Good morning! How are you guys today!? I hope your Tuesday is off to a good start! We’re talking about car seat safety on the blog today, so buckle up and enjoy the riiiide! (<— Oh the puns! I just can’t help myself.)
A couple of weeks ago, I asked you guys to submit your car seat safety questions so I could pass them along to Chicco’s Child Passenger Safety Advocate and share a Q&A on the blog. The questions came rollin’ in and many of you guys had similar questions related to car seat safety. (Many of your questions were also questions I personally had for Chicco which was great! Thanks for covering my bases, friends!)
Last month was Baby Safety Month and I am partnering with Chicco to help spread the word about car seat safety to encourage parents and caregivers to keep their little ones as safe as possible. A car seat safety Q&A may be found below that incorporates your questions and at the bottom of this blog post you will find a pretty awesome giveaway for a Chicco KeyFit 30 car seat!
Now let’s get to it!
Car Seat Safety Q&A
- How long do we keep the newborn/infant inserts in the car seat?
The infant insert is the smaller contoured seat pad that fits inside your infant car seat. These pads are engineered to position a smaller baby at the correct seat angle, as well as ensure that the harness fits tightly. You can remove the insert when you feel it is no longer necessary, but it must be removed once your infant reaches 11 lbs.
- When do I need to get the next car seat up from the infant car seat? Is it by weight or height?
You may transition your child to a convertible car seat that allows them to remain rear-facing until at least two years old at any time, but must make the switch from an infant car seat to a convertible car seat when your child outgrows either the height or weight guidelines for their infant car seat.
- I can’t find anyone who will check my car seat! The local fire department, highway commission, police, etc. are no longer allowed to due to “liability concerns.” Any tips to help ensure I’ve done a good installation, or other resources I haven’t thought of?
If you’re having trouble finding a certified child passenger safety technician in your area, check out Safe Kids Worldwide’s navigator here or visit SeatCheck.org.
- Is there a difference in an infant car seat and a convertible one as far as safety is concerned?
As long as your convertible car seat is being used in rear-facing mode as instructed and it’s installed correctly, your infant is protected in a convertible car seat. As a reminder, it’s recommended that child passengers be kept rear-facing until two years of age, whether that is in an infant car seat or convertible car seat.
- Why on earth do car seats expire? And will I get in trouble if I use an expired car seat?
Car seats expire for a few different, equally important reasons. First, over time, car seat technology improves and safety standards change. Additionally, materials used in car seats wear down with extended use, which could compromise safety features down the road. It’s also important to note that car seat manufacturers stop safety testing seats after a certain period of time, meaning that past expiration, manufacturers cannot guarantee how a car seat will perform in an accident.
- I heard that we shouldn’t put babies in their car seats wearing winter coats? We get some pretty COLD winters in New Jersey so I’m curious to see if there is any truth in this?
Don’t buckle your child into a car seat with bulky clothing, blankets or add-on products like a car seat bunting. The harness should be as snug as possible, and the added padding can interfere with the harness fit and crash performance of the seat. If you are using an infant carrier, put your child in the carrier and tighten the harness before you head to the car, then put blankets on your child to keep them warm. If you are using a car seat that is installed in your car, have your child take off their coat, get them in the car seat and tighten the harness, then put their coat on backwards until you arrive at your destination.
- What age/weight/height is safe to switch your little one to a forward facing car seat position?
Keep your child rear-facing in their car seat until at least two years old. Are your kid’s feet touching the seat back? Do they look a little cramped? That’s okay. Kids are a lot more flexible than adults. Kids need to stay rear-facing for as long as possible to protect their head and neck in the event of a crash. Kids do not need to be turned forward-facing until they reach the maximum height or weight of the car seat. Kids are fragile, and they are best protected rear-facing, even if that means they have a little less leg room.
- Is there a way to clean a car seat safely? I’ve heard that soaking it in water can make it unsafe…
The best way to clean car seat straps and other non-removable pieces is with mild soap and water, and then let it air dry. To simplify the process, Chicco’s line of Zip car seats include easy to remove zip-off features, such as a removable seat pad, that make clean-up a breeze.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Giveaway
And now it’s giveaway time! Chicco is giving away a KeyFit 30 car seat to one lucky PBF reader!
We absolutely love our KeyFit 30 car seat and I cannot recommend it enough. It easily clicks into our travel and jogging strollers and Chase seems comfortable and secure in it.
If you would like to be entered to win the car seat, simply leave a comment on this blog post, telling me about one thing that surprised you about pregnancy or becoming a new parent. I will randomly select a winner next Friday.
