Author: Katherine Burk

If one thing is true about car seats, it’s that they get really gross, really quickly. From newborn spit-up to big-kid snacks, ick and dirt can get into your car seats, making them look gross, smell gross, and possibly even impact their integrity too. But knowing how to clean a car seat isn’t as straightforward as it might seem.

Unlike most child items you own, a car seat can’t just be hosed down or sanitized with heavy-duty cleaning products. In fact, soaking your seat or using a powerful cleaner might actually damage your seat. So how the heck are you supposed to clean it? At Seated Safely, we are here to help you make cleaning your seat less of a headache. Let’s dive into the basics of knowing how to clean a car seat and help you know what not to do too.

How Can I Clean My Car Seat?

As with pretty much anything car seat related, the most important thing to do before getting started with cleaning is to read your manual. You’re going to hear me say this over and over. Your car seat manual is your best resource for everything related to your seat.

When it comes to cleaning a seat, some manufacturers may allow you to take off the cover and throw it in the wash. Others may have specific guidelines surrounding what products you can use. Generally speaking, harsh cleaning products, including vinegar (acidic), should be avoided. Brands like Clek offer fabric cleaning kits perfectly suited for use with their seats which can make knowing what to do easier if you own one.

Beyond cleaning products, it’s important to note that car seats are not meant to be soaked. It might feel tempting to grab a hose and blast all the bits of goldfish crackers and bear paws out of your seat, but please resist the urge. Soaking your car seat can compromise its integrity. Vacuuming and even simply gently shaking a seat can get quite a bit of debris out of the seat. Don’t bang a seat on the ground when trying to get “stuff” off of it. Doing this could damage the seat. When in doubt, always check in with your car seat manufacturer. They are an amazing resource that car seat techs refer to regularly too!

The take-home message about car seat cleaning is that you should always read your manual thoroughly before cleaning it. There are countless car seat models available, and seat rules can change from year to year. Don’t count on directions from one manufacturer being the same as another. If you’re not sure what to do or feel that the instructions from the car seat manufacturer are unclear, send them an email or give them a call. They are the best place to gain information about your seat and may even be able to help you out with replacement parts for stinky straps and fabric too.

General Tips for Keeping Your Seat Clean

Here are my top tips for keeping your car seat clean. As a child passenger safety technician and mother of three, I completely understand that this is a tough job! I’ve had my fair share of apple sauce packets wedged between a vehicle seat. I get it. Mess happens. Here are some tips to help you avoid a sticky, stinky, or downright gross cleanup.

Avoid eating in the car – I completely understand that this can be a hard ask for many families. However, not eating in the car is a good idea for both children and adults. Beyond helping you keep your car seat and vehicle clean, skipping car snacks can help you not feel stressed about a child choking while you are driving. If this is a concern for you, it can be a huge help in reducing driving distractions. Food containers and heavy water bottles can also become a projectile in your vehicle. Skipping car snacks altogether has many benefits if doing so will work for your family.

Take off footwear before getting into the vehicle – sand, mud, slush, and snow makes for a messy vehicle seat, and the debris can end up in your car seat too. Though some manufacturers allow vehicle seat covers to be used, they can mask install issues and are typically not recommended. Thankfully there is a quick fix for saving your vehicle and car seat from a mess. Simply take off footwear before securing your child in their seat! Be sure to store footwear in a safe place so that they don’t become a projectile.

Inspect and clean up your seats regularly – it’s easy to leave a small mess for another day, but just like your dishes, car seat messes build up over time. Skip a heavy-duty cleanup by inspecting your car seat regularly and spot cleaning mess. While you’re searching for fries in seat cushions, be sure to check that your car seat is still installed correctly, at the appropriate recline angle, and that necessary adjustments, such as removing infant padding or adjusting harness straps, are complete. Car seats are typically not a set-it-and-forget-it piece of equipment. Check-in regularly to be sure it is both installed and being used correctly for your child.

