Car Insurance

Being one of the simplest means of communications, mobile phones have become an inevitable part of our busy lifestyle. Whether you are in and out of the office – mobile phones keep you stay in touch with the people and the world. Those who drive cars also use mobile phones. But talking on a phone while driving could be dangerous and fatal. That’s the reason why many leading mobile companies like Sony Ericsson, Nokia, etc., offer mobile phone car kits – these are Bluetooth devices that allow you to talk without using a wire.

These hands free devices are easy alternatives for those who often use mobile phones for communications. Mobile phone car kits minimizes the chance of accidents and you can talk fearlessly with your friends and family while driving the car. You need not to hold the phone in your hand while talking on the go. These hands free devices allow you to talk wirelessly.

Mobile phone car kits come in different forms and comes packed with lots of advantages. For these tools, you need to install them inside the car. While turning on the ignition, the mobile phone car kit automatically gets connected. Receive the call with a simple press of the button and keep talking on the move. Its a very easy, convenient and safety means of communication.

Often called as Bluetooth car kits, these tools have been designed for wireless communications. These tools are compatible only with Bluetooth supporting mobile devices. Leading companies like Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Parrot have released some mobile phone car kit models such as Nokia HCK-03 6310 CAR KIT, Sony Ericsson Bluetooth CAR KIT HCA60, Parrot CK3200 LS COLOUR Bluetooth CAR KIT, etc.

Bluetooth car kits not only connect you to the people, you can also listen to your favourite music tracks on the move. Other features enable you to view phone number and contact name. Install any of the models of mobile phone car kit and talk wirelessly while driving.

I ran across a really emotional video this past month over at YouTube regarding the death of a toddler because his seat belt/car seat failed. Since that time, I’ve sort of been on a mission to talk about the car seat I recently purchased for my house.

It all started because my twin nephews were coming for a month long visit from California and while here, one of them had a growth spurt which meant a new car seat. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to get the Radian80 by Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products.

At first, the Radian80 car seat was going home with my sister-in-law but the more I thought about the video I watched, and the more I read about the naivety of others concerning car seats, the more my sister-in-law and I realized that keeping the car seat for times when I babysat kids of relatives and friends was a good idea-that way, I’d be a responsible sitter.

Gung ho over the Radian80 car seat, I decided to write a review on it over at our blog. Several months later, that review is still the most popular post on my blog.

Suffice to say, the Radian80 car seat receives a hearty recommendation from me. It grows with your child, the straps are adjustable, it’s passed crash tests, and it can even go on an airplane. And my nephew, well let me just say that once we got him into that car seat he would not go back to his old car seat. In fact, if we attempted to put him into the old car seat, he freaked out. After a week of using the Radian80 car seat, my sister-in-law called home and suggested that her husband pick up two new car seats before she returned.

Now, I’m making a few posts about the car seat on various blogs and forums, all the while promoting my parenting magazine-I know shameless plug! But in an ironic way, it’s a good thing because it is getting me back in touch with my audience-parents!

At any rate, if you are serious about protecting your children while in your car may I make a few suggestions?

1. Before purchasing a new car seat, find out if it has been recalled due to safety issues. You can do that by checking out the following links: http://www.cpsc.gov/ and http://www.carseat.org/Recalls/recall.shtml (And don’t forget to check to see if your car’s seatbelt may be defected. http://www.seatbeltdefects.com)

2. When you don’t know which car seat to pick, visit forums (like http://car-seat.org/) where parents are discussing such issues. Knowing what other parents think, what experiences they’ve had, and why they decided the way they did could help you make an informed decision.

3. Understand how car seats are supposed to work and be installed. When in doubt, read your instruction manual, visit sites like Keep Kids Healthy (http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/WELCOME/safety/car_seats_safety or http://www.lpch.org/forPatientsVisitors/CommunityResources/fittingStation.html), visit car seat inspection stations (http://www.seatcheck.org/), or visit your local police station-they often have programs to help make sure your children are properly restrained.

4. Always make sure the car seat you purchase fits properly in your vehicle.

5. Always make sure the car seat you purchase fits the height and weight of your child.

6. When the straps on your child’s car seat become too snug, or your child has difficulty sitting in his/her car seat comfortably, don’t wait. Get out there and buy a car seat that fits your child! Take the Safety Belt Fit test (http://www.usa.safekids.org/CPSWeek2006/documents/safety-belt-test.pdf).

