Canadians: Snuggle Bugz Has Car Seat Ponchos!

Over the years, I have received many emails from Canadian moms who bemoaned the high cost of shipping Car Seat Ponchos from the US to Canada.  Since we are a small company, we do not have bulk pricing from commercial freight companies like FedEx or DHL, so we could never offer more economical alternatives.  Well, now the Car Seat Poncho is available at Snuggle Bugz, through their web store at http:/www.snugglebugz.ca -- with FREE SHIPPING to any Canadian address!

We're Ending Our Emails.

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As of February 28, we will no longer use email to send news or information.  Everything is shifting to our Facebook profile and the Car Seat Poncho Blog.



If you're already a friend or a subscriber, feel free to send this news far and wide.  Share it on Facebook, post it on your own blog, your birth board, your online community or your moms group.  Heck, make copies of this post and hand it out at your child's preschool.  Everyone's welcome -- let's all be friends!



New subscribers should leave a comment to this post (below) with your email address in "NAME" at "MAILSERVICE" dot COM.  Your coupon code will be sent to that address.



FINE PRINT:  Coupon codes valid for new purchases of in-stock merchandise, and expire at 11:59 pm EST on 3/31/11.  US delivery addresses only.  One coupon per email address and delivery address.  Cannot be combined with any other promotion or coupon code.

The Car Seat Lady on Good Morning America

Dr. Alisa Baer, aka "The Car Seat Lady," had a great segment on yesterday's Good Morning America:  "The 5 Most Important Things Parents Should Know About Car Seats."



Dr. Baer is a NICU specialist at Columbia University's Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital.  Safety is in her blood:  Her mother, Debbi Baer (a nurse), was the original Car Seat Lady and still provides child passenger safety consultation in the Baltimore, MD area. 



Check out the wonderful Car Seat Lady blog and "Like" the Car Seat Lady page on Facebook. 



When you go to her blog, ahem, notice the first picture in the Bundle Me post (looks familiar?), as well as the last picture (Blue Camouflage M/L) at the bottom!

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.

Need it by Christmas? Order by 12/17!

If you need your Car Seat Poncho before Christmas, order it by midnight, Friday, 12/17. 



Delivery times (from New Jersey, USA via USPS Priority Mail) have generally been running as follows:

• To NJ, NYC and NY Metro Area: 1-2 days


• To New England and other Mid Atlantic States: 3-4 days


• To Ohio and Western PA around to DC/Baltimore: 4-5 days


• All Other Continental US: 5-6 days


• Canada: 7-10 days

Note that all delivery ranges are approximate, and based on previous deliveries.  Increases in holiday mail volume may affect arrival times.

Match the Poncho to the Car Seat

The new line of Car Seat Ponchos had your car seats and your car interiors in mind.  In addition to fashion, fun, convenience and cuteness, the Car Seat Poncho can add a grace note of coordination between your kid, the car seat and your car.  The match game above is just for fun, so choose the poncho that matches your seat, then visit the store to see the full selection.

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.

Rare Car Seat Poncho on EBay!

A few years ago, we did a blue/green plaid reversible Car Seat Poncho, and it was a huge hit.  In addition to being safe, warm and hassle free (as all Car Seat Ponchos are), this one had the added versatility of plaid on one side (interesting, but not too busy or babyish), and solid blue on the other (yet still have some of the fun plaid showing on the hem and the hood.  We decided that would be our last plaid, though, because using plaid in production requires a lot more fabric (to ensure that the lines match), which drives up costs.



So if you're looking for a boy's M/L Car Seat Poncho -- either a bargain or a collector's item, bid on it HERE.



Bidding start at $10, and ends Thursday, 10/7/10.  Good luck to all bidders!

Making or Buying a Car Seat Poncho

Making one could require more time and effort than you think.  There are not only the cost of materials and the time involved, but basic decisions involving design and construction.  Take a look at this video:

Those moms who weren't satisfied with their results?  I probably muttered their exact thoughts when I was working on my first Car Seat Poncho for my own son, back in 2004.  The genuine Car Seat Ponchos available today are the fruit of many unsuccessful attempts and many different prototypes, resulting in a product that keeps your child warm, is easy to use, fun to wear -- and gets tons of compliments and admiring glances everywhere you go!

I FINISHED MY ULTIMATE VIDEO!!!

I've always meant to make a video demonstrating the risk of a puffy coat in a car seat.  I have been madly shooting and editing so that I could release the video just before the Kids in Motion conference at the end of this week -- and it's finally done!

I hope this is helpful to CPSTs, Instructors and everyone out there who tries to persuade parents, grandparents and caregivers NOT to harness children over their winter coats. Please share it as necessary, and let me know what you think!

AUGUST Coupon Code: 25% Off (but only for first 8 customers)

It's hot as the dickens now, but make sure you're ready to keep your baby safe and warm -- without a hassle.



Be one of the FIRST 8 to enter coupon code AUGUST and save 25% off your ponchos and accessories!

DETAILS:

1. Offer valid on total purchases of any Car Seat Poncho merchandise. Limit one user per customer per mailing address. Can not be included with any other promotion or coupon. Shipping and handling charges apply. For non-US purchases, custom fees and duties may apply.

2.  For questions, please email donna@hbarryboollc.com

KDMF Silent Auction: One of a Kind Poncho

I'm so proud to donate this one-of-a-kind Leopard & Black poncho to the Kyle David Miller Foundation Silent Auction.  It was created as a production sample -- which basically means I had several fabrics and colors and I wanted to see how they worked together in various combinations, so I had one of each combo sewn, and from these chose a "collection."  (How I love using Project Runway lingo!)  I loved this combo so much I ultimately decided to create it as a reversible, which makes this the original inspiration for one of our most popular styles. 

The winning bidder on this beauty will not only be safe, warm and chic, she will have the coveted position as the ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD to wear this style.  No running into an accidental twin at Mommy & Me or the grocery store!

Take a look at all the great items also on display here.  All proceeds benefit KDMF in their missions to educate the public car seat safety – especially extended harnessing, and provide safe 5-point harness car seats to families who otherwise could not afford them.  The auction will be running for the month of February. In order to make a bid, please email the name of the item you are bidding on, your name, address and the amount you wish to bid to bombedier@hotmail.com.

Good luck to all.  Remember, bid early and often to help out a great cause!

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!

Wishing All a Safe & Happy Holiday!

As we head out to our various holiday destinations (H Barry Boo included), I just wanted to send a small reminder to please drive safely and wear your seat belts -- every occupant, even pets! 



In case of a crash, your seat belt will help:

• Keep you from getting banged around the car's interior


• Keep you from getting ejected


• Keep you from colliding with another passenger


• Keep your body in optimum position if the airbag deploys

Also, take off your coats (and baby's too, obviously) and position the belts correctly:  across the hips (not the belly), and across the middle of the shoulder (NEVER behind the back). 



Thanks to everyone for their holiday greetings and treats!  Take care out there and enjoy.  'See you in a few...!

Space Bags Illustrate Puffy Coat Risk

Some people just do not believe that a puffy coat could really matter that much.  I think I have a way to illustrate the point:  Space Bags.



You know the commercial.  You know you really want one.  Put sweaters, blankets, or coats in the special zip loc bag.  Suck the air out of it with a vacuum hose.  Watch it shrink down and resemble a crumpled leaf.  Slide it under the bed and voila, no more puff.  Here's a thirty-second demonstration.



After the holidays I swear I'm going to get some at Bed Bath & Beyond and record my own demonstration.  If anyone else gets to it first, please let me know and link it to my Facebook or to the comments section!