Great Review on About.com

Great grade from About.com

 The Car Seat Poncho got a/nother great review, this time on About.com's "Baby's First Year" blog:

"When I first glanced at this product, I'll be honest and say I wasn't too sure about it. I am a New Englander, and the winters up here get beyond frigid.

Would the Car Seat Poncho really keep my baby or toddler warm? Closer inspection reveals a solid, "Yes!"

The reason being, this poncho is made out of not just one layer of fleece, but two layers of 400-weight fleece. The weight of the blanketed poncho traps warm air next to your child while you go out to the carseat.

The other features of this product that I find appealing over some of the other winter car seat accessories are:

1. It works with both infant car seat carriers AND any 5-point harness. So if you are using a convertible car seat, this product will work for you.
2. It prevents any layers of material from coming between your baby and the harness straps. The straps remain as close to your baby as possible at all times, unlike popular winter gear like the Bundle Me.
3. It also can be used as warm weather wear. You get to your destination, and your child has the freedom to walk around and still keep warm."

Thanks to blogger Jennifer White, of About.com.  FYI: Unlike many other "product review" blogs, there was no "freebie" product given in exchange for a review.  Ms. White chose the Car Seat Poncho to review based on her own research and suggestions from her readers -- bona fide journalism!

Was there anything she left out of her great review?  Leave your two cents in the comment area for the article:  http://baby.about.com/b/2011/01/03/the-car-seat-poncho.htm#commentform

Want to read some more love?  Here are more Car Seat Poncho reviews.

Y'All Ready for This?

Feel that chill in the air? It's poncho time! Let's kick off the fall with a good ole' pep rally. Stadium lights on, cue the marching band....  Now, y'all ready to shop?  Take a look at all sizes and colors.

Kicking off 2010 with love & cold

The first message of the decade is from Tamar in Indiana:

"Thank you for your excellent customer service.  We used the poncho today and I loved it!  It is everything I could want: warm, quick, easy and cute!"

And with this cold snap gripping the country, there is still plenty of winter left (especially for you folks in the Midwest and New England).  Is your town feeling extra cold this year?  How many times will you have to wrestle a kid, a coat and a car seat?  A Car Seat Poncho purchased in January would get at least 100 days of use between now and the first crocus!

The Car Seat Poncho vs "The Coat Trick"

Next on my to-do list: a demonstration video.  I want people to see how fast they can get their children into the car seat, buckled and be on their way with the Car Seat Poncho. 

There is an excellent, and popular video by Madeline410 demonstrating what's known in some CPS circles as "the coat trick". 

Basically, the trick is to:

1. Before you go out, slip one of your child's arms through one sleeve
2. Slip the child's other arm through the other sleeve
3. Zip up the coat
4. Go out to the car and put your child in the seat
5. Put his or her arms through the straps
6. The bottom of the coat out from under the straps on one side
7. Pull the bottom out on the other side
8. The collar and top of the coat out from the straps on one side
9. Pull the collar and top of the coat out from the straps on the other side
10. Buckle the crotch and chest clips
11. Tighten the harness
12. Zip the coat

... and then you can be on your way (unless you have more children to coat-trick).

Now, I think the coat trick is a great trick, and a great way to keep kids safe and warm in the winter.  But the Car Seat Poncho is much easier. 

Here's what you do with the poncho:

1. Before you go out, slip the poncho over your child's head
2. Go out to the car and put your child in the seat
3. Spread the poncho around the top and sides of the car seat
4. Open the zipper from the bottom
   
5. Buckle the crotch and chest clips
   
6. Tighten the harness
   
7. Pull down the zipper to close
   

Much easier, much quicker, right?  The video is about one minute long, and I'm pretty sure the poncho takes less than half that.  And if you have more than one child, that's a lot of time saved and a lot of hassle avoided.  Maybe I can get two moms and two kids, and do a split-screen comparison...

When I get it done, I'll debut it here first.  Blog readers deserve some perks and exclusives, right?