There is just something about motherhood. While we read books and prep and ask ALL THE THINGS, there is just a part of it we’re not prepared for.
ALL THE FEELINGS.
As their body slides into our arms, a chamber in our heart that we never knew existed opens just to fit them. And at the same moment, our mama bear instinct to love, cherish, nurture and protect our new, sweet little babes kicks in.
And the thing is, in the throes of hormones and new baby and learning how to live within the new rhythm, it can feel overwhelming, like it’s something we grow through as they grow up.
But it doesn’t change.
As parents, we only want the best for our wee ones. Even with my fourth, who is growing up much too quickly, that natural instinct and heart to protect them just grows with each one added to the nest. We want to take their pain, make sure they are loved and taken care of, and part of that is keeping them safe.
I partnered up with Chicco to bring awareness to baby safety this month – since it is Baby Safety Month, and this last week is National Child Passenger Safety Week. Each year, the month of September encourages parents to focus on the safest products for their children. The good thing is, most childhood injuries can be prevented. Even though baby safety can seem overwhelming at times, this important aspect of motherhood it doesn’t have to be confusing.
Car seats are such a hot topic in the baby safety arena, so we thought it would be a perfect time to bring it up. I know one big question about car seat safety is whether it should be used forward or rear facing. Before you buy any car seat, it’s important that you read full reviews on it to make sure it is as good as it seems.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently updated their recommendations around how long children should be kept rear-facing in the car – for as long as possible, until they have reached the rear-facing height and/or weight limits of their car seat. For Chicco families, that means maxing out the height and weight limits of the NextFit car seat – 40 pounds or 49 inches.
Many experts recommend (and remind us that kids are flexible) rear facing up to the age of four when possible.
It can be easy for us as parents to project our child’s perceived level of comfort, thinking a child’s legs looked cramped (40 percent of parents say this) or our child simply looks uncomfortable rear-facing (32 percent of parents answer with this).
We’re right in that transition decision phase with Aria, and I love that the new NextFit iX Zip Air can grow with her, from a rear facing newborn, to keeping her comfortable for extended rear-facing, all the way to forward-facing, whatever age that may be! After going through our fair share of car seats and changes, I always recommend parents find a seat that works for them, that can start from newborn and grow. If you’re investing in a car seat, you want it to last, right?!
Besides having features we already liked, like the 9-position recline and leveling system to help achieve and double-check that we’ve got the proper angle for both forward and rear-facing positions, there’s also a Zip & Wash seat pad! If you’ve ever had to clean out a car seat pad (hello diaper explosions) then you know why being able to just unzip it and wash is so exciting.
Plus, the top-rated NextFit iX has had a couple of upgrades with the smooth 9-position one-hand height adjustment of the headrest with integrated no-rethread harness to accommodate growth and the chest clips will be changeable… so if you’ve got a little Houdini on your hands, you can try a different clip style.
I think the other thing that comes into play with car seats and car seat safety is buckling our kids in! Something that can be so simple, yet one of those things us mamas tend to overthink. I talked with Courtney Barry, Chicco’s Car Seat Safety Advocate this past week and wanted to share these take-aways for doing it the right way.
Table of Contents
5 Car Seat Safety Tips Every Parent Should Follow
1. Tighten the Harness
Buckle the harness and chest clip then put your hand behind the clip to eliminate slack in the webbing.
2. Test with a Pinch
If you can pinch any of the harness webbing between your fingers at the shoulder, it means the harness is too loose. When the harness is properly tightened, your fingers will simply slip off.
3. Chest Clip Height
To ensure your child’s chest clip is at the correct height, line it up with the top of his armpits. When properly positioned, the chest clip is designed to keep the harness straps parallel over the torso in a crash.
4. The Inch Test
Make sure to do the “inch test” by giving the car seat/base a tug forward and from side to side. If it moves more than one inch in any direction, uninstall and start over.
5. Car Seats Can Expire
Did you know car seats actually expire? Check the seat for a label indicating the date of expiration.
