OFFICIAL RULES

No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW OR REGULATION. PARTICIPANTS MUST BE 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AT THE TIME OF ENTRY.  A PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. You understand that you are providing your information to Graco. The Graco privacy policy can be found at http://www.gracobaby.com/customerservice/pages/privacypolicy.aspx.

1.         PROMOTION DESCRIPTION: The Graco Santa Hat Giveaway (the “Sweepstakes”) offers entrants the chance to win one of the following Graco products based on random drawing: (i)Graco DuoDiner LX High Chair- Drake fashion, (ii) Graco Pack ‘n Play with Reversible Napper and Changer- Drake fashion, or (iii) Graco Pack ‘n Play Play Yard Simple Solutions- Sketch Safari fashion. Sweepstakes begins on November 7, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (“ET”) and ends on November 23, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. ET (the “Promotion Period”) with intervening weekly drawings during the Promotion Period on each of the following days: November 9, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. ET, November 16, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. ET, and November 23, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. ET (each a “Weekly Drawing”). For purposes of this Sweepstakes, a “day” begins at 10:00 AM ET and ends the next calendar day at 9:59:59 AM ET. Entry in the Sweepstakes does not constitute entry into any other promotion, contest or sweepstakes.  By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Graco Children’s Products Inc. (the “Sponsor”) whose decisions shall be final and legally binding in all respects.

2.         ELIGIBILITY:  This Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry (unless prohibited by applicable law) and who are physically present in the United States at the time of entry (“Entrants”).  Employees, officers, and directors of Sponsor, Newell Rubbermaid Inc., or any of its affiliate or subsidiary companies, promotion prize suppliers, and each of their respective parent companies, affiliated companies, subsidiaries, licensees, distributors, dealers, sales representatives, retailers, printers, individuals engaged in the development, production or distribution of Sweepstakes materials, their advertising and promotion agencies, and any and all other companies associated with the Sweepstakes (collectively, the “Promotion Entities”), and each of their immediate family members (as defined by the IRS) and/or people living in the same household, are not eligible to enter or win a prize in the Sweepstakes.  All eligibility is subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  All entries submitted become the property of the Sponsor and may not be acknowledged or returned.  Sponsor’s database clock will be the timekeeper for this Sweepstakes. This Sweepstakes is void where prohibited.

3.         HOW TO ENTER:  During the Promotion Period, visit the Graco Facebook, Instagram or Twitter Page. Entrants should enter to win by uploading an image featuring the Graco Santa Hat received a Babies”R”Us with both of the hashtags #GracoSantaBaby #Sweepstakes on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook (each, a “Sweepstakes Platform”). Your entry information shall be referred to collectively herein as a Submission.  An eligible Submission enters you in the Sweepstakes drawing. Proof of sending a Submission does not constitute proof of receipt.  Neither Sponsor, Newell Rubbermaid Inc., their parent, affiliated or subsidiary companies, nor any of their advertising/promotion agencies, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, representatives or assigned (collectively “Released Parties”) are liable for any disputes between participants and/or Entrant related to the Submission.  Any Submissions that do not conform with these Official Rules in Sponsor’s sole discretion will be disqualified.

4.         ADDITIONAL ENTRY DETAILS:

1. Entry Limits: Limit one (1) entry per person and per email address per day during the Promotion Period.  If more than one Entry per person and per email address per day is received from the same person during the Promotion Period, all Entries from such person may be disqualified.  Entries made on another’s behalf by any other individuals or any other entity, including but not limited to commercial contest/sweepstakes subscription notification and/or entering services, will be declared invalid and disqualified from this Sweepstakes.  Entries made through any robotic, automatic, mechanical, programmed or similar entry duplication method will be disqualified. Tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes is prohibited and any entries deemed by Sponsor, in its sole discretion, to have been submitted in this manner or in any effort to influence the Sweepstakes in any way inconsistent with the Sweepstakes rules – in Sponsor’s sole discretion – will be void. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an Entrant, the Entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the individual named on the entry form (only one name may appear on the entry form).  If in Sponsor’s opinion there is credible evidence to dispute that the Entrant named on the entry form is the actual Entrant, the Entry may be disqualified in Sponsor’s sole discretion. 

