There is SO much information on Car Seat Safety,
Some things most parents do NOT know.
First off, I want to say,
First off, I want to say,
WE ARE NOT JUDGING YOU!!!!
I promise, If someone is commenting on a photo, Or walking up to you in public about car seat issues, We are not judging you. 99% of the time the person approaching you, did the VERY thing that they want to speak with you about. There are so many things that can be done wrong with car seats.
I am going to start off with the newest car seat recommendations.
The AAP Has recently updated it's recommendations for what kind of car seat's our children should be in.
Though, it is not really NEW new's that Rearfacing is 500 times safer, They are just now recognizing that it is safer. I have no idea why it has taken them this long, But A Lot of parents are not happy about it.
I promise, If someone is commenting on a photo, Or walking up to you in public about car seat issues, We are not judging you. 99% of the time the person approaching you, did the VERY thing that they want to speak with you about. There are so many things that can be done wrong with car seats.
I am going to start off with the newest car seat recommendations.
The AAP Has recently updated it's recommendations for what kind of car seat's our children should be in.
Though, it is not really NEW new's that Rearfacing is 500 times safer, They are just now recognizing that it is safer. I have no idea why it has taken them this long, But A Lot of parents are not happy about it.
But A Lot of parents are super excited about the change. Why?
Because we want more parents to be informed of the dangers of not using car seats properly.
These are the newest recommendations for our children are as follows:
Because we want more parents to be informed of the dangers of not using car seats properly.
These are the newest recommendations for our children are as follows:
Birth to 12 months:
Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
There are different types of rear-facing car seats: Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing. Convertible and 3-in-1 car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.
1-3 years:
1-3 years:
Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness.
4-7 years:
Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat
8-12 years:
Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snug across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.
Now I would like to add MY input on these recommendations.
On these two parts:
Once your child outgrows the
rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a
forward-facing car seat with a harness
I don't want parents to think that just because you have a car seat that has a 30 pound weight limit that it is okay to turn forward facing. Because I have seen some 30 pound 18 month olds. Personally, What I just did, I went and bough a Radian XTSL to keep my 30 pound 2 and a half year old Rear facing for 15 more pounds. It is worth it to spend $200-$300 on a seat, if it allows you to rear face longer.
It is a LAW in ALL US States, That your child be rearfacing UNTIL 1 AND 20 pounds. Not one or the other. Your child must reach BOTH before legally allowed to be in a forward facing car seat. If your child reaches the max of your infant seat, which most used to be 20 pounds, Now most bucket seats hold up to 30pounds, You must buy a Convertible car seat to keep them rear facing UNTIL they reach a year old.
Also, Your child has outgrown the bucket seat when their heads have become less than 1 inch away from the top of the shell and or hit the max weight of the seat.
All Children under 1 year and 20 lbs must be rear facing, however it has been proven to be safer to remain rear facing past these legal minimums. With seats now available that can rear face up to 35, 40 or even 45 lbs it is possible to rear face much longer than in previous generations.
Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat
Just because your child has outgrown the max harness weight of the seat you have, The Britax Frontier Harnesses to 85lbs. There is always another option to keep your children harnessed longer.
Children should remain in a harnessed seat until they reach 4 years old. 40 lbs and 40 inches tall. But Again, It is believed to be safer to remain harnessed past this minimum. Some seats allow for boostering before 4/40/40. However most children who are younger than 4 years old are not able to maintain correct position and smaller than 40 lbs and 40 inches may not properly fit the seat, Which could lead to severe injuries in the even of a collision.
Rear Face to the MAX
Harness to the MAX
Booster to the MAX
A few basic's of car seat usage
Rear facing MUST's.
Straps for rear facing have to be AT or BELOW your child's shoulders in the slot
closest to but not above the shoulders.
For infants the recline has to be at a 45degree angle
Chest clip always at armpit level.
Some convertible seats allow for a 30 degree angle for older children.
But Infants need to be at that 45 degree angle
Forward Facing MUST's
Straps AT or ABOVE the shoulders, with them coming from the slot
closest to but not below the shoulders.
Chest clip always at armpit level. |
But when it comes down to it, Always read the manual and follow the Manufacturers instructions.
Now, I am going to admit to you all something.
