"adequate head control"?

What exactly does this mean? I've seen the term used many, many times even used it myself a few times. But I'm realizing I don't know exactly what it means. Is it holding the head up independently with hands up around shoulders/ armpits? Sitting with arms around torso? Sitting independently? Walking?

The convertible seat I have right now is a radian and in the position it's in it's pretty upright. Definitely not 45*. The baby's never been in it and there's not really any reason for her to be unless we need to put 5 adults plus baby in the van. The radian is in with the seatbelt and a locking clip. It would be much easier in that circumstance to take out the infant seat than to have to take out the radian. Of course I'd have to adjust the harness from the 2 year old that uses it during the week but that's easy enough to do without effecting the install. Baby in question is 4 months. The doctor says she has good head control for her age. I've put her in an umbrella stroller as well as in the seat on a shopping cart with no head floppage. Also, there would be an adult in the third row with her if this circumstance were to arise. Basically, when is she able to use a convertible that's more upright?

Has she fallen asleep in the umbrella stroller with no head flop? I would think she'd be fine in a more upright Radian if there's no chin-to-chest going on in the umbrella stroller.

I usually move the seat to a more upright position when the infant is sitting unassisted, in some circumstances such as yours, for short rides I would be pretty comfortable putting a four month old who can hold her head up in an upright seat, for short rides.

With an adult next to the baby I'd be fine trying out baby in the radian. If the baby's head flops the adult can fix it and let you know so you have an idea of what angle your baby is ok with.

When the baby is *ALWAYS* strong enough and coordinated enough to pick their head up under their own power. The problem isn't head flopping, it's not having mastered how to reposition when they are having trouble breathing.

Not all babies even need 45* at birth. Mine did fine at closer to 30* from day 1.

If the baby flops chin to chest, you want to be sure they cam lift their head back up. For my own kids, I didn't worry about having a full 45 once they were past the floppy newborn stage (a month or so?), but at clinics I err on the side of caution and go for 45 degrees until babe is sitting independently.

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skiersnowboarder3 said:

I've put her in an umbrella stroller as well as in the seat on a shopping cart with no head floppage.

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Not ON the shopping cart right? IN the shopping cart is much much much safer...a baby died when his seat was toppled off the top of the cart at a grocery store a year or so ago.

I read that as in the seat of the shopping cart, not in the carseat on to of the cart. I agree that carseats on carts are very dangerous!