b.         General:

(i)         All Entries are subject to verification by the Sponsor. Entries that do not meet the specifications, or otherwise do not comply with the Official Rules may be disqualified. Incomplete, illegible or mutilated entries will be automatically disqualified. No responsibility is assumed for lost, late, misdirected, damaged, altered or illegible Entries. Any attempted form of entry other than as described herein is void. Sponsor will determine in its sole discretion, what constitutes a valid Entry. All materials submitted become the property of the Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.

(ii)        Once an Entrant submits an Entry, he/she will be unable to make any edits or changes.  No portion of the Entry may contain, in the sole and unfettered discretion of the Sponsor, obscene, violent, provocative, defamatory, sexually explicit, or otherwise objectionable or inappropriate content.  Entry must be in keeping with Sponsor’s desired image and may not be offensive, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, nor can it defame or invade publicity or privacy rights of any person, living or dead, or otherwise infringe upon any person’s personal or proprietary rights, including but not limited to intellectual property rights.

(iii)       By entering the Sweepstakes, all Entrants grant an irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide non-exclusive license to Sponsor and its designees, to reproduce, distribute, display, copy and create derivative works of all or portions of the Entry in connection with the Sweepstakes and promotion of the Sweepstakes, in any media now or hereafter known, including, but not limited to, display at a potential exhibition of winners, or online posting of the Entries or winners of the Sweepstakes.  Entrants consent to the Sponsor doing or omitting to do any act that would otherwise infringe the Entrant’s “moral rights” in their Entries. Display or publication of any Entry on Sponsor’s designees’ website does not indicate the Entrant will be selected as a winner. Sponsor and its designees will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with the use of any Entry or portion of any Entry, as contemplated by these Official Rules. Additionally, except where prohibited by law, by entering, each Entrant grants to Sponsor and its designees the unrestricted right to use all statements made in connection with the Sweepstakes, and pictures or likenesses of such Entry. Sponsor and Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use.

(iv)       Sponsor is not responsible for errors or problems downloading or uploading any Sweepstakes-related materials or information, or for any other technical malfunctions of electronic equipment, computer on-line systems, servers, or providers, computer hardware or software failures, phone lines, failure of any electronic mail entry to be received by Sponsor on account of technical problems, traffic, congestion on the internet or the Sweepstakes Platform, or any other technical problems related to Sweepstakes Website entries including telecommunication miscommunication or failure, and failed, lost, delayed, incomplete, garbled or misdirected communications which may limit an Entrant’s ability to participate in this Sweepstakes.

5.         WINNER DETERMINATION AND PRIZES:  For each Weekly Drawing (there will be a total of three (3) Weekly Drawings), there will be one (1) winner selected from the pool of eligible entries.  The following prizes will be awarded to the eligible Sweepstakes winner for each respective Weekly Drawing.

Prize:

Product:                                                                                                                     MSRP:

One (1) Graco DuoDiner LX High Chair- Drake                                                    ($149.99)

            Awarded to the winner on November 9, 2015

One (1) Graco Pack ‘n Play with Reversible Napper and Changer- Drake           ($99.99)

            Awarded to the winner on November 16, 2015

One (1) Graco Pack ‘n Play Play Yard Simple Solutions- Sketch Safari               ($79.99)

            Awarded to the winner on November 23, 2015

Sponsor will select the winner at each Weekly Drawing at random from all eligible Entries received during the Promotion Period. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to choose an alternative qualifier or possible winner in the event that a qualifier or possible winner has been disqualified, is deemed ineligible or cannot fully participate in prize activities, in Sponsor’s sole discretion.  If the Entrant is unable to verify registration information, the Entrant will automatically be disqualified and the prize will be forfeited. Sponsor is not responsible for any change of email address, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrants. Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, misdirected or unsuccessful efforts to notify a potential winner or if the potential winner cannot fully participate in prize activities.

