Do You Have Your Infant Car Seat Chest Clip Placement Placed Correctly?

A lot of new parents out there may not know where their infant car seat chest clip placement should be and that is scary! It is scary because that is the main way to secure your baby into the car seat.

Some people have been around kids enough to know or have seen a proper infant car seat chest clip placement, but many unfortunately have not. This can cause major damage and scary situations if you (heaven forbid) get into an accident with baby in the car.

I have seen so many parents out there post photos of their darling babies on social media and the car seat chest clip is so far wrong it makes me so worried.

I know, it is none of my business about how another parent chooses to parent, BUT this isn’t about parenting, its about SAFETY! And every parent new and old should get a refresher on this subject.

Car seats are vital, they are required by law, but what isn’t required is a car seat safety check.

They should be.

Let me start by first explaining and showing how the chest clip and straps should be placed.

The chest clip belongs on the chest. Seems simple enough but you’d be surprised.

The chest clip needs to be positioned on the chest between the armpits.

IT DOES NOT GO ON THEIR STOMACH!

Let me repeat, the chest clip does not belong on their stomach.

This is hard, I know, because newborns especially are so tiny and squishy in the car seat that sometimes its hard, but just remember the clip on the infant seats are small as well and should be placed on their chest between the armpits.

This will keep their little bodies in place if you get into an accident.

If the chest clip is on their stomach and you get into an accident, that could cause internal damage to their tiny little bodies.

So just please do me a favor and check those chest clips mama, PLEASE!

Now let me show you the proper way to have the infant car seat chest clip placement. The chest clip shown below, is placed directly on the chest in between the armpits. This way if you get into an accident the baby is safely secure.

If you are still not 100% confident in if you have the placement right, please visit your local fire station or police station and they will check it for you, FOR FREE!

This is worth it. This is worth your child’s safety! So if you are unsure, please go get it checked, even if you think you have it right, go get it checked to be 100% sure.

Those locations will also check to make sure the car seat itself is installed in the car properly as well! That is just as important, but there is usually more instructions on this than chest clip placement.

Because I guarantee you, there are parents out there who think they have it down and everything is secure, and its not.

I’m not saying this to scare anyone but I just have to get this out and hopefully if this can help or save one family then it is worth it!

Your infant/child should be securely snug in there. Some parents worry if the straps are too tight, but let me ask you this; wouldn’t you want your baby to be secure in there instead of the straps being too loose and them go flying around in the car if something happens?

I’m not saying this to be dramatic, although I may be embellishing a bit to make a point, but my point is this; go get your car seat checked out.

Please read the manual that comes with the car seat. Most of us usually just throw away the instruction booklet, but in this case it is there for a VERY important reason and that is to make sure your child is secure and safe.

So here are my main takeaways:

• make sure the chest clip is secure on the CHEST not stomach
• go to a fire or police station to get car seat tested and checked
• read the instruction manual from your car seat to make sure you are using properly
• follow all state laws regarding car seats

Also make sure your infant is not bundled when you place them in car seat. Big puffy jackets will not give the proper security for the chest clips and shoulder straps needed to secure your child.

Bundle them up with blankets after you secure them in the car seat. They will be warm still I promise.

Another thing to remember too is that do not transition your child to the next car seat or from rear-facing to forward-facing too soon! It will lead to serious injury if you get into an accident.

Better to be safe than sorry and leave them rear-facing until the required height and weight limitations set by the car seat manual.

See it helps to read the manual, or even check the car brand website. They usually have online manuals if you have already tossed yours!

I can’t tell you how many times I went to the Britax website to check the requirements for both my kids just to be safe. So please triple check your manuals and be up to date on your state car seat laws!

Hopefully you will now go check those chest straps and give yourself that peace of mind that you know your child is safe and secure.

For more car related hacks and tips, read about my car hacks here.