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September 2015 Moms
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CAR SEAT PSA!

LadyJane083LadyJane083 member
in September 2015 Moms
I've seen some posts on here about whether to buy a new car, or the
best car seat to buy, or whether to skip and infant seat and go directly
to a convertible seat.    But having your car seat properly installed
and using it correctly each time, is the safest thing you can do.

Before your baby is born, please consider having their car seat professionally installed by a certified car seat safety technician.    You can look up a location near you here:  https://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm   (My 3 year old's was done at a local hospital, but fire stations and state police offices are other usual locations, they offered it twice monthly and we had to make an appointment.   It was FREE)

A lot of people use car seats incorrectly.  This is really apparent to me when FB acquaintances share pictures of their kid in the car, and every time some viral video of a kid being cute in the car is circulated.  Common mistakes, straps too loose, chest clip on belly and not chest, puffy winter coat on in the car.

DON'T REGISTER FOR THE VERY COMMON BUNDLE https://jjcolecollections.com/bundleme.  It's ok for a stroller but not safe for a car seat because it goes under the straps.  This is a safer option by the same company.  https://jjcolecollections.com/car-seat-cover

Anyway:  Pregnancy is a good time to educate your self on proper car seat safety.   Your state's laws you should consider the absolute minimum not the maximum for safety.  Example:  It's safest to rear fast until AT LEAST age two but ideally the maximum allowed height and weight based on the seat you own (check the manual), but lots of states the minimum law is age 1/20 lbs. 

Here are some good resources:

Car Seat Lady
https://thecarseatlady.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/TheCarSeatLady?fref=ts

Car Seat for the Littles
https://csftl.org/ 
https://www.facebook.com/CarSeatsForTheLittles?fref=ts


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Re: CAR SEAT PSA!

  • LadyJane083LadyJane083 member
    One other resource
    https://www.facebook.com/carseatblog  but their website seems down right now https://carseatblog.com/


    10 common mistakes: 
    https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/car-seat-safety/art-20043939
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  • KERJFKERJF member
    Good post :) I hate seeing pictures of kids in seats that they are not properly buckled in to. It would be one thing if the information was just not available, but as a parent and being there is so much great information  -there just is no excuse IMO. Car seat lady and for the littles are great resources!!!

    imageimage
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  • verveine407verveine407 member
    Great post! Thanks for the reminder about getting the installation checked. Woohoo! We are getting closer to having a little person (or another one!!) in the back seat. :-)
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  • BeachBabe22BeachBabe22 member
    I cannot stand when people post pictures of their kids in the car seat and the straps are so loose or the chest clip is way too low.
    BabyFruit Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • thinkpink101thinkpink101 member
    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    image


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  • BeachBabe22BeachBabe22 member
    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Agreed! Our car seat was checked by the hospital before we were allowed to leave.
    BabyFruit Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • LadyJane083LadyJane083 member
    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Yikes!!! That shouldn't be legal.
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  • LadyJane083LadyJane083 member
    BeachBabe22 said:

    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Agreed! Our car seat was checked by the hospital before we were allowed to leave.
    They could check by following you out to the car!
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  • squigles28squigles28 member
    One thing I hadn't thought about until now, the car seat canopy sets with covers, so not safe. Too bad I already ordered it :( oh well, I can use the canopies, just not the interior stuff. So thanks for the alerts ladies!
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  • BeachBabe22BeachBabe22 member
    LadyJane083 said:

    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Yikes!!! That shouldn't be legal.
    Honesty, I cannot imagine having a newborn in a convertable car seat. It was so easy to take the car seat in and out while shopping and going out to eat. I did wear my daughter in a moby wrap but a lot of times it was just easier to keep her in the car seat to make quick trips.
    BabyFruit Ticker


    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
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  • jht4jht4 member
    I couldn't agree more with this PSA! Ladies, it is so important to educate yourselves about car seat safety. These are life saving devices we are putting our children in so don't buy a used seat and don't add anything to the seat that did not come in the box (the jj cole shower cap style is OK). Those cute strap covers and head/body supports are great in your stroller or swing, not added to your car seat.

    I cannot echo enough the recommendation above to join Car Seats for the Littles on Facebook. I have learned so much from just reading on this page. I included some links for those who want to do more reading outside of Facebook...

    The importance of rear facing until at least age 2:
    https://csftl.org/why-rear-facing-the-science-junkies-guide/
    https://csftl.org/rear-facing-car-seat-myths-busted/

    Proper use for rear facing:
    https://csftl.org/?attachment_id=11223

    Recommended seats:
    Rear facing only (infant buckets) - stay away from graco snugride 22 and baby trend as those tend to not fit newborns appropriately
    https://csftl.org/recommended-seats/compare-rfo-seats/
    Convertibles from birth
    https://csftl.org/choosing-a-convertible-car-seat-for-a-newborn/
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • thinkpink101thinkpink101 member
    BeachBabe22 said:

    LadyJane083 said:

    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Yikes!!! That shouldn't be legal.
    Honesty, I cannot imagine having a newborn in a convertable car seat. It was so easy to take the car seat in and out while shopping and going out to eat. I did wear my daughter in a moby wrap but a lot of times it was just easier to keep her in the car seat to make quick trips.



    Well we had an 18 month old and twins so carrying two car seats while steering my toddler's stroller wasn't going to be possible, lol. Instead I put each of the kids in a triple stroller each time we had to go somewhere. It was certainly less convenient than just grabbing the car seat and going, but I didn't have much choice. This time I ordered the Chicco Keyfit!


    image


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  • LadyJane083LadyJane083 member
    @beachbabe22 - I get that, but it totally seems like a personal preference. If a family is on more of a budget and wants to skip the infant seat and invest in a quality convertible seat - I don't see that as a negative.

    I can't see myself carrying the infant seat for long. I don't have a ton of upper body strength and I have a messed up shoulder.
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  • slp213psuslp213psu member
    The rear facing thing is driving me crazy. My 21-month old is still rear facing and I see so many same-age or younger babies forward. It especially bugs me on sitcoms or in movies (dumb, and fiction, I know, but irresponsible!).
    And if my in-laws tell me one more time that "her legs are too long...." (Insert empty threat here).
    Report Reply
  • mrscate88mrscate88 member
    BeachBabe22 said:

    LadyJane083 said:

    thinkpink101 said:

    Great post! I wanted to add that you might want to check with your hospital too, we had bought a car seat that was permanently installed in the car, but the hospital required us to bring a snap n go type seat in order to bring the baby home in, so dh ended up having to run out and buy a Graco seat and base!

    Yikes!!! That shouldn't be legal.
    Honesty, I cannot imagine having a newborn in a convertable car seat. It was so easy to take the car seat in and out while shopping and going out to eat. I did wear my daughter in a moby wrap but a lot of times it was just easier to keep her in the car seat to make quick trips.
    That's where I was so torn. I wanted to save money and just get a super nice convertible car seat, but I don't want to pull a tiny newborn in and out of a car seat every time we leave the house. Ideally, I would like to be able to carry the infant carrier into the house or a restaurant or whatever. When baby can hold her own head up, I'll probably use the carrier more!
    Report Reply
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