Car seat safety recommendations and car seat models have changed over the years, which makes it important for parents to keep up with all of the latest information on car seats to help keep their kids as safe as possible when riding in the car.

For example, did you know that most experts recommend that:

• toddlers continue to ride rear-facing as long as possible and until they reach the height and weight limits of their car seat, which may be well after their first birthday and they reach 20 pounds
• older toddlers and preschoolers, even after they are 4 years old and forty pounds, continue to ride in a harnessed seat as long as possible if they have a car seat with a harness that has high weight and height limits, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their harnessed car seats and into a booster seat too soon
• school age children ride in a booster seat until the car's seat belts fit them correctly, when they are about 4'9" tall, which may not be until they are between 8 and 12 years of age, keeping in mind that many parents move their kids out of their booster seat and start using regular seat belts too soon
• avoid having your child wear heavy clothing, like a winter coat, that may interfere with proper harnessing

To keep your child safe, in addition to choosing the right type and model of car seat, it is important that you use your car seat correctly by following the above car seat best practices.

Related:
Car Seats
Registering Your Car Seat
Car Seat Mistakes
Winter Coats and Car Seats

The CDC updated there estimates of H1N1 (swine flu) counts this week, now stating that there have likely been about 22 million cases of 2009 H1N1 since April 2009, about 98,000 H1N1-related hospitalizations, and about 3,900 2009 H1N1-related deaths, including about 540 deaths in children.

We got some good news too though, as the CDC also reported that 'influenza activity decreased slightly,' although there is still widespread flu activity in forty-six states. Hopefully that means that swine flu activity will continue to decrease over the next few weeks, but that doesn't mean that we are out of the woods yet and that your kids don't need to get a swine flu vaccine. Many experts are still concerned that we could see another wave of swine flu cases later this winter, so getting a swine flu vaccine and a seasonal flu vaccine now, or whenever you can, can protect your kids for the rest of this flu season.

Although swine flu vaccine has been hard to get, the CDC also reports that there is now just over 40 million doses available, with more and more vaccine available each week. That should make it easier to get a swine flu vaccine for your child now and in the weeks to come.

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Swine Flu Symptoms
Swine Flu Map
Swine Flu Vaccine
Find Flu Shots

Maclaren USA, Inc. and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of about one million Maclaren strollers because the 'stroller's hinge mechanism poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller.'

There are reports of at least twelve fingertip amputations in these Maclaren single and double umbrella strollers that were sold nationwide from 1999 through November 2009 for between $100 and $360. Strollers involved in the Maclaren stroller recall have the word 'Maclaren' printed on the stroller, including the Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, TechnoXLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller Maclaren strollers.

Consumers should stop using the recalled Maclaren strollers until they can fix them with a free repair kit.

Related:
CPSC Alert:Maclaren USA Recalls to Repair Strollers Following Fingertip Amputations
Recent Recalls and Alerts
Baby Product Recalls
Strollers

Fairbank Farms has voluntarily recalled about 545,699 pounds of fresh ground beef because it may be contaminated with the E.coli O157:H7 bacteria.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the CDC discovered the possible link while investigating a small cluster of E. coli infections which may have already sickened 28 people and caused at least one death.

Recalled ground beef was sold at grocery stores in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont, with a sell-by date from September 19 through 28, 2009. Although already past their expiration dates, consumers who have the recalled ground beef in their freezer should not eat it and can return it for a refund. Recalled ground beef products include those sold by ACME, BJ's, Ford Brothers, Giant Food Stores, Lancaster and Wild Harvest, Price Chopper, Shaw's, and Trader Joe's.

Parents should keep in mind that in addition to people with weak immune systems, the very young can be very susceptible to food poisoning, including E. coli infections, which makes it very important that they watch for these types of recalls.

Related:
USDA: Fairbanks Farms Ground Beef Recall
Food Poisoning Symptoms
Preventing Food Poisoning
Food Storage and Food Safety
E . Coli Symptoms