Coming soon to a “bum” near you, the Northern Ireland based company BubbleBum has created an inflatable booster seat that is sure to be a huge hit in the US. You simply take the seat out of the easy-to-carry pouch, inflate it, and strap it through a standard

three-point adult seat belt. Not only is this a great idea for traveling, but the BubbleBum would also be an inexpensive solution for providing additional booster seats when carpooling.

Already approved for use in Europe (ECE safety info) and selling for GBP 24.99 (approximately $38.00 USD), BubbleBum is currently in negotiations for distribution in North America. Learn more at www.BubbleBum.co.uk or be one of their first followers on Twitter @bubblebumukltd!

What do you think parents? Would a BubbleBum inflatable, portable booster seat be useful to you or to the grandparents?

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> also see: TotSeat: The Portable and Washable High Chair,

Feedaway Portable High Chair, and The Flybaby Seat

> tip thanks to Springwise!

Forget feeding your little ones in their strollers, and don’t even think about lugging around one of those clunky folding high chairs. The hot new seat for your traveling tot is the completely portable Totseat Highchair. Designed for babies 8 to 30 months (just under 3

years) the Totseat slips over just about any chair out there and best of all…it fits in the diaper bag! Did I mention that it’s washable? I kid you not parents, the Totseat is the real deal. Check out the video below for a full demo:

Visit Totseat.com to learn more, or order it today at one of Dr.MOZ’s favorite gift stores The Spoon Sisters!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

> Tip thanks to CoolMomPicks!

If you are a regular visitor here at the Dear Dr.MOZ baby blog,  you already know that there’s no shortage of strange baby and children’s products. From stylish morning sickness bags to umbrella caps, I’m doing my best to cover each strange and interesting invention. The difference between most products placed in the “strange” category and today’s feature

is…parents might actually find the Flyebaby useful!

The Flyebaby is a hammock-style seat designed to provide a comfortable seating area for babies up to 25 pounds when sitting in airplanes, at the beach, or by the pool. As seen in the image above, it secures easily to a tray table on an airplane, lounge/beach chairs, and most kitchen chairs. To be honest, I’m not sure I’d secure my newborn to three-pound lounge chair at a beach in Northern California (could easily become a baby kite with a gust of wind), but it’s a great idea for long flights. Not only will a Flyebaby fit in a diaper bag, but they are machine washable and come with matching storage bags.

Flyebaby portable seats can be found at flyebaby.com in “Jungle”, “Retro-Mod”, and “Solid Grey” for $49.99. Do you own a  Flyebaby, or would you like one as a gift? If so, place your review in the comment box below to let us know what you think!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

Tottoos.org offers an interesting safety product to parents and schools in the form of temporary tattoos. They market their customizable temporary tattoos called “tottoos” to parents and teachers of children on vacation, school field trips, or just about anywhere that a child may accidentally stray from their guardians. Because they are customizable, they might also be useful for children with allergies or medical conditions that the general public may need to be aware of.

A set of 15 identical “Tottos” (2 lines, identical to each other) and removal towelettes is $14.95. Group packages of 60 customized tottoos and towelettes for small groups costs $54.95 and above depending on your needs.

Let me know if your child or school group uses Tottoos or a similar safety measure that you feel our readers may be interested in by clicking on the comments bubble above.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

(tip via Springwise)

Dear Dr.MOZ,

My grandsons have a bad habit of playing “hide and seek” in public places, and so I thought I’d see if you had any ideas for keeping them close. I don’t see myself using any of the child harnesses I’ve seen out there (especially with two boys at the same time), but I get uneasy when one manages to wander out of sight. Thank you for considering my question Dr.MOZ!

Sincerely,
Grandma Joan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hi Grandma Joan,

It can be really tough to keep toddlers close at all times, and “hide and seek” can obviously be a dangerous game to play outside of the home. Over 300 children are abducted by strangers every year, so I’d first speak to the parents to make sure that

older siblings know not to encourage the game in public places.

You might also consider using one of the toddler tracking products on the market like the Giggle Bug. It sounds like you’ll need two, but I’d consider them to be a perfect tools and a worthy investment for helping you instantly find a hiding (or lost) child. The Giggle Bug will emit a loud beep when you push your locater button on the hand-held unit until it reset by an adult. A few particularly smart Giggle Bug features include the “low battery” warnings, and the no tamper feature which makes the alarm sound if the unit is taken off the child (and the clip closes). With a range of 75-100 feet indoors and slightly further outdoors, it could help avoid a potentially dangerous situation.

You can find the Giggle Bug in many popular baby stores and boutiques including Invinceakid.com in the US or Baby Planet Boutique in Canada. Thanks for sending your question in to “Dear Dr.MOZ” Grandma Joan!

