20 Myths About Car Seat Newborn: Dispelled
Car Seat Newborn Car seats for infants offer an ideal and secure fit for infants. They also offer convenience since most are an “click-in and -snap” model. Make sure that the chest clip is placed in the right place to your baby's armpits. If the seat manufacturer permits you to use a tightly rolled receiving blanket to fill in any gap between your baby's crotch strap and their bottom, to prevent sliding. Safety Seat Labels When you are shopping for a car seat for newborns or other baby products make sure you look over the labels carefully. The labels will provide useful details on how to use and maintain the product. They can also be used to identify products that are not conforming or are counterfeit. Be wary if, for instance you spot a reduced price on the car seat for children. This lower price could indicate that the car seat was modified and is not compliant with U.S. safety standards, or is made for an international market. In these situations the lower price could make the car seat less secure and could result in serious injuries to a child in an accident. Genuine car seats have specific requirements for labeling that must be met to pass inspections and be legally sold in the United States. This is white labels with black and red letters that indicates the seat meets federal requirements, and a label on the back of the seat that lists the model number and serial number, the date of manufacture and the instruction for using the car seat. A valid car seat will come with a manual and registration card to confirm that the seat was purchased from a licensed dealer. The label of the car seat also contains information about the maximum weight and height of a child. These limits will help you determine if a seat is suitable for your child. For instance when your child is extremely short and weighs less than 22 pounds, then you'll need to get a rear-facing car seat. Certain seats, particularly convertible seats, will have an indication on the label of how to recline the seat properly. This could be an instruction to level the seat to the ground or a ball that needs to be in a certain slot. This is crucial, as improperly reclining a seat can put your infant at risk of injury in the event an accident. The warning label is typically placed on the edge of the cushion. This location is preferred because it will be readily visible while the child is riding in the seat. car seats by age 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, you need to make sure their harness straps are snug and properly positioned. This is especially important for newborns who can easily slip from a loose harness or even be ejected from the vehicle in an accident. The 5-point harness is designed to contact five different points on your child's body (shoulders hips, thighs and between the crotch and shoulders) to distribute evenly any impact forces. The straps should be snug but not be uncomfortable. If you are unsure about the fit, try the “Pinch Test”. Using your thumb and finger, pinch the strap at the shoulder of your child. If the strap is tight enough that it causes discomfort it's time to loosen. Many parents feel that their child's harness isn't tight enough. However, this can be more risky than straps that are too loose. A strap that is loose can move around the body of your child during a crash, compressing down on their spine and possibly causing injury or even death. If your child is facing towards the front, the harness straps should be secured over the shoulders. A strap positioned below the shoulder can cause their torso to slide too far forward in the event of a crash, potentially causing them to be ejected from the car seat or be thrown into the windshield. This can also cause them to crash their head on the shoulder restraint causing serious injuries or even death. If your child's chest clip is higher than their armpit level, it's a good idea to place tightly rolled blankets or washcloths next to the infant for head and neck support. This will prevent them from squirming their way across the back of the seat, possibly getting their neck caught on the chest clip and strangling themselves in the event of a crash. Chest Clip One of the most misunderstood car seat features is the chest clip. Many parents are taught that it holds the child in the car seat, and even when correctly positioned it could have some spooky myths attached to it (low chest clips piercing stomachs, for instance). First of all, the chest clip cannot physically hold your child in an accident. The crotch clip is responsible for this, which is why it is essential to buckle the harness around your crotch, not the chest. If a chest clip is too low, it can cause the straps of the harness to slide off the shoulders in a crash and possibly result in the ejection of the seat. This is why it's suggested to place the chest clip at armpit level and that's also where the majority of car seat manuals recommend placing it. Chest clips are made to be a pre-crash positioner to help keep the straps of the harness on the child's shoulders and in alignment with their arms. When a collision occurs, it's not uncommon for the chest clip to break or move down because of the amount of force that is applied to it during the collision however this won't impact your child's safety in any way, as long the harness is secured at the crotch buckle. If your child is wearing blankets or jackets, be sure to remove it before you buckle the harness, as it could prevent the harness straps from being properly positioned on their shoulders. When putting your child in the car seat, you should leave bulky outer clothing at home. A chest clip that's not positioned correctly can also prevent your child from being able to reach their seat belt buckle and unfasten the buckle. This can be dangerous, especially when your child is trying to get out from their seat while driving. It could also cause the buckle to be unfastened in a stop or crash. The best solution 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 buckle is located beneath the baby's shoulders (when in rear facing car seat) or above their shoulders (when in a forward-facing car seat). It should be placed as close as is possible to the baby's body and between their legs. Little legs of newborns are floppy that are often put into the straps' crotch and aren't in the correct position. This can cause their airway be blocked, causing them to choke during a crash or become unresponsive. Utilizing a crochet pattern to make the buckle cover can aid in keeping their legs in the correct place. The pattern should be simple and should not have loose threads in the buckle area. The ideal cover should be made using a stretchy, soft yarn. For more details about your car seat and how it should be secured, you may need to speak with an expert in child safety. Even if you follow all the instructions for your car seat, there's always more to know that isn't obvious. Infant car seats are made specifically for babies and small infants. They attach to the base of the vehicle and can be removed with a single click. They come with a variety of features that make them safer than larger convertible car seats, including a built-in recline indicator to ensure that the baby is seated upright. Many parents prefer 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 is at the maximum height and weight limits of the seat. Once your baby outgrows the infant car seat, they should be able to switch to convertible car seats. These seats have excellent safety features, including side impact protection as well as a five-point harnesses. They are more difficult to move from one vehicle another, and they take up more room than carseats for infants. To create a crotch buckle cover for your convertible car seat, an extra large hook and size 5 crochet thread are needed. The cover should be designed to fit over the buckle of the car seat with an additional couple of inches left to drape over the edge of the car seat. Begin by making a standing sc on the first chain at the end of the belt. Work in scs all over the strap including the chains from the previous row. Repeat this process until the other end of the strap. Secure the strap and weave ends.