Prizes will be awarded only if the potential prize winner fully complies with these Official Rules. Taxes on any prize, including but not limited to Federal income tax, are solely the responsibility of each winner, and each winner must complete all forms requested by Sponsor to evidence and accomplish such (“Tax Forms”). Prizes are non-assignable and non-transferable.  All details and other restrictions of any prize not specified in these Official Rules will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  No cash alternative or prize substitution will be allowed, except that Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to substitute prize(s) of comparable value if any prize listed is unavailable, in whole or in part, for any reason.  The prize restrictions/conditions stated herein are not all-inclusive and the Prizes described above may be subject to additional restrictions/conditions, which may be stated in the “Prize Claim Documents” (defined below).

Total Approximate Retail Value:  The total approximate retail value for the prizes awarded in this Sweepstakes is $329.97

6.         WINNER NOTIFICATION:  Once the selection of the potential winner is complete, the potential prize winners will be notified by Facebook, Twitter or Instagram comment or private message (the “Prize Notice”) at the account used in the entry form.  Each potential winner will be required to respond within one week from notification.  Notification is deemed to have occurred immediately upon sending of the Prize Notice. The Company is not responsible for any change of email address, mailing address and/or telephone number of Entrants. Sponsor is not obligated attempt to notify potential winners by any other method or means of communication.   Potential winners will be required to execute an Affidavit of Eligibility, Tax Forms (including I.R.S. Form W-9), a Liability Release, and (where applicable) a Publicity Release form (collectively, “Prize Claim Documents”) and return such executed Prize Claim Documents within the time indicated by Sponsor.  If a Prize or Prize Notice is returned as undeliverable, if a potential winner fails to respond or execute and return the Prize Claim Documents (as directed) within the time frame specified, or if a potential prize winner is determined to be ineligible or disqualified for any reasons, his/her prize will be forfeited.  In the event that a prize is unclaimed, Sponsor will attempt to award it to the next eligible Entrant selected by Sponsor and follow the same winner notification process.  Sponsor will make one (1) attempt to award a prize, and if it remains unclaimed, the prize will not be awarded.  Sponsor shall have no liability for any potential prize winner notification that is lost, intercepted or not received by any potential prize winner for any reason.  ALL POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BY SPONSOR. AN ENTRANT IS NOT A WINNER OF ANY PRIZE, EVEN IF THE CONTEST SHOULD SO INDICATE, UNLESS AND UNTIL ENTRANT’S ELIGIBILITY AND CONTEST WINNER HAS BEEN VERIFIED AND ENTRANT HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT VERIFICATION IS COMPLETE.

8.         GENERAL terms/LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY:

(i)         By entering this Sweepstakes, all Entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, the Sponsor and the other Promotion Entities, and each of their parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and partners, and all of their respective employees, officers, directors, and representatives, from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of such Entrant’s participation in this Sweepstakes, any Sweepstakes-related activities, and the acceptance, possession, use and/or misuse of any prize awarded in this Sweepstakes.  Neither Sponsor nor the other Promotion Entities assume any responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, or delay in operation or transmission; communications line failure; theft or destruction of or unauthorized access to Sweepstakes entries or entry forms; or alteration of entries or entry forms. Sponsor is not responsible for any problems with or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any email entry to be received on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, human errors of any kind, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to entrants’ or any other persons’ computers related to or resulting from participation, uploading or downloading of any materials related to in this Sweepstakes.

(ii)        Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the Sweepstakes if fraud or technical failures destroy the integrity of the Sweepstakes as determined by the Sponsor, in its sole discretion, or if required by Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and to award the prizes based on eligible Entries received prior to the cancellation.

(iii)       Sponsor’s decisions are final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes and judging.

(iv)       Acceptance of any prize constitutes such prize winner’s permission for the Sponsor and other Promotion Entities to use such prize winner’s Entry (in whole or in part), name, photograph, likeness, voice, biographical information, statements and complete address (collectively, the “Attributes“), for advertising and/or publicity purposes worldwide and in all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, in perpetuity, without further compensation or authorization, (except where prohibited by law), and such Entrant releases the Sponsor, Promotion Entities and designees from all claims arising out of the use of such Entry and/or Attributes and agrees to indemnify the Sponsor and other Promotion Entities for any third party claims arising out of the use of such Entry or Attributes by Sponsor, Promotion Entities or any Authorized Parties.

