TOP 10 MISTAKES WHEN BUYING A CAR SEAT


There is no doubt that a good quality car seat is one of the most important purchases the parent of an infant or toddler can make. A properly installed car seat can be a real life saver in a crash. In addition, a car seat can keep the baby comfortable and happy on those long road trips.

Unfortunately, there are some common mistakes parents make when buying these important safety items. Listed below are some of the most frequently seen mistakes made when buying and installing a car seat.

1.Buying a car seat that is difficult to install – Proper installation is the most important part of buying a good car seat. Inspections of car seats reveal that the majority of car seats are installed improperly. Car seats that come with incomplete or poorly worded instructions, or those that are overly complicated to install, can be dangerous.

2.Buying a car seat that does not properly fit your vehicle. Most car seats are designed to fit most models of newer cars, but owners of older or more exotic cars may have problems fitting car seats properly. If you are unsure if the seat you chose will fit your car, be sure to check with the auto dealer.

3.Not looking for the seal of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. Parents should only buy car seats that meet or exceed this federal standard.

4.Buying a car seat that is too small for your baby – All car seats carry a maximum height and weight rating. Be sure to buy a car seat that provide room to grow.

5.Choosing a car seat that is not compatible with your car’s seat belt. Not all car seats are compatible with all styles of seat belts. If you are unsure what type of car seat you need, be sure to consult with the manufacturer.

6.Not ensuring that the car seat fits the baby properly. Particularly with larger car seats, a small baby could accidentally slip out of the seat. It is important that infants one year of age and younger ride only in a rear facing car seat. Only after the baby is older than one year and weighs between 20 or 40 pounds should he or she be switched to a front facing seat.

7.Not checking for safety recalls. There are a number of safety recalls on car seats every year, and it is important to check for recalls on the model car seat you are considering.

8.Not choosing the fabric carefully – It is important to choose a fabric that is machine washable. In addition, a cloth upholstered seat is often more comfortable for the baby.

9.Not buying a car seat as part of a travel system – It is possible to buy a car seat that is part of a three part travel system. That means that the car seat, infant carrier and stroller are all integrated into one handy unit. This combination is often a more convenient and cost effective solution than buying the items separately.

10.Buying a car seat that is poorly made - Poor construction may be the biggest problem with some car seats. Be sure to check the quality of the car seat, watching especially for any sharp edges or loose parts.
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1. Vellum

Vellum is a transparent, translucent material. Vellum can be used to create a slight shadow or shade change to background or embellishment colors. This can be used as a softening agent for baby scrapbooks, as a touch of elegance to gift scrapbooks, or to create dimension in a boring flat page.

To reduce the cloudiness effect caused by gluing, apply only a thin line of glue along the edges of the vellum. In this way, you will see a slight shadow only along the very edge. This will look like a border to the vellum. Vellum is available in both acidic and non acidic forms.

2. Shadow Boxes

A great way to add depth to your scrapbook page is to add shadow boxes. Basically shadow boxes add a shadow to your images. Shadow boxes are also a great way to make your most important photographs or text boxes stand out form the rest of the page. Shadow boxes can also be to emphasis dedications.

To make a shadow box, simply cut a box shape out of paper. Next, put your embellishment on a larger square of cardstock. Then, add glue to all four sides of the cardstock square and attach it to the back of your paper. The embellishment will show through, adding greater dimension to your page.

3. Patterned Paper

Patterned paper can be used for backgrounds, borders, and embellishments. Often plain white backgrounds look rather boring and dull. Patterned backgrounds add a touch of excitement to your page. The right pattern tailored to your theme and purpose can also increase that professional look.

Colors and patterns can be used to coordinate with your photographs or to add dramatic effects. Paper with various themes and patterns is widely available. For instance, a birthday scrapbook could have a background made of your favorite gift wrap. This could add a touch of elegance or a touch of humor depending upon the patterned paper you choose.

4. Textured Paper

Textured paper can add extra dimension to your scrapbooking page. Textured paper can be used to highlight focus items on your scrapbook page. Textured paper can also be used as a backgrounds or border to give your page an interesting fresh look.

Textured paper is available in a variety of textures and colors and is available in most craft and office supply stores.

5. Book Jacket Backgrounds

For an added personal touch and artist flair use a book jacket as a background. This scrapbook technique looks especially nice when the book jacket is the reader's favorite book or author, adding a wonderful personalized touch.

Be aware, however, that the glossy coating on the book jacket creates an added challenge to sticking objects to this background. Alternative attachment methods include sewing and eyelets.

6. Adding Dimension

One good way to add dimension to images is to use double stick foam tape. Double stick foam tape literally allows items to pop out at your reader adding realism to items. This technique is especially useful in children's art and educational scrapbooks.

Simply, cut the foam tape into whatever shape and size you want. Then, attach to shape onto your scrapbook page. Double stick foam tape is available at most craft stores in various colors and thicknesses.

7. Ribbons and Lace

Ribbon and lace are by far the most common, and most beautiful, border embellishment. The flowing nature of both materials encourages a touch of softness and elegance. Ribbon and lace are especially popular in gift and memory scrapbooks.

Moreover, ribbon is easy to glue and attach. Lace requires a bit more patience.

For an interesting change from ribbon and lace, try using jute or raffia.