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Help me stop the #1 killer of kids: preventable injuries. Here’s how. #SafeKidsDay http://thndr.it/1cBSsNH

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Safety 1st Hits the Streets of New York with Spring Media Tour

The last time we connected, I was telling you about my toddler potty training woes. Not much has changed in that department- all I can say is that Rome was not built overnight and Olivia will not go to kindergarten in diapers. :)

In the meantime, I wanted to share how my recent desk side media tour went last week for the Safety 1st brand with you. I really love desk side tours- it is such a great opportunity to connect with editors and see what they are working on. The good news is, in the age of Facebook, Twitter, “Sametiming” and more, the power of an in-person meeting is alive and well.

The day started off bright and early with a beautiful train ride through Rhode Island and Connecticut right to the heart of NYC. With products like the Safety 1stLift LX travel system, the Advance 65 Air +, Elite 80 Air +, Safety 1stIncognito and the Custom Care Modular Bath Center in tow, we were definitely a sight to be seen. If you ever want to raise some eyebrows, run through Penn Station and the streets of New York City with a bunch of baby products – and no baby!

Our meetings with TheBump.com, Working Mother, Fit Pregnancy, Earnshaw’s and New York Family were fast, fun and information-packed. We learned a lot about what their 2014 editorial calendars look like and how we can fit into that. Similarly, with our new product introductions, we had the opportunity to talk with editors about incremental ideas like giveaways, contests and blog entries! They loved seeing in-person demos and having key features highlighted for them-- making the product come to life for their round ups and reviews.  There’s nothing quite like the Lift LX fold, for example, and to be able to show that in person is incredibly valuable.

Of course no visit is complete without leaving a little Safety 1st love behind- in the form of cupcakes! The editors were so excited for that! A big shout out to everyone who took time out of their busy day to meet with us. We will see you soon!

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The Lift LX travel system features the Lift LX Stroller and onBoard 25 Infant Car Seat, making it a complete travel system from the first name in child safety products. Learn more about the Lift LX Travel System: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=23840566&cp=&parentPage=search

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One in three child crash fatalities are caused by side-impact collisions, yet car seat manufacturers never have been required to simulate a "T-bone" scenario — until now. Columbus-based Dorel Juvenile Group, the world's largest car seat manufacturer, already is a few steps ahead.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/02/07/3919174/ind-company-taking-lead-in-side.html#storylink=cpy

Learn more about our Air Protect and Air Protect + technologies

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Potty Training Resources for Parents and Toddlers

Potty training has been a popular topic amongst the parents in our office recently, as there are no less than six members of our mini-Safety 1st team getting ready or already in the process of saying “hello, potty, goodbye, diaper!” And while we would love to continue to share our own stories with you on this topic, we also wanted to share some of the resources that we’ve been relying on as well.

Online Resources

healthychildren.org (from the American Academy of Pediatrics) http://www.healthychildren.org/english/ages-stages/toddler/toilet-training/Pages/default.aspx

 ZERO TO THREE: Learning to Use the Toilet http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/early-development/all-about-potty-training.html

 Babycenter: Potty Training Basics http://www.babycenter.com/toddler-potty-training-advice

 FamilyDoctor.org: Toilet Training Your Child (from the American Academy of Family Physicians) http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/kids/toileting/toilet-training-your-child.html

 Books for Parents

The No-Cry Potty Training Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Child Say Good-Bye to Diapers by Elizabeth Pantley

Mommy I Have to Go Potty: A Parent’s Guide to Toilet Training by Jan Faull, Med & Helen Nevills BS RN

Stress-Free Potty Training: A Common Sense Guide to Finding the Right Approach for Your Child by Sarah Au and Peter Stavinoha, Ph.D.

The Potty Training Answers Book: Practical Answers to the Top 200 Questions Parents Ask by Karen Deerwester

 Books for Your Child

 Once Upon a Potty by Alona Frankel

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

Potty Paolloza by Rachel Gordon & Claudia Gold

Potty by Leslie Patricelli

The Potty Book for Girls & The Potty Book for Boys by Alyssa Satin

A Potty for Me by Karen Katz

Safety 1st wants to know: What are your favorite potty training resources?

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How to choose a thermometer for your child

There's a variety of child thermometers available these days, from rectal to ear and everything in between. This infographic helps break down what parents should consider when choosing a thermometer for their little one.