Have fun and stay healthy,

Dr.MOZ

There have been a surge of new stroller brands entering the US and Canadian market over the past few years (each with their own designs and special functions), so I thought I would meet with one of my favorite groups DaddyDaily.com for advice on the subject. In today’s Q&A, we cover basic stroller features and safety tips. Come back tomorrow for “Part 2″ where DaddyDaily will be back to help The GoodFather choose a few favorite strollers.

Dr.MOZ: Hi DaddyDaily! I thought we would start by helping new parents separate the good from the bad strollers. Most of the strollers on the market look good, but what are the signs of a well-designed stroller that new and expecting parents should look for when shopping for functionality and durability?

DaddyDaily: Thanks for having us Dr.MOZ. When it comes to strollers, safety should be on your mind as well as functionality. So no matter the look, a well designed stroller should include:

1. A large base to provide stability for the stroller even when a child is leaning over the side of the stroller.
2. Proper safety restraint straps, 5 point harness system are the best.
3. Adequate storage for necessary items (i.e. diaper bag) underneath the seat/s of the stroller.
4. Wheels have good locking mechanisms.

Dr.MOZ: Some of the strollers I’ve seen out in the world have more cup holders and chrome than my car. How much should new parents expect to pay for a typical modern stroller that will last a few years?

DaddyDaily: Strollers come in so many styles (umbrella, carriage, jogging, travel systems, etc…) and the choices are endless. Prices vary dramatically anywhere from $20 for a simple umbrella stroller to $1,000 for the fancy “celebrity” strollers. Typically, expect to spend anywhere from just under $200 to about $400 for a stroller solution.

Dr.MOZ: It seems like there are a lot more gadgets and safety features on modern strollers than there were even two years ago. What safety tips should new parents keep in mind once they have a purchased a stroller and are ready to roll?

DaddyDaily: Most safety tips seem like common-sense, but they really can be easy to forget when you are out in the world with a baby in tow. There’s a lot going on in a grocery store or a mall parking lot, and you have no control of most of it. General safety tips for strollers include:

1. USE THE SAFETY RESTRAINT STRAPS – EVERY TIME!
2. RETURN the warranty card for the stroller to ensure you receive any recall announcements! Companies are generally very good at sending this information on a timely basis. Also, it’s a good idea to check the web site www.recalls.gov for the latest recall information.
3. Ensure the frame locking features are engaged to prevent the stroller from collapsing on the child.
4. Check the front of the stroller to prevent the baby from falling out when the seat is in the reclined position.
5. When child is in a reclined position, make sure the stroller can’t tip backwards.
6. NEVER leave your child in stroller behind a parked car. Always put the stroller on the side of the vehicle and put the baby/child in your vehicle first, then deal with groceries, bags, keys, etc…
7. Apply the wheel locks or brakes when the stroller in not in motion.
8. Don’t overload the stroller with items or hang heavy bags on the handles. This is particularly important to remember during the upcoming shopping season when things get hectic. Remember it’s a stroller for your baby, not a shopping cart.

Don’t forget, you can visit DaddyDaily at www.DaddyDaily.com and don’t forget to visit us tomorrow because they’ll be back to help the GoodFather pick out some of his favorite strollers on the market!

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ

This Monday’s prescription is for all the parents flying with babies in the near future. Flying with a baby (and tons of baby gear) is never easy, but you’ll be a little more prepared thanks to the tips and tricks the doctor has waiting up his sleeve.

1) Timing is Key: If you can, take flights that match your baby’s sleeping pattern. A sleeping baby is a happy baby!

2) Using Services: You may already know to have your stroller tagged at check-in, but did you know that most airlines will allow you to “reserve” the seat next to your without paying for it? You won’t get seat if the flight is full, but you’ll love the extra room if it isn’t!

3) Ask the Guru: Check with the SeatGuru to see in-depth (seat specific) comments describing everything from legroom to in-flight amenities that would make a difference to you and your baby. www.SeatGuru.com

4) Air Pressure: Babies also experience ear pain from elevation variations, so you’ll

want to give your baby a bottle or pacifier to help release the pressure during take-offs and landings. You’ll obviously need the diaper bag with you on the plane, so plan to have all the usual diaper gear along with favorite toys for diversions during the flight.

5) Safety: You might assume that most injuries occur during take-off and landing, but in reality 90% of all injuries occur in flight. Most of these injuries are due to turbulence which is why parents are encouraged to secure their children through the flight. One of the most popular security vests on the market for infants and toddlers is the Baby B’Air vest which is fastened to the parent’s seatbelt to keep baby secure while in the air (not of takeoff, taxi, or landing use). Available through Baby B’Air’s retail partners.

Have any other tips or tricks for traveling with your baby? If so, share your travel ideas and resources with your favorite moose M.D. by clicking on the comment bubble above.

Have fun and stay healthy,
Dr.MOZ