7. If the seatbelts in your car are not working properly, take your car in and have them fixed-they could truly mean the difference between life and death.

8. Whenever possible place your child’s car seat in the middle of your back seat-away from either side of the vehicle.

9. Make sure your child is in the rear facing position and at a 45 degree recline if he/she is under one year old. And always place rear facing car seats in the back seat-away from air bags.

10. Never buy a car seat based solely on affordability-especially if it’s used.

11. Throw away any car seat that has been in a motor vehicle accident!

12. Once the car seat is positioned and belted, wiggle it around to make sure the car seat belt is holding the car seat in place. In other words, the car seat isn’t loose.

In the end, your child is only as safe as the precautions you take.

Although some car safety seats are considered safer than others it’s a good point to note that all car safety seats must pass the same federal crash tests before being approved for sale in the U.S.

There are many car safety seats on the market with manufacturers adding little extra features in order to try and make their car safety seats better than their competitors but the one main factor that consumers need to be aware of is that if a car safety seat is not fitted correctly and in accordance with manufacturers instructions the car seat’s safety is impaired.

When looking for a car safety seat do not make your decision based on price and price alone. Higher priced car safety seats may have added features but such features won’t necessarily make the car safety seat safer or easier to use.

If a car safety seat doesn’t fit your car well don’t use it and never resort to car safety seat accessories to try and make a safety seat fit your car. Manufacturers provide everything you need to correctly fit the car safety seat you are buying, if you need accessories the likelihood is that you have either fitted the seat incorrectly or that the car seat is not suitable for your car.

Ten Car Safety Seat Tips:

1. All car safety seats have weight limits which must be adhered to. Failure to follow weight / size limits can put your baby / child at risk.

2. Always use a rear facing car safety seat for infants under 1 year of age.

3. Never place a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a car that has a passenger air bag.

4. With each new car safety seat read the manufacturers instructions carefully to ensure that the safety seat is correctly fitted at all times.

5. Always make sure your infants car safety seat is fitted securely.

6. Always double check that your baby is strapped into their car safety seat correctly.

7. Never place blankets under your baby before fastening the car safety seat straps. Blankets or similar items could become dislodged with the end result being that your baby is no longer strapped in tightly.

8. Avoid second hand car safety seats unless you know the person you are buying it from, are sure it hasn’t been dropped or anything else has happened which might have weakened the seat and it still comes with manufacturer’s instructions.

9. Avoid fitting car safety seats next to side air bags. Always follow the car safety seat fitting instructions as provided by your car’s manufacturer.

10. If using the same car safety seat for your second or subsequent child check the manufacturers guidelines. Some manufacturers don’t recommend that you use their car safety seats beyond 5-6 years from the date of manufacture.

One final warning, never leave your child unattended in their car safety seat either in or out of the car. Leaving an infant in a car safety seat that is not secured can prove dangerous and leaving your infant unattended in a car can result in accidents such death from heat stroke, infants being jammed in electric windows and toddlers letting handbrakes off.

It is very important to use the correct type of baby seat when you have an infant on board. Most people do not know how to install a baby car seat safely. Do you know that some hospitals won’t discharge a mom and new baby until they see the car seat? Fortunately, many kinds of infant car seats exist in the market.

The easiest baby car seat to utilize is the kind that has a base that is buckled securely to the car seat. This car seat itself can be lifted off and carried around by the handle. This is will be convenient to you because the baby can be carried to and from the house or wherever the child is going while strapped into the seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for transporting babies facing backward, until the age of one year. When the baby is 18 pounds, and at least one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby car seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs 18 pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! You will want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or he may even be walking by then!

The next kind of baby car seat is called a convertible car seat. Many of these baby car seats can be placed in the backward-facing position for when babies grow out of their infant seats, but are not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing forward. Then, the convertible baby car seat can be turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until the baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point harness that is buckled at the bottom and the chest.

Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a booster seat. This seat is a small base that keeps the child secure, while allowing him to use the regular seat belt. The child can usually sit in this type of car seat until he weighs 80 pounds!

As a rule of thumb, babies and children below the age of twelve are supposed to be seated behind, not in the front seat. The safest place is the center of the back seat. This is because studies show that air bags in the front seat may cause injuries to children. So if possible, never allow a child to be seated in front.

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.