Car Seat Newborn
Car seats for infants are designed to fit snugly and securely for babies. They also provide convenience because they are typically a "click-in and -snap" model.
The chest clip should be placed between your baby's armpits. If the manufacturer of the seat allows, use a tightly rolled receiving blanket to cover any gap between your baby's crotch strap and their bottom, to prevent slouching.
Safety Seat Labels
Be sure to read all labels before purchasing a car seat newborns or other baby products. Those labels can provide you with a clear understanding of how to use the product safely, and how to maintain it properly. They can also help you identify potentially counterfeit or non-compliant products.
Beware if, for example, you notice a marked-down price on a car seat for children. infant car seat newborn could mean that the car seat has been altered with, is not compliant with U.S. standards, or was created for an overseas market. In these cases the lower cost could make the car seat less secure and result in serious injury to your child in the event of a crash.
Labeling requirements for car seats are very specific. They must be met to pass inspections, and to be legally sold in the United States. The label must be white and have black and red lettering to show that the seat complies with federal regulations. It should also include a label on the seat's side that lists the model number, serial numbers, date of manufacture and instructions for use. A valid car seat includes a manual and registration card that proves that the seat was purchased from an authorized dealer.
The label of a car seat also includes information on the maximum weight and height of a child. These limits will tell you which car seat is appropriate for your child. If your child is small and weighs less than 22 pounds, then you'll need a rear-facing child's seat.
Certain seats, including convertible seats, have an indication on them that will tell you how to recline it correctly. It could be a line that aligns the seat with the floor or a ball in a specific slot. This is crucial, as improperly reclining a seat could put your child at risk for injury in the event of a crash.
Most manufacturers put the warning label on the front edge of the booster seat cushion. This is the most preferred position because it is easily visible to the child when sitting in the booster seat. It is also easy to read and will not be covered by clothing or other objects that could obscure the message.
Harness Straps
Always ensure that the harness straps of your child's car seat or stroller carrier are tight and properly placed. This is especially important for babies, who can easily slip off an unsecure harness or even be ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
The 5-point harness is designed in a way that it contacts five different points on your child's body, including the hips, shoulders and the crotch between. This helps to disperse any force of a crash equally. The straps should be snug but not be uncomfortable. If you're not sure about the fit, try the "Pinch Test". Utilizing your thumb and fingers and pinch the strap to the shoulder of your infant. If the strap feels too tight, causing discomfort, it's too tight and needs to be loosened.
It's also normal for caregivers to believe that their child's harness straps aren't tight enough however this could be more dangerous than a strap that is too loose. A loose strap can move along with your child's torso in a crash and compress their spinal column, causing injury or even death.
If your child is a forward-facing child, the harness straps must be positioned snugly over or above the shoulders. A strap placed below the shoulder could allow their torsos to move too far forward during a collision, which could cause them to fall out of the car seat or be thrown into the windshield. This could cause them to strike their head against the shoulder restraint, causing serious injuries or even death.
If your child's chest clip is higher than the armpit it's a good idea to place a couple of blankets that are tightly rolled or washcloths beside the baby for head and neck support. This will stop them from squirming across the back of the seat, and possibly getting their neck caught in the chest clip and strangling themselves in the event of a crash.
Chest Clip
The chest clip is one of the most misunderstood features on car seats. Many parents are led to believe that it holds the child in the car seat, and even when correctly positioned it can have some scary myths attached to it (low chest clips that puncture stomachs, for example).
First foremost, the chest clip cannot actually hold your child's body in an accident. This is the job of the crotch buckle, which is why it's crucial to buckle the harness at the crotch and not the chest. If the chest clip is too low, it may cause the harness straps to slide off the shoulders during a crash and possibly result in the ejection of the seat. This is why it's suggested to place the chest clip at the armpit level and that's also the position that the majority of manuals for car seats recommend placing it.
Chest clips are designed to function as a pre-crash positioner to help keep the harness straps on the child's shoulders and in line with their arms. When a collision occurs it's not uncommon for a chest clip to break or slide down due to the amount of force that is applied to it during the collision, but this doesn't affect your child's safety in any way as long the harness is secured at the crotch buckle.
If your child wears a jacket or blanket make sure you remove it before you tie the harness. This can prevent the straps from fitting correctly on shoulders. When taking your child to the car seat, it is best to leave bulky outer clothing at home.
A chest clip that is not properly positioned can hinder your child's ability to reach the buckle of their seat. This can be dangerous when they attempt to get out of their seat while driving. It could also lead to them getting themselves unbuckled in a sudden stop, or a crash. A simple solution to this is to install a Buckle Guard on your car seat. It prevents your child from pushing the release button, and then opening their chest clip.
Crotch Buckle
The crotch strap is located either under the baby's shoulders in a rear-facing car seat, or above them (if in a forward-facing car seat). It should be as close to their body as possible and positioned between their legs.
Newborns' floppy legs are often tucked in the crotch and do not sit in the right position. This can cause their airway to be blocked, which can cause them to choke during a crash or become unresponsive.
The cover for the buckle can be created using simple crochet patterns to hold the legs in place. The pattern should be simple and should not have loose threads around the buckle. The cover should be made of a stretchy, soft material.
It is recommended to talk to a child safety technician (who is an expert in the car seat industry) for more information about your particular model and how to properly secure it. Even if you've followed the instructions included with your car seat, there is more to learn.
Infant car seats are specially designed for newborns and smaller infants. They attach to a base which stays in the vehicle and can be removed with a single click of a button. They have several features that make them safer than larger convertible car seats with a built-in recline indicator to ensure the baby is seated upright.
Many parents choose to use an infant car seats because they are comfortable and portable, particularly when traveling. However, it's important to remember that they're only safe for use until your child is at the maximum height and weight limit of the seat.
If your child has outgrown their infant car seat it is time change to a convertible seat. These seats come with excellent safety features, like meticulously engineered side impact protection as well as a five-point harness. However, they are more difficult to switch between vehicles and take up more space than infant car seats.
To create a crotch buckle cover for your convertible car seat an extra large hook and size 5 crochet thread is needed. The cover should sit over the buckle of the car seat, with some inches of fabric to drape over the edge. Begin by making a standing sc on first chain near the end of the belt. Work in sc all around the strap including the chains of the previous row. Repeat this procedure to the opposite end of the strap. Attach the strap and weave ends.