Who would have thought that cleaning a car seat could have so many rules? Though it might seem like a headache, learning how to use and care for your seat is important. If you have questions about cleaning your seat or aren’t sure if it’s installed correctly, be sure to connect with a car seat tech for a car seat inspection. CPSTs can provide car seat installation support and are dedicated to helping you keep children safe.For assistance with car seat installation in Bowmanville, Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering, Seated Safely can help. To find a CPST in your area, visit the CPSAC website.

When you were an expecting parent or caregiver-to-be, you may have found the process of purchasing your infant’s bucket seat simple. Though there are many options to choose from in this category, they all seem to look the same, and you might have found yourself making the choice based on your stroller’s compatibility or budget rather than whether or not it was the best option for your vehicle. You also didn’t have to consider whether they would be rear-facing or front-facing in their seat as all infant seats are rear-facing, easy-peasy!

Now that you’ve got some parenting experience under your belt and your bundle of joy is growing into an active (and heavy) baby, you might find yourself wondering if it is time to ditch the bucket seat in favour of the next step a convertible car seat. But when is the best time to switch to a convertible car seat? Though a too-heavy to-move seat might be a sign your days with the bucket seat are done, there are a few other factors you need to keep in mind.

At Seated Safely, we strive to empower parents and caregivers to make safety-oriented decisions when it comes to car seats. We understand that knowing which car seat is best can be hard for parents to determine on their own; that’s why we are always here to offer support. In this post, we outline the basics of convertible car seats and offer some guidance in choosing the best seat for your family’s needs.

Need help with car seat installation or have questions about choosing your next seat? Connect with Seated Safely. We are the Durham Region CPST you can rely on to provide you with judgment-free support.

When Is an Infant Seat Outgrown?

If you are getting tired of lugging around a clunky, heavy car seat everywhere you go, you might be wondering, when can I stop using a bucket car seat? The first step to help you determine when it’s time to stop is your car seat manual. Every car seat manual will detail how to install and use the seat properly. Always read your car seat manual. It includes important information such as when the seat is outgrown when provided items such as infant padding need to be removed, and how to use a car seat UAS system.

Your infant car seat is outgrown when the baby has reached either the height or weight limit that is specified by the car seat manufacturer or when their head is 1” from the shell of the seat. Sometimes this means that a child will grow out of the seat well before the height or weight limit has been reached. Keep an eye on these requirements, and you should have a good idea of when it is time to switch to your next seat.

If you are finding that your baby’s bucket seat is too heavy to take in and out of your vehicle, but they are still a while away from outgrowing the seat, consider leaving the seat in the vehicle. You do not have to take your bucket seat out of the vehicle every time you use it. Instead, keep the seat in place and simply take your baby in and out.

What is a Convertible Car Seat?

A convertible car seat is a car seat that can be used in both rear-facing and forward-facing positions. Some parents think of these as their child’s “big seat,” or step-two seat. There are many varieties of convertible car seats on the market, and some are able to accommodate a child from birth to booster. Your convertible car seat will usually seem much larger than your bucket seat though they often take up a similar footprint in your vehicle, particularly when used rear-facing. For this reason, it is important to choose a seat based that will fit your child well, can be installed safely within your vehicle and is able to be used properly by you and other caregivers properly every time.

Examples of convertible car seats include the following seats. Please note that these seats may or may not be right for your needs, click here or keep reading to learn more about how to choose a seat for your child.

·       Graco 4Ever

·       Cosco Scenera Next

·       Evenflow Sonous

·       Britax Allegiance

How Can I Know Which Convertible Seat to Buy?

There are many factors at play when it comes to choosing the right convertible car seat for your baby. Though it may seem like choosing a seat is as simple as finding one you like and buying it, you’ll want to consider a few things to ensure you make the best choice.

