Bump and Beyond

The process of traveling with little ones simply feels daunting at times. We have traveled a lot as a family and installing the car seat on an airplane is one of the tasks we dread most. As a child safety advocate and nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, I am a firm believer in car seat safety in vehicles and even on airplanes.

On the other hand, I am a parent and empathize with anyone who has to carry on and install a car seat on an airplane. Car seats are heavy and depending on the aircraft, they are not always easy to install. I can recall one flight in which couldn’t properly install our car seat because the seat was too small. The airline industry is also using smaller planes in order to fill every seat and save money, making it more difficult to install a big bulky car seat. Let’s not even get into the difficulty of trying to monitor an active toddler while you struggle to install a car seat. Thankfully, there is a solution!

CARES is a child restraint system designed to keep children age 1 or older weighing between 22 to 44 pounds safe during flights, yet convenient for parents. CARES weighs just 1 pound and is incredibly easy to install, even for the super uncoordinated person like me.

Children should be harnessed in an airplane until at least 40 pounds so they need to be in a car seat or CARES harness. CARES attaches to the airplane seat and connects with the seatbelt. It is made of high quality webbing just like the airplane seat belt making it incredibly safe and durable.

Keep in mind that it may be difficult for a smaller child to see out of the airplane window as with a car seat because using CARES, the child sits directly on the airplane seat. However, CARES makes traveling much more pleasant for you, the parent. You can gate check your car seat and save your back simply by placing CARES in your carry-on bag.

Gone are the days of carrying a big bulky carseat on an airplane. With all the extra space you save, you can bring a few toys to keep your toddler entertained! Also, if you are feeling less stressed, your child will too. Traveling with one car seat is a struggle, and multiple seats is enough to make your want to just stay home! CARES truly makes flying simpler for families with small children.

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

As a family often on the move, I love the portability of My Carry Potty. I knew I had to have one when I first spotted it! My Carry Potty was one of my favorite products in 2010. Here’s why:

• Bagless making it simpler for clean-up and better for the environment
• Lightweight, yet sturdy and super easy for a toddler to carry
• Leak proof and odor proof
• Only one piece so no moving parts

Although My Carry Potty was my potty seat of choice, my toddler preferred other options. Recently, the inventor and designer of My Carry Potty, Amanda Jenner, introduced George and Hollie and the Magic Carry Potty book! The story is about twins George and Hollie learning to use a magical My Carry Potty.

The book is the perfect complement to a My Carry Potty. It’s fun, short and a child can easily relate to the story. It even includes a reward chart and stickers. My toddler was very intrigued by the story and often requests it during reading time.

George and Hollie and the Magic Carry Potty book has also increased his interest in using the My Carry Potty. He has used it at home, when out and about, and recently on a trip to Louisville. I am happy to say the My Carry Potty is my potty of choice for families on the move! Visit http://www.mycarrypotty.com for more information.