How to Install and Remove a Newborn Insert

The majority of infant car seats are equipped with a newborn insert, designed to keep babies safe and secure in the car seat. When your child grows out of the insert, it's crucial to remove it correctly.

The manual that comes with the seat your child is using will tell you when to remove the head restraint padding. This usually takes place between five or six months old.

What is a Newborn insert?

A newborn insert is a cushion that can help keep your baby secure and safe in their car seat. It's typically installed in the lower part of the car seat. It provides extra support for babies weighing less than 5 pounds. The newborn insert can help your baby to sit in a more natural position and encourage them to sleep more comfortably - which is probably exactly what you would like them to do while traveling in the car!

The majority of infant car seats, and convertible car seats include a baby insert. The insert is designed to lift your baby up in the v-shaped space of the seat, allowing them to fit more comfortably without harming safety. The insert can also shorten the distance between the bottom of the seat and the shoulder straps to ensure that the harness is at or below the shoulders of your child in the rear-facing car seat.

Newborn stroller inserts are also available, making outings even more convenient and comfortable. If you're planning to use your infant car seat along with a stroller, be sure to follow the specific guidelines for when it's safe to take off the newborn insert. You might be able to determine if your child has outgrown their insert by their squishing into the seat or battling to get in and out of it. If you aren't sure, contact the car seat manufacturer. You can also schedule an appointment with a child Passenger Safety Technologist (CPST).

Some parents prefer using blankets rolled up as a substitute for infant inserts but be mindful not to create anything too large or tight around your child's head. Roll the blankets around the body of your child not just around the head. Double them at the top of the head to prevent the blankets rubbing against their chins.

It's also a good idea to take the insert from your car seat when your baby has stopped using it. The goal is to develop your baby's muscles and strength to enable them to sit upright in their car seat. If the manufacturer of the car seat has not stipulated an age or weight limit then you should be able to without a problem to remove the insert once your child is ready.

How to Install a Newborn Insert

Inserts for newborns are the best way to ensure an accurate car seat fit for your newborn. They offer extra padding that will keep your baby safe and comfortable in their car seat newborn seat. Many parents aren't sure how to use an insert or when it's safe enough to remove it. This guide will teach you how to safely install and remove the infant insert, so that your child can travel safely.

Before you do anything else, make sure to read the instruction manual for your car seats by age seat thoroughly. The manufacturer has tested the car seat and insert. Their guidelines should be the first place you turn to if you have any concerns about your child's safety. It is also important to have the proper tools to set up your rotating infant car seat's insert. You'll need an appropriate socket or wrench to loosen the screw that is on the base, as well as a flathead screwdriver that can pry the upholstery off. Once the upholstery is removed, the foam insert can be placed on the lower part of the car seat. Once the insert for the infant has been installed it is important to adjust the harness to ensure that the straps are aligned over the shoulders of the infant. The crotch strap needs to be centered in the center of the infant insert.

It is important to remember that infants have floppy feet and may move about their seat. It is essential to check regularly for proper positioning and to ensure that the chest clip is located at armpit height (it is not "tummy" clip).

Certain car seats come with an indicator that will show green or blue when the straps are properly aligned and red or yellow in the event that they are not. This is a handy tool to have, especially in the case of using your car seat at home and don't have the benefit of a skilled nurse or CPST to assist you.

Once your baby outgrows the need for a newborn insert it is time to remove it from their car seat. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that your child sit in their car seat until they reach a specific weight or height. This will usually happen before the child outgrows their car seat.

When to take off a Newborn insert

A car seat that is designed for infants should be easy to use and include an insert for babies. The insert is a tiny pillow that sits under the baby's head and provides an additional cushion. Newborns often have muscle development problems that cause them to need extra head support when sitting upright. The baby insert helps keep them secure in their seat by allowing them to hold their heads up straight.

The newborn insert may also aid in securing your baby correctly in the car seat's harness straps. The insert is cushioned and lifts the infant up so that you can securely secure the shoulder straps of the harness, which is essential for infants. It is recommended to use only the insert that comes with the car seat for your baby. Making a DIY solution or using an insert that isn't suitable to your car seat may hinder the way your baby is secure in the car seat, and may compromise their safety.

You should only use the insert that came with your baby's car seat because it is tested and crash-tested as a part of the seat. Trying to create your own insert for your baby or using an insert made by a different brand could interfere with the way that your lightweight baby car seat's car seat is tested, and could not meet the rigorous safety standards that the seat has already been through.

Typically the manual for your car seat will include information about the best car seat time to remove the infant insert. This information is usually dependent on your baby's reaching the weight or length of a certain amount, and it can vary slightly from one seat to the next.

Keep the infant insert in position until the manufacturer's recommended timeframe. This will ensure your baby is secure and comfortable as they grow into the car seat.

Safety Tips

Safety of the car seat is a top concern for all new parents, but especially for those using an infant or convertible car seat. Many of these seats have numerous features that can help ensure your baby's safety such as adjustable harness straps, reclining options, varying headrest heights, and removable padding known as the newborn insert. It is crucial to know how and when to use these inserts, as well as when to take them off.

Most group 0+ infant car seats have infant inserts, and some even offer an optional cushioned head support to provide additional security and comfort. These inserts are popular because they stop newborns from falling into the dangerous chest-to-chin position in the car seat. This could cause obstruction to their airways, which can lead to serious medical problems like positional asphyxia.

Research has shown that a newborn with their head in this position could be at higher risk for oxygen deprivation than one that is sitting upright and unsupported. This is true regardless of whether they're in a car or in a bouncer seat or even on a swing and it's not just carseats where newborns can be at risk for this issue.

The newborn insert can help stop this. It's also a great idea to dress your child in thinner layers instead of bulky winter coats if they're in their car seat or riding in it. Using a thick coat or blanket can be compressed in the event of a crash, leaving the harness straps loose and potentially putting your infant car seat rear facing at risk of injury.

Doing a "pinch-test" before driving is another method to ensure that your baby is as secure as it can be in the car seat. This is when you squeeze the slack on the harness strap at the shoulder to ensure that it's tight enough, and it's important to check regularly that the buckle is in the correct position to ensure it isn't pulled through the belt path. Consult a pediatrician or your child's passenger safety specialist (CPST) to get expert advice if have any questions.