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Safety Tips for Baby’s first year

The first year of a child’s life is exciting, but for parents, it can also feel overwhelming. Not to worry, you’ll find your groove and we know you’ll come through with flying colors. But just in case, here are a few areas to pay attention to and some easy tips to keep baby safe.

Baby’s first cold

Keep a humidifier running in the baby’s room. Flu germs survive and spread more easily in dry air. Forced hot air lowers humidity, so running a humidifier adds it back in and will help decrease germs. And by boosting your indoor humidity level makes it less likely for flu germs to survive and transmit to those around you.

If you find baby not breathing well, you may need to use a nasal aspirator. The Advanced Solutions One-Way Nasal Aspirator and Electronic Aspirator are great tools to have on hand to get the boogies out. Unlike traditional nasal aspirators, you can keep the aspirator in place and pump rapidly until nasal passage is clear.

Safe Sleep

Soft bedding can suffocate a baby, blocking a child’s airway during sleep. Babies can suffocate when their faces become wedged against a pillow or soft objects, such as a stuffed animal. Keep the sleeping area free of all objects and lay baby on her back.

Room sharing is a safer option than having your baby sleep with you.  Place your child’s play yard or bassinet in your room during the first six months.

Feeding Your Baby

Heat bottles with warm water instead of in the microwave. Drinks heated in the microwave may be much hotter than their containers. Test them before feeding your baby. The Advanced Solutions Ear, Food and Bath Thermometer is a great multipurpose thermometer to help make sure milk is the right temperature, but also gives a one-second reading when baby is not feeling well.

Just like your baby, take everything one step at a time. Hopefully having this kind of information on hand will make the adventure just a little easier.

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Holiday Safety Tips from Parents

We recently hosted a Twitter party on Holiday Safety Hazards. The holidays are a fun and active time both in your home and out. Hazards you might not think of often pop up at this time of year. While our own consumer safety expert, Julie Vallese offered some great tips, we loved hearing tips from the parents participating as well. ICYMI, we decided to round up some of our favorite fan tips from the discussion to help you with your holiday plans, and many will help all year long.

Decorating

@Safety_1st: Some holiday decorations maybe choking hazards. How do you avoid these hazards in your home?

"Hang lights up high. Watch out for small candies, like the gingerbread house candy, don't use them." - @vinessavasquez

"We keep our tree on a table (secured tight). Tree sits higher! Also prevents from falling over! Great for pets too!" - @CMeyer0991

"We tend to not have decorations at the bottom of our tree, only the top!" - @DNellie312

"Also try to avoid deco that twinkles & makes nice sounds [because] it gets baby's attention more." - @frugaliscious

"We keep all nativity scenes and small figures on shelves." - @a_biro

At Parties

@Safety_1st: Do you have any recommendations on how to keep little one safe when people are coming and going during holiday parties?

"If it's a big gathering, I get a sitter just to watch the kids. Makes my night less stressful!” - @MrsJNickels

“Have a kid-friendly area where all the little ones can play together. Gates and nearby adults are a must!” - @HelloAnnaH

In the Kitchen

@Safety_1st: During the holidays you are always in the kitchen. What are important things to consider when baking/cooking w/kids?

"Be sure to keep sharp utensils out of reach ... hot pan handles turned in & children away from the oven are just a few!" - @ParksysMama

"I ALWAYS make sure the little ones aren't around when I have to open the oven door!" - @LSAS1

"Simple, keep gates up!! The kitchen is a dangerous place for kids! Especially when you are in a rush." - @supermom2422

"Be aware of the splatter. Always watch where your kids are and pay attention." - @gizmordj

"Turn pan handles INWARD & give kids something to do at the kitchen table - to be part of things but out of danger." - @nanuwins

"Keeping them away from hot surface/pans, and sharp objects. I let my kids help, but always supervise." - @OurOrdinaryLife

On the Road

@Safety_1st: When driving to holiday gatherings what are hazards you may find in the car?

"Secure items in the back, check the seats, have blankets for kids, so no heavy coats [and check] rear mirror." - @HelloAnnaH

"Always do regular tune ups, check fluids, tires, etc ahead of time for in case measures" - @CMeyer0991

"Before taking a trip, do a car seat check up. Make sure it’s installed correctly!" - @copperjane

"Make sure you keep an emergency kit in your car and a spare phone charger …" - @citygal28

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More Holiday Safety tips from Safety 1st:

Holiday Travel Kitchen Safety Tips Seasonal Safety  Tips for Holidays

What are your holiday safety tips?

