becoming linked to where Zachary and I are instead of

including widespread topics of pregnancy to toddlers.

Please let me know if there are particular topics you’d

like to see included in the newsletters or if you’d be

willing to write an article yourself. Also, many

sections require input from all of you (i.e., sharing

birth stories, helpful tips, etc.). If you find these

newsletters enjoyable and helpful, please help me out

by contributing to them.

Thanks, everyone! I look forward to seeing you at our

next get together.

You might think that anyone who can read an

instruction manual and follow directions could

easy. And according to the National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration, as many as 85

percent of all car seats are improperly installed.

In the following, we outline the most important

factors to pay attention to and suggest where to

turn for more help if you're confused.

(Illustrations courtesy of the National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration.)

The safest placement for a car

seat is in the center of the rear

seat, or of the center seat in a

van or station wagon. Never

install a rear-facing car seat in a

until he reaches 12 months and 20 lbs. at a

minimum — but the longer you can keep him in

to have your child face forward.) If your baby's

head flops forward, you can make the seat more

level and comfortable by wedging a folded

towel, blanket, or other firm support under the

front of it.

Once your baby is at least a year old and has

outgrown his rear-facing car seat, he can ride

facing forward. The middle of the back seat is

still the safest place for him to sit.

Booster seats — used for children

weighing 40 to 80 pounds (about ages 4 to

8) — are intended for use with a shoulder

belt, ideally in the back seat. For more

• Read your car seat and vehicle manuals to

make sure you understand the mechanics of

installing the seat. If the information isn't clear,

call the automaker, the safety-seat manufacturer,

or both. Or take a 30-minute workshop to make

sure you get it right (see "Getting more help,"

below).

• Use the new tether system if possible. All child

safety seats and vehicles manufactured on or

after September 1, 2002, must be compatible

with the LATCH system, which stands for

Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (some

cars manufactured between 1999 and 2002 also

have the system). The LATCH system is

designed to make installation of a car seat easier

and safer by attaching it directly to anchors

permanently attached to the vehicle instead of

using the seat belt to secure it. Although only

front-facing infant and toddler car seats

manufactured on or after 2002 are required to

have both the upper and lower attachments, all

child safety seats with a five-point safety harness

(including rear-facing infant car seats) are

required to have the lower anchors. If you own a

vehicle that doesn't have the anchoring system,

consider having your car retrofitted (check with

your local auto dealership for information on

cost and feasibility). If your car is LATCH

compatible, but your safety seat isn't, you can

find one.)

• If you're installing a forward-facing seat, make

sure it's flat against the seat's bottom and back.

Use your hands to push down as hard as you can

on the car seat — or better yet, place your knee

on the car seat and push down with all your

weight to squash the air out of the cushion

underneath it.

• Make sure the car's seat belt is threaded

through the correct slots, and pull the belt as

tight as possible so there's no slack. Once you've

buckled the belt, give it a yank to make sure it's

locked.

• If your car is a pre-1996 model, chances are

the lap-and-shoulder belts don't lock in place

unless the car comes to a sudden stop. (To test

them, see if you can move the car seat more than

an inch to either side or toward the front of the

car when the belts are buckled tightly.) If the

seat moves, you'll need to secure it with a

locking clip, a small metal device that looks like

an oversize paperclip. The locking clip fits

around the seat belt (about a half-inch above the

buckle) to hold the belt firmly in place. If your

car seat didn't come with a locking clip or you've

misplaced it, contact the manufacturer to order a

replacement or purchase one at a children's

supply store.

• Check to make sure the seat is secure and

resists side-to-side motion. If you can still tip the

car seat forward or sideways more than an inch

or so, unbuckle it and try again until you get a

tight fit.

• Be sure you know how the buckle system

works. You can tighten and loosen the straps

around your baby with the harness adjustment

lever.

• Adjust the harnesses to make them snug. If

there's a plastic harness clip, keep it at armpit

level to hold shoulder straps in place.

• Don't allow the straps to get twisted — they

should lie flat.

• After you buckle your child in, tug the straps to

make sure they're locked.

• Place rolled-up cloth diapers, blankets, or

towels around newborns to keep them snug in

the car seat. You can also purchase head, neck,

and body supports to secure your baby. (See the

Store.)

