Extended Rear Facing

0 comments Published Tuesday, October 23, 2007 by Ashley in  


Once again, I must give credit to Kassi (Just Because Photography) for introducing me to the wonderful world of car seat safety... including ERF*. Even though my little 14 pound baby boy is still in an infant car seat and obviously rear facing, I have no intentions what so ever of turning him around when he's a year old.

*Extended Rear Facing

A common misconception I've found are that a child should be a year old OR 22 pounds. NOT TRUE! I cannot emphasize enough that the child must be 22 pounds AND a year old in order to face forward! (http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/StayRearFacing.aspx). I've heard (and know) of some mommies who, once their child hits 22 pounds, decides to turn them around even though they aren't a year old. Please, please, please read up and know the facts! Knowledge is power and it can save a life!

So why ERF you ask? Here's why:
1. There's a greater risk of spinal cord injury in a front-facing carseat during a frontal crash.
2. Rear-facing car seats spread frontal crash forces over the whole area of a child's back, head and neck; they also prevent the head from snapping relative to the body in a frontal crash.
3. Rear-facing carseats are NOT a safety risk just because a child's legs are bent at the knees or because they can touch/kick the vehicle seat.

4. Motor Vehicle Crashes are the #1 overall cause of death for children 14 and under.


*The very common comment/question: My child's legs are too long. He/she won't be comfortable and will break his/her leg during a crash.





"Many parents have the misconception that children are uncomfortable or at risk for leg injury by having their legs up on the vehicle seat or bent when kept rear-facing.  These concepts are completely incorrect. First, children are more flexible than adults so what we perceive as uncomfortable is not for children.  Think about how your child sits in everyday play. Do they sit with their legs straight out in front of them? When they sit on the couch, do they purposely sit so their legs dangle out over the edge? No. In real, everyday life, toddlers and preschoolers CHOSE to sit with their legs folded up - that IS comfort to them.
 Second, there is not a single documented case of children's legs, hips, etc. breaking or being injured in a crash due to longer rear-facing.  There are plenty of cases of head and neck injury in forward-facing children that could have been prevented if the child had remained rear-facing.  However, even if a leg or hip were broken or injured, it can be fixed.  A damaged spinal cord (from forward-facing too soon) cannot be repaired and subjects the child to lifelong disability or death."


Not Convinced? Watch this:  Forward facing crash and now watch this Rear facing crash 


Awesome Convertible Car seats:
Britax Boulevard (cs)- up to 65 pounds
Britax Decathlon- up to 65 pounds
Evenflo Triumph Advance- up to 50 pounds
Evenflo Titan elite- up to 50 pounds
Sunshine Kids Radian65- up to 65 pounds
Sunshine Kids Radian80- up to 80 pounds


Resources:








Cloth Diapering

0 comments Published by Ashley in  

Major Brands and Acronyms


All In Ones (AIO)
*Does not require a cover
Pockets
*Does not require a cover
Fitteds
GM- Goodmama (http://shop.thegoodmama.com/) 
- These one size (OS) diapers require a cover. GM also now makes AIO diapers called
  “The One.” Various types of fabrics are used and *most* come with snaps, but there
  are some that come snap-less. GM also makes overnight diapers as well as trimfolds.
- BSRB has fitteds, prefolds, and AIOs. All of their diapers are snappiable and 
  pinnable. They are also all OS. 
- fitted diapers and also all-in-two (functions like pocket or an AIO with an extra snap
  in soaker. Piddle Poddles come in a OS infant and OS toddler. 
SB’ish- Sustainable Babyish (https://sloomb.com/cart/)
- these fitteds come with snaps or without (in which case you would need pins). 
  they are made of organic bamboo fleece and come in various solid colors as 
    well as overnight fitteds. These diapers are sized. 
Prefolds (PF)
GMD- green mountain diapers (www.greenmountaindiapers.com) 
- these are the most common PFs and come in various sizes. 
Flats
SB’ish- Sustainable Babyish (https://sloomb.com/cart/)
- SB’ish flats come in either organic bamboo terry or hemp/organic cotton fleece. 
  These flats are pinnable or snappiable. 
Preflats
PB&E- Peanutbutter & Ellie (http://hyenacart.com/pbellie/)
- preflats are a cross between prefolds and flats. there’s an extra layer all around instead
  of in the middle alone. It is folded just like a prefold. There are two types: Grae and
  Molly. Graes are snappiable and pinnable. The molly works best when used with pins.
  These are sized. 


What Do I Use?
Our current stash is made up of:
- 8 bleached red edge GMD prefolds
- 12 regular size unbleached indian prefolds
- 7 goodmamas (2 snapless)
- 4 flip diaper covers
- 5 wool longies 
-  1 pair wool shorties

Wash Routine:
1 cold rinse cycle
1 hot wash/cold rinse w/ detergent
1 cold wash/cold rinse cycle, no detergent
2 extra rinses
dry on medium heat
*every 3 washes I add vinegar to extra rinse #1 and then add a 3rd extra rinse

Growing Up With Gunnar

0 comments Published by Ashley in  

Here you can find all about the way I raise my baby boy. From cloth diapering to vaccinations it's all here!

Baby Sign 


Baby Wearing


Breastfeeding


Cloth Diapering 


Co-Sleeping


Extended Rear Facing


Vaccinations *Updated (4/7/10)



*Credit to Kassi at Just Because Photography for the idea. Check out her version: Raising Little People

Photo Shoot Rates

0 comments Published Thursday, May 3, 2007 by Ashley in  

These are the rates that will go into effect on May 15, 2010



"In Home" 

$50.00
 includes session fee and CD with up to 75 full size edited photos
 *If you live more than 20 miles from me (my zip: 92679) I require a travel fee of $15



"On-Location"

$60
 includes session fee and CD with up to 75 full size edited photos
Locations can be your choice or I can choose a place. 
*If I have to drive more than 20 miles to get to the location I require a travel fee of $15


For more information please email me at: Ashleyn_koehler@yahoo.com with "photoshoot" in the title. 

Thank you!
Two/Eleven Photography

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