Best Car Seats for Preemies

Top Child Passenger Restraints for Tiny Babies

Oct 30, 2008 Jennifer White

Premature babies require an infant car seat that is suited to their tiny size. These seats are suitable for babies of low birth weight.

When parents select an infant car seat, there are many points that they need to consider. Parents of a premature baby must be even more selective about which passenger restraint they choose. The well-chosen safety seat will properly fit the low-birth weight baby safely and securely.

Consult the Doctor

Above all else, parents of preemies need to have a conversation with their pediatrician about what type of car seat their infant needs. Before coming home, preemies will be given a "car seat challenge" to determine whether their breathing is stable while in an upright position. Infants who experience difficulties would require a special car bed rather than an infant car seat.

Weight Limit

Parents should pay close attention to the lower weight limit of the car seat. The typical car seat is only suited for newborns that weigh more than 5 pounds. However, with advances in medical technology, many parents are able to bring home their premature infant before he reaches that milestone. Parents should look for infant seats that can accommodate a baby who weighs 4 pounds or less.

Harness Height

The second aspect parents of preemies need to inspect is the harness height. When rear facing, the harness straps need to be at or below shoulder level - never above. Because of that, parents need to purchase a seat that has a lower harness height of 8 inches or less. Harnesses that are above 8 inches will prevent a proper fit.

Crotch Strap

For a secure fit, the crotch strap should not be further than 5 1/2 inches from the back of the seat. A greater distance will likely have the baby slumping down in the seat, which can attribute to breathing problems.

Car Seat Recommendations for Premature Infants

One of the top-rated infant car seats for preemies, as judged by Consumer Reports and many Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPST), is the Chicco Keyfit 30. This seat has been hailed for its ease of use and superior safety protection. Additionally, it is well-suited for smaller infants with a lower weight limit of four pounds and low harness height.

The Compass I420 (soon to be updated to the Compass Via) is also a good option for smaller infants. Like the Keyfit, the I420 accommodates infants a minimum of 4 pounds and has a lower shoulder height. The downside to the Compass is that it must always be used with the seat base and does not adapt easily to strollers and shopping carts.

In short, parents must pay close attention to the lower weight limit, crotch strap distance, and harness height when purchasing a seat for a low birth weight baby. Armed with the right information, parents can be sure to bring home their preemie safely and securely.

The copyright of the article Best Car Seats for Preemies in Kids Products is owned by Jennifer White. Permission to republish Best Car Seats for Preemies in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Chicco Keyfit 30