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As a parent, there is nothing more important than the safety of your child. And when it comes to car safety, choosing the right infant car seat is crucial. One feature that you may have heard about is the load leg, also known as a stability leg. In this blog post, we will explain what a load leg is and why it is important for your child's safety.

What is a Load Leg?

A load leg is a feature that can be found on some infant car seats. It is a metal or plastic bar that extends from the base of the car seat to the floor of the vehicle. The load leg is designed to provide additional stability and support in the event of a crash.

How Does a Load Leg Work?

When a car is in a crash, the force of the impact is transferred through the car seat and to the floor of the vehicle. The load leg helps to distribute this force more evenly, reducing the risk of injury to your child. It also helps to prevent the car seat from rotating or tipping over in the event of a crash.

Why is a Load Leg Important?

The load leg is an important safety feature that can provide additional protection for your child in the event of a crash. In fact, studies have shown that car seats with a load leg can reduce the risk of injury by up to 50%.

Additionally, a load leg can help to reduce the risk of head and neck injuries, which are some of the most common injuries sustained in a car crash. This is because the load leg helps to keep the car seat in place, preventing it from tipping or rotating and causing your child's head to jolt forward.

When it comes to infant car seats, safety should always be your top priority. While a load leg may not be a feature that you have considered before, it is one that can provide additional protection for your child in the event of a crash. If you are in the market for a new infant car seat, consider choosing one with a load leg for added peace of mind.

Get straight forward information about single to double expandable strollers and how they might fit your needs for a family of multiples or family with children close in age. Don't be fooled - there is no perfect stroller. The particular configuration of the second seat has drawbacks and features and we detail those concerns so you can match the right stroller to your lifestyle and family needs. The often daunting offering of strollers that expand to fit multiple children is discussed with our recommendations for different types of families.

We detail the advancements used in developing the new Nuna Pipa Lite infant carseat.  Infant Car Seat carriers are a must have for busy parents and this new 5.3 pound carseat allows easy use while providing one of the safest seats on the market.  Features include a load leg and rigid latch installation.  We also detail the pros and cons of this new seat and who the Nuna Pipa infant carseat is designed for.

Every year the team over at Pantone evaluates design trends and color on a global scale and hand us a prediction of the "Color of the Year".  In years past we have seen the bold 'chili pepper red' become a trend in bunk beds at the same time as that color was announced.  In 2010 we saw 'turquoise' take hold and soft goods including bedding for nurseries and kids' rooms all got decked out in bright and fun turquoise patterns and designs.  This year the good folks chose a lovely shade of green - "greenery"

What can we expect to see in the world of Kids' Stuff from "GREENERY"

Well a powerful and bold color like "Greenery" is not likely to be found as a primary finish on furniture goods.  However, A muted version is available from Romina Furniture to bring the feeling of this vibrant color into furnishings.  Bringing the intensity of this color down a bit for large scale items might be a good approach.  Pantone's choice of this palette is evocoative of nature and spring and rebirth, concepts and ideals that are perfect for decor in any kid's room.

In reality we are more likely to see this color brought into bedding and artwork designs throughout the industry.

No matter how you choose to bring this vibrant new color way into your life, you should expect it to bring some fun and energy to 2017..... which we could all use

Every once in awhile our industry takes an about face.  It appears that 2016 is one of those years.  The design trends for kids' rooms are super strong and really drastic shift from the past few years.  Everything feels new and fresh and there are lots of great options for just about anyone's taste.  The largest trends are in finishes (washed and beautiful grain revealing stains), structural finishing techniques, Coastal Cottage designs, and a return to the ultra feminine and soft looks of yesteryear.

Finish Reigns Supreme in Design Trends:

Your basic dark espresso finish seems to be just about done in.  This super-dark stain is quickly being replaced with rich tones of cherry, brown, caramel, chocolate and other wood tones that are a bit warmer. The flat simple gray painted furniture is just not cutting it any longer.  We are seeing the gray finishes continue to be a force but the finishes are richer than a year ago.  Grays are multidimensional finishes now with rich undertones rather than just a simple gray paint.  Gray stains that show the wood grain are leading the pack.  This trend is evident from the fantastic new finishes Romina and Silva have just released (washed gray, oiled gray, flint).  Stella Furniture also has a beautiful gray with lots of depth on their Trinity Collection, called Chateau Gray.

