October 2015 Moms
Nukke
member
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Car seat safety
Nukke
member
I thought since there are a lot of FTM who may be finding the whole car seat thing overwhelming, why don't we get this thread going to clear some things up? Plus many of us BTDT moms need a refresher anyway, as guidelines change so often.
So post your questions here. Post your advice here. Post your favourite infographics here. Etc! Maybe we can even get some car seat techs to weigh in.
I'll start us off with a question: what is the number one thing each parent should do before using a car seat with their little one?
So post your questions here. Post your advice here. Post your favourite infographics here. Etc! Maybe we can even get some car seat techs to weigh in.
I'll start us off with a question: what is the number one thing each parent should do before using a car seat with their little one?
Re: Car seat safety
If you can pinch it it's too loose
Chest buckle needs to be at armpit height not lower to cage
Never put thick clothing under the straps. If you have to loosen the straps because of a jacket (especially for those of us that have cold winters) your are doing it wrong. Try a fleece jacket on them and a blanket over top. Or a fleece under the winter coat get them in the car and then take off the winter coat to buckle them and drape the coat over top.
Nothing other than the fabric and pieces that come with the car seat should be used. Don't get a vanity car seat fabric, don't add the shoulder straps for comfort, etc. the seat isn't tested for those items it is only safest with what it comes with. This included the winter covers that go under the baby
I'm assuming it would be safe because it doesn't affect the fit of the car seat straps, but even as a STM, I want to be sure.
I'm glad to see this post! I was just doing some research on car seat safety because we need to move DD from the middle position to either the passenger or driver-side back seat.
Question: Does anyone know which side is typically safer? I can't readily find any research related to side impact accidents...
Our plan is to have DS placed in the middle for optimal safety since he will be the smaller child as opposed to DD who is 2.5 yo. We plan to keep both our kids rear-facing, of course, for DS as an infant it's mandatory but DD will also be rear-facing even though her weight can technically put her forward-facing. From all the research I've read, the safest position for your child is rear-facing, in the backseat for as long as possible or as allowed by safety standards of your car seat (I believe DD can be rear-facing in her Diono car seat up to 45lbs).
Once piece of advice: Please do your research and strictly follow your car seat owner's manual. Too many parents prematurely flip their children over to face forward and this can put your child at risk for severe injuries such as internal decapitation of the neck/spine.
Ideally, kids should rear-face as long as possible, even up to age 4. I ended up forward-facing DS earlier because I couldn't get him in and out of the car without hitting his head when his seat was RF. This was right before he turned 2. He's 2, but at 38 inches tall and 35 lbs, he's big for his age (he wears a 3T/4T). so I feel somewhat OK with him FF now, even though ideally he'd still be RF.
And yes, do your research. ALWAYS RF till age 2 or as close to 2 as possible. Some car seats say they can FF at 22 lbs, but if your kid is under 2, no way! There's some crucial spinal development that happens around age 2, so even bigger kids aren't ready to FF before then.
The middle IS considered to be the safest. I believe this would be in case someone hit either side of the car, then baby would be further from the impact. If the impact is head-on or you're rear-ended, the LATCH system is supposed to keep the carseat from going anywhere.
Other posters correct me if I'm wrong.
This one applies more to when the kids are older and weigh a lot more, but a lot of people don't know that the LATCH system has a weight limit that is about 65ish pounds. My sons car seat is just under 30 lbs, so if you do the math, 35lb preschooler + 30lb seat exceeds the LATCH weight limit. Once they are that big, the seat should be buckled in using the seatbelt, not the LATCH.
Wow, this thread is awesome! Honestly I have only posted a few times but check the board daily. This topic is super important to me. I became a tech in May and learned a lot. All the advice so far in here has been great! You ladies know your stuff!
I believe they will teach you how to install
I read if you go to police or fire station to call and find out if anyone is certified and go see that person. Not all cops/fire rescue people are car seat certified.
This was true for both my sister and myself (seperate occasions and different insurance companies). It was the easiest part of the claim and I would have never thought to ask for it to be covered if she hadn't told me.