(v)        Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, mutilated, misdirected, illegible, incomplete, inaccurate, or stolen, entries or prize notifications. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, and Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. No mechanically reproduced, illegible, incomplete, forged, software-generated or other automated multiple entries will be accepted. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, extend, suspend, or terminate the Sweepstakes if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Sweepstakes is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions or other causes beyond Sponsor’s control have destroyed or severely undermined or to any degree impaired the integrity, administration, security, proper play and/or feasibility of the Sweepstakes as contemplated herein. In the event an insufficient number of eligible entries are received and/or Sponsor is prevented from awarding prizes or continuing with the Sweepstakes as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, natural or man-made epidemic of health of other means, earthquake, explosion, labor dispute or strike, act of God or public enemy, satellite or equipment failure, riot or civil disturbance, terrorist threat or activity, war (declared or undeclared) or any federal state or local government law, order, or regulation, public health crisis (e.g. SARS), order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Sponsor’s control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), then Sponsor shall have the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Sweepstakes. If the Sweepstakes is terminated before the designated end date, Sponsor will (if possible) select the winner based solely on Sponsor Judging from all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the date of the event giving rise to the termination. Only the type and quantity of prizes described in these Official Rules will be awarded.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

(vi)       ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS OR SPONSOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE CONTEST SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE’S LAWS.

(vii)      By participating in this Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes the entrant may have with, or claims entrant may have against, the Sponsor and/or other Promotion Entities relating to, arising out of or connected in any way with (i) the Sweepstakes, (ii) the awarding or redemption of any prize, and/or (iii) the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement, will be resolved individually and exclusively in the courts of Atlanta, Georgia.

10.       WINNERS LIST/OFFICIAL RULES:  To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, print this page.  To obtain a copy of any legally-required winner list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to “GRACO^® SANTA HAT GIVEAWAY” Attn: Savannah Knudsen, Newell Rubbermaid, 3 Glenlake Parkway, Atlanta GA 30328.  All such requests must be received by Promotion Period end date.

11.       SPONSOR:  Graco Children’s Products Inc., 3 Glenlake Parkway, Atlanta, Georgia 30328.

© 2015 Graco, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Affinia: Inspired by bold design and cool geometry.

Azalea: Inspired by airy flowers and pretty prints.

Stratus: Inspired by blue skies and puffy, soft clouds.

Sunshine: Inspired by bright ideas and sunny dispositions.

Whisk: Inspired by delicious bites that bring loved ones together.

Zuba: Inspired by the whimsical animals of baby’s dreams.

Proper use of a car seat – or booster – is essential to help keep all of the pint-sized passengers in your car safe. Here are some of our top tips:

• Buckle Up! Every passenger in the car (even the adult driver – it’s important to set a good example) should wear a seatbelt and / or use an age- and size-appropriate car seat or booster. When your child is riding with another family OR an extra child is riding in your car, it’s smart to plan ahead to make sure all little ones have an appropriate car seat or booster. There are plenty of affordable options so that you can keep an extra on hand!
• Wait to Graduate!It’s important that your child ride in a car seat with a harness as long as possible. Your child is ready to “graduate” to a booster when any one of these is true:
  • He has reached the maximum weight or height allowed for the seat
  • His ears have reached the top of the seat
  • His shoulders are above the top harness slots

Aside from the specific recommendations on size and weight, it’s important to consider the individual child when deciding if they’re ready to “graduate” to the next seat in the progression. For instance, you’ll want to make sure your child is mature enough to keep the seatbelt properly positioned, without wiggling and letting the shoulder strap slip down or putting the belt behind his back.