Chicco’s car seat line is designed to help parents keep their children as safe as possible on the road at every stage. To learn more about the
right Chicco car seat for you, visit https://www.chiccousa.com/choosing-a-car-seat/.
Name (required)candy says
I am not up to car seats anymore since we don’t need to use them. My daughter is always up to date and checks out the individual state laws and get only the best car seats.
Amber Myers says
These are some great tips! I know I always wanted my kids to be safe when they were in car seats.
Anosa Malanga says
This is a very informative post. Glad I was able to stumble upon your website. It is a must that every parent knows how to keep their kids safe especially when travelling.
l dove says
Great tips! Car safety is so important, even more so with little ones. Our local car garage runs free child safety checks for us which is amazing!
Jenn@Engineermommy says
I remember the first time we had to install a car seat. It felt like it was rocket science. These are definitely good safety tips for a first-time parent.
Sarah Bailey says
These sound like some great tips for parents, a car seat is just such an important thing for kids and making sure it is the right fit for your child and car is a must.
Terri Steffes says
Great tips that everyone should follow. Car seat safety is #1 when you leave the house.
SHELLEY KING says
I always was picky about car seats. We also would take them to the firehouse to have them properly installed. I will pass this along to my new parent friends.
ricci says
These are all great car seat safety tips!! I will have to pass this post off to all my mommy friends!!
Pam says
Having the right car seat is so important. And having it adjusted properly is important too.
Heather says
You can never have too many tips when it comes to car seats. I remember the first time we tried to put one in, we were so lost.
Emily says
These are great tips! I had no idea that car seats have an expiration date, I will need to check my kids car seats to make sure theirs are still ok to be used. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Jocelyn @ Hip Mama's Place says
I remember when my boys were little like yours and had to be on car seats. These are all fantastic tips for new parents!
Vyjay Rao says
When it comes to the safety of babies while driving, of course, there can be o compromise. These are some invaluable tips and as you have mentioned the seats need to be periodically reviewed for safety and comfort.
Jeanine says
Yes! Love this such an important topic! We don’t drive or have a vehicle but I make sure we have the proper seats just in case!
Jenn Mitchell says
Car seat safety is so very important. These are some very great tips on how to keep your child safe.
Kita Bryant says
It is a relief to see so many people being so much more careful these days. These are some really valuable tips.
Karen Morse says
Such an important topic to talk about especially for new parents. It’s good to raise awareness on car safety for the whole family.
Adam Wilson says
I have 2 kids ages 6 and 8 who is almost 9. All 2 of them still ride in the car with a booster seat. There are days that I really just want to throw the seats out because of issues getting buckled when I’m in a hurry up at the end of the day the seats are still in my car and my kids always ride with one.
Musharraf Khan says
These are great tips! I had no idea that car seats have an expiration date, I will need to check my kids car seats to make sure theirs are still ok to be used. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
lashari says
Yes! Love this such an important topic! We don’t drive or have a vehicle but I make sure we have the proper seats just in case!
zain says
This is a very informative post. Glad I was able to stumble upon your website. It is a must that every parent knows how to keep their kids safe especially when travelling.
zain says
It is a relief to see so many people being so much more careful these days. These are some really valuable tips
hanaan says
its really good that parents are doing great regarding their children’s safety .but i personally think that you should not travel with your child alone there should be someone else there at the backseat and one more thing that never make your child sit at the front seat even if you have car booster seats.and thanks for informing about car seats expiration
Uttara says
Thank you for the safety tip’s. Great Blog
imran says
The job of protecting kids most often falls to parents and caregivers, and it is up to them to familiarize themselves with safety risks in and around their homes and communities. Once you know the risks, you can take steps to plan for safety.
Jessica says
We are visiting Dubai this month and we have a youngster (1-5 years old). I appreciate Uber application shows changed things subject to the city. Since I haven’t been to Dubai before I don’t know whether Uber application has a choice to book a vehicle with a car seat. OK have the option to please comment on that?
SRP Auto says
Nice content and tips that every car owner can follow through it,
AH says
Interesting and helpful tips that parents can follow through. Thanks for sharing.