I'm just going to go ahead and XP this here. Car seat safety

ClarissaExplainsItAll · July 2012

I posted this on the FB page, but I figure everyone can use it.

Never, ever, EVER add anything to a car seat that goes between baby and car seat. Included in these are "Bag" warmers, Piddle Pads, blankets, strap covers, car seat covers (that do not come with your seat), head positioners (again, aftermarket. the ones that comes with your seat are perfectly fine.) Adding any of these to your seat is not safe and will void your warranty on your seat. The following are not safe for use:

"Bag" warmer:https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Cole-Original-Infant-Graphite/dp/B00009VE5O Piddle Pad:https://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-20224-Deluxe-PiddlePad/dp/B001C51TIE Car seat covers:https://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=infant+car+seat+covers&hl=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1304&bih=707&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=11388213496589849154&sa=X&ei=A6v3T5HmBJL6rAGYtqCLCQ&ved=0CHgQ8wIwAQ Head positioners:https://www.amazon.com/Kiddopotamus-Snuzzler-Complete-Support-Ivory/dp/B000DZS720/ref=sr_1_6?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1341631260&sr=1-6&keywords=infant+head+positioner https://www.amazon.com/Jeep-Grow-Double-Support-Brown/dp/B0033UWR4G/ref=sr_1_21?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1341631302&sr=1-21&keywords=infant+head+positioner SAFE ALTERNATIVES: "Shower cap" warmers. These do not go under the baby at all, and elastic around the outside of the seat:https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Cole-Seat-Cover-Graphite/dp/B00511J6BM/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1341631362&sr=1-1&keywords=jj+cole+shower+cap+cover Receiving blankets. These are used instead of head positioners. Just roll one or two up, and position baby's head. Any aftermarket product that is meant for car use is generally not safe. The mirrors to see the baby are unsafe. Any toys that are put on the handle of the seat are unsafe. Any loose toy/bottle/sippycup is unsafe. Here's an article (graphic and sad) about the dangers of even soft items that are lose during a car accident: https://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/120581/Almost_Deadly_Sippy_Cup_Incident All the mirrors and toys can become dislodged in an accident and severely injure your child. HOW TO PUT YOUR CAR SEAT IN YOUR CAR: ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS CHECK YOUR CAR MANUAL FOR THE BEST PLACE TO PUT THE CAR SEAT. Generally, the middle is safest if that is an option. Again, check your manual. Here is a great video showing you how exactly to install your seat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Oskgb508Y It is always a good idea to get your seat checked by a professional, as well. You can find one here: https://www.seatcheck.org/ HOW TO PUT YOUR CHILD IN A CAR SEAT: Make sure that baby is wearing THIN clothing. Do not put baby in any winter coats, buntings, thick sweaters or jackets. If it is cold outside, layers on top of the seat are the best option. For a rear facing seat, straps should be at or below baby's shoulders. The car seat will not effectively do it's job if the straps are above the child's shoulders in a RF car seat. For a FF seat, the straps should be above the child's shoulders. Once child is strapped into the seat and all buckles are secure, make sure the chest clip is at armpit level. Do not put the chest clip at the belly. This will not hold your baby in place, and baby could fly out of the seat. In order to make sure that the straps are tight enough, pinch them at the shoulder. If you can get any fabric in your fingers, it is not tight enough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGT9eBL_gg A couple of other things to think about: Children should be rear facing as long as possible. 2 years is now the recommendation (and law, in some places), but if you can keep them RF longer, DO IT. Do it until it becomes unsafe. If they are too heavy to safely RF, then flip them. If they are unbuckling and climbing out of their seat, flip them. Common sense.

Infant seats are safer for the first few months. I know a few people are planning on going straight to the convertible, but infants do not fit as well in them. This is a preferance, but they are in general not as safe.

Lovemyflightmedic18 · July 2012

So glad you posted this. Car seat safety is so important. There are so many people that are just uneducated or think they know better. Another thing about the infant carrier, the handle should always be in the down position when locked in the base in the car.

ClarissaExplainsItAll · July 2012

Lovemyflightmedic18:
So glad you posted this. Car seat safety is so important. There are so many people that are just uneducated or think they know better. Another thing about the infant carrier, the handle should always be in the down position when locked in the base in the car.

This is actually different for every seat. While my seat, and many others, require the handle to be down, some do not. Always check with your manual, and if you can't find it in there, call the manufacturer.

JessAnnJ · July 2012

Thinks for the post. It definitely gave me something to keep in mind. Most things I do not think I would have done, but the cup issue is something I probably would not have thought twice about. One thing I would be interested about are people's views on mirrors when the child is rear facing. I understand that having anything in the car that could come loose in an accident is dangerous. But Isn't it a bit dangerous not to be able to see your baby? My niece would start to choke when she vomited and since she was choking she wouldn't really make much noise. For those situations when it is possibly dangerous to pull over and you are the only person in the car it seems like a mirror would be very helpful.

dee12807 · July 2012

ClarissaExplainsItAll:
Lovemyflightmedic18:
So glad you posted this. Car seat safety is so important. There are so many people that are just uneducated or think they know better. Another thing about the infant carrier, the handle should always be in the down position when locked in the base in the car.

This is actually different for every seat. While my seat, and many others, require the handle to be down, some do not. Always check with your manual, and if you can't find it in there, call the manufacturer.

it's true that all seats are different. Mine has 4 or 5 positions and can only be all the way up (position a) or in position c.

also, baby buntings and bulky jackets are a no no in car seats. They leave too much room between baby and seat/straps.

MommaAmers · July 2012

My husband would thank you for posting this. He is a certified car seat safety specialist and his pet peeve is putting all of that other junk (mirrors, pads, etc.) into the car seat or car with the car seat. Car seat safety is so important and it seems with all that junk on the market, it makes it seem like it's all okay.

jquirke9881 · July 2012

A lot of police stations/fire stations have car seat safety inspectors on staff and they will help you install or check your seat for free. Call them and do it! BRU also has car seat safety days where they have someone come to inspect car seat installation. Do it! It took 1 hour of my time and gave me peace of mind.

And just to reiterate on of my biggest "pet peeves"... please please please don't turn your child FF at 1 unless necessary. SO many people still do this. Check the RF height and weight limits on your convertible and kep them RF as long as possible.

JenniatONU · July 2012

Just wanted to add: do not put your carseat on top of shopping cartss no matter how "sturdy" or "locked in" you think it is.

KiraH28 · July 2012

JenniatONU:
Just wanted to add: do not put your carseat on top of shopping cartss no matter how "sturdy" or "locked in" you think it is.

Ahhh I saw a man balancing a car seat on top of a shopping car at BRU today, and I almost slapped him!

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I'm just going to go ahead and XP this here. Car seat safety

Re: I'm just going to go ahead and XP this here. Car seat safety

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