The Metropolitan Hotel in Vancouver, Canada is offering a buy two nights get the third free package. I've stayed at this hotel (on my own dime) in the past, and it is well located and welcoming with marble bathrooms, down duvets, generally comforting and warmly decorated rooms. The hotel also was a very generous host to our Passports with Purpose Cupcake Party last summer.
Featured Travel Gear Deal
The Britax B-Ready Stroller is on sale for $319, that's a whopping $180 off of the retail price
Eagle Creek's No Matter What Duffel Bag, Black, Medium is on sale for $64.95, $10 off of retail. This sturdy duffel is the one we use ourselves. It's roomy, and it has a slot that lets you slide it over the top handle of a wheeled bag. We can fit clothes for the whole family into our wheely + this duffel, which means just one thing to roll along at the airport.
Granville Island Play Area in Vancouver BC
Weekly deals always represent a savings over standard rates or represent a special package that is attractive to families. Advertisers may purchase a listing in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals, and I verify that the deal is available at press time and that it would be attractive to DeliciousBaby readers. Some links may be affiliates links, which means that I receive a small commission if you make a purchase at the site (don't worry, it doesn't cost you more) If you are interested in information about being listed in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals post, please send me email: debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com.
Like so many people, I discovered Pinterest over winter break, and I'm just loving it. It has been a fun place to get inspiration about recipes, activities for the kids, and of course, travel destinations and tips. If you're on Pinterest, you can find me at DeliciousBaby or check out just my family travel related boards Travel Activities, Places to Visit with Kids and Travel Tips
Some of my boards on Pinterest
Here are some other ways you can find me!
TripDoc Mobile Travel Planner
My husband and I created the TripDoc app to you keep track of the places you want to go on Vacation. Just enter the names of restaurants, attractions, cafes and anything else you'd like to see, including your hotel, and TripDoc plots them all on a single map. You can see what's near you and get driving, walking, or public transit directions to find your way around. Once you've tried it, it becomes indispensable.
If you have TripDoc and are headed someplace that I've been, just let me know, and I'll send you my personal recommendations ready to install on your phone.
Facebook
Facebook's quick and short posts make it a great place for me to ask questions when I'm researching something new, share special deals, post pictures, and write short notes about trips we're planning or trips in progress.
Monthly Newsletter
My monthly newsletter features seasonally appropriate tips, stories and news.
In Person
This summer I've been lucky to meet in person with several of my readers and with other bloggers as they've traveled through Seattle. It's been really fun! If you're coming through Seattle, drop me a note - perhaps we can get together for a playdate.
Subscribe To DeliciousBaby Blog Posts
It's easy to subscribe to receive DeliciousBaby in your email inbox (or RSS reader) so that you don't miss a thing.
I've been helping my mom clean out her house, and I found this old instruction sheet from the carseat I sat in when I was a child. The seat's goal was more about lifting the child up to see out the window than about safety, though I'm sure that not having a toddler wriggle out of the lap belt was a real benefit! It's a reminder about how much things have changed in terms of keeping our kids safe when we head out on a road trip.
Jet Blue's Winter Fare Sale includes deals beginning at just $59 including taxes. We're planning a New York in the spring, so I'm excited about round trip fares from Seattle to New York for just $320 including taxes!
Whistler lodging and lift ticket packages offer some great rates for a midwinter ski break. With much of the country experiencing lower than usual levels of snow, this could be a great choice. Want to learn more? Check out my Whistler with Kids Guide
Featured Travel Gear Deal
In the market for a new car seat or booster? Amazon is running specials on
Graco Car Seats
Weekly deals always represent a savings over standard rates or represent a special package that is attractive to families. Advertisers may purchase a listing in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals, and I verify that the deal is available at press time and that it would be attractive to DeliciousBaby readers. Some links may be affiliates links, which means that I receive a small commission if you make a purchase at the site (don't worry, it doesn't cost you more) If you are interested in information about being listed in DeliciousBaby's weekly deals post, please send me email: debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com.
