There are certain rites of passage in childhood. Parents watch for the day their wiggly infant will figure out how to scoot across the floor and then the day when they learn to pull themselves up to a standing position and eventually take their first step. For many parents, the day their infant hits 12 months or 20 pounds marks the day that the infant car seat gets turned around into the forward facing position.
While many parents have looked forward to this milestone, child safety experts have been cautioning for years that riding in a forward facing car seat may not be the safest option for a baby, which is why many were celebrating Monday when the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their official car seat guidelines to recommend that children remain in a rear facing car seat until they reach age 2 or the maximum height and weight for their car seat – which could extend well beyond the second birthday.
The new guidelines also recommend that children should remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, which usually happens somewhere between 8 and 12 years of age. As the mother of an almost 8 year old who is one of the few remaining kids in his class still riding in a booster seat, the changes could not have come soon enough. I’ve seen so many parents who have moved their children into booster seats or seat belts far too early and because of that, their children were at serious risk of injury or death in the event of a car accident. During my years as a home daycare provider, I was shocked to see many parents not even using a booster seat for 3 or 4 year old children so I’m thrilled that there are so many people out there making an effort to educate parents and keep kids safe.
The new car seat safety guidelines do present some challenges when it comes to purchasing a new car seat. Many car seats currently on the market don’t allow for extended rear facing if you have larger children and others have a low forward facing weight or height limit and kids outgrow them before they can safely ride in a booster or seat belt.
Sunshine Kids has made it easy to follow the new car seat guidelines. The RF capacity for the Radian65SL is 5 – 40 lb and the capacity for the Radian80SL and RadianXTSL is 5 – 45 lb. The 80SL and XTSL have the highest RF capacity of any seat on the market so you can really get some extended use out of each seat. My 7 1/2 year old still fits very comfortably forward facing in the Radian XTSL but we’ve used other seats that my kids hit the height or weight limit before we had really gotten our use out of the seat. You may remember from our first #MomStorm party with Sunshine Kids that they are the ONLY car seat manufacturer that posts their crash tests for consumers. As a parent, I love that.
Join us on Monday, March 28, 2011 for a #MomStorm Twitter party to talk about the new car seat safety recommendations with Sunshine Kids!
#MomStorm Twitter Party
Date: Monday, March 28, 2011
Time: 7:00-8:00 pm PST
Hashtag: #MomStorm
How to Attend #MomStorm
1. Follow @MomStorm, @BusyMommyMedia , and @SunshineKidsUSA to follow the party hosts.
2. RSVP on the Mr. Linky below using your twitter id so that party participants can follow you on Twitter before the party starts and you can be entered to win party prizes.
3. Share this post with your friends by clicking on the share link at the bottom of the page.
4. A few minutes before the party, click here to load our custom Tweet Grid to make it easier for you to follow the party tweets.
If you haven’t attended a Twitter party before and need some help getting started,
About Rachel
23 Days Left 
11 Days Left 
Sounds great!
I’m @Psyckoprincess, and I will be there!
Brandie´s last [type] ..Little Boys and Periods
I will be there =]
RSVP’d Excited to try to win!!!
Can’t wait!
@bcherry82
@MalEruski New to twitter so hopefully this works!
Ok. Help!! I can’t figure out how to RSVP to save my life!! lol!
I figured it out.. Sheesh! I have tired mommy brain. =)
rsvp’d thanks for the twitter message telling me about the party!
My first twitter party! How exciting! I love Radians!
I’ve never done this before. I hope I’m did it right
I hope I did this right. We really could use the booster seat.
I’m so there!
Wendy Lohr´s last [type] ..WendyLohr- Vote for my kid in @parentsmagazine photocontest http-tco-qndwUSc
i am not a twitter person… i hope i get this right!! LOL!
can’t wait
I don’t know how to use Twitter myself I hope I entered correctly though I’d really like to win a Radian XTSL
I’ll be there! @jordanleia1
Yay!
I hope I did this right. I’d love to win an XTSL for my 3 year old.
I hope I figured this out!
Sounds like fun!!!
Excited for my first twitter party!
Melynda´s last [type] ..Shopping
Hope I entered correctly??
I’ll be there!!
I’ll be there! @senoraherrera1
Yeah! So happy to see the AAP endorsing what we techs have been telling parents for years
@bccrst´s last [type] ..Little Girls Size 2-3 Sundress
Not sure how you rsvp..couldn’t find instructions for dummies like me:)
This is exciting! Hope I win!
I hope I did this right,lol!
I’m confused, do I need to go follow everyone who has rsvp’d?
I am here
RSVP’d! Can’t wait!
I think I have done everything, I really hope I did, I love Sunshine kids and could really use another carseat. My 23 mo is still using hers…rear facing!!! Whoop whoop!!!
Here we go
Commmmentttt
@DanFrancisPhoto – Looking for a carseat for my baby boy!
EXCITING!
I think I’ve RSVP’d… ??? Never did this before.
I hope I’m entered.
@stampgirljolie
Thanks I’m RSVP’d
Heidi Helene(@DreamFog)´s last [type] ..DreamFog- Earn Free Stuff by Getting Reward Points at Swagbuckscom- http-bitly-gyO8I0 Swagbucks are THE bestest!
rspv’d…i think
I hope I got it
RSVP @ThatGirl1018
Im there
Hope I’m doing this right….I’m a Newb! @uniquelynormal1
I hope I did this correctly? ^_^
I just found out about this and RSVP’d.
At the party, love Sunshine kids. following all!
Great idea!
Everyday Mama´s last [type] ..For the birds
This be my RSVP!
at the party, but in twitter jail