having his toys stored right there on the seat too instead of making a mess in my car.
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Michele says
I have no children and my friends children are now 20+ years old. I only wish they had something like this when they were all younger! This sounds like a great idea.
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Bobbi Burleson says
What a great idea!! I had no idea that car seats had expiration dates either!!
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Anita Breeze says
Those are excellent safety tips in regards to car seats. Some of them are common sense, but some I did not know and I have been through 4 children and their car seats! Good to make people aware of these things.
Growing Up Madison says
That is a really great product. Takes the bulky car seat out of the car and replaces it with this. And extra storage to boot! I’m going to have to look into this when my toddler gets older and is ready for a booster. Thanks for the review.
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Stacie Connerty says
This is a great idea. Definitely something that would come in handy on all of our trips. Car seat safety os so important, thanks for sharing all of those points that a lot of people arent aware of.
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Cynthia L says
This is a really great car seat. I love that it can be carried around! Whey my daughter was little, she used to be picked up by her grandparents and this would have been helpful.
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Margaret, Margs World says
I’m gonna pass this info on to my daughter. I didn’t know that a car seat had an expiration date just that kids out grew them.
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Aisha Kristine Chong says
Now, this I believe is a must buy to everyone who has kids – better to be safe than sorry right?
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Slap Dash Mom says
OMG! I love how convenient and cool that is! I always hated when we forgot to leave the booster seat with grandma. We ended up buying several, just to make sure everyone had one… but this would’ve been way better!
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Healy Harpster says
What a great product! It is so portable and has the space to store some toys, too!
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Kyle W says
This is something that could definitely see getting for my 4 year old. Very nice!
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Melanie says
It folds up like that! No way! Oh my gosh that is awesome, I need these for the girls. This is so handy , great product
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Jen S says
Plan on keeping my kids in 5-pt harness until they don’t fit anymore. However, that’s a little hard for field trips, so did pick up a booster than my 5K daughter can handle taking on the bus with her. Didn’t realize this was out there, or would have looked more into it. Love the backpack straps! Though it is new enough it’s not on the booster seat ratings list yet. The 2013 list isn’t out yet that I can tell.
Janet W. says
I love that this has backpack straps! This would be great for when my grandson is a little older and doesn’t need a 5 point harness anymore!
Ted says
I just read somewhere that about 73% people don’t install car seats properly! Crazy, right?! I would do anything to make sure my child is safe on the roads..