Your Child – how your child fits in a seat and their comfort are important. Sometimes children who are on either the high or low end of percentile charts may not fit in a seat that other parents think is perfect. If your child suffers from issues with reflux or is prone to motion sickness, it may also be working considering a seat that is more “L” shaped rather than “C” shaped. The Clek Foonf and  Graco Contender are two examples of “L” shaped seats to help you visualize what this style of the seat looks like. A Child Passenger Safety Technician can also offer support in helping you choose a “C” or “L” shaped seat.

Your Vehicle – did you know that not every car seat works well in every vehicle? Sometimes a seat is simply too large to fit into a vehicle and makes it unsafe for a front passenger to sit in their seat. Other times, the vehicle seat’s bight makes it impossible to achieve the correct recline position for your child. When it’s time to move to front facing, fixed headrests may also interfere with a proper install. There are many considerations to look into. A CPST near me might be your best bet when looking for support with knowing which seat is suitable for your car.

Your Budget – have you ever assumed that the most expensive car seat available must be the best one? You wouldn’t be the first to think it, but you might be happy to learn that in Canada, all car seats pass the same safety test. This means that when installed and used properly, your seat is safe! Choose a seat that suits your budget, and don’t worry about not having the “best” seat. You can keep your child safe in a car seat within any budget.

Your Rear-Facing Goals – rear-facing for as long as possible is a great goal to have and is one that will keep your child safer for longer. Though there are many reasons why a child may need to move to front facing before they max their seat, it is recommended by CPSTs and medical professionals that children stay rear-facing until they reach the height or weight limit of their seat whichever comes first. If your child is in a higher percentile range of growth, you might want to consider a seat that allows for extended rear-facing such as Evenflow Everystage DLX, which can accommodate a child rear-facing until 50lbs.

Your Ability to Install and Use the Seat – if you cannot install your seat properly or use it correctly every time, it is not the seat for you. Some parents and caregivers find that their car seat is too difficult to tighten and may be tempted to think a too-loose harness is “good enough.” Take care in choosing a seat that you feel confident using every time. For tough buckles, also consider using the UnbuckleMe tool to make your life or the life of a caregiver easier.

Choosing a car seat can be tough, especially now that you know it’s not as easy as finding a colour or style that you like. Vancouver Island Car Seat Technicians has compiled a list of seats that are often recommended by car seat technicians. You may also wish to find a car seat tech near you for personalized support.

Should I Choose a Convertible Seat that Turns into a Booster Seat?

Many car seat manufacturers advertise the ability to go from birth to booster in a seemingly seamless process. Though these seats are all safe when installed and used correctly, there is no guarantee that each stage will work well for your child. Every child’s body is unique, and though a seat may have been fantastic as a rear-facing seat for years, it might not make a suitable booster for your child. These seats might be a great choice, but if you are looking to stay within a specific budget, there may be no need to splurge on these long-lasting seats upfront. Know that booster seats are often very affordable, and it could be a smart choice to wait and see how your child grows before assuming you will use the booster option that your convertible seat provides.

When Should I Switch My Child to Front Facing?

As a Child Passenger Safety Technician, Seated Safely will always encourage parents and caregivers to keep their children rear-facing for as long as possible. We understand that parents may be worried about long legs (not a problem), motion sickness, wanting to keep their kids entertained in their seats and other issues such as too little room for other passengers. As a parent or caregiver, you are best equipped to make the right choice for your family. However, you will always need to follow the minimum requirements for front-facing according to local regulations and your car seat manual. Consider booking a caregiver information session to discuss your unique concerns and allow us to help you find a way to keep your child as safe as possible for as long as possible.

Who Can Help Me Ensure My Seat is Installed Correctly?

If you live in Durham Region (Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Clarington) and are looking for a  CPST near me, Seated Safely can help. There are hundreds of CPSTs’ across Canada who are passionate about helping parents and caregivers install and use their car seats properly. Find a local CPST by searching the CPSAC directory and take steps towards keeping your child safer in their car seat.

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