As a new parent, there is no doubt that you pay keen attention to everything you buy or do for your little one. However, choosing a travel system for your newborn can be remarkably tricky. Especially if it is your first baby, finding the most appropriate car seat can be a hassle. A baby capsule should be on your wishlist if you fancy travelling with your newborn anytime soon. Capsules are safe and convenient travel systems for babies between 0 to 6 months of age. Luckily, you will find versatile baby seats that can go on the car, as well as a stroller. They are flexible and easy to use and install. However, overlooking several factors and considering them trivial can cost a crucial mistake!
Things to watch out for while buying a baby seat
A recent survey says that Aussie parents spend around eight hours a week travelling via car with their kids. Luckily, kids capsules can also double up as a baby carrier which you can quickly uninstall from the car seat. Baby capsules have taken the upper hand over baby seats if you are looking for a newborn-friendly option. However, parents need to pay attention to minute details. Unfortunately, buying a wrong sized seat or a faulty installation puts your child at risk without your knowledge. So, here is a list of four typical mistakes parents make, you must avoid,
1. A loosely fitting or bigger sized seat
When you opt for an inappropriately sized baby seat, it is natural that you will end up in a faulty installation. Always ensure that the capsule with the base gets affixed to the car seat without any voids. To quickly check this, slightly try moving the capsule (front and back/ side by side). On doing this, if there is more than an inch’s gap or the seat moves freely, it indicates a red flag.
Bigger sized capsules might allow movements that can be unsafe, especially if you cannot have an eye on them. On the bottom line, it is best to opt for car seats of the right size and fits in the car (moves in and out without any hassle).
2. Choosing forward-facing early
With baby car seats, you will find three primary options. The rear-facing seat is safest among them, at least until your kid turns two. Front-facing seats or convertible seats (which include both types) are recommended for older kids. It’s because rear-facing seats are an impeccable shock absorber and offer guaranteed protection to newborns with fragile and imbalanced heads and spines. With that said, rear-facing capsules minimise injury risks during collisions as it spreads the crash force evenly on the back part of your child’s body, which is relatively safer.
3. Overlooking the angles during installation
Since baby capsules are exclusively for newborns, you will have to ensure that the seat gets installed at the appropriate angle. In cases you do not check the angle, you might find your baby’s fragile head slumping forward. It can turn into a serious complication as your child’s delicate neck is not being supported aptly and can even cause respiratory obstructions. So, always ensure to set up the reclining seat at a 45-degree angle (get the help of the manual).
4. Buying a second-hand car seat
The fact that a baby capsule can serve only for several months has made many parents settle for a second-hand product. Second-hand baby car seats can be the most unsensible investment to make as you’ll never know if they passed the expiry date or have a harness defect until you use them. Post the set expiry date, these seats can lose their resilience as the straps and the seat fabric can start to wither.