White finishes are also moving away from the everyday bright white paint so traditionally present in nurseries.  Everyone wanted that sharp bright white color, often citing the 'purity' of the color for nurseries.  However we are seeing more dynamic white finishes coming on strong. Whites are getting creamier and in some cases are, like the grays, becoming stains that the grain shows through. Again Romina and Silva are leading this trend, but Dolce Babi has released two incredible groups with alternatives to the traditional white.  Lucca is a scraped white and is spot on on multiple trends including the 'coastal cottage' and structural finish trends (see below) The other Dolce Babi Collection is Angelina featuring a rich cream and stunning pearlized finish that is leading the pack on feminine grace.

Structural Finishes in Design Trends:

Wood is truly a gift and amazing things can be done with it in constructing furnishings.  The newest in design trends with respect to wood is allowing the grain pattern to not only become visual but tactile as well.  'Scraped' finishes are the end result of some new technology in wood work.

Wood grows with an annual ring pattern, as you know from 2nd grade biology.  Well these rings represent softer and denser wood grains.  Our wonderful manufactures have found that using certain tools and machines on the surface of the wood, they can selectively scrape or carve out the softer pieces and leave the denser grain intact.  This same thing happens when a piece of wood floats around the beach being tumbled by the surf.  The sand and water selectively remove the softer grained wood from the surface and the resulting flotsam is rough and detailed.  This 'scraping' technique is now becoming commonplace in the furniture industry, releasing the glorious patterns of grain and natural beauty of the wood into a physically tangible structure.  These beautiful finish techniques are throughout both nursery design and big kid's furniture.  Some highlights: the new driftwood finish from Dolce Babi on both the Naples and Maximo collections. Highlands Driftwood and Highlands Espresso from New Energy for big kid youth furniture also has some of this fantastic finishing. But the runaway star of the show is from Romina.  They have taken their absolutely beautiful Beech wood product and worked it like no other.  The finish is velvety soft but hand carved and scraped with deep grooves.  The scraped wood is then finished in two different colors to accentuate the details and the result is stunning beyond words.

Coastal Cottage Design Trends:

The Coastal Cottage design approach  is reflective of a shift from the ultra modern looks of the past few years.  Designers are looking for comfortable and accessible looks that compliment a return to home design that is 'homey' and 'warm'.  This goes hand in hand with the finish story above but is all about the bed and dresser design.  Paneled headboards, metal elements, shuttered doors, simple silhouettes and rich warm finishes are what set this look apart.  Two new introductions are clearly designed with this aesthetic in mind.

The stunning Lucca collection from Dolce Babi takes it's cues from what one would expect to see in a coastal town in the Northeast.  It reminds me of something you would find in an old home on the coast of Maine; weathered finishes, metal accents and graceful design. Lucca offers both nursery and youth collections.

The second introduction is from Stone and Leigh.  Stone and Leigh (the youth division of Stanley Furniture) has recently launched and brought their interpretation of Coastal Living to youth and nursery design.  The "Driftwood Park' collection features paneled headboards in both cribs and beds, a metal cup pull and two warm finishes.  The entire collection reminds one of something from the beach communities of the South East.

These relaxed looks are not just for water adjacent homes.  The relaxed comfortable design and warmth of these groups make them an accessible design for any home.

Ultra Feminine and Blinged Out Design Trends

Softer colors, feminine details and lots of sparkle are certainly making a return to nursery and big kid room decor. Girly stuff never really disappeared, but it certainly wasn't mainstream. Most color trends start in fashion and work their way down to home decor over time. The ubiquitous chevron pattern and the predominance of turquoise/aqua colors all started in fashion before hitting the furnishings world.  Pantone recently named a light pink and light baby blue to the colors of the year .

These softer colors represent a shift from the rich coral and aqua palettes that have dominated kids' rooms and nursery decor over the past few years and are a welcome change.

