Molly Roberts, CPST

08/16/2023

01/19/2023

Every wonder about what installing a car seat on a plane looks like? This is from our most recent trip to Ireland installing a forward facing Clek Foonf on the plane for my 5yr old son.

Installing our Clek Foonf on a plane

01/15/2023

Our recent trip through the airport on our way to IRELAND! (With only carryons!)

Ezra is 5 yrs, 42lbs, 45” - Clek Foonf

Gabriel is 8yrs, 51lbs, and 50” - Graco Rightguide

We use the gogo babyz cart to wheel our car seat through the airports.

Have any questions about airplane or international travel with car seats? Reach out, I’m happy to help!

09/20/2022

Did you know I also do car seat cleanings? Here is a before and after of a Nuna Rava. I only use dawn dish soap and water, then clean it according to manufacture instructions.

03/31/2022

My family has done a lot of traveling lately so we took several different car seats, each for different situations, and tried them on several airlines. Feel free to look though the album for descriptions of what worked well for our travels!

Why take a car seat on a plane? FAA actually HIGHLY recommends it for children under 40lbs to protect them during runway crashes and in cases of turbulence! Plus renting a car seat at your destination is not recommended for many reasons such as lack of availability, not having the correct size seat for your child(ren), mistreatment of seat by rental company, and higher possibility of misuse or poor install due to unfamiliarity and lack of user manual.

For more reasons behind airplane travel in a car seat check out the carseatlady’s post here: if you look close enough you may even find my youngest kiddo, from his very first time flying.

https://thecarseatlady.com/top-5-car-seat-on-plane/

03/18/2021

Ever wonder why the correct belt pathway is so important when installing your seat? Check out the crash test difference here:
**This is for a rear facing car seat**

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=e7zZ3m3eYII

09/08/2020

Have questions about your child’s car seat install? Feel free to reach out, I’m always happy to answer questions or set up a car seat check (in person or virtual).

04/11/2020

A quick check list for your forward facing child before EVERY ride, in your properly installed car seat:

1. Ears below top of headrest
2. Harness straps at or above shoulders
3. Harness straps tight - pass pinch test
4. Chest clip at armpit level
5. Crotch buckle clipped
6. Crotch buckle in slot closest to but not underneath child.

Pinch test: Adjust the harness, then try to pinch the webbing vertically near the collar bone and at the hips.
If you can grasp any material and pinch the harness vertically between your fingers, it’s too loose. Keep making small tugs on the harness adjuster until your fingers slide right off the webbing.

04/03/2020

A quick check list for your rear facing child before EVERY ride, in your properly installed car seat:

1. Head at least 1” below top of headrest
2. Harness straps at or below shoulders*
3. Harness straps tight - pass pinch test
4. Chest clip at armpit level
5. Crotch buckle clipped

*For Forward facing: the harness straps need to be at or slightly above the shoulders.

Pinch test: Adjust the harness, then try to pinch the webbing vertically near the collar bone and at the hips.
If you can grasp any material and pinch the harness vertically between your fingers, it’s too loose. Keep making small tugs on the harness adjuster until your fingers slide right off the webbing.

03/11/2020

This week I’m traveling overseas with my 5yr old. Even though we wouldn’t be in a car much, we still wanted a safe and compact option while in the US and when possible outside the US. We decided on the Mifold One. So far it’s been a hit! It takes up about as much room as a thin book and kept Gabriel correctly positioned, even as he slept on the way to the airport this morning.

Mifold one: at least 4yrs old, 40-100lbs + mature enough to stay properly seated for the duration of the trip

02/21/2020

Did you know that the top tether can reduce your child’s forward head movement by 6-8”!

The top tether should ALWAYS be used when forward facing. Don’t know how to use this part, shoot me a pm and let me help make your child’s next car ride safer!

12/21/2019

Fake car seat... yeah it’s a thing 😤

The listing on Amazon described it as a "4 in 1 Baby car seat and Stroller" and featured images of a popular brand called Doona, including a photo of the US President's daughter, Ivanka Trump, with hers. Listed for $299, this copycat was $200 cheaper than a real Doona. It was also potentially dang...

12/11/2019

Today my youngest appeared in the Car Seat Lady “Top 5 reasons to use a car seat on the plane” post. Check out the link below:
*Also feel free to message me about how I got Ezra his own airplane seat for his car seat when flying under age 2; no more lap infants!*

https://thecarseatlady.com/top-5-car-seat-on-plane

11/28/2019

Another favorite for extended rear facing!

Children are safer riding rear-facing and should ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing height or weight rating for their seat. Graco Extend2Fit 3-in-1 Car Seat featuring TrueShield Technology features a 4-position extension panel that provides 5” of extra legroom allowing your....

11/28/2019

One of my favorite forward facing only seats! This one is only 17.5” wide so it’s great choice for 3 in a row!!

The #1-rated Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Infant Car Seat is engineered with innovative features that make it the easiest infant car seat to install simply, accurately, and securely every time. It also features stylish zipper accents and a quick-remove seat pad for machine washing. The KeyFit 30 Zip's st...

11/28/2019

A great seat at a great price! A much more cost effective “forever” type car seat than the Graco forever and it can be used just as long!

The Graco SlimFit All-in-One convertible car seat saves space in your backseat, while giving your child plenty of room to grow. The unique, rotating cup holders simply rotate away, making the seat 10% slimmer to save precious back seat space. It's a rear-facing (5-40 lb) and forward-facing (20-65...

11/01/2019

New York has been added to the list of states that require children under 2 ride rear facing. Remember that 2 is considered the minimum and 4 is considered best practice for keeping your littles ones protected in the car.

Effective today, November 1, 2019, New York joins 11 other states (including neighboring NJ, PA & CT) in legislating that children should ride in a rear-facing carseat until they are at least 24 months old. A rear-facing carseat provides the best protection for a young child. In a crash, a rear-