Nedra
Car-Seat.org Ambassador
It never occurred to me to loosen the straps when my child was in the car seat on the stroller. Seemed like a huge hassle to me to loosen and tighten all the time rather than leave them tight. There was one time, though, when we were at a restaurant and I'd taken the baby out to nurse and when we were putting her back in (to stroll, not to go in the car) my MIL asked if she needed to be tightened in. I said it was probably fine for them to be a little loose. When I saw my daughter in a loose car seat harness, though, my anxiety spiked and I tightened her in.
The point of my question is this:
Since then, I have heard that it is actually a strangulation hazard to have kids in loose infant harnesses even while out of the car. What I've always wondered is:
1. How loose does it have to be before it is hazardous? Is anything less than pinch-test-worthy unacceptable? 2 fingers, but no more? 3 fingers? What's the standard for stroller use?
2. Is it a strangulation hazard in the stroller? (where the parent is there and facing the child while pushing the stroller?) or is it more like if you have a baby napping in loose straps on the living room floor while you're in the kitchen and not attending to them? I have a hard time imagining how a kid could strangle in loose straps. It's just hard to picture.
The point of my question is this:
Since then, I have heard that it is actually a strangulation hazard to have kids in loose infant harnesses even while out of the car. What I've always wondered is:
1. How loose does it have to be before it is hazardous? Is anything less than pinch-test-worthy unacceptable? 2 fingers, but no more? 3 fingers? What's the standard for stroller use?
2. Is it a strangulation hazard in the stroller? (where the parent is there and facing the child while pushing the stroller?) or is it more like if you have a baby napping in loose straps on the living room floor while you're in the kitchen and not attending to them? I have a hard time imagining how a kid could strangle in loose straps. It's just hard to picture.
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