This month is #BabySafetyMonth and we’ve teamed up with the experts at Chicco to answer your car seat safety questions!
When our babies are born into this world, that experience opens us up to SO many raw emotions and feelings. I’m still coming off that high and all of the good, and the not-so-good, emotional adjustments that come along with it… and it’s been a little over three months! I’m sure my husband would quickly, and hopefully quietly, agree. 😉 There are a few changes though that are for life. 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.
I’m currently rocking my littlest babe, nursing her to napping slumber, and as her long eyelashes flutter those bright eyes closed, my eyes well with love. And tears. Those little gulps and sighs. Her sweet fingers wrapped around mine. These are the moments I cherish, and these are the little ones, all of my babies, that I’ll fiercely protect.
As parents, we only want the best for our wee ones. Even now with my fourth, that natural instinct and heart to protect them doesn’t change, it 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.
One of the big ways to keep our little ones safe is in the car! I understand that car accidents can happen to anyone (it recently happened to a friend of mine, luckily she was fine, but she spent a long time with her Car Crash Lawyer trying to get compensation for what happened). Car seat safety sometimes comes along with a big question mark. The right car seat, the proper installation, the correct fit. It can be overwhelming, and so that’s why I’m so excited to team up with the experts at Chicco to shed some light on it!
With your help (I asked for your car seat questions on social media, thanks for sharing!), we sent in some questions that so many parents face. Below are some great answers from Chicco’s Child Passenger Safety Advocate, Courtney Barry, that can help us all in the area of car seat safety! And for more on this important topic, head over to Chicco’s car seat safety site.
Table of Contents
Why do car seats have an expiration date?
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.
What is the best way to clean straps or anything you can’t put in the washer?
The best way to clean car seat straps and other non-removable pieces is with mild soap and water. To simplify the process, Chicco’s line of Zip car seats – including the newest introductions, the KeyFit 30 Zip Air Infant Car Seat, NextFit Zip Air Convertible Car Seat and KidFit Zip Air Booster – have easy to remove zip-off features, such as a removable seat pad, that make clean-up a breeze.
What’s the best age, or height/weight, to change from an infant car seat?
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.
What is the best and most reliable resource to read reviews before purchasing a car seat?
Talking to your pediatrician, fellow parents, researching product reviews on the top-rated car seats on the market are all good resources to help narrow down your car seat search, but in the end it is most important to find a seat that fits your vehicle, fits your child and that you can install correctly every time. One way you can evaluate this is by testing car seats before you purchase. Most retailers will allow you to try several models in your car before you buy.
What’s the most important factor for switching to a forward-facing seat?
The most important factor for switching to a forward-facing seat is that your child has reached the height or weight limits in his/her rear-facing car seat. Your child should be kept rear-facing in their car seat until at least 2 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 are fragile, and they are best protected rear-facing, even if that means they have a little less leg room.
Are convertible car seats just as safe for infants as an infant car seat?
As long as your convertible car seat is being used in rear-facing mode as instructed and is 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.
Do states have different car seat requirements or are they all the same?
Every state has its own car seat safety laws, so look into your state’s requirements before purchasing a car seat. Individual state laws for car seat safety can be viewed here, but these laws are the minimum and are not necessarily considered to be best practice for overall car seat use. National organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have general recommendations around car seat safety that are helpful for parents to reference as well.
Want to win the #1 rated infant car seat in America… a Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat?! I’ve been using this seat for awhile now and it’s one of my favorites! It’s lightweight, which helps when toting a growing babe. The inserts are super soft against my babe’s body, and the zip feature helps to easily change up the configuration of the cover as well as clean the seat! Most importantly, it’s easy to use and install correctly every time.
Chicco KeyFit 30 Infant Car Seat Giveaway
To spread the word about car seat safety just share these graphics!
debbie penney says
I use my sisters carseat when we are babysitting for my nephew. I would love to have my own instead of having to move it each time from one vehicle to another..
Kathleen Kuykendall says
I’m not using one yet but will be when grandbaby gets here in January!
Jessica Spivey says
Great info! I just bought another seat for my daughter because of it’s age! I love in the 4th picture down it looks like your little one is flipping the camera off! 🙂
Tabitha Blue says
Hahahaha, that is too funny!!!!!
Cindy Ingalls says
I had no idea car seats had expiration dates, but it makes perfect sense. I love the infographic you provided. It’s a very helpful tool, especially for new parents.
Tabitha Blue says
Thanks so much Cindy!!! Definitely makes sense right? But so many things that we just don’t think about… myself included! 🙂
Shari says
This post is so great! Safety info is always changing so it’s important to read up-to-date info. Thanks for the refresher! My kiddo’s car seat was just in an accident so I’m on the hunt for a new one. I also need one for the baby on the way.