Yesterday I posted an exhaustive post about how to choose a booster seat. Admittedly, it's a lot of work to scour all the resources I listed and pick the best carseat for your family. With three kids age 2, 5, and 6, I've bought my fair share of carseats, and I thought I'd share the choices I would make for different situations.
Best Bet Infat Seat
Graco Snugride Car Seat
We used the Graco Snugride carseat for all three of our kids. Why? It's got a great safety track record, it's inexpensive, and you can buy a second base to keep in a second car or to use when you travel. Unlike some seats, this one also works without a base so that you don't have to carry the base when you travel.
If You Only Want to Buy One Carseat
Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat
The Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat seats kids from 5-120 pounds! This seat also has a 10 year shelf life, meaning that even with a couple of kids you can probably use it from newborn to age 8. Note that kids are positioned down low in this seat, so very young children may not be able to see out the window.
Best Carseat for Extended Rear Facing
Experts now recommend that a child be seated rear-facing as long as possible (at least until age 2). Why? Rear-facing car seats better protect the child's back, neck and spine in a crash. Car seat manufacturers haven't universally kept pace with this recommendation, and some car seats can be used rear facing until only 30 pounds. The Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat can be used rear facing until 45 pounds.
Best Carseat for 3 Across
Once again, the Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat is the winner here. It's a newer model of the seat I use in my own car. Since it's difficult to reach down and buckle a booster into the car seatbelt when there are three carseats in a row, I like that my kids will be able to use it with the 5-point harness until they weigh 80 pounds.
Best "Up High" 5 Point Harness Car Seat
Britax Roundabout
When I had only two kids and did not need to seat them three across, my kids sat in the Britax Roundabout. It's cozy, positions the child high enough to see out the window, and unlike it's larger siblings, is easy to install in an airplane seat.
Best Car Seat for Taxis
Ride Safer Travel Vest
Travel presents a different set of challenges than at-home use of a carseat. And while it's true that you could lug your carseat around town, if you travel a lot, I think it's worthwhile to invest in a Ride Safer Travel Vest to use in Taxis and Shuttles. This is a vest, so you can put it on your child while you flag down the taxi, and then jump in and buckle up. It's lightweight enough to keep in a daypack. There are two caveats that you should be aware of: 1) since there is no "booster" your child may not be able to see out the car window and 2) the vest can be hot in a warm climate. The Small RideSafer Car Seat Travel Vest works for kids 30-60 pounds while the Large RideSafer Travel Vest works for kids 50-80 pounds. This is a great choice as a travel car seat for kids who aren't old enough for a booster.
Best Booster For Short Car Rides and Taxis
Bubblebum Inflatable Booster Seat
If you'll be taking using taxis and shuttles for short rides at your destination, the BubbleBum Inflatable Booster Car Seat is a good bet because it is lightweight, and once you've let the air out, can be carried in a daypack. It's also a good bet to keep in your trunk for carpools, but be aware that it installs differently than most boosters, meaning that you'll probably want to use it only when you can safely seat your child yourself.
Best Backless Travel Booster for Long Car Rides
Harmony Olympian Youth Booster Car Seat
If you'll be taking a roadtrip at your destination and want a backless booster that's easy to carry aboard a plane, yet comfortable to sit in, I like the Harmony Olympian Booster Car Seat which is one of the few backless boosters to get high marks from the IIHS. At just $29, it's inexpensive enough to keep in your trunk for carpools.
Best High Backed Booster for Everyday Use
Graco High Back TurboBooster Car Seat
For everyday use, a high back booster offers better impact protection than a backless booster. It also gives your child a comfortable place to rest his or her head. We'll be using a seat with a 5-point harness as long as possible, but for grandparents' houses and my husband's car we chose the Graco High Back TurboBooster Car Seat. It' affordable, has good impact protection, and converts into a backless booster for carpools or travel. It also has a good track record, and Graco has been making this model for a long time.
Please note that I am not a certified car seat technician. These are the carseats I would (and have) purchased myself using the resources I listed in this post to make a decision. If you are purchasing a carseat, you should thoroughly research any carseat and make sure that it works well in your car and for your child.
