Car Seat Newborn

Car seats for infants are made to fit snugly and securely for infants. They are typically "click in and snap" models which makes them easy to use.

The chest clip should be centered between your baby's armpits. If the seat manufacturer allows the use of a tightly rolled receiving blanket to fill in any gaps between your baby seat's bottom and the crotch straps to prevent them from the slouching.

Safety Seat Labels

Be sure to review all labels prior to purchasing a car seat for newborns or other baby products. The labels will provide you with an idea of how to use the product safely and how to take care of it properly. They can also be used to identify products that are not legal or not authentic.

Be cautious if, for instance you see a reduced price on the child safety car seat. This price reduction could indicate that the car seat was altered, does not meet U.S. safety standards, or is designed for an international market. In these situations the lower price could make the car seat less safe and may cause serious injuries to children in the event of an accident.

The requirements for labeling car seats are very specific. They must be met to pass inspections and be sold legally in the United States. The label must be white and have red and black lettering to indicate that the seat is compliant with federal regulations. It must also include an indication on the seat's side that includes the model number serial numbers, date of production, and instructions for use. A valid car seat will include a manual and a registration card to verify that the seat was purchased from a licensed dealer.

Another important element on the label of a car seats is the child weight and height limits. These limits will tell you if a seat is suitable for your child. If your child is small and weighs under 22 pounds, you'll need a rear-facing seat.

Certain seats, especially convertible seats, have an indication on them that will tell you how to recline it properly. This may include an indication of how to align the seat with the ground or a ball which needs to be placed in a particular slot. This is very important since reclining a seat can put your infant at risk of injury in the event of an accident.

The majority of manufacturers place the warning label on the front edge of the booster seat cushion. This location is preferred because it is easily accessible when the child is riding in the seat. It is also easily readable and will not be covered by clothing or other objects that could obscure the message.

Harness Straps

If your child is a stroller, car seat or another type of vehicle it is important to make sure their harness straps are secure and correctly positioned. This is especially important when it comes to infants, who are prone to escape from the loose harness or get ejected from the seat in a crash.

The 5-point harness is designed to touch five different points on your child's body (shoulders hips, the back and between the crotch) to distribute evenly any force that is generated by a crash. The ideal is for the straps to be snug, but not overly uncomfortable or tight. If you aren't sure about the fit, you can use the "Pinch Test". Utilizing your thumb and fingers and pinch the strap to the shoulder of your infant. If the strap is tight enough that it causes discomfort, it's time to loosen.

Many parents believe that their child's harness isn't tight enough. However, this could be more dangerous than straps that are loose. A strap that is loose could move around the body of your child during the event of a crash, and compress on their spine and possibly causing injury or even death.

If your child is a forward facing infant car seat-facing child, the harness straps must be placed snugly over or above the shoulders. A strap that is placed below the shoulder can cause the child's torso move forward too much in a crash. This could cause them to be forced out of the car seat, or even into the windshield. This can also cause them to hit their head against the shoulder restraint causing serious injuries or death.

If your child's chest clip is higher than their armpits it's a good idea to place a couple of blankets that are tightly rolled or washcloths alongside the infant car seats that swivel to provide neck and head support. This will stop them from squirming on the back of the car and getting their neck caught in the chest clip which could cause strangulation in the event of a car crash.

Chest Clip

The chest clip is one of the most misunderstood features on car seats. Many parents are led to believe that it is used to secure the child in the car seat and even when properly placed, it can have some scary myths attached to it (low chest clips puncturing stomachs, for example).

First foremost, the chest clip cannot physically hold your child during the event of a crash. This is the job of the crotch buckle, which is why it's important to always buckle the harness at the crotch and not on the chest. If the chest clip is positioned too low, the straps could slide off the shoulders in the event of a crash. This could lead to being thrown out of the car seat. It is recommended that the chest clip be placed at armpit height, like the majority of car seat instructions recommend.

Chest clips act as a pre-crash positioning device and help keep the harness straps in place and on the child's shoulders. During a crash it's not uncommon for a chest clip to break or move down due to the force that is applied to it during the crash, but this doesn't affect your child's safety in any way so long as the harness is secured at the crotch buckle.

If your child wears blankets or jackets, be sure that you take it off before you secure the harness. This can make it difficult for the straps to fit correctly on shoulders. When taking your child to the car seat, it is best car seat newborn to leave any bulky outerwear at home.

A chest clip that is not properly positioned can prevent your child's ability to reach the buckle of their seat. This could be risky especially when your child is trying to get out from their seat while driving. It can also lead to the buckle to be unfastened in a accident or stop. An easy solution is to put a Buckle Guard on your car seat, which stops your child from pressing the release button and opening their chest clip.

Crotch Buckle

The crotch strap is located either below the baby's shoulders when in a rear-facing car seat or above them (if in a forward-facing car seat). It should be placed as close as possible to the baby's body and between their legs.

Baby's floppy legs are usually tucked in the crotch and do not sit in the right position. This can impede their airway and cause them to choke or become unresponsive in the event of a crash.

Utilizing a crochet pattern to make the buckle cover can aid in keeping their legs in the proper position. The pattern should be easy and should not have loose threads around the buckle. The cover should be constructed from a soft, stretchy material.

It's recommended to speak with a child passenger safety technician (who is an expert in the field of car seats) for more information about the specific model you have and how to properly secure it. Even if you've followed the instructions for your car seat there is always more to learn than what is apparent.

Infant car seats are specially designed for newborns and smaller infants. They attach to a base that stays in the vehicle and is removed with just one click. They have several characteristics that make them safer than the larger convertible car seats with a built-in recline indicator to ensure that the baby is upright.

Many parents choose infant car seats because of their convenience and portability particularly when traveling. It is important to note that they're only safe for use until your child reaches the maximum height and weight limitations of the seat.

If your child has outgrown their infant car seat it is time to move them to a convertible seat. These seats come with excellent safety features, like carefully engineered side impact protection and 5-point harness. However, they're more difficult to change between vehicles and take up more space than infant car seats.

To make a crotch buckle cover for your convertible car seat an extra large hook and size 5 crochet thread is required. The cover should sit over the buckle on the car seat, and have some inches of fabric to drape over the edge. Start by making a standing sc on the first chain near the end of the belt. Work in sc around the strap, including the chains of the previous row. Repeat this procedure to the other end of the strap. Attach the strap and weave ends.