Snug Ride

Which carseat should I purchase after my baby has outgrown her infant seat?

My almost 9-month-old baby weighs around 17 lbs. and is starting to look uncomfortable in her Graco Snug Ride infant seat. I know she must stay in a rear-facing seat until she is 20 lbs. and 1 year old.

I would recommend you buying a convertible seat. The bare minimum for forward facing is 1 year AND 20 lbs. Most convertible seats on the market can rear face to 30/33/35 lbs. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rearfacing to the limit of the seat. It is safest for your little one.

This video has great information on rear-facing to the limits of the seat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2DVfqFhseo

This website also has crash test videos of forward facing children vs. rear facing children: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx

The best convertible seat for you would be one that fits your child, fits your car, fits your budget, and one that will be used correctly every single time.

Depending on how much you are wanting to spend on a carseat, there are a lot of great convertible seats out there.

If you need help deciding which carseat would be best for your child, http://www.car-seat.org is a great website with many very knowledgable CPST (car seat techs) and CPS Advocates that have experience with a variety of different seats and cars. I encourage you to check out that website!

EXCELLENT GRACO PINK AND BROWN SNUG RIDE CAR SEAT COVER $12.76

Graco Snug Ride car seat base, BROOKLYN, NY local pick up only $15.00

Graco Snug Ride Infant Car Seat w/ 2 bases “Elyse” girl PICK UP or SHIP $48.95

DOUBLE DECKER TWIN STROLLER FRAME-for Graco Snug Ride 30 infant seats $200.00

Graco Snug Ride 35 Infant Car Seat and 2 Bases $29.99

Graco Car Seat Base White Model 8457D5 Snug Ride SnugRide Tight & Right Baby $4.99

Graco Snug Ride Car Blue Seat Blanket *RARE* RN#100364 $0.99

GRACO Snug Ride Silver Car seat Base $5.52

Graco Snug Ride Infant Car Seat Jungle Theme $30.00

Graco Twin Snug Ride Platinum Car Seat $129.99

GRACO Snug Ride Snugride Infant Baby Car Seat Base w/ Strap: Tan/Cream Color $8.88

Graco Snug Ride Car Seat Swing Frame New in the box $49.99

Graco Snug Ride Car Seat Swing Frame New in the box $49.99

Graco Snug Ride car seat extra base, EUC, local pick up BROOKLYN, NY $15.00

TRIPLET STROLLER FRAME-Uses any 3 Graco Snug Ride 30 $425.00

Summer/Winter Carrier & Canopy cover – Graco SNUG RIDE $82.00

Komfy Kid Carrier Cover & Canopy – Graco SNUG RIDE $62.00

GRACO SNUG RIDE INFANT CAR SEAT COVER $50.00

Phil Teds Travel System 3 For Graco Snug Ride Car Seat New $19.99

Custom Made Infant Carrier Cover – Graco Snug Ride $50.00

SUMMER/WINTER Infant Carrier Cover – Graco Snug Ride $62.00

Help Your Child With Sensory Issues Learn To Ride A Bike

Bike riding is a great form of exercise and transportation, offering kids a sense of independence. Children with sensory issues often need extra help in learning to be comfortable bicycling. Part of their struggle with riding a two-wheeler is the difficulty of planning and quickly carrying out movements while on an unstable bike that they must control.

1. Choose the right bike. Encourage your child to start early riding a tricycle to begin to build biking skills, and then invest in a small, low-to-the-ground two-wheeler with training wheels. Both genders may do better starting out with a “girl’s” bike with a dropped support bar, which makes it easier to mount and dismount. Also, wider tires are easier to balance on than thinner, racing tires.

2. Adjust the bike for ease of learning. Make sure the seat is large enough for her and consider replacing it with a wider or longer seat (seats can be sold separately). Adjust the seat’s texture if necessary, with a nylon cover, or a towel tied over the seat, if this will make it easier for her to feel the seat underneath her and make her feel more secure.

Bikes are most comfortable to ride for long stretches when the seat is adjusted so that when the rider is seated, the balls of her feet touch the ground. However, at the beginning of learning to ride and feel confident on a bike, a child may need the seat lowered so that her feet are flat on the ground when she is sitting. You may want to remove the pedals while she practices pushing herself with her feet while seated, and balancing.

3. Break down the skill into steps. Have her propel herself with her feet, then lift them up and try to balance as the bike is moving, and stop herself with the handbrakes just before putting her feet down. In this way, she will learn to balance, then to use the brakes, then add in the pedaling step.

You might try positioning your child on the bike at the top of a short, very gentle slope. Hold the seat and one side of the handlebars as he rides down the slope so he can feel his feet on the pedals as they move.

4. Try training wheels. After the child has become comfortable with training wheels, reposition the training wheels to be slightly off the ground. You might encourage the child to listen for the sound of the training wheels hitting the pavement and practice bike riding while trying not to “make that sound,” which means he is not relying on the training wheels. As you see him becoming more competent, move the training wheels higher so that he is even more reliant on his sense of balance.

5. Protect her from injury. Encourage your child to wear long sleeves and long pants and even protective pads when first learning to ride if she will tolerate these clothing items, which will lessen the impact if she falls and keep her from getting discouraged. Practice in a large open lot with few visual distractions. Also, be sure her bike helmet fits snugly. Use the sticky-backed pads to adjust the fit if necessary. The helmet should not fall backward or forward or swish side to side while the child is riding, and the chin strap should secure it in place. You may want to desensitize the child’s head with massage or vibration before placing the helmet on her.

6. Be patient and encouraging. Teach your child that learning to ride is a process. Challenge her to push herself just a little each time she rides so that she doesn’t become overwhelmed and avoid riding altogether. Be sure to celebrate her triumph when she makes that first two-wheeled ride on her own, and remind of how proud you are that she persevered at this challenging task.

copyright (c) 2010 Nancy Peske

About the Author

Nancy Peske is the coauthor of the book Raising a Sensory Smart Child: The Definitive Handbook for Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Issues. She sends out a weekly newsletter of practical tips for parents and professionals who work with children who have sensory processing issues, available at http://www.sensorysmartnews.com Her blog is http://www.sensorysmartparent.wordpress.com You can learn more about sensory issues at http://www.sensorysmartparent.com

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