With more states requiring that kids continue to ride in a booster seat until they're at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall, you're more likely to need one either at home or when you travel. Sadly, buying a new booster seat is more tricky than it should be, so here are some helpful links and resources that I use to choose a car seat.
Three-across setup with all three kids in 5-point harness seats
Does My Child Need a Booster Seat When We Travel?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now recommends that all children who've outgrown their car seat continue to ride in a booster seat until they're at least 8 years old and 4 feet 9 inches tall. State laws may require booster seat use too, even if you are not required to use a booster at home. For example, since Jan 1, 2012 visitors to California (and residents) will be required to seat kids in a booster until they are 4'9" tall or 8 years old, even when they are riding in a Taxi or rental car.
If you plan to travel, here's a helpful list of car seat laws by US state and here's a list of car seat laws by Canadian province. Lists sometimes get out of date, so it's worthwhile to Google the specific state or province you are visiting. For example "Washington State Car Seat Law."
I don't use a booster at home, should I rent a car seat?
I don't recommend renting a booster seat for two reasons. The first is that they're often unsafe or dirty. The second is that they're expensive, rental car agencies charge as much as $15 per day and don't guarantee that the seat you need will be available when you pick up your car. Instead, I recommend either bringing the seat you use at home or investing in an inexpensive booster seat for travel. At $15 per day, the booster seat would pay for itself with only a few days of use.
Should I buy a used booster seat?
Car seat experts recommend that you never buy a seat unless you know whether it has been in an accident. In addition, it is important to know that all car seats have an expiration date after which they are considered unsafe to use. In addition, many older booster seats did not position the child properly in the car and designs have changed in the past few years. I'm an advocate of buying used, or borrowing, many items for kids, but this is one place where it's worth investing in the latest and greatest.
Can I use my booster seat on a plane?
Booster seats are designed to properly position a shoulder belt. Since airplanes don't have shoulder belts, they serve no purpose in in airplane seat and cannot be used.
How do I tell if my Booster Seat is the Right Size for my Child and Car?
Here's a link to some pictures that show exactly how a booster seat should position the car's safety harness: Booster Seat Fit Guide
It's a great idea to try before you buy - ask to try the floor model if you are buying from a retail store. If you are buying online, look for a retailer that offers free return shipping if the carseat does not work out.
Darya is big enough for a booster, but I prefer a 5-point harness
What Features Should I Look For in a Booster Seat?
Part of the reason it's so difficult to choose the right seat is because there are so many kinds of seats, with different types offering different safety features and flexibility. When you are choosing a seat, here are some questions you should ask yourself:
Do I want impact protection? If your car has side airbags, you'll want to make sure that your child sits up straight in their seat and is not leaning against the door or the side of the car. The best way to do that is to purchase a seat with sides that they could lean against. Those sides are also comfortable if your child naps in the car on long rides.
Will it be used for carpools or permanently installed in my car? If you plan to use the seat for carpools, you might want a more compact model or a car seat that is very easy to install. If you plan to have the seat in your car permanently, you may want to choose one that attaches using the seatbelt or latch so that it doesn't become a projectile in a fast stop or crash.
Will it be used by more than one child?If you're choosing a seat with harnesses that will be used by more than one child, you may want to find a seat with external harness adjustment (meaning that you don't need to remove the carseat to adjust the harness size).
Would I prefer a 5 point harness? A five point harness is the safest harness, even for adults, but some kids feel like they've outgrown the harness, or you might prefer the simplicity of using the car seatbelt
Color and Design. That cute pink cover might seem like just the thing for your precious baby girl, but if you plan to have more kids, consider a neutral color.
What is the "track record" of the company that manufacturers the seat? Newer seats may have appealing features. On the other hand, an established company will have lots of data about how their seats perform in a crash.
