Car seat safety

I just want to put it out there that I am NOT a certified car seat specialist and I don't think that I know more than you.

So we recently had a baby, SURPRISE! When Veda was born, we didn't even have a car seat bought yet.  She came a month early and we had planned to go to Babies R Us the night she came, but they had closed.  Luckily, my husband is a fantastic human being, and went to Babies R Us on Veda's birthday to get the remaining necessities.  And, thankfully, he is charming enough to have convinced two women, who worked there, help him complete our list!

Since we didn't have the car seat prior to her birth, we obviously didn't have it installed when we were ready to take her home.  About a week after she was born, we had a Certified Car Seat Specialist come check out how we had done and give us some helpful hints.  I just want to share these with other mamas because I've seen A LOT of my friends' kids NOT properly secured in their car seats.  I just wanted to write a quick post, to hopefully educate you on what is key so that your precious little bundle is as safe as (s)he can be!!

The man that we hired came to our house and talked to us for about an hour, including instructing us on how to put baby into the seat and going to the car to learn how to correctly install the seat. He voluntarily does this because he lost his grandson in a tragic car accident and this is his new passion.

A few things he told us:
Do not add any thing to your car seat.  For example, furry seat belt covers.  If you are to get in an accident, the car seat company will not take fault because they do not approve of any such attachments.

Do not use a backseat baby mirror.  You have likely figured out what each sound/cry your baby makes means and using a mirror is a major distraction when driving (especially out here!!)

Do not let the car seat touch the seat in front of it.  There should be at least enough room for your finger between car seat and seat in front of it.  This has to do with the shift in gravity when you hit the brakes or get rear ended and so on.

You should not have anything left unsecured in your backseat (or if you have a hatchback).  Imagine, if you get in an accident, everything will fly around.  Would you throw your purse, for example, at your baby's face.  Probably not, secure it with your seatbelt!

What he showed us:
The buckle of the car seat should go over baby's chest, not his abdomen.  As in, the most important organs (heart & lungs).  This is the most common mistake I've seen.  It should be almost aligned with the arm pits.

This is correct.  Buckle over chest, at armpit level. 

NOT correct. Move the buckle up!!!

To be sure the straps are tight enough, you should do the 'pinch test.'  This simply means that between the buckle and shoulder, you should not be able to pinch any fabric - or minimal fabric.  

Pinch Test

The straps should enter the car seat at shoulder level or LOWER.  This ensures that the shoulders are cupped, so to speak, if you should experience impact.  This helps baby to move less in an accident.  It keeps the baby down in the seat, rather than sliding up and then back down - which could cause head trauma. This is the second most common mistake I'm seeing.

It's hard to see, but straps should be either level or BELOW shoulder height. 

Also, the base of the seat should be in so tight that with your non-dominant hand, you should not be able to move it when applying full force.  The seat belt itself should not be locked.  And, of course, the safest place to have the seat is in the middle back seat, rear facing (until 2 years old is the new recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

Please, please understand this is not to make it seem like I know everything and you don't.  Keep in mind, my one and only baby is three months old, I'm far from an expert.  However, I felt this information needed to be shared because I can't imagine anything happening to my (or your) baby.

Also, thank you Veda for being such a wonderful model :)