Good luck!
Looking for additional car seat safety information? Check out Chicco’s Car Seat Safety Guide and the Car Seat Education page of their website!
Thank you to Chicco for sponsoring this post and to all of you for your continued support. I truly appreciate it!
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I am pregnant with my third and have had the most complications out of any previous pregnancies (still not super complicated) but I cannot believe how much more relaxed I am. I have come to realize I do not need to google everything and to just listen to the doctors.
I’m 9 months pregnant with my first child – EVERYTHING is surprising! This post was so informative, thank you!
I am surprised about how differently I eat being pregnant vs. not being pregnant. The baby doesn’t always like what I used to eat, so I’ve had to make changes to what I eat or else feel really sick.
I was surprised by how little my newborns slept! I mean, total they slept a good bit, but they don’t sleep in long stretches like I expected.
One thing that surprised me was how comfortable I was with being a mom!
I was so surprised by how stressful everything was! How I felt, was the baby healthy, what to buy, etc.
I was so surprised by how stressful everything was! How I felt, was the baby healthy, what to buy, etc.
I am pregnant with my first and due in late January. The most surprising part of this pregnancy for me has been the instant onset of worry. Everyone warns you that it’s a mom’s job to worry and it will continue for the rest of your life, but I don’t think I could fully comprehend this concept until it became my reality. It really does range from from all aspects of becoming a mom, from wondering if baby is healthy and developing normally to everything that comes after baby is born (including car seat safety).
Due with our first baby in December and I’m surprised at how in love with this little person my husband and I are already! We constantly talk about our baby and can’t wait to meet him/her! Also surprised at how much movement I feel theoughout the day…there’s a party in there!
Wonderful giveaway Julie!!! MANY things have surprised me and continue to surprise me daily. Now that I’m a mom of a second boy, what’s most surprising is the difference in sleep habits! My first was a dream baby and slept through the night at 9 weeks old. My second son is 3 months old and still waking many times through the night! Agh, love both my boys though!
I’m currently pregnant with my first and what surprised me the most (so far) is how i gave into my husband to not find out the gender. We are 32 weeks are are still clueless!
We are expecting our first baby in April, just rounding out the first trimester! I’ve been surprised at the shortness of breath, to be honest! Trying to dance at a concert last night left me winded!
I was surprised by how much I would question everything I did and how much I worried about not doing the “right” thing.
My husband & I are actually adopting an infant from foster care in December, so this would help us out tremendously! This will be our first child after 5 years of infertility, so this will all be new & a HUGE surprise/lifestyle change for us. It’s always so comforting to read posts on baby necessities others know are tried & true, so thank you!!!!
I have a 15 month old and was recently surprised to find out that I am pregnant with twins. ? Thought we would have just one more close in age to our son. Ha!!
My due date is October 24th. Final countdown! We just installed our Chicco Keyfit 30 into my car on Sunday to be ready for “go-time!” whenever that happens. It was easier to install than I expected. I feel like I’m really going to love the car seat and feel like we made a good choice even though our little girl hasn’t made her appearance yet. Thanks for doing this post – I had some of these same questions and know I’ll be referring back to this post to know when to remove the infant insert and when to switch to a convertible car seat. As we already have our Chicco Keyfit 30 I don’t wish to enter the contest, I’d rather have another mama have my entry :-).
Thanks for all of your weekly pregnancy posts. I’ve been re-reading them now when I am at each stage. Reading your updates and chatting with friends who are expecting or who have had previous pregnancies, I just think it is crazy how different each pregnancy is!
I’m anxious for our little girl to arrive but want her to keep growing as long as she needs! Even if I feel like an elephant 🙂
I’m in utter shock at how quickly babies grow and develop! Where the heck is time going so fast? I’ve been reading PBFingers for years and I remember when you announced your pregnancy, and shortly after, I was pregnant myself! Yikes!
I’ve been surprised by how much there is to learn! It is an overwhelming amount of information to keep your child safe – and he isn’t even here yet!
I am continually surprised at how little sleep I am able to function on!
I’ve been consistently surprised at how terrifyingly wonderful it is to be a Mom. I am worried basically every minute of the day, making sure my daughter is safe, healthy and happy – but I’m also so happy and grateful every minute of the day. I’m so lucky and proud to be her Mom!
What surprised me most about becoming a parent is how much love an frustration it is possible to feel back to back. Luckily, the love always stays with you and frustration passes quickly!
I would die if I won this!