Do you need 3 across? When you have your first child, it's hard to imagine ever needing to seat three kids in the back of your car, but the fact is that if you end up carpooling during the school-age years you may wish you'd bought an extra narrow seat
Do you ever need to seat a younger child in that seat? If you carpool, you may sometimes need to carry a not-booster-seat-aged child in your car, it's useful to have a carseat that would accommodate both your booster seat aged child and a younger child so that you don't need to swap out seats.
Does your car have a headrest at the appropriate height for your child?If not, you'll need a high-back booster seat.
Does it Fit?Check the seat's height and weight ratings to make sure you'll be able to use it until your child is 8 years old and 4'9" tall
Is it WashableA daily use booster seat should have a machine washable cover.
Do my Kids Need Cupholders If your car doesn't have cupholders that your kids can reach, you might consider a booster seat with a built in cupholder.
What Kinds of Booster Seats Can I Choose From?
Combination Car Seats with a 5-point Harness Some traditional carseats convert into a booster seat. If you decide to go this route, double check to make sure that your seat isn't expired by looking at the expiration or manufacture date on the base of the seat. Most seats are good for 6-8 years, but a few last as many as 10 years. You'll also want to double check the weight an height limits. Popular choices are the Britax Frontier 85 Combination Booster Car Seat and the Diono Radian RXT Convertible Car Seat, Shadow
Backless Booster This is the easiest type of carseat to keep in your trunk for carpool situations, and for some kids, it's the only seat that doesn't feel "babyish." It positions the car seatbelt at the correct height but does not provide impact protection for your child's head (some booster seats to have "arms" that provide impact protection for the child's hips). Consider a model that installs in your seat using LATCH so that it doesn't go flying when you make a fast stop with no kids in the car. Popular choices are the
Graco Backless TurboBooster Car Seat, the Clek Olli, and the Diono SantaFe Car Seat Booster, Silver.
Other Alternatives If you're planning to use your booster seat for travel only, or infrequently, with the seat being stored in a parents trunk most of the time, here are some options that might work for you. The RideSafer Travel Vest works even for kids who aren't old enough for a booster and positions the car seat belt properly. It's lightweight, and easy to fit in a suitcase, daypack or carryon bag for travel. The BubbleBum Inflatable Booster Car Seat inflatable carseat compresses easily and can fit in a suitcase or daypack for travel.
How do I Choose A Safe, Well Made Booster Seat
Sadly, there's not one best seat for every family, nor is there one best source to get all the information you need in order to make a decision. Here are the resources I use when evaluating a carseat.
Check the Fit: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety evaluates booster seats to make sure that they correctly position a child so that the seatbelt fits properly. Sadly, many do not, even though this is the basic function that a booster seat is designed to do. You can find a list of booster seats that work properly, and a list to avoid here. Even after consulting this list, you'll still want to evaluate the seat you buy with your child in your car.
Check For Recalls: Some companies have many safety related recalls for their carseats, while others have very few. While you never know which seats might be recalled in the future, past history is a good indicator of how seriously a company treats safety issues when they are designing and manufacturing their carseats.
links to safety information and test results. Among the biggest manufactures, Safety 1st, Cosco, Dorel and Evenflo are brands that I often see recalling carseats. Here's the link to search for carseat recalls
Check Ease of Use: The NHTSA rates carseats for ease of use, which includes factors like how good the instructions are and how easy it is to buckle your child into the seat. You can read those ratings here
Check the Reviews: You'll also want to know how easy (or hard) installation is and how well the carseat wears over time, and sometimes independent reviews uncover problems with a seat before they reach the mass numbers required for a recall. Amazon is a good resource for real world reviews. The website Car-seat.org is a great place to ask questions about the seat you are considering. If you have a subscription, Consumer Reports also publishes a thorough and independent review of carseats.
Is there a "best time" to buy a booster seat
If you have some flexibility in when you'll move your child into a booster seat, you might want to wait for a good deal. I asked Angie of the popular blog Baby Cheapskate for advice on finding a bargain. Here's what she said:
There really isn't a right time to buy a car seat, per se. Different brands release their new models at various times throughout the year. I recommend using a site like CamelCamelCamel.com to see what the price has done over time at Amazon (their prices often reflect prices elsewhere on the web) and choosing a price point that you're comfortable with, say, 30% off. Set up a price alert so you'll know when that happens. Then it's a matter of waiting until prices reach that point.
