UPDATE: Medium/Large Ponchos

OFFICIAL UPDATE FOR THE CAR SEAT PONCHO STORE:

Our new, re-designed and renovated store is up and running! 

We are now taking pre-orders for Medium/Large Ponchos in the Charcoal series:

• Charcoal/Deep Rose
• Charcoal/Royal Blue
• Charcoal/Navy
• Charcoal/Black
• Charcoal Purple

These colors can be pre-ordered as of tonight, 12/21/13, 10:30 p.m. Eastern time, and will ship on 12/30/13.

All other Medium/Large colors and all Small colors will be available some time during the week of 12/30, and will ship on January 3, 2014.

Thank you so much for your patience and THANK YOU for choosing the Car Seat Poncho!

"So whose sippy cup is this?"

Proud of my CPST work today: While installing an infant seat for a pregnant couple, and I see a sippy cup in the back seat:

Me: "I thought the baby wasn't even born yet."
Mom: "Not till December."
Me: "Oh. So whose sippy cup is this?"
Mom: "My older daughter."
Me: "Oh, I see. What does she ride in?"
Mom: "Well, she's twelve..."
Me: (started to nod as if I realize what she's going to say...)
Mom: "...but she's handicapped."

Immediately my supervisor and I look at each other. Dad taps mom on the arm and says, "Oh, maybe we should ask about that thing..."

Mom's eyes light up and says, "Oh, YEAH, that thing..."

Turns out their older child is handicapped. That "thing" in the trunk was an EZ On vest. While I took care of the infant seat install, my supe took over and took them through everything they had to know and had to do to get the right tether anchor, how to use the vest, other things they should be aware of with an SN child, etc. I don't know any of the background (type/degree of handicap or what the 12 year old had been riding in before), but the end result is that not only will the newborn ride safely, but big sister will, too.

I'm so glad I had my detective eyes on this morning and asked that one little question!

To find a car seat installation and check-up event near you, visit safekids.org.

Wishing you all safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving (and Thanksgivingkuh)!

Girls' Colors Sold Out till 2014

If you have a genuine Car Seat Poncho that your child has outgrown (and you are willing to part with it), consider posting it for sale.  Our own web store is sold out, completely.  Demand is strong right now, and not only can you free up some space and score a few extra bucks, you can save the sanity of moms who are sick of hassling with coats and blankets, and keep some sweeties safe and cozy in their car seats! 

 

Whether you are ISO or have one FOR SALE, I strongly recommend posting on the Swap board of Carseat.org.  Other options are your local mommies’ board, Craigslist, Baby Center, Car Seats for the Littles, etc. 

 

Note:  GENUINE CAR SEAT PONCHOS are made of two layers of high quality, anti-pill polyester fleece and feature a high quality reversible, fully separating zipper.  All genuine Car Seat Ponchos have branded labels on the inside and outside (pictured above).  They are manufactured professionally and are NOT home sewn.  No wobbly neck lines, uneven hems, or "poncho face," which can make your toddler really, really angry.  You know, angry in that particular toddler way...

 

One of the most important features of a genuine Car Seat Poncho is that it does not have a drawstring.  Drawstrings are illegal for children’s clothing and have been linked to several cases of child strangulation and death. 

 

Good luck to all who are searching and all who may sell.  Post on our Facebook page if you have success!

That's It -- We're Sold Out Till 2014

Believe me, I wish I had a thousand more in stock to sell to everyone who is trying to buy one!  Whew, though.  What a whirlwind, amazing season.  Thank you, moms, dads, CPSTs, safety experts, Car Seat Ladies, bloggers, Baby Center, CarSeat.org ...

 

... we couldn't have done it without you!

WANTED: Genuine Car Seat Ponchos

Wow.  Sales have been, frankly, FANTASTIC this season, but the down side is the many, many parents who still want – no, NEED(!) -- a genuine Car Seat Poncho.  No imitations.  No home sewn experiments.  No wobbly neck lines, no thin dime-store fleece. 

 

If you have a genuine Car Seat Poncho that your child has outgrown (and you are willing to part with it), consider posting it for sale.  Demand is strong right now, and not only can you free up some space and score a few extra bucks, you can save the sanity of moms who are sick of hassling with coats and blankets, and keep some sweeties safe and cozy in their car seats! 

 

Whether you are ISO or have one FOR SALE, I strongly recommend posting on the Swap board of Carseat.org.  Other options are your local mommies’ board, Craigslist, etc. 

 

Note:  GENUINE CAR SEAT PONCHOS are made of two layers of high quality, anti-pill polyester fleece and feature a high quality reversible, fully separating zipper.  All genuine Car Seat Ponchos have branded labels on the inside and outside (pictured above).  They are manufactured professionally and are NOT home sewn.  One of the most important features of a genuine Car Seat Poncho is that it does not have a drawstring.  Drawstrings are illegal for children’s clothing and have been linked to several cases of child strangulation and death. 

 

Good luck to all who are searching and all who may sell.  Post on our Facebook page if you have success!

The picture above shows almost every traditional boy style we have ever produced, since 2006.  Buyers and sellers can refer to this when describing the product they want or have.

When Will We Get More BOYS' PONCHOS?

Thanks an amazing burst of early fall orders, we have no more traditional boys' colors available.

We'll have more in January 2014, maybe earlier, if at all possible.

To be one of the FIRST to receive updates by subscribing to our blog and/or friending us on Facebook.  Thank you so much for your patience and THANK YOU for loving (and wanting) the Car Seat Poncho!

JUST ADDED: Limited Edition Car Seat Ponchos

H Barry Boo LLC has released a limited number of production samples and gently used floor models for sale!

