Metro Detroit Baby News: Car Seats, New Reads, Shopping Destinations

Local updates you need to know
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From a new resource for car seat safety and data on how much money stay-at-home moms would make to a fun book to add to your child’s reading list and a Brimingham kid’s clothing shop to visit this season, here’s the metro Detroit baby news you need to know.

Buckle Up, Detroit

metro detroit baby news
Scary stat: An estimated three quarters of car seats are installed or used incorrectly. // Photo: IStock

As anyone who’s ever tried to install a car seat will tell you, the process can be tricky. But getting it right is crucial, as even one seemingly tiny mistake — say, a chest clip placed a couple inches too low — can increase your child’s risk of injury (or worse) in the event of a crash. So it’s scary to learn that an estimated three quarters of car seats are installed or used incorrectly, and when it comes to infant seats, that number jumps to a whopping 95%, according to a 2016 study in the Journal of Pediatrics. Thankfully, there’s Dana Lange, a nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (and mom) who’s made it her mission to school parents on car seat safety. For $50, Lange, who shares tips and best practices on her blog, Buckle Up Detroit, will travel to you and help install your car seat. She’ll also teach you how to DIY. Find Dana on Facebook @buckleupdetroit

Mama’s Playhouse

metro detroit baby news
Opened in 2018, Detroit Mama Hub offers childbirth and parenting education, breastfeeding support, playgroups, and more. // Photo courtesy of Mama Hub Detroit

Having a support system is key for any mom. That’s the unifying principle behind Honey: Space for Moms, Nature’s Playhouse, and Detroit Mama Hub, centers dedicated to maternal wellness. Run by local moms, the spots — Honey and Nature’s Playhouse are in Ferndale; Detroit Mama Hub is based in Detroit — feature everything from mom-and-baby yoga classes and lactation help to co-working spaces and therapy. Honey: Space for Moms, 3136 Hilton Rd., Ferndale, 248-232-2555, honeyformoms.com; Nature’s Playhouse, 703 Livernois Ave., Ferndale; 248-955-3219; naturesplayhouse.com; Detroit Mama Hub, 18032 James Couzens Fwy., Detroit; 313-405-7061; detroitmamahub.com

For What It’s Worth

It’s no secret that being a stay-at-home mom involves lots of work for no pay (unless you count hugs). But if it were a paying gig, it would command an annual salary of $162,581, according to a 2018 study from salary.com. The site, which tracks compensation data, arrived at this figure by adding up the monetary value of the roles stay-at-home moms might assume on a daily basis: everything from dietician and maintenance supervisor to, of course, CEO. The earnings are based on a 96-hour workweek — unfortunately there’s no overtime — and reflect a steady increase since 2014, when the job was “worth” $112,962, according to salary.com.

Reading Goals

metro detroit baby news
Abdelkader’s book grew out of Abby’s All Stars, his reading program for elementary-school kids. “I thought it would be special to share my own story with the children I read to,” he says. “I see myself in them.” // Photo courtesy of Momentum Books

As alternate captain of the Detroit Red Wings, Justin Abdelkader is no stranger to little hockey fans idolizing him. Now, with his new book, Shoot for the Goal: The Justin Abdelkader Story, he’s inspiring kids off the ice, too. The story chronicles Abdelkader’s rise from a Red Wings-obsessed kid to the heights of the NHL, and all the obstacles he overcomes along the way. “My goal is to encourage children to work hard in whatever they love,” Abdelkader says. “You never know where it will take you.” Abdelkader’s book grew out of Abby’s All Stars, his reading program for elementary-school kids. “I thought it would be special to share my own story with the children I read to,” he says. “I see myself in them.” Momentum Books, 2018 

Straight Outta Paris

metro detroit baby news
Courtesy of Petite Cabane Shop

Looking to add some international flair to your kid’s wardrobe? Opened in Birmingham in March, Petite Cabane (French for “little cabin”) houses a unique, adorably curated collection of clothes, toys, and accessories from around the world: think handmade leather shoes from France, rompers from Denmark, and dungarees from England. Co-owned by a pair of Birmingham moms — one of whom lived in Paris and still travels there annually to buy her children’s clothes — the shop also focuses on brands that are ethically made and women-helmed. 205 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham; 248-792-7979; petitecabaneshop.com