• If your infant's head flops forward, make the

seat more level by wedging a folded towel or

other firm support under the front of it.

Because so many parents have trouble getting

their car seats installed properly, manufacturers

and child safety experts recommend that new

parents sign up for a car seat installation

workshop. Such classes usually take about a

half-hour — possibly the smartest half-hour

you'll ever spend. Where to find one?

features a list of car seat checkup events in

various states.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety

help near you.

If you're looking for help online, see:

• The NHTSA Web site's useful section called

Are You Using It Right?

• The American Academy of Pediatrics' handy

one-minute car seat checkup and shopping

what you need to modify a car seat for your car,

how to install it properly, and so on.

Finally, in some communities you can get help

with car seat installation from your local police

station.

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Some moms breastfeed their babies without ever

needing to pump their milk. Others rank a good

breast pump right after a car seat when it comes

to essential baby care items. Whether you're

returning to work or you'd just like your mate or

your mother to feed and bond with your baby

while you get some rest, a pump lets your baby

have the benefit of your milk even when you're

not around.

There are many styles and models of breast

pumps, but they fall into two main categories:

manual (which you operate by hand) and electric

(or battery-powered). While some women use

both — one to pack for short trips, the other for

the bulk of their pumping, for example — most

moms strongly prefer one or the other. Which

you'll like better is hard to predict. To help you

make an educated guess, here are some pros and

cons from breast pump users:

Moms who prefer pumps powered by hand point

to their simplicity and convenient size. Many

also say that manual pumps feel more natural

and more closely mimic a baby's sucking. And

they like being able to control the suction

manually. Hand pumps are generally more

affordable, smaller, lighter, and quieter than

electric pumps. And if you like to pump on one

side while your baby is nursing on the other,

he'll probably prefer the quiet of a manual to the

noise of an electric.

On the downside, while some moms get the

knack of speedy manual pumping, others find

manual pumps maddeningly slow. (It depends to

some degree on how fast the pump handle can

be squeezed.) Some moms have trouble getting

any milk at all with hand pumps. Others say that

hand pumps don't completely empty their

breasts, which can lead to a lowered milk

supply. And some moms say their hands get

tired pumping, too.

Ease and efficiency are the strengths of these

models. Moms who pump often — to provide

breast milk exclusively after returning to work

or to feed twins, for example — usually opt for

the increase in production offered by an electric

or battery-powered pump. Most offer the option

of pumping both breasts at the same time.

The drawbacks? Electric models can be more

cumbersome and noisy than most manual

pumps, though some models are surprisingly

compact and quiet. As for the noisy ones, well,

it's hard to be discreet with an electric motor

roaring at your breasts!

Whichever kind of breast pump you decide on,

it's a good idea to get it well before you plan to

offered later, it's best to start pumping and

introduce a bottle as soon as breastfeeding is

established, when your baby's around 3 or 4

weeks old.

Most hospitals will give you the option of

renting a top-of-the-line breast pump. It'll be

efficient, with a rapid cycling time (sucking 48

to 60 times a minute, which is really pumping!).

If your baby was born prematurely, if you have

twins, or if you plan to do a great deal of

pumping, a heavy-duty hospital-grade pump

might be a good choice for you. Keep in mind

that it'll be heavy — as much as 18 pounds —

and bulky.

Be sure to estimate your rental costs, too. You'll

pay around $1 to $3 per day to rent a model that

costs about $1,500 to buy. You'll also need to

purchase an accessory kit, which includes breast

flanges, tubing, and collection bottles, for

another $50 to $60. (If your baby was born with

a disability that makes nursing difficult, ask if

your insurance company will cover the cost of a

breast pump.) You may find that a similar

purchase will be worth the investment, or you

may decide to buy a less expensive model.

• Adjustability: A level of suction that's

comfortable for one woman can be torture for

another. Choose a pump that allows you to

adjust the vacuum for your comfort. Some

manual models come with adjustable pumphandle

positions.

• Efficiency: If you're time-crunched — and

what mom isn't? — it might be worth paying a

little more for a pump that sucks more times per

minute (known as the cycling time) and has a

double-pumping capability. A model that allows

you to pump both breasts at once will cut

pumping time by more than half. Pumping first

one breast and then the other takes roughly 30

minutes, but pumping simultaneously takes an

average of 12 minutes. Double pumping also

boosts milk production by completely emptying

both breasts.

