Join Safety For Toddlers and Babies “R” Us for an afternoon of ideas and advice on how to make your home safe for baby. You’ll get ideas on safety products for the home, including bumpers, latches, as well as access to informative resources. Stop by our table and say hello.

The Baby Safety Fair is scheduled for Sat., Sept. 6, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., at Babies “R” Us in Meridian, ID.

Babies “R” Us
1200 N. Eagle Road
Meridian, ID 83642
Tel: (208) 884-0488
Google Maps

Safety For Toddlers joins Safe Kids Treasure Valley for their free safety seat check event at R C Willey in Meridian. We’ll be on hand to provide free safety seat checks and vehicle safety tips. Also be sure to check out the cool new Safe Kids van (the only one in Idaho).

The event is scheduled for Sat., June 7, 2008 between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Address
R C Willey
3301 E Lanark St
Meridian, ID 83642
Google Maps

After 30 hours of classroom and hands-on skills training, as well as participating in a car seat check event, Doug Metzgar, vice president of Safety For Toddlers, is a certified child passenger/car seat technician.

The certification, established by Safe Kids Worldwide, follows a strict curriculum set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Look for Safety For Toddlers at upcoming car seat check events. We’ll also keep you posted here.

I often get questions about car seat safety, so I thought I’d share this story with you. In short, Debbie Dubrow, of DeliciousBaby.com, was traveling and rented a baby car seat with her car rental. What she discovered was a very poor selection of baby seats in grim, disgusting, old and useless condition. And the staff was poorly informed –  several car seats had been in various car seat recalls over the last few years. Read her story and learn some good car seat tips along the way.

Boise, ID recently moved up a notch to second-best place in the country for business and careers, according to Forbes magazine That’s great news for working adults, but don’t assume that Idaho’s anywhere near any top-ten list when it comes to being safe for kids. For a state that boasts family values, we have a long way to go. The criteria: laws protecting our children.

Car Seat Safety
The Idaho Legislature finally closed it’s session last week, and House Bill No. 462 never made it out of the Transportation and Security committee. We blogged about it during the course of the bill’s life in committee. In fact, the bill never made it to committee discussion due to internal opposition. Unfortunately, Idaho is one of 12 remaining states in the U.S. that allow kids to be unrestrained in a moving vehicle. (more…)

Join Safety For Toddlers and Babies “R” Us for a toddler safety seminar. We’ll conduct a room-by-room presentation on making your home safe for baby.

The toddler safety seminar is scheduled for Tues., May 20, between 7 and 8 p.m., at Babies “R” Us in Meridian, ID.

Babies “R” Us
1200 N. Eagle Road
Meridian, ID 83642
Tel: (208) 884-0488
Google Maps

In our previous alert, we brought you up to date on the status of child passenger safety legislation, House Bill No. 462.

It may be heard in the House Transportation and Defense Committee sometime this week. This hearing would be the bill’s first step on its way to becoming a law. It has not been scheduled as of today.

This bill not only protects children, but it also makes Idaho eligible to receive Section 405 funding totaling an estimated $250,000 annually. These funds would be used to increase the use of seat belts and child safety seats. Idaho has been ineligible for these funds due to the current vehicle code.

How Can You Help?
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When installed properly, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that child restraint systems reduce fatal injuries by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in passenger cars and by nearly 60 percent for infants and toddlers in sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and vans.

Unlike most states, Idaho has two exceptions in its vehicle code regarding child safety seats. A child is allowed to be unrestrained while the vehicle is in operation:

1. If all vehicle seat belts are already in use (e.g. children can ride in the back of a pickup truck, unrestrained)
2. To be removed to attend to his physical needs (e.g. nursing, changing diapers, etc.)

House Bill No. 462 is being reviewed by the House Transportation & Defense Committee, which proposes to remove these exceptions. The bill protects our children and sets strict guidelines requiring the use of child safety seats. But, opposition remains.

Pick up the Phone and Save a Child’s Life

Please contact members of the House Transportation & Defense Committee to voice your support for House Bill No. 462.

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Watch the video and read more here.

Critical to any parent’s efforts to safeguard their children is the car seat, including seat installation, use and maintenance. Unfortunately, proper seat installation falls to the bottom of our new baby to do list.

According to Safe Kids Worldwide, an international nonprofit organization formed to prevent unintentional childhood injuries, more than 80 percent of safety seats are not installed correctly.

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