• Check the Fit! Keep your child in an appropriate booster until the vehicle’s seat belt fits properly on its own (typically this happens when your child is about 4’9”). To check, you’ll want to make sure that your big kid is tall enough to sit against the seat back with his legs bent and feet hanging down. The shoulder belt should lie flat (never twisted!) across the middle of the chest and shoulder (not the neck or throat) and the lap belt should sit low and snug across the child’s thighs (not the stomach).
• Back Seat is Best! The AAP recommends that children younger than 13 years old should ride in the back seat.

Carpooling with a buddy is fun – there are lots of fun “I spy” car games and whispered conversations to be had – but staying safe is always the first priority!

As an experienced parent, do you have any tips to share? Be sure to leave your comments below. Happy safe trips!

In reviewing the matter further with NHTSA, we found that an older buckle design used on select infant car seats was difficult to open. Although they might look the same from the outside, the other buckles used on our infant car seats have been mechanically redesigned to make them easier to open. However, Graco will offer a free replacement buckle to any consumer who has an infant car seat not included in this recall, but would like to update their buckle to Graco’s current buckle design.

You can determine whether or not the buckle on your Graco infant car seat is recalled by entering the model name and date of manufacture on the recall information page. This information can be found on the white label located on the bottom of the infant car seat carrier. You can order a replacement buckle by completing the online order form, and we will ship you a replacement kit at no cost in Summer 2014.

To help you replace your harness buckle, our customer service team will include detailed instructions in your replacement kit and you can also find helpful videos on the recall instructions page. In most of our car seats, the process of replacing your harness buckle is the same as adjusting your harness straps and crotch strap position to accommodate a growing child or removing your cloth car seat cover to clean it.

While waiting for replacement buckles, Graco car seats equipped with affected buckles are safe to use. If your buckle becomes sticky, we recommend cleaning it by following the instructions available on the recall instructions page as this will make it much easier to use.

To determine if the harness buckle on your infant car seat is included in this recall, order a replacement kit and find answers to some frequently asked questions, please visit the recall information page. If you have additional questions, please reach out to our customer service team at 877-766-7470 (Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) or blog@gracobaby.com. We are always here to help you.

We hope you will enjoy making memories with your little one this Summer!

That’s why Graco is proud to introduce our new Relay Click Connect Stroller – it’s the ultimate performance jogger with all accessories included!

You’ll love all of these terrific features included with your Relay jogger:

• Pneumatic tires and locking front-swivel wheel with tracking for optimal performance – whether you’re on a leisurely jog  around the neighborhood or really booking it for a workout
• Premium suspension system for high-grade performance and smooth riding
• Breathable tech fabrics with reflective piping – so baby is comfortable and you’re visible even in lower light
• Integrated adaptor to accept your child’s top-rated Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ infant car seat – the car seat will connect to the stroller in one second with a secure “click”
• Extended all-weather canopy with UV50 sun protection for defense on outdoor rides
• Weight rated to accommodate your child through toddlerhood
• A parent storage console with cup holder, zippered storage and phone pocket (so you can listen to tunes while you jog!)
• Removable armrest bar with cup holder for your little one
• Adjustable, multi-position reclining seat with convertible 3- and 5-point harness
• Extra-large storage basket to hold all of your travel essentials
• Safety tether attaches to your wrist for added peace of mind while you’re jogging

It’s available in four great fashions – Lynx, Panther, Jaguar and Cougar – exclusively at Babies ‘R Us. There is nothing more to purchase – except maybe your fashionable workout wear or high-tech running shoes.

The Lifesavers Conference is the only national highway safety meeting of its kind, helping participants prevent deaths and reduce injuries on the road. Sessions address a variety of risk areas, from the very technical to the programmatic needs of attendees. The 32nd annual conference was held in Nashville TN, with over 2,000 attendees representing every state and territory of the United States. I have attended 19 of the past 20 of these events, and I am confident that this year’s was one of the most useful yet.

