What do we know about car seats?
Did you know your child should be in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, until he or she outgrows it?
Are you installing the seat correctly? Buckling little one in correctly?
Here are some fun facts and great information to keep up to date on the best ways to keep our little loves as safe as possible. :)
Infant car seats (bucket style with handle):
- NEVER place your infant car seat on the top of a shopping cart, every single manual and company forbirds it (even if they make a noise, none actually "lock"). Doing so can cause the cart to tip from being top heavy, and babies die this way.
- Infant seats are Rear-facing ONLY.
-Harness straps must come from At or Below the baby's shoulder
-Harness must be "snug as a hug", you should not be able to pinch any material
- Chest clips go over the nipples, or parallel to the armpits, NEVER on the belly or neck (will cause serious injury or death in a crash)
- The seat is outgrown when there is less than 1 inch of hard shell above baby's head, or when the weight limit is reached.
-Keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible. Rear-facing is 500% safer than forward facing. It is literally the difference between life and death in a crash for a small child.
Convertable Car seats (rear facing):
-All children should remain rear-facing until limits are reached. (less than 1" of hard shell above head for rear-facing, or weight limit is reached)
- Harness should be snug, and chest clip at armpit level
- Harness straps must come from At or Below shoulder
Convertable Car seats (forward facing):
-Once rear-facing limits are reached, a 5 point harness is the next step, forward facing.
-Harness snug and chest clip at armpit level
-Harness straps must come from At or Above shoulder
-Top tether MUST be used in installation
- A child must stay in a 5 pt harness until at least 4 years old and 40 pounds, AND when they are mature enough to use a booster seat correctly and large enough (this generally does not happen until age 5 or 6).
High Back Booster Seat:
-ALWAYS use a high back booster seat until it is outgrown, it provides better belt guides and side impact protection
- NO child under 4 years old and 40 pounds should ever be in a booster (it's illegal in most states)
- In any booster seat, both the shoulder and lap belt must be used at all times
- A child must sit in the booster IN POSITION 100% of the time, if not, he or she must remain in a 5 pt harness
Backless Booster Seat:
- When a high back seat has been outgrown, a no back booster is the next step.
-To use a backless booster, the child's sitting position MUST have a headrest attached to the seat. If it does not, the child cannot sit in that spot
- A child must remain in a booster seat until he or she can pass the 5 Step Test (google this if your child is this stage).
- Bare minimum to not need a booster is 8 years old and 80 pounds, but most kids need one until between 10 and 12 years old.
Please, let's share pics of our kids in their seats.
you will NOT be bashed or judged!!! If something is a bit off, just a good suggestion for you. :)
People often assume older moms are more educated than younger moms, but it's NOT true!
Everyone can learn better at ANY age and a mom of ANY age can make mistakes.
Quoting GremlinMom:
Holy crap, this 42 yr old mom, my DHs best friends girlfriend lol, came to drop off some movies we lent her. Her son who is a year old was buckled in so horribly I told her to roll down his window and I leaned in and fixed it. I was in shock, it didn't even look safe, why wouldn't she notice? And she is a mom to 5! The chest buckle was at his stomach and the soft shoulder pads were on the front, not on top of his shoulders.
Unfortunately, you need new seats ASAP. If the straps are ever washed, they are absolutely trashed seats, unless you can order a new harness from the manufacturer.
If you list ages and sizes of kids, I can give you some suggestions.
Quoting GremlinMom:
The only thing wrong with mine, as far as I know, is all the twisting in the harness straps. My mil washed the damn things before giving them to us and is another person who doesn't know the safety. I'm worried I won't be able to figure it out if I take it apart to fix them...I really need to though.
What?! Why!! I don't think we can afford new seats :( we have 16 month old twins and a newborn. We'd have to buy TWO new seats right now. That's could be a couple hundred dollars :( I mean my kids safety is top priority but I almost wish you hadn't told me that till I could afford to go to the store and get new ones...
Quoting MamaPeanut:
Eek! That sucks. :(.
Unfortunately, you need new seats ASAP. If the straps are ever washed, they are absolutely trashed seats, unless you can order a new harness from the manufacturer.
If you list ages and sizes of kids, I can give you some suggestions.
Quoting GremlinMom:
The only thing wrong with mine, as far as I know, is all the twisting in the harness straps. My mil washed the damn things before giving them to us and is another person who doesn't know the safety. I'm worried I won't be able to figure it out if I take it apart to fix them...I really need to though.
How big are the twins? You could likely get by with 2 Cosco Sceneras (around $45 each).
Also, check out your local Safe Kids chapter or Health Department, they usually have free seats available to those who qualify financially. :)
But definitely replace the seats ASAP. They will absolutely fail in an accident because the harness won't hold up like its supposed to.
Quoting GremlinMom:
!!!!!
What?! Why!! I don't think we can afford new seats :( we have 16 month old twins and a newborn. We'd have to buy TWO new seats right now. That's could be a couple hundred dollars :( I mean my kids safety is top priority but I almost wish you hadn't told me that till I could afford to go to the store and get new ones...
Quoting MamaPeanut:
Eek! That sucks. :(.
Unfortunately, you need new seats ASAP. If the straps are ever washed, they are absolutely trashed seats, unless you can order a new harness from the manufacturer.
If you list ages and sizes of kids, I can give you some suggestions.
Quoting GremlinMom:
The only thing wrong with mine, as far as I know, is all the twisting in the harness straps. My mil washed the damn things before giving them to us and is another person who doesn't know the safety. I'm worried I won't be able to figure it out if I take it apart to fix them...I really need to though.
Quoting Jenn8604:yes i am. chest clip at nipples 5pt harness, and I know how to install it. Hes 47 mos here.
Getting married and having a baby in 6 months, does this sound tacky??
- MamaPeanut
on Aug. 3, 2012 at 12:34 PM