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Step 1
Every car seat is different, and it’s a fact not to be taken lightly. They each have variables that make them easy to use, safe for your baby and provide a modern and chic appeal. After you’ve done your research and you’ve purchased an infant car seat or toddler car seat with confidence, the biggest challenge is to learn how to use your new car seat appropriately. Whether it’s forward facing car seats or rear facing car seats, you and your spouse need to be confident in your knowledge of how the car seat works.
Because each car seat has different features there isn’t one way to explain how to use each of them. There are only guidelines that will help steer you in the right direction. The bottom line is that no matter how nice the car seat may look or how high of a safety rating it may have, if it isn’t used properly, it isn’t safe. -
Step 2
Read the directions
We all hate to do it, but it is essential if we are to keep our kids safe. It is highly recommended that you take the time to read through the direction booklet completely before using your infant or toddler car seat. It may even help to read through it with your spouse or partner and perform the various directions on the car seat as you go through the booklet. Make sure you understand the directions in the entirety so you can use your car seat with confidence. -
Step 3
How to Safely Use a Car Seat
Every car seat is different, and it’s a fact not to be taken lightly. They each have variables that make them easy to use, safe for your baby and provide a modern and chic appeal. After you’ve done your research and you’ve purchased an infant car seat or toddler car seat with confidence, the biggest challenge is to learn how to use your new car seat appropriately. Whether it’s forward facing car seats or rear facing car seats, you and your spouse need to be confident in your knowledge of how the car seat works.
Because each car seat has different features there isn’t one way to explain how to use each of them. There are only guidelines that will help steer you in the right direction. The bottom line is that no matter how nice the car seat may look or how high of a safety rating it may have, if it isn’t used properly, it isn’t safe.
Read the directions
We all hate to do it, but it is essential if we are to keep our kids safe. It is highly recommended that you take the time to read through the direction booklet completely before using your infant or toddler car seat. It may even help to read through it with your spouse or partner and perform the various directions on the car seat as you go through the booklet. Make sure you understand the directions in the entirety so you can use your car seat with confidence.
Try it out before you use it
Once you feel like you’ve got the directions under your belt, give it a test run. Take a larger size baby doll and practice; practice strapping him or her in, installing the car seat in the car seat base, then taking it out and putting it in the stroller. Repeat these steps until you and your partner feel confident in what you’re doing. If you’re a bit shaky in one area, have your partner help you until you feel like you have a secure handle on it. Forward facing car seats, children car seats and rear facing car seats are all different so take your time and learn how to use each one.
Don’t compromise
Once things gets going there will always be pressure to compromise. For example, you forgot to feed your baby and you’re in the car on the way to have dinner with friends. Your husband is driving the car so you may be tempted to take your crying baby out of his or her car seat to feed them. In this situation, do not compromise. Either pull the car over and feed the baby or wait until you arrive at your friend’s house. Compromising situations can lead to tragedy.