Production samples are fully functioning Car Seat Ponchos, identical in basic construction and material quality to full-price Car Seat Ponchos, but were used to test color combinations or aid in minor styling decisions. 

Floor models are fully functioning Car Seat Ponchos that were either gently used by children and mothers in the testing process or were used for display at car seat safety events, such as SAFE KIDS Lifesavers or regional NHTSA conferences. 

All gently used ponchos have been laundered, re-tagged and thoroughly inspected by H Barry Boo LLC, and were only used by smoke-free, pet-free families. 

All production samples and gently used floor models are final sale.  Shop now and take a look. 

What Is A Car Seat Poncho Worth?

 

In today's economy, is the Car Seat Poncho a justifiable purchase?  Of course, the safety of our loved ones is priceless, but in addition, consider the following:

• The Car Seat Poncho will last 2 seasons or more.  Babies and toddlers grow at least one size per season.  My son would start the fall wearing 12M, but finish the winter in 2T!  That would be two more coats, a double purchase.  

• Your child can wear it every day, in a wide range of temperatures, from frigid cold up to 60F degrees.

If you are considering making your own poncho without a pattern, consider that the retail cost of the fabrics and zipper alone would be much more than half the cost of a small poncho. Then calculate the time, labor, and cost of trial and error. Our design is much more than a square of fabric with a hole in the middle!  We have refined our design over many, many prototypes.  Our ponchos maximize warmth, function, ease of use, and cuteness!

​The Car Seat Poncho is a terrific value.  It will last for years and can be passed from one child to another.  Our materials are the highest quality, and our workmanship is impeccable.  Order now and you can have it in 3 days!

How Influential Is Tim Gunn?

Mobsters and fashionistas.  One day you're in, the next day, you're auf.

The Price of Clothing -- and Your Soul

 

Where are your clothes from?  Where were they made?  The person who made them, did he or she earn a living wage, in safe conditions?  Were they treated fairly?  Did they have any workplace protection, or an entity (like OSHA) that could take up their cause if they felt practices were exploitative or dangerous?

Here's an eye-opening, cool scroll-overable infographic that shows where major manufacturers have their goods made and how much the average worker is paid.

I just can't rationalize that "in these countries, 50 cents a day is a good wage," because I don't believe that you should pay your workers as little as you can get away with.  You should pay them what they are worth and reflect what their labor is worth TO YOU (I guess this is where the "and your soul" part of the title applies).

The Car Seat Poncho is made entirely in the USA, at a factory that pays a good, competitive wage, provides health care, complies with OSHA and other federal, state and municipal safety codes and is regularly inspected and certified.  And what I pay that factory includes more than labor.  It includes the cost of the owner's overhead, which literally provides for what's over one's head:  The factory building is solid, clean, well-maintained, and properly constructed to accomodate heavy equipment and the vibrations caused by hundreds of sewing machines.

• In contrast, the owner of the Bangladeshi factory where 112 workers perished a few weeks ago "didn't know he was supposed to provide fire exits."
• The Bangladeshi factory (a different one!) that collapsed in April, killing 1,100 workers, was constructed on a piece of land that used to be a body of water, and was "filled with rubbish."  Probably got that parcel pretty cheap.

And true, just because a factory is in the US doesn't guarantee any of the above.  But doing business in a place where I can frequently visit, walk through, look people in the eye and read the employee bulletin board removes 99.9% of any doubt.

The price of the Car Seat Poncho reflects the decision that our company has made not to exploit or take advantage of people -- in this country or around the world -- who want to work and provide decent, healthy lives for themselves and their families.  No one should have to work for almost nothing (while others profit lavishly). 

This principle also applies to people like the factory owners I work with, who do right by their employees and right by their customers -- they deserve a fair profit.  And it includes people like me, who invent, design, market, manage, process and ship the products!

No one should have to give her labor away.  Please don't ask her to.

My Baby's NOT Cold Outside (or in her car seat!)

This week, we got a very nice note from a very satisfied customer:

I just wanted to let you know the Car Seat Poncho is working out great!  So far, but my daughter loves it - and considering it was -13F here in Minneapolis this morning, the timing couldn't have been better!

 

- Renee

 

Thank you, Renee, and I'm glad your little one is staying toasty -- and SAFE in her Car Seat Poncho.  Not to mention how convenient it is for mom -- no coat, no sleeves, no bulk, no hassle.

 

To read more about how well the Car Seat Poncho shields your child from the cold, click here.

 

To read more notes from happy customers, click here.

 

And to see colors and sizes for YOUR own little one, click HERE.

 

What's the Car Seat Poncho's temperature rating?

Facebook Friends:  Pitch in your real-life temperature rating for the Car Seat Poncho!

From: S
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2013 9:11 AM

Hi there,

I'm just wondering what the temperature ratings are on the poncho. I'm aware that it says "cold temperature", but living in Chicago, we have some bitterly, cold, winter days and low wind chill temperatures. It would be helpful to have this information on the website as part of the item description.

Thanks,
S

Dear S,

In my personal experience, I have used the poncho on my son in 15 degree weather (Fahrenheit), over his regular indoor clothes and a thin fleece hoodie.  He stayed toasty warm throughout our errands and ins/outs of the car. I have also used a thin windbreaker (no lining, just the windproof shell) with the poncho in colder weather (it rarely goes below 0 here in NJ) and he stayed toasty then, too.

And while I don't have scientific insulation or heat retention studies, I know that Car Seat Ponchos are being used by many satisfied customers in the coldest parts of the US and in Canada.

I will post this on my blog (and Facebook) and see what other moms post. Friend “Car Seat Poncho” today or tomorrow and there should be some responses to read.

Thanks again for writing and thank you for considering the Car Seat Poncho!
Regards,
Donna Eng