40 Weeks to Forever

Car Seat Safety 101 - Protecting Your Precious Cargo

Episode Summary

Helping you find the right car seat for your vehicle and keeping your little ones riding safe is our top priority at Snuggle Bugz. So, in episode 6 of the 40 Weeks to Forever podcast we are chatting all about car seat safety. In this episode, Judith chats with Katherine Hutka, President of the Child Passenger Safety Association of Canada, about protecting your precious cargo. Katherine has YEARS of experience educating parents & parents-to-be about the importance of car seat safety. Plus, our very own in-house product expert and registered Child Passenger Safety Technician [CPST] Haleigh Ryan also joins us to dispel some common car seat myths, discuss laws vs. best practices, and even set the record straight on a question that we get asked all the time-- are all car seats REALLY created equal?

Episode Notes

• 0:42 – Confidence Corner | moms reflect on their car ride home from the hospital 
• 2:59 – Explanation of what a Child Passenger Safety Technician is (CPST) 
• 4:00 – Why a properly used car seat is the solution for saving lives
• 5:01 - Things to remember when putting baby in your car seat for the first time
  1. Read your manual & pack it in your hospital bag 
  2. Highlight information in your manual that is important
  3. Practice installation with a stuffed animal or a doll
  4. Note the weight limitations of your infant insert to ensure a proper fit 
  5. Straps need to come from at or below the baby’s shoulder
  6. Have the chest clip at armpit level 
  7. Ensure the 5-point harness passes the pinch test 
  8. Ensure the bays bum is at the back of the seat to avoid slouching 
• 6:08 -Why you should install your base in the car 2-3 weeks before your due date 
• 9:42 – Why you should practice installing your seat before baby comes and how you can use manufacturers and CPST’s as a resource
• 11:00 – Where is the safest spot to install the car seat in your vehicle?
  -the back seat of the vehicle
  -rear-facing 
  -a safe installation is the best installation 
• 13:27 – seatbelt install vs. UAS anchors 
  - always remember that lower anchors have a weight maximum
  -don’t use BOTH the seatbelt install + the UAS – one or the other 
• 16:26- TRUE or FALSE Q’s 

1. Q: Are all car seats created equal?
   -All car seats pass strict Canadian safety standards
   -Canada works on a pass or fail system
   -Added safety features are what sets apart car seats that are in different price ranges 
2. Q: I need to move my child out of their bucket seat once their legs dangle over the edge?
   -FALSE 
   -this is not a reason to move to your second stage car seta 
   -move your child out once they have outgrown the height, weight, or fit requirement
   -why extended rear-facing is so important 

• 22:25- laws vs. best practices 
  -a child should stay rear-facing for as long as possible
  -these vary from province to province
  -some manufacturers have limited 
• 23:36 – Tips for keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible 
  -toddlers are just big babies who are flexible 
  -slip off muddy wet winter boots 
• 25:35- Why you shouldn’t have your child wear a puffy winter jacket in their car seat 
  -a bulky winter coat doesn't allow you to tighten the straps tight enough 
  -consider having a car seat fleece 
  -consider using a blanket once they are installed 
  28:14 – What you should know before using a winter “cocoon” or car seat cover with your infant bucket seat 
• 29:35- Car Naps 101 
  -always ensure you are following the correct recline when installing
  -visually confirm that baby's head is not chin to chest 
  -limit your child time in the car seat 
  -consider babywearing to give your little ones a break from being snug in the car seat once you’ve reached your destination 
• 33:30 – Baby must always be buckled up fully whenever they are in the car seat—here's why. 
• 35:30 - Evidence-based recourses to help you share car seat safety knowledge and advice with others in a respectful way 
  Canadian Pediatric Society 
  Parachute also has resources that they've developed that you may find valuable. 
• 39:44 - Confidence Corner 
  Product 1: Pehr pint
  Product 2: Seat Protector 

Learn More 
cpsac.org 
snugglebugz.ca