Your baby: Car seat safety for premature babies

Many car seats are designed for full-term babies. Until your premature baby grows bigger, it is important to find a car seat that fits.

Use a car seat with harness straps only. If your current car seat has a shield in front where the baby's face or throat would be, don't use it now. Save the car seat for when your baby has grown.

If you have a premature baby who has breathing problems, a car bed may be the best seat for you.

Car seat harness information

The car seat you choose will need the proper harness.

Look for a car seat that has a small harness. Shoulder strap slots should be 10 inches or fewer above the bottom of the seat. This will provide the best support in case of a crash.
Look for a car seat that has a crotch strap 5 1/2 inches or fewer from the seat back to keep your baby from slouching too much.
Be sure to use the lowest possible slots for the shoulder straps.

How to keep your baby safe

To keep your baby as safe as possible:

Place the car seat in the middle of the back seat of the car, facing the rear of the seat. After your child is at least 1 year old and weighs more than 20 pounds, appropriate car seats that face forward can be used in the back seat.
Your baby's buttocks should be touching the back of the seat when strapped in.
You can put rolled up blankets or towels alongside your babyā€™s body and head. This will help keep his or her body and head from slouching to one side or the other. Do not use any fluffy material.
If you use an infant head support pad, make sure it has slits for the harness straps to fit through. Do not use any head support pad that has thick, soft padding. It is not crash-tested and not recommended.
Your baby should sit reclined halfway back at a 45-degree angle. If his or her head flops forward, tilt the car seat back just enough so the head rests comfortably without falling forward. Wedge a firm roll of cloth, newspaper or stiff foam under the car seat below the foot end. If your car seat has an adjustable base or recline indicator, don't tilt it more than halfway back.
Place shoulder straps in the lowest slots. The harness should be snug. The retainer clip should be at armpit level, but not close to your baby's neck.

If your baby can't ride in a regular baby car seat

Most infants can ride in a semi-reclined, rear-facing baby car seat. If your baby has breathing problems when in a semi-reclined position (like a car seat or in a swing), talk with your health care provider.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants born before 37 weeks be tested for possible breathing problems before leaving the hospital.

If your baby has problems during the test, you should place him or her lying flat in a crash-tested car bed until your health care provider approves use of a regular car seat. In addition, do not place your baby in a baby seat or swing.

How to use a car bed

If your baby needs to ride in a car bed, follow these instructions.

Your babyā€™s head must be toward the center of the vehicle.
Make sure the safety belt is as tight as possible. It will not be as firmly anchored with the safety belt as a rear-facing car seat should be. (The CoscoĀ® Ultra Dream Ride car bed is designed to swing up during a crash.)
Make sure the harness is snug.

General car seat information

Make sure the seat is properly installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. A properly installed car seat should not move more than 1 inch in any direction.
Never put your baby's car seat in the front seat, especially if your car has an air bag.
Never use a car seat after it has been in an accident.
Cover the car seat with a towel or blanket in hot or cold weather.
Never leave a child alone in a car.
Send in the registration card attached to the car seat so the manufacturer can contact you if the seat is recalled.

Whom to call for information

Call the toll-free number or visit the Web site of your car seat manufacturer for information about your specific car seat.

To see if a car seat has been recalled, call the U.S. Department of Transportation's Auto Safety Hotline (toll free) at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT.

To have your car seat checked by a child passenger safety technician, call your car dealership or call 763-236-7436 for the name of a technician in your area.