2019-10-01_Good_Housekeeping_UserUpload.Net

FROM THE EXPERTS AT THE GOOD HOUSEKEEPING INSTITUTE

Never forget kids

in the backseat.

You think it can never happen to you,

but accidents are possible. Some auto

manufacturers (like GM, Nissan and

Hyundai) now offer safety features

to remind you to check the backseat.

If you’re not in the market for a new

ride, consider an Evenflo Gold car

seat. Its built-in SensorSafe tech alerts

you if a kid is left buckled in or if the

chest clip is unbuckled while driving.

Get your car seat

install OK’d by a pro.

Even the best seat won’t do its

job unless it’s installed properly.

Visit nhtsa.gov to find your closest

inspection station, like a police or fire

department, or a certified technician.

One of the top mistakes we see:

installation with the car’s LATCH

system and a seat belt. You should

use only one; if done correctly,

they’re both effective and safe.

REAL-LIFE

MOM HACKS

When we surveyed GH

parents, you shared genius

tips for surviving everything

from travel to cleaning that

impressed our experts!

Whether you’re driving cross-country or just around the

corner, protect your most precious cargo with these musts

Take off bulky coats

before buckling.

When we polled GH readers about

car seats, almost 50% reported

(unknowingly) that they dressed

their kids unsafely. Thick layers like

coats can be compressed in a crash,

putting kids at risk of coming loose

from restraints. Dress tots in thin,

tight clothing (e.g., fleece) and lay

a blanket or coat over them once

they’re strapped in.

CREATE A FAMILY FIRE PLAN. However much you

prepare, emergencies can happen. Stay ready by identifying at least

two potential escape routes for each family member (and pets!),

and practice twice a year. Be sure kids know what your home’s alarms

sound like and how to get out in case you can’t safely reach them.

DRIVE-SAFE SMARTS.

KNOW WHAT TO

BUY & WHAT TO SKIP.

Check recalls or safety updates.

Before buying vintage or used items,

check cpsc.gov for alerts. Retailers pull

recalled or outdated items from shelves,

but resale sites or individual sellers may

not stop selling them. We found kids’ jackets

with neck drawstrings (like at left), which are

not allowed to be sold in the United States.

Be wary of independent sellers.

Items found on popular homemade

marketplaces may look adorable or tout

“green” claims, but they could be risky

buys. Our experts found everything from

flammable kids’ sleepwear (that went up

in flames when we tested it) to DIY

laundry tablets that arrived unwrapped

and unlabeled in just a mason jar (that

any young child could easily get into

BOOK FLIGHTS

DURING MEALTIME.

Instead of flying at nap time

(which can backfire and leave

kids cranky and tired!), one mom

says, “Eating a meal we bring on

the plane can keep us occupied

for at least 45 minutes.”

COLOR-CODE

SIBLINGS’ TOY BOXES.

Assign kids their own colored

bins, advises one mom. Toys

that are specifically one child’s

go in his or her bin. Everything

else is fair game for sharing.

DESIGNATE A

DONATION STATION.

To cut clutter, put out a donation

box during cleanup. One mom’s

kids were “more likely to opt to

get rid of older toys because it

was easier to put them in the box

than to organize them!” You can

do this for clothes too.

MAKE A MINI DUSTER.

Kids love to help — and making

cleaning fun with appropriate

tools can create good habits. A

reader said she bought a

Swiffer (a GH Seal star!) for her

kid and left one pole section

out so it was child-size.

ONLINE SHOPPING

AUTO SAFETY READER ADVICE

EMERGENCY

OUTDATED STYLE

SAFETY ALERT!

Kids’ jackets like this

one with drawstrings

around the neck area

are now prohibited!

MEDIA & TECH GH

LAB

OCTOBER 2019 GH 83

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