Newborns will start off with the seat set up as follows (and as shown in picture above):
IT Head Support – In, and positioned 3 shoulder strap slots above the baby’s shoulder straps
IT Body Support – In (make sure warning label is visible)
Crotch Buckle – Rear position (closer to baby’s body), longer length
Recline: Maximum allowed by Clek
Shoulder Straps: Lowest slot, and using shorter loop to connect shoulder straps to the metal harness plate in back
In the picture below you can see a brand new baby with the crotch buckle in the rear position – and on the left the crotch strap is using the shorter length and you can see it is already too short for the baby – while on the right the crotch strap is using the longer length and fits the baby nicely.
As your baby grows, here are the changes you will make, in the order we anticipate the changes happening:
Shoulder straps are changed to use the longer loop to connect them to the metal harness plate in back. This change can typically happen around 10 pounds or so – and will make it easier to loosen and tighten your straps. You will know you have made this change too soon if you try to tighten the baby’s harness straps and can NOT get them snug enough… which means you need to use the shorter loop for another few weeks and then try again when your baby has gained another pound or two.
IT Head Support gets moved up from the 3rd shoulder strap slot above the baby’s shoulder straps to the 4th slot. You will make this change when you notice that the IT Head Support is pushing down on the baby’s shoulders.
IT Body Support gets removed. This change typically happens around 15 pounds – as the baby’s thighs start to get too chubby and the buckle tongues start to dig into the baby’s thighs. Make sure after you remove the IT Body Support that the baby’s shoulders reach the lowest shoulder strap slot… if they don’t put the IT Body Support back in for a few weeks and then try taking it out and seeing if the baby’s shoulders reach the 1st slot.
NOTE: the IT Body Support MUST be used until 11 pounds.
Depending on when your Clek was made, you have either 5 or 6 shoulder strap slot heights. If you have 6, then you will move the shoulder straps up from the lowest level to the next level up when the baby’s shoulders REACH the next level up. For rear-facing kids, the shoulder straps always need to come from at or slightly below the shoulders – and never above the shoulders. Remember to move the IT Head Support up a level if you are moving the shoulder straps up. Watch the video below to see how to rethread the shoulder straps to a higher level – and remember you do NOT need to uninstall the car seat to rethread the straps.
The last and final change is to remove the IT Head Support when your baby reaches the red line shown in the picture below. This will typically happen around your baby’s first birthday. When you remove the IT Head Support you must IMMEDIATELY put the Clek headrest back in.
NOTE: the IT Head Support MUST be used until the baby is at least 14 pounds AND 25 inches AND able to sit upright unsupported… but we love the IT Head Support and recommend using it to the last second possible, which is when baby’s head reaches the red line.
Note that Clek had originally given a 22 pound maximum to the IT – but is now allowing it to be used until the child’s head reaches the red line shown in the image above, regardless of the child’s weight.