• Ease of use: Look for a pump that's easy to

use, easy to clean, and easy to assemble. If you'll

be lugging it around, you might want to choose

one that's compact, with a nice case, or buy a

case you like separately.

These combine the best features of hospitalgrade

pumps and more portable models. Topend

electric pumps are fully automatic, with

quick cycling times, adjustable suction levels,

and double-pumping capability. Some newer

models are even designed to mimic your baby's

sucking patterns. Weighing in at 8 pounds or

less, some of these come in attractive carrying

cases with accessories — storage bags, labels,

clips, bottles, and nipple ointment — included.

Most top-end pumps can be run on a car lighter

with an adapter that's sold separately, and some

even come with a built-in battery pack.

Pump prices range from around $200 to around

$320.

The models in this category take a little longer

and require a little more effort to use than the

top-end electric pumps, but they're more

portable (most weigh less than 2 lbs.) and more

affordable. Most moms who use them find them

perfectly adequate. They have medium cycling

times, adjustable suction, and, usually, doublepumping

capability. Some mid-range electric

pumps can be run on a car lighter with an

adapter.

Prices range from around $75 to $180.

Some women are perfectly happy with these

pumps, but others find that they're not such a

great deal. Most will allow you to pump only

one breast at a time, and slowly at that. Some

models are semiautomatic, which means they

tend toward long cycling times (some produce

only about 12 sucks per minute). The batteries

need frequent replacing, and the suction is often

too strong or too weak. While there are some

double electric pumps in this less expensive

category, the motors may not last as long as

those in the more expensive models. Some

women find they can't get much milk out with

these pumps; others say they hurt their breasts.

Prices range from $30 to $80.

Manual pumps require you to pump a piston or

squeeze a lever to empty your breast. These

pumps empty only one breast at a time and

usually require two hands to operate, although a

few are designed for one-handed use. While

most working moms who need to pump

exclusively (and bottle-feed with breast milk

rather than nurse) opt for a more efficient

electric, some women rave about manual pumps.

Stay away from the models that look like bicycle

horns — the rubber balls can harbor harmful

bacteria.

Prices range from $35 to $50.

Accessories can help you use your pump more

efficiently and more comfortably. For example:

• Microwave bags: Let you steam-clean pump

parts in the microwave.

• Lanolin ointment: Helps prevent and relieve

sore nipples.

• Soft breast shields: Help increase milk flow by

stimulating the breast and nipple as you pump.

• Pumping band: Wraps around your chest and

holds a collection bottle at each nipple to free

your hands while you pump both breasts.

• Storage bags or containers: For collecting,

storing, and freezing the milk.

A breast pump can take some getting used to. It's

not uncommon for new moms to feel awkward

or uncomfortable pumping at first. Once you

become familiar with the feel and the

mechanics, though, you'll likely do just fine.

Moms who have been there offer these tips:

• Be patient. You may not get milk for a few

moments. The first few pumps create suction;

milk flows after that. If you're using a manual

pump, you can squeeze every few seconds, like

a baby nursing, after the initial few pumps to get

started.

• If pumping is painful, pump more gently and

slowly. Or try another kind of pump.

• Try switch-pumping. As in switch-nursing,

changing sides can stimulate letdown, resulting

in more milk.

• If you seem to be leaking milk when you

pump, lean forward just a bit, to help the milk

flow into the pump.

• If your pump doesn't seem to be working well,

make sure that all the parts are in the right

places, fitted snugly together. Dig out the

directions and double-check everything — one

valve that's too loose or a rubber pump piece not

pushed in properly can make a big difference.

• If you have large nipples (bigger than a nickel)

or your nipples swell along the sides of the

pump tunnel, you'll want to try a larger kit. Call

the company that makes your breast pump and

ask for a large or extra large kit.

• Invest in a good pump from the get-go.

Sometimes moms can get plenty of milk at first

— even with a mediocre pump — but then get in

trouble after three or four months, when it takes

a more sophisticated pump to stimulate letdown.

A good pump should continue to work for you.

A lactation consultant can help you figure out

which pump makes the best sense for you. She

can also help if you're having trouble pumping,

and teach you how to hand-express milk, an

invaluable skill that allows you to continue

collecting milk even if your pump breaks down.

For more advice on lactation consultants,