I am a perfect mother who has always used her car seats perfectly !
In order for you to understand car seat chronicles, i'm going to have to take you back, back into a time where i had no idea about car seat safety. Were i thought it was just as simple as 'put them in the seat and just go!', Where i used OUT DATED CAR SEATS, where i used INSERTS that didn't come with the car seat & where i forward faced way TOO EARLY! In fact you might catch some ghastly sights of my almost 2 yr old in a high back booster ! *(covers face in shame). All well in fact, before i knew about CAR SEAT SAFETY. Did you know that 7OUT OF10 children are improperly restrained? That parents spend more time researching what type of cell phone or car they are going to purchase, rather than car seat safety? I can admit to you here today i USED to be one of them. WHAT CHANGED? you ask, i stumbled across THIS!
EXAMPLE 1 :
Here is my 18 mo old in an OUT DATED Gerry car seat. Forward facing and all. (I can't promise you she was strapped in by anything more than a seat belt, as im sure she was using this as a booster). This car seat was issued to me, by a state shelter, where apparently even they had no idea about car seat safety either.
FACT : Children are 5X's safer if kept REAR FACING esp the 2yrs and under crowd. (recommended by the AAP) Also It also ADVISES that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
NHSTA recommends staying harnessed still at ages 4 -7
NHSTA recommends staying harnessed still at ages 4 -7
EXAMPLE 2:
This is Evelyn in a Alpha Omega car seat. At the time, i don't believe that this
seat was out dated, but she is none the less forward facing and wearing a big bulky snowsuit.
WELL HOW DO YOU SAFELY SECURE CHILDREN IN THERE CAR SEATS?
seat was out dated, but she is none the less forward facing and wearing a big bulky snowsuit.
FACT: Have you ever read a car seat manual? and i m talking cover to cover? it talks about how heavy JACKETS and AFTER MARKET products, that go between baby and car seat are not safe. Clearly i did not know this.
This Kiddopotamus insert, is an after market product
and is also a NO' NO !
When you know better you can do better! and i learn new things every day! Safe to say i have knots
in my tummy every time i look back at these car seat FAILS. Below are some photos of how to properly
restrain children safely.
Britax Frontier 85
Is the cow print car seat show above
Highest 5 point harness seat capacity allows your child to remain harnessed up to 85 pounds or in booster mode to 120 pounds.
Evelyn is 5 yrs old and about 37lbs, she comfortably fits in this car seat, and will continue to use it until she out grows the height & weight limit.
Sunshine Kids RadianXTSL Convertible car seat
is the floral print above
Rear-facing: 5 - 45 pounds; Forward-facing: 20 - 80 pounds (53") in a 5-point harness
Omri is 2 yrs old 27 lbs & is still rear faced in this car seat, and will continue to do so until she out grows the weight and height limit of this seat, before forward facing her.
(Rear facing & Legs) {for those of you who are concerned with broken legs with extended rear facing}
(Rear facing & Legs) {for those of you who are concerned with broken legs with extended rear facing}
Graco Infant SafeSeat
is the car seat shown above.
Graco Infant SafeSeat is designed to keep children rear-facing who are up to 30 lb. and 32 inches tall.
Luna is 4 months old and 13.4 lbs and almost 27'' long
she will remain in this car seat until she either outgrows the weight limit or height limit, which ever comes first.
is the car seat shown above.
Graco Infant SafeSeat is designed to keep children rear-facing who are up to 30 lb. and 32 inches tall.
Luna is 4 months old and 13.4 lbs and almost 27'' long
she will remain in this car seat until she either outgrows the weight limit or height limit, which ever comes first.
Here is an example of a safe way to support infant 'floppiness' if you will :P
if your seat did not come with an insert, do not buy aftermarket items possibly making
it unsafe. Just roll small burp cloths on each side :)
This here is also a wonderful option to keeping your child warm
yet safe! it slips over most bucket seats and strollers too !
Nice cold November day. Omri shown here, wearing a turtleneck
and sweater combo, no jacket. Blankets are also a nice safe way to keep
warm, as well as a single layered fleece pullover.
(please note: if rear facing harness should be at or below shoulders)
chest clip is on chest! (reason?)
& straps are snug, how snug? do the pinch test
(please note: forward facing, the harness should be at or above shoulders)
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