We expect to see more soft hues in a variety of fabrics make their way to both kid's rooms and nursery decor. We are seeing pinks paired with soft creams, fabrics with a bit of a sheen, and lots of sparkly knobs.

Angelina from Dolce Babi and Kids is a perfect example of this trend in furnishings.  The delicate carved flowers and details throughout the line appear to be the antithesis of the sleek modern looks that were so prevalent over the past 5 years.  For older kids and teens this collection offers twin and full beds with reversible upholstered and tufted headboard.  The finishes on this collection are cream or pearl and tie in beautifully with the delicate feminine design of the collection and the trend away from bright white for girls.

We just love creative documentation of your new little ones first years.  New and first time mom, Elise, has taken some time off work to raise her cutie-pie son, Gio.  Well sometimes all that baby stuff lying around the house just becomes inspiration (especially for an artist).  Elise decided to take us all on an adventure.She writes:

"This is what happens when an artist becomes a first time mom! Baby Gio travels to fantastical places in a weekly saga of DIY photo art (collaging household items, e.g., sheets, dishes, baby, etc.)... When I donned the wig to play "Alice" and made my husband take the photos, we both cried with laughter. Yes, I have totally lost my mind. But we're all mad here, aren't we? Or we wouldn't have come here. :)"

What we love about this is the effect in the final composition is stunning and the components used to create this beautiful picture are hardly recognizable. Candles and jar tops function as apples on the tree, changing pads. Shower curtains and blankets take on the life of grass and trees. It is all just stunning and so clever. We will have to keep an eye on her adventures over at her Elise in Wonderland Pinterest page.

"Little known fact: the reason why Alice went down the rabbit hole was because she was chasing her 10-week-old baby, Giovanni Everett."

Gio and the Mad Hatter:

Baby Gio was quite pleased to join the Mad Hatter in celebrating his unbirthday, which just happened to fall on April 29th, the day Gio turned 11 weeks old. Alice had been sitting in the extra seat, but she drank out of the wrong cup, and grew too large for the table. Made by me, with: table cloth, shower curtain, window curtain, bed sheets, napkins, dress socks, an old beach towel, hair barrettes, tea set, teddy bear, mouse toy, vines, baby bottle, and construction paper. Starring Gio and Ian

Gio in the Garden of the Queen of Hearts:

At twelve weeks (which is not at all the same as 3 months), Baby Gio wandered into the garden of the Queen of Hearts. Made by Elise Ippolito using napkins, bird statue wrapped with tissue paper, halloween costume, Venetian mask, two stuffed animals, silk flowers, clothing, jewelry, curtains, sheets, window drapery, pipes, envelopes, potted tree and a broomstick.

Gio and the Magic Beanstalk

Brave little 13-week-old Gio found some magic beans while in Wonderland, and put them to good use... Picture made by Elise Ippolito, with "elephant ear" vine, blankets, sheets, gauze, dress, shower curtain, changing pads, and gold plated serving cup. Starring Gio

Gio Meets the Giant while trying to get a Golden Egg

14-week-old Baby Gio isn't afraid of that Giant, or the Goose, and fully intends to make off with the Golden Egg, even if it is a bit heavier and larger than he'd expected... Made by me with fuzzy baby blankets, gold tablecloth, oval serving dish, a coil of rope, several sheets, and elephant ear vine leaves. Starring Mr. Gio and his daddy, Ian, as the Giant.

Gio on the Magic Carpet

Gio is off again.  I guess we are gushing about this alot lately, but we just love when someone's passion for their child becomes a visual testament:

Gio, now 15 weeks old, escaped the Giant with the help of a magic lamp, and made a couple of new friends in the process. Made with: blue towel, carpet, more towels, belt, a multitude of clothing and sheets, sash, ribbon, gold card stock, monkey hat, construction paper, swaddle, and actual authentic Egyptian lamp. Starring Gio

One of our favorite things about this artist is her self deprecating humor about the project in general. Some comments she made on the original image she posted on facebook:

You can tell it's not a professional's work, because you can see the zippered fly of the pink jeans in the top right cloud! Gio cooperated amazingly, though. I was also really pleased with getting a Genie-shape out of the one blue towel we owned.

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