How To Put Infant In Car Seat – Securing The Baby.
If you have a baby and want to travel with your baby in your car, keeping the baby safe in the car seat is essential. But most of the parents don’t know how to put infant in car seat. However, it’s very tough to secure the baby in the car seat. But after reading this article, you get the right idea of securing the baby in a car seat. To make sure the baby is secure in his car, apply the following tricks.
Maybe your baby “ll cry when he will be strapped for the first time in the car, just like all the babies cry while feeding or changing clothes. There is Nothing to worry about. He’ll get used to it.
CAR SEAT INSTALLATION
After selecting the perfect car seat for your baby, you need to install the car seat properly into the car. According to a survey, 70 to 90% of parents can’t choose the perfect seat for their children.
Installing a car seat is very challenging stuff. Cause different cars have different conditions and systems for installing car seats. Different cars have different installation methods. In every method, you first need to select the place where you’re going to install the seat.
LOCATION
The first question that comes to your mind while installing the car seat is either front or back. Without any doubt, you should install the car seat in the back seat. The middle back seat is the safest seat for a baby. It keeps away the baby from the common accidental area. Don’t install a car seat in the front. It’s not safe.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
Before installing the car seat, you must read the vehicle manual paper and the car seat manual paper. The vehicle manual will help you to choose the best seat. In some vehicles, you can’t install the car seat on the middle back.
CHOOSE DIRECTION
After selecting the location, you have to decide the direction. You have to decide whether you are going to install it front-facing or back-facing. To make sure the correct safety decision should be taken.
If your car has the seats which can be converted or have 3 in 1 seat that moves forward and backwards it should have two belts in a different position. One belt is for front-facing in which position the belt goes behind the baby and one for back facing where the belt goes from the leg side. You need to select the correct belt position according to which direction you want to place the seat.
ANGLE
If your car has two seat belts, it must have different angles for back-facing and front-facing directions.
In every seat, there will be symbols to indicate angles like stickers, lines, dots. But in some seats, you will be able to adjust the level according to your baby’s age.
First, park the car on a straight surface to know the accurate position of the angle indicator.
If you have a problem finding the accurate angle with custom, adjust you can use foam or a towel in the seat corner to adjust the angle.
SECURING THE SEAT
For securing the seat, you can use these three techniques.
1.Latch
2.seat belt
3.Latch and seat belt’s combine. There are only a few cars left in which you can use this combination.
Whatever technique you use, you must read the vehicle manual and the seat manual to know which technique is suitable for your car seat because there are differences in every vehicle and car seat. That’s why you need to read the manual.
Seat belt installation
Before installing the seat using car seat belt, you need to know the locking system of the seat belt. You will find the method of locking in the manual. The easy way is to stretch the belt and put it on the hook.
- First, remove all the twists and buckles and make the belt straight for the facing path.
- Check if the angle is correct.
- Then, the belt in the locking point or lock it using your lock type.
- Make sure the belt is tight enough by pulling extra webbing. Make sure the seat is not moving less than one inch while you try to move the seat, applying pressure.
How to install a car seat properly
To install an infant car seat in any vehicle or car seat, you have to use these three rules. For installing infant car seats, these rules are fundamental.
Place the car seat in the backseat.
The safest place in the car is the centre back seat because it keeps the baby from passenger-side airbags, thats why you should place your baby in the centre back. If your car doesn’t allow you to fix the seat in the centre, then choose a side of the back seat. But never place the baby in the front seat; it’s not safe there.
Face the baby backwards.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the parents should keep babies in a rear-facing position until their height and weight grow as the seat require. APP’s 2018 car safety guidelines banned the rule of age limit 2 years for front-facing direction. Backward facing position keep babies head, neck and spine protected. And facing backward reduces the chance of up to 71 percent of damage in major accidents.
Make the base secure.
Make sure the car seat is not wobbling, moving or sliding. The car seat shouldn’t move more than one inch on any side. If you want to know that the back-facing seat is secured tightly, just push the seat and check if it’s moving or not.
If you drive a car made in 2002 or later
The car, which was designed in 2002 or after 2002, has a latch system for securing a car infant. According to NHTSA, car seats should be installed using a latch system or using seat belts. It would be best if you did not use both a latch and seat belt. You have to read the manual carefully and then install the car seat, obeying the instruction. The common rules are:
⦁ Put the base in the car. Find the latch mechanism.
⦁ Attach the base’s lower point to the car lower point of the latch.
⦁ Puss the car seat downwards and make the straps tight.
⦁ After setting the base, connect the infant seat.
If you drive a car made before 2002
The cars which were designed before 2020 don’t have a latch system. Instead of a latch, you have to use the car seat belts to install the car infant seat securely. Some standard rules of installation using seat belts:
⦁ Put the base in the car and run the belt through the back facing path. Before running, remove all twists and buckles from the belt.
⦁ Fasten the seat belt and make it tighter.
⦁ If your belt locking system is automatic, the belt will sound like clicking while locking. If your seat belt doesn’t allow automatic lock, then you have to lock it manually with a locking clip.
⦁ After installing the base securely with the belt, you can fix the infant seat with the base.
