A 5-point harness is considered safest. T-shields and overhead tray shields may be less safe, especially for small infants. Also see:

Initially, an 8 to 12" collar (very small) is the right size. Our beagle puppies from 8 to 10 weeks old generally weigh between 3.5 and 5.5 pounds, so a big collar will come right off her head. We buy collars and leashes from Wal-Mart or any pet store for our puppies at home.

Harness sizing is based on the adjustability of the girth. If you don't have a dress makers tape, use a piece of string around the animal's ribcage, just behind the front legs. Measure snugly, not how you want it to fit. If you are using string, and don't have a ruler, you can use the known size of a standard piece of paper (8.5" by 11") to get a good idea of the pet's actual circumference. Whatever that measurement is, add in an extra 5% for comfort.

Shat-R-Shield only sells through distribution. To find the stocking distributor (by State, Province, other) closest to your area, go to the Distributor Locator Page by clicking here. -back to top-

A18: Washington State implemented Healthcare for Workers with Disabilities in January of 2002. This program expands Medicaid to people with disabilities who go to work.

Specific recommendations are beyond the scope of this FAQ. Please try the Interactive Compatibility Database for vehicle/carseat compatibility. For recommended carseats, please try Carseatsite.Com, Ulrike's Recommended Carseats, and Carseatdata.Org, Finally, these questions are also very appropriate for our Carseat Forum.

The FidoRido provides a special pulling harness, which has two metal D-rings on either side for attaching the straps. The purpose of the two-strap, two-ring system, is to help equalize the force in case of a sudden stop. Our harnesses come with metal buckles because the plastic snap buckles are the first things to give in an accident.

There is no single safest child safety seat for all children and vehicles. The safest seat is one that fits your child, fits your vehicle and one you will use correctly each and every time. Please also see:

Many manufacturers now put "expiration" dates on their carseats. Six (6) years is the general recommendation. At most, 10 years is the accepted maximum lifetime of a carseat. The reasons for these limits involve possible degradation of the plastic shell and other parts, the possible loss/breakage of parts and the fact that older seats will often not meet current government safety standards.

The general recommendation is NO. You must replace it and destroy the old one so it can never be used again. Some insurance companies will re-imburse for carseats involved in a crash, and they are required by law to do so in some states. Please call the manufacturer of your carseat if you have any questions. You should also contact your car dealer after a crash, as it is very likely that the seatbelts, LATCH/Tether anchors and integrated child seats may also need to be replaced.

Grab your carseat at the base, where the seatbelt goes. The base should not move more than an inch (1") side-to-side or front-to-back. Some movement at the top of the seat is normal, though a tether will reduce this movement in forward-facing carseats. Ideally, you want the child coupled as tightly as possible to the harness system and carseat, and the carseat coupled as tightly as possible to the vehicle with the seatbelt or LATCH system.

The center of the rear seat is usually safest since it is farthest from a possible side impact, but only if your carseat fits well in that position. Any position in the rear seat is acceptable unless prohibited by the vehicle or child seat owner's manual.

Airbags can be deadly to infants in rear-facing carseats, and to children 12 and under using the seatbelts. The front seat is generally not recommended for children 12 and under. The airbag MUST be disabled if you must use a rear-facing child seat in the front. Some vehicles without a rear seat, especially pickup trucks, have an on/off switch for this purpose. If a child must ride in the front, you should also move the front seat as far back as it will go.

We use licensed HVAC companies and/or licensed individuals to install Compress Shield for two reasons: A) the equipment must be operating properly prior to installation and B) we guarantee an increase in efficiency and therefore temperature and amperage readings must be taken to provide a baseline indicating how the unit was performing prior to installation. To have Compress Shield installed, contact us at sales@compressshield.com or 901-842-1005 and we will schedule an installation.

The Microbe Shield is a specially designed antimicrobial substance which protects the garments from contamination from a number of common bacterial and fungal microbes. It is non-toxic to humans, is permanently bonded to the silk fabric and does not wear out over time.

You can, yes. Any willing Knight can sell you one, but unless you are a Knight registered in the Hall of Chivalry, you will not be able to equip a Knight's shield, or a Squire's shield. Possessing a Knight's shield will not make you a Knight.

All items in the FOOLs store are at cafepress "cost" - nobody is making a profit off of this!

Please consult the carseat manual first for specific instructions. When rear-facing, you should use the harness slot which is at the level of the child's shoulders, or slightly below. When front-facing, use the slots at the level of the child's shoulders or above. For more information on correct harness use, please also visit: One catch is that you MUST use the TOP slots on most convertible carseats when they are front-facing regardless of how high they are.

Harness straps should be snug with no slack, but not so tight as to be uncomfortable. The top straps should be on the shoulders, and some prefer to say that you should not be able to "pinch an inch" or get more than a finger in between the shoulder and the strap. The lower straps in a 5-point harness should be fairly tight across the thighs (not on the tummy). A tight harness can prevent ejection, and also can increase the ride-down time to reduce the chance of crash injury.

Ask around. Some pilots have old, unused supine harness they will sell for a small amount. Sky Sports and Sunbird made very strong and comfortable harnesses. Also several major harness manufacturers will custom make one for you. Paraglider harnesses may be modifed by a harness maker to create a quality supine harness. A speed bar will increase top speed over a straight bar. Gloves should be worn during all flights to provide a safe grip on the rear wires during the landing flare.

Some children can twist out of harnesses at an early age. Others can easily undo the buckle mechanism. Children may also be able to put too much slack in a seatbelt, and some children don't want to use a child restraint or seatbelt at all. Driving is a dangerous activity, and like any other, it requires proper supervision at all times. Parents can try many things.

Children should be in an appropriate safety seat until they are about 8 years old, unless they are already 4 feet, 9 inches or taller. After that, they should be properly seated with a lap and shoulder belt. Children 12 and under should remain in the rear seat. All passengers should wear lap AND shoulder belts at all times. Yes. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has many resources. This website is a great starting point:

LATCH (also ISOFIX) is not necessarily safer than using seatbelts to install a carseat. It may make it easier to get a safe installation. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren. Most newer vehicles and child seats have this system. For more information, see our comprehensive guide:

Tethers are straps that prevent the top of a carseat from moving forward in a crash. They may also increase overall stability. Many newer cars and carseats are compatible with tethers, or can have them installed. Tethers allow newer carseats to meet stricter safety standards. See:

For newborns and infants, it is recommended that they sit in a rear-facing carseat at a 45 degree angle (maximum). Some infant carseats have a built-in level indicator. Older infants should have less recline, once they are able to support their heads. Front-facing carseats should not be reclined. Though some front-facing and convertible models are approved in a semi-reclined position, this recline does concentrate crash forces in the crotch so an upright position is preferred.

You may put a tightly rolled towel or foam pool "noodle" under the front of a rear-facing carseat (near the crack of the vehicle seat) to get the necessary recline. You must not put a noodle, thick towels or any compressible material under a front-facing carseat.

Generally, no. For safety, the harness straps must remain tight on the child's shoulders regardless of any clothing. You can put a blanket over the child, OUTSIDE the harness straps or put your child's coat on backwards after they are in the seat. For infants in cold weather, an aftermarket "cozy" that zips over the infant carrier rather than fitting under the child is another solution.

Please consult the manual for your carseat first. The weight limits are also listed on decals attached to the carseat. Most current infant seats have 20 or 22 pound weight limits, though some models go to 30 or 35 pounds. Most current convertible seats have rear-facing limits of 30, 33 or 35 pounds. All convertibles have 40 pound limits when front-facing, though some new models will have increased front-facing weight limits.