Congrats, you’re going to be a new parent! Things are constantly changing in the newborn world, so even if this isn’t your first, there’s still a lot to learn. To help you mark at least one thing off your list, we’re going to help with narrowing down that dreaded car seat decision.
Today, Baby Trend announced you can now leave the carry handle of their infant car seats in any locked position in the vehicle. Previously, Baby Trend required the handle locked in the down position, which required a lot of clearance to swing the handle down. This is an awesome convenience update, thanks Baby Trend!
If your child’s seat is installed using lower anchors and the seat belt is within their reach, it poses the risk of strangulation if the child begins to play with it, particularly if your seat belt has a switchable locking retractor. Remember to buckle the seat belt before or after installation (just tuck it between the vehicle seat back and the car seat, don’t thread it in the belt path) and engage the locking mode by slowly pulling the seat belt all the way out.
So you want to skip the rear facing only seat for a new baby? Makes sense; instead of purchasing a car seat that will only be used for the first year, pick one that will be used for four or five years. Seems smart, right? Sure! However, choosing a convertible for a newborn can be tricky; newborns are teeny little creatures with a unique set of needs, and not all convertibles are created equal when it comes to fitting a brand new Little.
If you have a small car, you know how difficult it can be to fit a rear facing only car seat in it. We decided to put 25 rear facing only car seats to the test and find which seats take up the least amount of front to back space. Remember that all seats fit differently in different vehicles, so even though you find a seat that takes up less front to back space, that doesn’t mean it will fit correctly in every vehicle. It’s always suggested that you try before you buy.
Need help installing your rear facing only seat without the base? Here are a few tips for what a correct installation should look like. Remember to always check your manual for full instructions.
The Graco TurboBooster is one of the most popular high back boosters for older kids – it’s inexpensive, and provides a great seat belt fit the majority of the time. It’s also host of one of the most common misuses we see as Child Passenger Safety Technicians – the elusive screws in the armrests.