Getting a car seat safety check
APP’s 2014 report said that less than 10 percent of parents could install a car seat securely. Most of the seats remain loose and move easily. So it is necessary to check if you have installed it correctly. To check, you can follow these tips.
You can get it checked from the nearest police station, baby store, or in a car showroom.
There are certified technicians certified for car seat safety. You can also contact them.
How to properly buckle a baby in a car seat
Before the first ride with the baby, you have to follow some safety rules.
Comfortable dress.
Dressing him in pants will be the best option. Because the infant straps will stay between his legs
Seat Angle.
The seat neither should be flat nor upstanding .45 degrees is the best angle. In a flat sit baby can slide upwards. In an upstanding position, the baby could have breathing problems because of a flopping head. The baby’s head should be 2 inches below the top of the seat.
Baby’s head safety.
You will get a cushion attached car seat. These types of seats protect the baby’s head even after flopping. If your infant doesn’t have an attached cushion, you must pad with foam or rolled towel around the baby’s head side. Never use the cushion that is not attached to the seat from the store. It is not safe.
Adjusting the straps.
Most of the parents cant adjust the straps correctly. On a backwards-facing seat, the straps should stay down from the baby’s shoulder. You can use clips to attach the strap correctly; you have to make sure the straps are not twisted or buckled. And make the straps tight but don’t make it too tight.
Using rolled-up blankets
Some baby slouch to one side. In this case, you can put a rolled blanket on two sides of your baby’s arms. Some car seat comes with special supports on each side.
Adding Toys
Attach some toys in the seat. So that the baby can play in a happy mood .you will find some soft toys specially made for car seat. Place them at the top of the seat. You can use cords or strings to attach the toys. These soft toys won’t harm the baby when you have to stop suddenly.
Should a baby wear a jacket in a car seat?
Before riding, you should not dress the baby in any kind of heavy clothes. You may face problems while tightening the straps over a heavy jacket or suit. Instead, you should use a blanket to cover the baby, and it’s secure.
Is it safe for a baby to sleep in a car seat?
A baby can have a short nap in the car seat. Most car seats have a security system so that the baby can sleep in the seat. But you always have to be aware and supervise the baby all the time. Sleeping for a long time in the seat is not safe. According to the paper “The Journal of Pediatrics,” it is very risky even the baby could die because of suffocation or strangulation.
What about on flights?
The Federal Aviation Administration allows you to use an infant seat in flight for babies under 4 years. All most every seat which can be converted is certified for airplane use.
When can I put my baby’s car seat forward-facing?
According to the AAP, Until the babies grow to the car seat’s maximum height and weight limit, the baby should be left in a rear-facing position. Now the AAP doesn’t use age 2 as a parameter for measuring If the baby is ready for a forward-facing position. But the different state has different rules for changing position .some country and city still operate the age-limit rule. And you can also find out when you can change the position in the infant car seat manual. Read the guidelines; you will know when to switch.
How to Put Infant Into a Car Seat Properly
Make sure it’s the right fit.
Everybody wants their baby to feel comfortable in the car seat. To make him comfortable, you have to check if the straps are in the correct position. Straps should stay below the shoulder of the baby.
Keeping baby’s head in a safe position.
The newborn babies can’t hold the heads up. Most of the time, their heads fall to one side. You don’t need to worry about it. It’s ok. But when the baby’s head falls forward, it’s risky. It can create problems for the baby to breathe.
To avoid this risk, you can do these:
Snug the straps
Make sure the straps are cosy. It will protect the baby from falling sideways. And it increases the chance of falling asleep when the baby feels he is comfortable and secure.
Properly recline the car seat.
The baby should be in a semi-upright position. You should place the baby in such a position so that the baby’s head can’t fall forward. If the head falls, you have to change the position of the baby’s head. Because the newborn babies don’t have enough strength to pick up their heads by themselves. You always have to observe him. You can change the position to upright when the baby grows enough to pick his head up by himself.
Set up some entertainment.
In the rear-facing position, the babies can’t see their parents. So they get irritated easily and start crying. You can play some music to entertain the baby or get him some toys.
Talk with the Baby
Maybe the baby won’t understand what you are saying, but he will listen to your voice. So keep talking while driving; he will listen to you and will stay calm.
FAQs
Question
Can you put baby in car seat after feed?
Answer:
Of Course, you can even feed him in the car seat. But you have to drive slow while feeding the baby. And always burp the baby. If you don’t burp the baby, it can cause indigestion.
Question
How long can a 1 month old be in a car seat?
Answer:
According to car seat experts, a baby should stay in a car seat less than two hours a day.
In a car, sometimes the baby’s head slouches forward. It is very dangerous for a very young baby. Because their neck muscles are very weak, for these babies, this slouched position causes breathing problems for the baby.
Statistics
Only 10 percent of parents can install a car seat correctly. The rest of the 90 percent of parents do it wrong.
Facing the children backward reduces the chance of serious injury by more than 71% in car accidents.
The AAP says the convertible seats’ height and weight limits agree to keep the baby rear-facing until they are more than 2 years old.
In a recherche, the experts found that children older than 2 who are riding rear-facing are safer than the same-aged children who are riding forward-facing.