Yes, I did it, I turned my son forward facing too soon. I was one of "those moms" who didn't know better. We went from the bucket seat, to a high back booster seat and a Cosco Scenera, which I now now was expired. But we had that Cosco Scenera Forward facing.
I had NO clue how unsafe it was. I just thought that was what you did after the bucket seat. I had no one to tell me otherwise. And I thank god every day that he was watching over us in every car ride and kept us accident free. I will not say WHEN I turned him forward facing because I want to smack myself for allowing it. We also did all of the other "NoNo" things with car seats.
After market products or AMP's (Void's all warranties)
Loose straps (ejection risk)
Forward facing too soon (Risk of broken neck in a wreck)
Putting the bucket seat on carts at stores (fall risk)
But because I was open to learning, I researched, And realized that what I was doing was not in the best interest of my son's safety. So I saved up $40 and got a non expired Cosco Scenera from target that Rearfaces to 40lbs. It took some trial and error with installing it, But eventually we got it. Bug NEVER gave me any problems with being back rearfacing.
This was the biggest thing I can be proud of in mommyhood. The day we turned him back rearfacing.
If you need any help for anything Car seat Related Join this group:
This group is on Facebook, For any questions you may have on car seat's. There are certified car seat techs that can help you. There are mother's like myself, Who have learned so much, but has not yet had the opportunity to take the CPST course.
Some other things to keep in mind for car seats:
NEVER use after market products, They WILL void your warranty and if you get in a wreck, Insurance does not have to replace your seat.
NEVER Ride with your kids in the front seat in front of an air bag. Even if the air bag is disabled, It is still not a good idea.
NEVER use LATCH & Seat belt together, It is ALWAYS one OR the other.
NEVER turn your child forward facing just because they turn 1 year old. Remember it is 1 OR 20 pounds Not one or the other. And that is just a minimum. You should always Rear face to the MAX. And if you have maxed out your seat, consider buying a new one. It is worth it to keep them rear facing longer.
Forward facing before 1 year old. In a forward facing only car seat. Chest clip too low, Strap snot placed correctly. And does not meet height requirements OR AGE requirement for this seat.
Straps too loose, Clip too low. Could easily be ejected during a wreck.
Forward Facing too soon, Low clip. Loose straps. Straps too high.
Properly Forward facing when we didn't have our boot for the radian to rear face.
He did pull his chest clip a tad too high. It was fixed.
My adorable Nephew, Properly boostered at 4 years old. Though it is best to harness longer, They are booster training him so that he can be ready to be in a seat belt when he outgrows his harness.
Properly rearfacing.
Also Did you know? Car seat's expire. Yup. That is right. ALL CAR SEATS EXPIRE!!!
This is NOT because the car seat companies want more money. I promise you. They want the best for your children. Here is a list of MOST car seat manufacturers shelf life of car seats:Baby Trend
6 years from date of manufacture
Britax
6 years from date of manufacture with the exception of the Frontier, which is 9 years from the date of manufacture
ALL seats with these model names are expired: Advantage, Bodyguard, Cruiser, Expressway, Freeway, Galaxy, Handle With Care, Husky, King, Laptop, Roadster, Starriser, Super Elite, Wizard.
Chicco
6 years from the date of manufacture
Clek
7 years from the date of manufacture
Combi
7 years from the date of manufacture
Dorel Juvenile Group
(Cosco, Safety 1st, Eddie Bauer, Maxi-Cosi)
6 years from the date of manufacture
Evenflo
6 years from the date of manufacture
Graco
6 years from the date of manufacture with the exception of the Nautilus IN LBB MODE ONLY, which is 9 years
Harmony
6 years from the date of manufacture
Learning Curve
(The First Years, Compass)
7 years from the date of manufacture
Orbit Baby
7 years from the date of manufacture
Peg-Perego
5 years from the date of manufacture
Seats manufactured in 2011 or later 7 years from the date of manufacture
RECARO
6 years from the date of manufacture
Sunshine Kids Juvenile Products (now Diono)
Radians -- 8 years after the date of manufacture
Monterey -- 6 years after the date of manufacture
Please don't feel like we are judging you. We only want the BEST for your child.
Please feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns about your child's seat. I will do my best to help you. And If for some reason, I don't have the answer, I will get it for you.
I will be doing a weekly "Bad car seats" Post. With new expired seats. Stay tuned.
Kasey
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