While much of the research presented was advocate- or industry-specific, some very important lessons for parents, grandparents and children were reinforced by new research and information. Here are some of the most important take-home messages:

No One in the Car is Protected Unless EVERYONE is Buckled Up

Experts and advocates have always known that children learn more from watching the adults in their lives than from what we tell them to do or make them do while they are in our care. One of my favorite examples illustrating this occurred when I was helping a family and the mom complained that her 3-year-old son was “always unbuckling his car seat harness and trying to climb out.” I went through my checklist. Was the car seat right for him? Was the harness height correct? Were the harnesses snug enough? Everything checked out. Then I went to the next level, asking if everyone else in the car buckled up every ride. His mom emphatically said “I ALWAYS wear my seatbelt!” His dad remained silent and started avoiding eye contact with me. He sheepishly looked away and I received the non-verbal answer to my question. Dad didn’t wear his seat belt – at least not on every ride.

When you think about it, it’s pretty obvious. A 3-year-old child wants to emulate the adults and older children in his environment. Of course he wanted to be unbuckled.

Now let’s take an unbuckled adult  to another level – one that state agencies and legislatures are beginning to take quite seriously. Crashes are violent events that involve a lot of energy. Depending on the specific crash, unsecured objects or people are moving with hundreds or even thousands of pounds of force – and the laws of physics tell us that they will keep moving with great speed and force until something (or someone) stops them.

Let’s revisit our example of the 3-year-old in a car seat, should the family have a crash. Even if he was correctly secured, his unbuckled dad would be violently thrown with a force equal to many times his actual weight. What if the “object” that stopped the dad was the 3-year-old… or the side of his car seat near his head… or the mom? Suffice it to say that the damage and injuries would not just be experienced by the dad.

In this context, I will repeat the take-home message: no one in the car is protected unless EVERYONE is buckled up.

Don’t Be in a Hurry to “Graduate” Your Child to the Next Level

There are four basic stages of restraint that can help protect us in motor vehicle crashes. The most protective restraint category faces the rear of the vehicle, often referred to as “rear-facing”. The next category faces the front of the vehicle and has its own internal harnesses, “forward-facing”. The third category involves belt-positioning boosters that help seat belts protect better for children who have outgrown harness restraints but are not yet adult-sized. They are like adapters that keep seat belts on the strong, bony areas of a child’s body.  The final category is the seat belts that are in most vehicles but only work right if they fit properly and are used correctly. Each of these categories has many variations, among them features appropriate for specific users, protection-enhancing features and convenience features that make the system easier to use.

As the father of four (now grown) sons, who has interacted with many parents both personally and professionally, I know that it is quite common for parents to be very proud of their kids. Oftentimes this pride includes parents thinking that THEIR kids are more advanced than other children. One of the manifestations of this pride is “graduating” kids to the next restraint level prematurely. Combine that with forward-facing harness seats and booster seats being easier to use and that decision is inappropriately reinforced.

As we move the above progression of restraint categories, the level of protection is reduced. For example, multiple studies have proven that rear-facing restraints are 71% effective at reducing fatal crash injuries for small children, while forward-facing restraints with harnesses are 54% effective. One study of real children in real crashes showed that for children from age 1 to age 2, rear-facing restraints are 5 times as safe. What those studies illustrate is that “graduation” to the next restraint category actually should not occur until it has to, following the labels and instructions of the specific system.

The take-home message is to reach the maximum limits of one category before moving a child to the next category. By following that rule of thumb, your family will remain as protected as possible.

Follow the instructions for YOUR Car Seat and YOUR Vehicle

One of the hot topics in the media and at the Lifesavers Conference was the new Federal regulations for car seats. Beginning this year, car seat makers must test with a new crash dummy that represents a 50^th percentile 10-year-old. Car seats and boosters for use by children weighing more than 65 pounds must pass crash tests with this 77-pound dummy. In addition, car seats must be labeled with installation system limits for what we refer to as “lower anchors”.

Since 2005, car seat regulations applied to devices made for kids who weighed up to 65 pounds. After that weight, voluntary testing was designed and performed by individual manufacturers to ensure that their products were safe for their entire weight ranges. In 2014, car seat regulations now go to 80 pounds, which means more compliance testing and more requirements. Voluntary testing by manufacturers also continues, further enhancing product safety.