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As the holiday season rapidly approaches, it's important think about safeguarding while traveling. In this Safety 1st video, Consumer Safety Expert, Julie Vallese offers some simple tips for parents to keep baby safe in someone else's home.

Watch more Safety 1st videos

Read our Seasonal Safety articles

Follow Julie Vallese on Twitter

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Wishing you and yours a very happy and safe Thanksgiving, from your friends at Safety 1st.

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"A Year of Parenting" by Grant Snider

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Three-time IndyCar Champion, Scott Dixon, visited the Dorel Technical Center for Child Safety this afternoon.

Learn more about Scott, Air Protect + and his connection to our center.

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The Worry Roller Coaster

The worry train can often feel like a roller coaster ride. Today, our very own Sarah Hurley, writes about her ride on the worry roller coaster, what's she's learned in her first 18 months as a mom and some coping techniques she's learned along the way.

I’m a mom and, at the risk of sounding redundant, I worry.

Pre-pregnancy, I expected mommyhood would magnify this natural inclination of mine. It’s the worry roller coaster that I wasn’t prepared for, and by that I mean the feeling like I’ve overcome a worry, and just as I’m beginning to feel confident, something new happens that reminds me not to get too comfortable. So far, it’s gone something like this …

Round one: I’m pregnant! Woo hoo! But, wait … am I doing this right? Is that supposed to feel/look/act like that? Will we bond? Will I wake up at night when she cries? What will labor be like? Why don’t I feel her moving (poke, poke)? Will I ever see my feet again?

Baby’s here: I guess it I did it right (phew!), we’re bonding (yay!), I wake up instantly (yay!), it wasn’t THAT bad (yay!), she’s sleeping (oops, sorry for poking you) and yes, I have received visual proof I still have feet. I didn’t understand this- am I missing something? Deep sigh of relief. For a moment.

Round two! Is she eating, sleeping, smiling, pooping, peeing, learning enough? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.

Round three: She’s mobile! Gates are up, sockets are plugged and cabinets are latched. We’re safeguarded and feeling confident. And then I realize she can reach my nightstand. Note to self and hubby: Prior to crashing into bed for those few sweet hours of slumber, please remove all water glasses, books, eyeglasses, earrings, lotions, cell phones and all other perfectly acceptable items to keep on your nightstand prior to having a curious toddler, out of reach from the super cute hands, eager to discover EVERYTHING.

Now that my daughter is about to turn 1½, I have no illusions that I am on this ride for good and have come up with a few coping methods.

Enjoy the valleys, be prepared for the peaks. Yes, know that there is going to be a new thing right around the corner. But until it comes, take some pride in the fact that you’ve made it this far, so you must be doing something right.

Phone/Tweet/Text/Facebook/Snapchat/Facetime/Skype a friend: There’s no greater resource than a friend who has been there and has the benefit of perspective after the fact. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask, “Is this normal?”

Focus on the near future: For me, there is a constant nugget of anxiety in the back of my head that is tweenhood and adolescence. I’ve found that keeping that worry active only amplifies my anxiety in the now, so I’m choosing to live in denial for the first couple of years while I focus on what’s important now and in the near future.

We’d love to know … how do you handle the worry roller coaster of parenthood?

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Thanksgiving is right around the corner... Not to mention Hanukkah and Christmas! Time to start shopping! We recently polled our Safety 1st team to find out what they are most thankful for. Over the next 15 days, we want to ‘give’ you a PRIZE when you tell us what YOU are ‘thankful’ for! Each day over the next 14 days, one lucky Safety 1st Facebook fan will win a Safety 1st product or a $100 e-Gift Card. On the 15th day, we will reward the grand prize winner with a $500 e-Gift Card.

ENTER TO WIN: https://safety1st-15days.pgtb.me/7jQncm

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Traditional belt-positioning booster seats are designed for a different time in a child's life. A time where bright colors, heavy padding, and personal cup holders make riding in them fun. Great when your child is 5 years old -- not so much when they're 8!

But some 8-year-olds are not big enough to ride without a child restraint seat, leading to a standoff between parents and kids.

Safety 1st is proud to introduce the Incognito Kid Positioning Seat, meant for kids 60-120 pounds & up to 60" in height. Designed to blend into a car seat, while still offering the best possible belt positioning for your child, the Incognito is sure to please both parent and kid.