Convertible seats face toward the rear until your baby is 20 pounds and 1 year old, and can be turned to face forward after that. (Some convertible seats have higher rear-facing weight limits to accommodate larger babies younger than 1 year).
Never put a rear-facing infant or convertible seat in the front seat of your car - always use the rear seat. Passenger-side airbags in the front seat cabin are hazardous for both rear- and forward-facing car seats, and most accidents happen at the front passenger area of the car. When it's cold, strap your baby in snugly first, then put blankets over the baby.
If you borrow a car seat, make sure that it's not more than 10 years old and was never in a crash (even if it looks OK, it could be structurally unsound). Avoid seats that are missing parts or aren't labeled with the manufacture date and model number (you'll have no way to know about recalls). Also, check the seat for the manufacturer's recommended "expiration date." If you have any doubts about the seat's history, or if it's cracked or shows signs of wear and tear, don't use it.
Inquire at your prenatal classes, health care provider's office, hospital, and insurance company about rental or loan programs for car seats - they're quite common.
When buying a new seat, it's important to remember that there isn't one type of seat that's safest or best; get one that fits and can be correctly installed in your car. And higher price doesn't necessarily indicate a seat's quality - it may simply mean the seat has added features that you may or may not want. Also, be sure to register your new seats, so you can be notified of any problems or recalls.
The most common problem involving car seats is improper installation (according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the majority of all car seats are installed incorrectly). In recent years, new LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) car seats have become standard in the United States, but a large percentage of these seats are improperly installed too. Don't trust illustrations or store displays. Follow the manufacturer's instructions - and hang on to them. Ask your intensive care unit, bring the car seat to the hospital ahead of time, so the staff can see if it will work for your baby. If special health concerns rule out a standard restraint, ask your child's doctor to recommend car seats for children with special needs.
For more information on the proper use of child safety seats, read our article on sore. Your hormones may be struggling to catch up, too. Meanwhile, big brothers and sisters. At first, you can expect some jealousy, especially if the main focus of your attention for several years suddenly has new competition. Encourage siblings to "help" you care for this newest family member.
If you have a pet, bring home a blanket with the baby's scent on it and place it near the pet - even before leaving the hospital. Then, when you come home, the pet will already be somewhat familiar with the baby. But remember to never leave pets alone with newborns.
Family and Friends
It's a good idea to have your partner serve as the gatekeeper for visitors, and to limit the number of guests at first. You'll be glad later on if you take some time now to rest and become comfortable with your new situation. Although babies typically aren't shy around strangers for the first 3 months or so, they may become overstimulated and tired if there are too many people around.
If you have voice mail or a telephone answering machine, you should consider changing your message to give the vital statistics of your new arrival. You might want to say something like: "Our newest family member has arrived. Her name is Jill Michelle; she was born on the first of June, and weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces. We're all fine and adjusting to our new life. If you'd like us to call you back when it's convenient, please leave your name and number."
Don't be shy about accepting visitors slowly. Ask anyone who's ill to wait until they're feeling well and no longer contagious before they visit. It's also a good idea to ask visitors to wash their hands before holding your baby because a newborn baby's immune system is weak.
When to Call Your Baby's Doctor
Your baby's health care provider expects calls from new parents on many topics, including breastfeeding and health concerns (for more on newborn care, visit the Pregnancy & Newborns section). They'd rather have you call than worry about something needlessly. It's important to remember that you are the best source of information for your child's health care provider.
If you wonder whether you should call the doctor's office, do it, especially if you see something unexpected or different that concerns you. Call if you see any of these signs:
- rectal dehydration (crying without tears, sunken eyes, a depression in the soft spot on baby's head, no wet diapers in 6 to 8 hours)
- a soft spot that bulges when your baby's quiet and upright
- a lethargic or difficult-to-arouse baby
- rapid or labored breathing (call 911 if your baby has breathing difficulty and begins turning bluish around the lips or mouth)
- repeated forceful diarrhea stools in 8 hours
If your concern is urgent, call your doctor and take your child to the emergency room. Remember, with young infants, minor conditions can quickly become serious.
Reviewed by: Wayne Ho, MD