What we are already seeing and will see more of is changes to the weight limits for certain car seat models. They may go to lower weights or higher weights than similar models did in the recent past. That begs the question of which limits to follow, and the answer is easy. YOUR car seat came with instructions that were required at the time it was made. It was thoroughly tested to verify its safety for THAT weight range and it continues to be safe for THAT weight range. Consumers and advocates should never override the instructions that come with a product unless encouraged to do so by the specific manufacturer.

Now on to “lower anchor” limits. “Lower Anchors” are part of a system most know as “LATCH” (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren), but may also be called ISO-fix, Universal Anchorage System or other names. Regardless of what we call it, there is a set of anchors in newer vehicles (mostly model year 2003 and later) to make car seats easier to install. In a nutshell, parents and caregivers can choose whether to use the LATCH system or the seat belt to attach their car seats to their cars. Car seats have attachment hooks or other connectors that match up with ”lower anchors” and secure the lower part of the car seat to the vehicle as a seat belt would. The tether is a separate hook and strap that attaches the upper part of a forward-facing car seat to the “tether” anchor of the vehicle. Since the tether significantly improves protection for a child’s head and neck when forward-facing, it should generally be used regardless of which system (lower attachments or seat belt) secures the lower part of the car seat.

In evaluation testing with the 10-year-old dummy, researchers and regulators identified that many car seat models are heavier than they were in the past, and that they go up to higher child weights. This combined weight may exceed the strength limits of vehicle anchors. So car seats now must have lower anchor limits included on their labels and in the instructions. A new car seat will have those limits included on either the required label that has a list of warnings or on the labels with diagrams that show how to install the car seat with the “lower anchors” or LATCH. After your child exceeds the stated limit, the car seat must be installed with a seat belt.

The take-home message is much simpler than the way it has been stated in some reports. Most manufacturers stated their limits before 2014, and these limits were supported by testing. The new labels make it easier to identify those limits since the formulae and formatting will eventually be similar among various manufacturers, but they are not retroactive. You generally need to follow the lower anchor limits that are in the instructions for YOUR car seat and YOUR car. After that, install your car seat using the seat belt (and still attach the tether if your car seat is forward-facing).

If you want help taking a more detailed look at the specific limits for YOUR car seat and YOUR car, visit www.seatcheck.org to find child passenger safety inspection opportunities in your area.

Here are some of our favorite, super-simple tips for keeping your child’s car seat spic ‘n span!

The washing machine is our friend. The soft seat cover on your Graco car seat is probably full of all those crumbs we mentioned down in the creases. Fortunately, we’ve made cleaning the seat cover really simple. Just remove it, shake out any loose crumbs and toss it in the washing machine on the cold cycle, with some gentle detergent. Never use bleach and make sure you drip dry (plan for overnight drying, so that it’s ready to go for your child’s next car ride) and never use the dryer. Thank goodness for the convenience of machine-washable cloth seat covers!

Wipe clean. Easy! For all of those nooks and crannies that are made of plastic – like cup holders, storage compartments or exposed arms (like on our Nautilus™ 3-in-1 Car Seat) – get your warm water with mild soap ready. Then, with a soft cloth simply clean away any crumbs or dried liquid. Another tip for those tiny spaces – use a cotton swab dipped in the warm water. The crumbs will stick to the damp surface and soon be banished from your child’s seat.

Brushed-up straps. If your child’s car seat harness straps have become soiled, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth (don’t use detergent). It’s important that you never immerse your harness straps in water, since it can weaken the integrity of straps over time. Since you’re essentially spot cleaning them, they’ll be dry in no time!

Chest clip clean up. If spot cleaning your harness straps, it’s a good time to give your chest clip a little attention too. Use a cotton swab with warm water to get in the cracks and crevices and the chest clip will be crumb-free and sparkling like new in no time.

These were some of our Graco team’s favorite tips for spring car seat cleaning. What are some of your tried-and-true tips? Please share them in the comment section below – we’d love to hear them! Happy safe (and clean!) riding!