In life, and in parenting, most of us try to follow the Golden Rule: treat others as you would want to be treated. This generally means kindly, with respect to the person and their situation… basically, just don’t be a jerk. Sometimes this means keeping our mouths shut when our friends make choices for their children that we wouldn’t –…
It is a statistical probability that one will end up in a car crash an average of 3-4 times in their lifetime. Of course, that number could be higher or lower and it only takes into consideration certain types of collisions. Most people understand that car seats should be replaced after major crashes. But did you know that you may…
In July of 2016, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a recall of over 34 million vehicles due to a defective airbag mechanism. This faulty mechanism can cause the front passenger airbag to literally explode when deployed in a crash; basically, all passengers will be at risk for shrapnel wounds if this happens, and the only way to ensure…
To start: I like to begin from the child’s bottom and move up, but as long as all these steps are fulfilled whichever order you choose is just fine. 1) Place the baby in the seat and buckle the crotch buckle over the hips. 2) The shoulder straps belong over the – you guessed it – shoulders. Be sure that…
Metro Detroit Mommy has written a lot about the importance of car seat safety. But that’s hardly the only thing you can do to keep your kids safe in the car. When motor vehicles were invented, they changed the world forever. While we no longer have to walk or ride a horse everywhere we want to go, there are some…
The costumes are starting to appear in stores, spooky decor is popping up everywhere, and kids are getting excited… it’s official: Halloween is almost here! Whether you go around your neighborhood or drive somewhere else for the big night, chances are you’ll be loading the kids in the car to various activities while they’re dressed to the nines. But did…
We all know that car seats are life savers. We’ve seen the viral photos of seemingly unscathed car seats pulled from the wreckage of a crash; grateful parents praising the seat for saving the lives of their children, vowing to never buy another brand ever again. But what’s most important is that the child restraint is used correctly, no matter…
One of the most common refrains that I hear when finishing up a seat check is “I didn’t expect there to be so much information!” I choose to take it as a compliment. There’s really quite a lot to learn! You don’t know what you don’t know until someone tells you and hopefully, the person telling you knows what they’re…
It’s no secret that there are a lot of dangers associated with vehicles. In fact, there are about 5.5 million car accidents each year in the U.S. alone. But during the hot summer weather, vehicles pose yet another danger. All too often, young children are left unattended in hot cars. Last year, 42 children died because they were left too long in a…
“Overprotective mom” is a loaded term. We’ve learned so much about parenting and safety in recent decades, and there’s nothing wrong with putting this knowledge into practice. Case in point: a Tennessee mom is being commended for her commitment to the safety of her child, after a text message she sent may have saved the baby’s life during a car…
Children grow. They grow and they grow and they grow. Around this time of year we’re thinking about buying new school clothes, new shoes, getting eyes checked, etc. I’m here to suggest you add another thing to the list of things to think about as your child gets bigger: their car seat. It’s super important that a car seat is…
I had a seat check appointment a few days ago that left me wondering what I can do as a child safety advocate to get through to more parents. Then I realized: “Yo, you have an audience of parents through Metro Detroit Mommy. Maybe you could use that?” So here I am. You see, the appointment went really well. The…