In general, we see a lot of baby sales in January and in September.
By the way, you might want to keep an eye on Baby Cheapskate, it's a great resource for finding deals on big purchases like carseats and strollers, as well as everyday needs like diapers and wipes.
Where can I get my child's car seat or other restraint inspected to make sure it's being used properly?
The best way to make sure that your booster seat is installed properly is to have a trained car-seat tech inspect it. Look for events in your area (local hospitals, fire stations and IKEA often run car seat checks) or search the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Website for resources in your zipcode.
Please note that I am not a certified car seat technician. These resources are the ones I use when making a purchase decision, and you should thoroughly research any carseat you purchase
Readers: You can help too - if you have tips or favorite resources, please add them in comments.
I'm cleaning my digital house as well as my real one, and I'll be letting go of a few great domain names that I'm not using. If you're planning to start a travel blog this year, one of them might be a great fit for you. If you're interested in one of them, just send me a note at Debbie AT deliciousbaby DOT com and we'll work out something equitable.
Everest has been obsessed with maps lately. He literally can't walk by one without stopping to take a look. We just had his walls painted light blue, and they're looking a bit bare, so it seemed only fitting to help him create a map mural as decoration. Here's a few pictures of the work in progress.
What is Photo Friday?
Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
The focus of the post should be on your photo.
You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
Great Race
was given to me by the publisher, Barefoot Books to review. Because the total value of the books given to me for review exceeded $40 I have donated them to my childrens' school library. If you buy the book using the Amazon link at the end of the post, I earn a small commission, and that income helps me keep the site going.
With Chinese New Year approaching, I thought it would be fun to review a book about the Chinese Zodiac. Great Race tells the traditional story about how the years in the Chinese Zodiac got their order. It's a story I'd never heard before, and it's great fun. As the animals all race to the finish line to determine who will be first in the zodiac their individual characters come out and we learn a little about the personality of each animal. There's lots to talk about here as the different animals use their strengths (or are thwarted by their own weaknesses) in an attempt to win the race.
The colorful illustrations are filled with motion, and you start to want to root the animals on as you work your way through the story. At the end of the book there is a brief description of the Chinese calendar and the characters of the twelve animals on the Zodiac.
Reader Question: Do you have any books you like to read to get ready for Chinese New Year?
We're lucky to live near Seattle's International District. My kids have grown up wandering the colorful Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese and South East Asian produce shops with me, and while that might not make them any less finicky when it comes to eating, they think it's as fun to explore as I do. One of my favorite places to pick up lunch on the run is Seattle Deli where Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches are made fresh to order and there's a wide variety of brilliantly colored sweets to choose from.
What is Photo Friday?
Post a travel photo on your site. It can be about any topic, as long as it is G-rated.
The focus of the post should be on your photo.
You don't need to be a professional photographer (I'm not), but do showcase your best work, and make it big enough to see well!
It's nice to include a few sentences about the photo, but it is not required.
Link back here so that your readers can see all the other great Photo Friday posts.
About Me I'm Debbie, mother of three delicious kids and I write about traveling with little kids. That's my daughter in the backpack and my son in Paris on Halloween.
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seats kids from 5-120 pounds! This seat also has a 10 year shelf life, meaning that even with a couple of kids you can probably use it from newborn to age 8. Note that kids are positioned down low in this seat, so very young children may not be able to see out the window.
works for kids 30-60 pounds while the 
works for kids 50-80 pounds. This is a great choice as a travel car seat for kids who aren't old enough for a booster.
is a good bet because it is lightweight, and once you've let the air out, can be carried in a daypack. It's also a good bet to keep in your trunk for carpools, but be aware that it installs differently than most boosters, meaning that you'll probably want to use it only when you can safely seat your child yourself.
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. It' affordable, has good impact protection, and converts into a backless booster for carpools or travel. It also has a good track record, and Graco has been making this model for a long time.
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