I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and something that has really surprised me is how quickly you start losing sleep. I have always slept like a rock and now I can’t get a wink. I hear it only gets worse after the little nugget is born. I remember when you spoke about this while you were pregnant as well, I guess I should have taken notes!
I’m 17 weeks along and I’m surprised by how much research I feel I need to do about becoming a parent and what to buy. I also am surprised by how I feel, I wasn’t expecting to get migraines for the first time (luckily they are gone now) and the overall fluctuating feeling of excitement and anxiety of becoming a first time parent.
I’m surprised that changing pooplosions and wonky #2s doesn’t gross me out and wiping my daughters snotty nose is second nature! Haha- would love to win this carseat as we borrowed an infant one from our friend for our first child, but it is going to expire soon so we will have to buy one for baby dos!
I’m not due until April, but it’s twins! So an infant car seat would really be a huge bonus for us!
The constant worry. Are they eating enough? Will she be cold/hot at preschool? Should we go to the doctor for this sickness? You get the idea 😉
The constant worry. Are they eating enough? Will she be cold/hot at preschool? Should we go to the doctor for this sickness? You get the idea 😉
The constant love for your child. Even in the middle of the night when you are dead tired 😉
I’m 24 weeks and I’m surprised at the pregnancy insomnia already! I’m not even that big yet so it’s not my belly getting in the way! One question for you: does Chicco really recommend children riding in booster seats until they are 100lbs?
I am 24 weeks pregnant and my husband and I have been researching car seats and strollers like crazy! I have registered for the Chicco KeyFit 30 and tested it out at my local Target and LOVED how easy it clicks into the stroller! One thing that surprised me was how long it took me to start showing. I feel like I’m finally starting to look pregnant!
I’m 28 weeks pregnant (Yay 3rd trimester today!) and I’m surprised how much information there is to learn about babies! I feel like I’m constantly reading. This post was super helpful.. already sent it to my husband… thank you Julie!
I was surprised in pregnancy and mom hood that I would love myself even more nad be happy to share that with my little girl now!!!
My sister in law just entered her second trimester and this would be the BEST gift, considering my brother and his wife are currently saving as much as they can to buy a house. If I had to say something that surprised me about either of my sisters’ pregnancies, it would be how beautifully strong the female body is, creating a human and still functioning for day to day life. 🙂
My daughter is 18 months, and I’m surprised that is truly do love her more every day! ( even if I’m permanently exhausted!)
Being a Mom of two children now, I was surprised at how relaxed I was the second time around compared to the first!
I was surprised how many different opinions there were and at the same time some things I just knew were right for me and my baby.
I am pregnant with our first and am surprised with how much I worry about everything now- how our baby is, how I will balance work and home life when he/she comes, and all my patients I care for daily. Its exhausting!
I was surprised how well I could function on such little sleep!
I’m 14 weeks with my first and so far everything has been a surprise! I am researching as much as I can to feel as prepared as possible!
I’m not even half way through my first pregnancy, but I am definitely surprised by how ovwhelmed I feel with all of the information. I thought I had a decent idea of what all goes into having a baby. But I had absolutely no clue!
I was surprised about how much I would second guess everything I did or bought for my baby. Lets just say it was waaaay easier registering for my wedding than it was registering for my baby!
I was surprised at how much advice I got! Some was super helpful but you get so much unsolicited advice!
I think what I have been most surprised about is my never-ending energy! Somehow I make it through each day and I am a newly single Mom which makes things even more challenging! He’s my motivation, that is for sure!
I have a 19 month old and I guess I’m surprised most by how long it’s taken to get on a relatively normal sleep pattern. We’re still working on it, but it’s been an adjustment…especially for my husband who needs a lot of sleep.
I was surprised by my ability to adapt and survive. My first few months with my first were really rough. I still have no idea how I made it through those first months!
I was surprised by the mixed feelings of confidence. Some days I feel like I have this parenting thing down, and other days, I am confused all over again!
I’m surprised by how much if I listen to my body, it tells me what I need…it’s really been a beautiful journey.
I would love to win one as I am having TWINS and I need double EVERYTHING! One thing that really surprised me about pregnancy was how curious people (friends and strangers) are when it comes to my fertility. I can’t even tell you the number of times I have been asked “are the twins natural?” from people I barely know! I know everyone is curious, but I guess I just wasn’t prepared with enough witty responses in the beginning haha. I also knew I would feel excited, but I didn’t realize how scared and nervous I would feel, it’s new level!!!
People always told me how tired I would be, but you can never imagine this level of exhaustion!
I knew I would be emotional, but never thought I would be THIS emotional. It’s on a whole other level.