Car Seat Chats with Maren

01/06/2026

Let’s harness a 1-month-old! 👶🏼🚗

This little one is about 10 lbs, so we removed the newborn positioner and headrest insert.
⚠️ Always check your car seat manual to see if and when infant inserts can be removed.

Here’s a quick fit check:
✔️ Place baby with their bottom all the way back in the seat crease.
✔️ For rear-facing, harness straps should come from at or below the shoulders.
✔️ Buckle the harness and chest clip.
✔️ Move the chest clip down, pull up at the hips, and remove slack while tightening.
✔️ Move the chest clip back up to armpit level.
✔️ Perform the pinch test—if you can pinch harness webbing at the shoulders, it’s still too loose.
✔️ Skip aftermarket products unless they came with and are approved for your specific car seat.

A properly fitted harness helps keep baby positioned correctly and protected on every ride. ❤️

Save this post for your next fit check!

13/05/2026

Can you spot the mistake? 👀
The LATCH straps are still routed through the rear-facing belt path while the seat is installed forward-facing.

I’ll show you exactly how to move it on this Graco seat in this video! 🎥

Always check your specific car seat manual to confirm how to move the LATCH strap and where to store it when it’s not being used.

28/04/2026

Retail specs don’t tell the whole story 👀

That “forward-facing height limit”? Might be for booster mode… not the harness.

What actually matters: the minimums AND maximums of EACH mode—that’s what determines if the seat truly fits your child at this moment in time and how long it’ll last you.

Always check the manual before you buy. Don’t guess on something this important.

21/04/2026

✨ GIVEAWAY ✨

Are you expecting or a new mom?

I’m so excited to be a vendor at the Babies & Bumps event in Lombard on Sunday, April 26th —and I want to send one of you there with a friend! 💛

I’m a local mom of 3 and CPST (child passenger safety technician), and I’ll be there talking all things car seats + safe rides home 🚗

🎟 WIN: 2 tickets to the event — one (1) VIP admission and one (1) general admission

To enter:
1️⃣Follow me
2️⃣Like this post
3️⃣Comment “ME” and tag your mom friends in the comments! Each tag = an additional entry!

Giveaway closes on Wednesday, April 22nd at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be announced on stories Thursday, April 23rd. Good luck! ✨

‼️This promotion is in no way sponsored, administered or associated with Instagram, Inc.

19/04/2026

🚗✨ Target’s Car Seat Trade-In Event is back!🎉
Bring in your old, expired, or damaged car seat and get a 20% off coupon good for car seats, bases, strollers & more.

💡 The best part?
✅ Coupon can be stacked with other offers
✅ You can use it twice
✅ Upgrade your gear + clear out old seats safely

I’ve linked some of my favorite car seats in my bio and I’m always happy to help you pick out the right one for your family. 💺❤️

17/04/2026

Hi everyone! I wanted to share a local event I’ll be part of next weekend 🤍

I’ll be at the Babies & Bumps event in Lombard, Sunday, April 26th, offering car seat guidance and chatting all things safe rides for your kiddos 🚗

I will be hosting a giveaway for a pair of tickets over on Instagram—if you’d like to enter, you can find all the details there 🎟️

I’ll also be doing a giveaway at my booth for a free car seat check, so it’s a great chance to stop by if you’ve been meaning to get your setup looked at or have questions.

Would love to meet some local families 💛

Chicago's premier event for new and soon-to-be parents! B&B is a boutique, conference-style event with vendors, seminars, giveaways, and more.

01/04/2026

If I could go back to being a first-time mom, these are the car seat mistakes I wouldn’t make 👇🏼

I wouldn’t skip reading the manual.
Every seat is different, and those small details matter more than you think. Try putting it on your night stand for some light bedtime reading!📕

I wouldn’t rely on the hospital to “check” my seat.
Most hospital staff aren’t Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. Their job is to make sure you have a seat when you are discharged—not making sure your install is correct.👩🏼‍⚕️

I wouldn’t clip a pacifier (or anything!) onto the harness straps.
Those straps are designed to work a very specific way in a crash. Adding anything to them can interfere with how they perform.👶🏼

I wouldn’t loosen the harness when my baby fell asleep in their seat outside of the car.
If they’re in the seat, they should be properly buckled. Positional safety still matters when not in the car. 💺

I wouldn’t wait to schedule a car seat check with a CPST.
This is one of the easiest ways to get peace of mind and make sure everything is being used correctly.☑️

Being a parent can feel overwhelming—your car seat doesn’t have to be. I’m here to help🤍

Save this for later + let me know what you would do differently as a first-time parent!