Chicco Keyfit Infant Insert & Head Support

emcsq

New member
After looking at the manual, I have an additional question about removing the KF30 insert and head support. Our son is 5 weeks old. At his check-up last week, he was just under 10 lbs (9lb 14 oz) and 22.5 inches long, so about 50% for weight and 90+% for height. The seat strap is on the middle harness slot.

In the KF30, I have always felt that his head is pushed forward a little too far. His chin is not touching his chest and he does not have any trouble breathing, but he can't tip his head back at all. (As a reflux baby, he seems more comfortable with his head extended backward slightly.) It is very difficult for him to take a pacifier while in the seat because he can't really lift up his chin to open his mouth. I feel like his head is too far forward even when the seat is on the stroller caddy or sitting on the floor of our house, so the problem is not with the incline in the car.

After checking the manual, we just tried to sit him in the seat without the head support. I was planning to use a rolled up receiving blanket to help him around the head. However, we noticed that removing the head rest only helped his head position a little, but not as much as we hoped. It seems like the thickness of the infant insert itself pushes his body forward (toward the harness) and is contributing to the head position problem (by bringing his chest up toward the chin while the head rest pushes his head/chin forward).

So, our question is whether it is safe to remove the infant insert even though he is not quite 11 lbs yet. Based on his measurements at the ped office last week, I would guess that he is close to 10.5 lb with clothes and diaper. I would like to see how he fits with the head rest and without the infant insert, but I am unsure whether the infant insert is required for babies less than 11 lb.

Thank you!
 
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Carolinadaisy

New member
You can remove the insert before 11 lbs as long as his straps fit properly without it. The insert helps to boost the baby so shoulders are above the bottom harness slot. Most likely, when you remove the insert, you will need to lower the straps back to the bottom slot to keep a proper fit.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
I have a slightly different issue with the same carseat. My daughter is 6 weeks old and when she was born she was 9lb 11oz and is now over 12 pounds. We took the new born positioner and head support out yesterday as we heard from a friend that for her size she shouldn't be using it anymore. We then noticed that her head was just flopping to the side as she doesn't have very good control yet. I then read that she could still be using the head support so I put it back in and, like the previous posted mentioned, we noticed this morning that her head was being pushed forward and we're therefore a bit concerned about her breathing.

Please advise what you would recommend us doing

Thanks
 

featherhead

Well-known member
I have a slightly different issue with the same carseat. My daughter is 6 weeks old and when she was born she was 9lb 11oz and is now over 12 pounds. We took the new born positioner and head support out yesterday as we heard from a friend that for her size she shouldn't be using it anymore. We then noticed that her head was just flopping to the side as she doesn't have very good control yet. I then read that she could still be using the head support so I put it back in and, like the previous posted mentioned, we noticed this morning that her head was being pushed forward and we're therefore a bit concerned about her breathing.

Please advise what you would recommend us doing

Thanks
I would use receiving blankets. Roll them up tightly and tuck them along her sides from hip to ear once she is buckled. Do not go over her head, just a separate blanket on each side.
 

MelodyoftheForest

Active member
I just want to add, for anyone finding this thread again later, that when the child's shoulders are at the second slot with the infant insert, it must be removed, and you will continue to use the lowest harness slot until the child is ready to move to the second slot without the insert.
 

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