Car Seat Newborn
Car seats for infants provide an ideal and secure fit for babies. They also provide convenience because the majority of them are an "click-in and snap" model.
Make sure that the chest clip is aligned with your baby's armpits. If the seat manufacturer allows you to use a tightly rolled receiving blanket to cover any gap between the crotch strap of your baby and their bottom to prevent sliding.
Safety Seat Labels
Make sure you go through all the labels before purchasing a car seat newborns or other baby products. The labels will provide useful information on how to use and maintain the product. They can also be used to identify products that are not compliant or counterfeit.
For instance, if notice that a child safety seat has been marked down significantly from the original price, be wary. This lower price could indicate that the car seat has been played with, isn't compliant with U.S. standards, or was made for an overseas market. In these cases the lower cost 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 legal sold in the United States. This includes a white label with black and red letters which indicates that the seat complies with the federal requirements, as well as a label on the side of the seat that lists the model number and serial number, the date of manufacture and the instruction for the use of the car seat. A valid car seat will come with a manual and registration card to verify that the seat has been purchased from a licensed dealer.
Another important piece of information on a car seat's label is the child's height and weight limits. These limits will let you know if a seat is suitable for your child. If your child is small and weighs under 22 pounds, you'll need a rear-facing child's seat.
Certain seats, particularly convertible seats, will have an indicator that will tell you how to recline the seat in the correct way. It could be a line that aligns your seat with the floor or a ball in a specific slot. This is vital since reclining a seat could put your child at risk of injuries in the event of a crash.
The warning label is usually located on the edges of the cushion. This is the preferred location because it is easily visible to the child while they are in the booster seat. It is easy to see and will not be obscured by clothing or other items.
Harness Straps
Whether your child is in a stroller, car seat or another type of vehicle it is important to make sure their harness straps are secure and properly positioned. This is especially crucial when it comes to newborns, who could easily fall out of a loose harness or be ejected from the seat in a crash.
The 5-point harness is designed so that it connects five different areas of your child's body, including the hips, shoulders and the crotch between. This allows you to spread the force of a crash evenly. The straps should fit comfortably but not be uncomfortable. If you're unsure of the fit, you can try the "Pinch Test". Use your fingers and thumbs to press the strap against your baby's shoulders. If the strap feels so tight that it causes discomfort, it's too tight and needs to be released.
Many parents think their baby's harness is too tight. However, this can be more dangerous than straps that are loose. A loose strap can move along with the torso of your child in the event of a crash, and compress on their spinal column and possibly causing injury or even death.
If your child is a forward-facing infant, the harness straps must be positioned snugly AT or ABOVE the shoulders. A strap that is positioned below the shoulder can cause the child's torso be pushed forward in the event of a crash. This could result in them being thrown out of the car seat, or into the windshield. This can cause them to strike their head on the shoulder restraint, which can cause serious injuries or death.
If your child's chest clip is at or above the armpit it's a good idea to put a blanket or washcloths beside the baby for neck and head support. This will prevent them from squirming in the back seat 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 functions on car seats. Many parents believe that the chest clip holds the child in the seat. Even when it is properly positioned, it could still have some scary myths related to it (lower chest clips piercing the stomach, for example).
First foremost the chest clip isn't able to actually hold your child's body in the event of a crash. This is the responsibility of the crotch buckle that's why it's vital to ensure that the harness is buckled at the crotch and not on the chest. If the chest clip is set too low, the straps may slide off of the shoulders during an accident. This could result in being thrown from the car seat. This is why it's suggested to place the chest clip at armpit level, which is also where the majority of car seat manuals recommend placing it.
Chest clips are designed as a pre-crash positioner to help keep the harness straps 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 slide down because of the amount of force applied to it during the collision however, this shouldn't affect your child's safety in any way, as long as the harness is secured at the crotch buckle.
If your child is wearing blankets or jackets be sure to take it off it before you buckle the harness, as it could prevent the harness straps from being properly positioned on their shoulders. In the same way, heavy outer clothing should be kept at home if you are taking your toddler or infant to a ride in their car seat.
A chest clip that's not correctly positioned could hinder your child's ability reach the buckle on their seat. This can be dangerous in the event that they try to get out of the seat while you're driving, and it can result in them not buckling themselves properly in a sudden stop, or crash. Installing a Buckle Guard to your car seat will stop your child from pressing the release button and releasing their chest clips.
Crotch Buckle
The crotch strap is located either beneath the baby's shoulders if 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 it is possible and positioned between their legs.
Newborns' floppy legs are usually tucked in the crotch and don't sit in the right position. This can cause their airway be blocked, which can cause them to choke in an accident or lose their ability to respond.
Using a crochet pattern for the buckle cover can aid in keeping their legs in the correct place. good infant car seats should be straightforward and not have any loose threads in the buckle area. Ideally, the cover should also be made using a stretchy, soft yarn.
For more information about your car seat and how to secure it you might need to speak with an expert on child safety. Even if you've followed all the instructions for your car seat, there's always more to know that isn't obvious.
Car seats for infants are specially designed for newborns and smaller infants. They are attached to the base of the vehicle and can be removed in a single click. They come with a variety of safety features, such as an integrated recline indicator that ensures the baby is sitting straight.
Many parents prefer infant car seats because they are convenient and portable, particularly when traveling. It is important to remember that they're only safe to use up until your child reaches the maximum height and weight limit of the seat.
If your baby grows out of the infant car seat, they need to be moved to convertible car seats. These seats offer excellent safety features, including meticulously engineered side impact protection as well as 5-point harness. They are more difficult to transfer from one vehicle to another and require more space than car seats for infants.
To make a crotch-buckle cover for your convertible car seat a large hook and size 5 crochet thread are needed. The cover should sit over the buckle of the car seat, and have some inches of fabric to drape over the edge. Begin by making a standing sc on the first chain at the bottom of the belt. Work in sc across the entire strap including the chains from the previous row. Repeat the process at the opposite end. Attach the strap and weave in ends.