Jenn says
This looks like a nice car seat. They sure have changed a lot since my girls were babies. I love your photos by the way.
Tabitha Blue says
Thank you so much Jenn!! This car seat is my favorite one so far! It’s lightweight and so easy to use.
MarciaF says
I have 2 carseats in my car since I’m with my grandchildren at least 2 days a week. I had them installed by the fire department. I know when they’ve outgrown them I won’t be able to donate them because of the expiration on them which is actually a shame. It’s too bad that there isn’t a way to recondition them for families who can’t afford to buy a new car seat.
Elizabeth O. says
I really appreciate this safety month for babies and toddlers who are using a car seat. It’s important for parents to do research before they decide on getting a car seat, find out what works best and what doesn’t. You can never be too safe when it comes to these things.
Sarah @ 2paws Designs says
Great post! Car seat safety is so important and it’s shocking how many people don’t know how to properly install and use them.
laura bernard says
My 2 year old is still rear facing. What is your favorite seat for extended rear facing?
Stella K. says
I’m currently looking into purchasing a car seat for my baby due in January. I’ve been wondering.. in a third row seating vehicle, which is the safest spot for a carseat?
Tabitha Blue says
Oh good question Stella!! I don’t have an expert answer, but I would think somewhere in the second row. Personally I like behind my seat since if I’m alone with baby, I don’t have to walk to the other side of the vehicle to get her in or out.
Liz Mays says
This is very helpful info! Car seat safety should be a high priority for all parents! BTW that Chicco car seat rocks!
Tabitha Blue says
It really does Liz, I love it! 🙂
victoria says
What a good car seat for the baby, I would love this to my niece. Glad you share this.
Tabitha Blue says
Thanks so much!!! Yes, share with your niece and any new mamas!
kayla sheehan says
im using a convertible car seat for my toddler, but im due soon with baby number two and don’t have a carseat for him yet.
Nicole Escat says
Wow, this is a must-have for my two sisters. they both have cars and have little children with them.
Nicole Etolen says
Oh, this brand is a nice one! I remember when my son was little, he used to have a car seat like that!
Ryan Escat says
That is a lovely car seat! I do not have a car but I will soon, will check this out.
Rose Pingol says
I love that car seat. My grandson needs it! I will buy him one.
Rose Ann Sales says
Yes, I agree. Car seat is a must for children safety. I will tell my elder brother about this.
Staci A says
My 5 year old is still in his five-point harness, but we’ll be using an infant seat next month when baby #3 comes along. Love all the tips in the info-graphic!
Rachel [at] It's A Hero says
Umm, my car seat may be expired! 🙁 I didn’t know to check!
Erin Kennedy says
I never knew half of this info, which is sad because I have an 8-month old. I am sure there is a lot of parents who don’t know this info. I didn’t know it could expire, and I didn’t know to move to convertible. My daughter is super tall, so I think we need to move to the convertible soon. Thanks for the info.
Sara C says
Thanks for the post- it was very informative! My first is due in March and I’m realizing we still have a lot to learn!!!
Natalie says
My niece will be born next month and I was wondering if there is anything special I need to be doing with infants in car seats?
Marian says
Love all the info! We have one in a booster seat, one in a convertible seat and will have one in an infant seat soon. We infant still need an iinfant seat and the Chicco keyfit looks amazing!
Amy Howard says
We are using a car seat! Expecting number six though and need one!!
Amanda Lea says
Yes, we currently use a carseat and could use another!
Kristine Barrett says
I currently have 3 kids in carseats, but #4 is on the way and our old Chicco was expired. 🙁 Loved our old one and would love a new one for this baby! Thanks for the opportunity!
Jasmine says
I love all this information and the photos! This is baby number four for me due in 2 weeks and we’ve decided to go back to this type of car seat. With my third we used the converbitable infant to toddler car seat however it was not convenient at all when it came to running errands as it had to stay in the car. This is exactly the type of car seat we need to help make errands and trips a little less stressful, plus nice and cozy for baby as he can stay snuggled in and just click the seat right into the base! I truly appreciate the info and amazing giveaway opportunity this would be a huge blessing for us.
Laura m says
I love the Chicco brand! Chicco is the only brand all of my sister in laws use for their babies. Would love this for my upcoming baby!
Selena Hurley says
This car seat is awesome! It’s nice to feel a little more secure when putting our precious cargo into the vehicle, and this car seat would definitely make you feel that little extra bit of safety. My husband and I are currently trying for our next addition and I would love to have this car seat.
Lee dixon says
This looks super nice! I would love to know how heavy is it without baby? Some car seats are very light while others are heavy.