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8
Car Seat Essentials for Preemies
Tiny babies need
extra care, including a special car seat.
If you've given
birth to a preemie, you'll need to take special considerations are
necessary to ensure his safe transportation. Small infants in car
safety seats need to be positioned in a way that can protect baby's
respiratory system, while providing protection in the event of a crash
or sudden stop.
Here are some specific guidelines for preemie car seat safety:
1. Choose an
infant-only car safety seat with a three-point harness system, or
a convertible car safety seat with a five-point harness. These systems
provide optimum comfort, fit, and positioning for the premature or
small infant. A preemie should not be placed in a car safety seat
with a shield, abdominal pad, or arm rest that could come into direct
contact with his face and neck during an impact. Similarly, car safety
seats designed for use only by children who weigh more than 20 pounds
should not be used for small infants.
2. Use a car safety seat with a distance of less than 5 1/2 inches
from the crotch strap to the seat back. This reduces the potential
for baby to slump forward. Try using a small rolled diaper or blanket
between the crotch strap and the infant to reduce slouching.
3. Choose a car
safety seat with a distance of less than 10 inches from the lower
harness strap to the seat bottom. This reduces the potential for harness
straps to cross the infant's ears.
4. Position the
baby in the car safety seat with his back flat against the back of
the seat. You can place rolled blankets on both sides of him to provide
lateral support for his head and neck.
5. In rear-facing
car safety seats for infants, set shoulder straps in the lowest slots
until the infant's shoulders are above the slots. Make sure the harness
is snug, and the car safety seat's retainer clip is positioned at
the midpoint of the infant's chest--not on the abdomen or in the neck
area.
6. Recline the
seat halfway back, at a 45-degree tilt. You can wedge a firm roll
of cloth or newspaper under the car safety seat below the baby's feet
to achieve this angle.
7. Don't place
a rear-facing car safety seat in the front passenger seat of any car
equipped with a passenger-side front air bag. All infants weighing
less than 20 pounds and younger than 1 year of age must ride rear
facing when secured in standard car safety seats.
8. Never leave
an infant unattended in a car safety seat.
Your
should know:
The
information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes
only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical
advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose
or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your
pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any
questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's
condition.
Rebornne Baby. American Baby
