Car Seat Fit Guide

Is your kiddo feeling uncomfortable in their car seat? If they are still within the height/weight limit of their current seat, here are some adjustments you can make to help them fit more comfortably!

Harness Strap Height

• Rear Facing: Harness straps should come out of the car seat shell at, or just below, the level of their shoulders. If the harness straps are coming out of the car seat shell above their shoulders, this leaves space for your child to move up and out of their car seat during a crash.

• Forward facing: Harness straps should be coming out of the car seat shell at, or just above, the level of their shoulders. If the harness straps are coming out of the car seat shell below their shoulders, they risk spinal compression during a crash.

Crotch Buckle Position

• For most car seats, the crotch buckle should be in the slot closest to (without being underneath) the child. This means closest to the child's actual body - not their diaper! It is okay if their diaper is on the crotch buckle strap. If the child's bottom is sitting on the crotch buckle strap, move it to the next slot out. If you're having trouble, sit your child in their car seat (briefly!) with a bare bottom to check!

• Some car seat manufacturers (like Diono) have specific weight requirements for crotch buckle positioning. Always read your manual to make sure you're using your child's crotch buckle correctly.

Padding Requirements

• If your child is in an infant or all-in-one seat, remove the infant inserts/padding if they have outgrown them.

• Infant inserts/body pillows are there to provide a little extra height for small babies so they fit correctly in their car seat. Most of these inserts/body pillows have weight limits and must be removed either when your child hits the weight limit or when a good fit can be achieved without them

Harness Snugness

• We want to make sure that the child is harnessed snugly - not too tight, not too loose! To make it easier, we have The Pinch Test to make sure your child's harness is tightened correctly:

  • Harness your child as usual into their car seat

  • Using your thumb and forefinger, see if you are able to pinch any of the harness webbing together on top of their shoulders

  • If you can pinch the webbing together, the harness is too loose. Keep the harness pinched between your fingers and pull the tightening strap until the harness slips from between your fingers!

  • If you can’t pinch the webbing together, the harness is tight enough!

Chest Clip Placement

• The chest clip’s sole job is to keep the harness straps correctly placed on your child’s shoulders during a crash. It was designed to rest on your child’s chest at armpit level, so having it anywhere else can be uncomfortable. Make sure the chest clip is at armpit level for every ride to ensure maximum safety and comfort!

As your child grows, you’ll need to continually check and re-check all these fit adjustments to ensure they stay comfortable and safe.

Of course, if your child has outgrown their seat, it’s time to get them one that fits. Once a child exceeds the height/weight maximums on their seat, it’s no longer able to protect them adequately and isn’t safe to use!