The video above shows how to loosen and tighten the straps, check that the straps are snug, properly position the baby’s head, as well as swaddle the baby safely in the car seat.

Make sure the straps are snug – remember to pull upwards on the shoulder straps to remove the slack from the leg/stomach region, and then pull the tail to remove the slack from the shoulders.

Whenever your baby is in the car seat, make sure to do the following 2 things:

1. ALWAYS keep the straps buckled AND snug
2. Put the car seat in the car, on the stroller, or on the floor

See here for lots more info on this topic.

Make sure the baby’s head is never in the chin to chest position, because your baby will have trouble breathing like this.

Try turning your baby’s head to the side after you buckle them in. This is the most natural position for breathing when a baby is on his back.

Read more about this topic here

Padded Body Insert (Infant Insert)

The infant insert (the padded insert under the child’s bottom) must be removed when the baby reaches 12 pounds. We recommend using the insert under the child’s bottom until the baby reaches 12 pounds.

Do not use any other head positioners, infant body pillows or positioners or strap covers with this car seat.

Shoulder straps

Keep the straps at or slightly below the baby’s shoulders

On the models with a no-rethread harness:

Squeeze the green buttons in the back of the carrier and slowly move the head rest up as the baby grows – keeping the shoulder straps at or slightly below the baby’s shoulders.

Height: You can use the seat until the child’s head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat

Weight: 35 pounds… but every baby is too tall long before too heavy for all of these seats.

Note: It is totally safe & comfortable for the baby’s feet to hang off the edge of the seat and touch the back of the vehicle seat.

Carrier without the Base

If the shoulder belt seems too short to wrap around the carrier, do the “tipping trick” as shown in the video above.

Base with LATCH

The video below shows the Graco Snug Ride 35LX Click Connect base which is the same as the Baby Jogger cityGO base. 

Rear-facing is 5 times safer than forward facing. Your child can, and should, stay rear-facing until at least their 2nd birthday (these are the guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics).

However, your child will not stay in this Graco until their 2nd birthday; they will move into a convertible seat typically by 9-18 months of age. A convertible seat is a seat that starts out rear-facing and then later converts to forward facing. When you are getting ready to buy the convertible seat, email us and we’ll have a phone consultation to discuss which convertible will be best and then meet to install it together. 

Graco does not have the SnugLock instruction manuals available online yet. Below are the manuals for the non-SnugLock models.

PDF of the Baby Jogger cityGO manual 

Keeping Cool in Summer

Keeping Warm in Winter

Winter coats and snowsuits are not safe in the car seat.

To keep your child warm and safe in winter, dress the child in 2-4 thin, tight layers (as if it is 50 degrees under the straps). A thin, tight-fitting fleece can be a good top layer.

After buckling the straps and getting them snug, you can cover the child with blankets, or have them put their bulky coat on backwards (over top the straps).

Here are some safe alternatives to the Bundle Me

If you will be traveling outside the US, make sure the airline allows the use of a car seat–and a car seat that faces the direction that is appropriate for your child’s age & weight–BEFORE you buy your tickets. Many foreign carriers unfortunately do not permit the use of car seats on board the airplane.

If you have bought the child a ticket and are traveling on a US based airline, the child is entitled to use their car seat during all parts of the flight – whenever you can be in your seat, the child can be in their seat.

The child must sit next to the window as they can not block an adult’s exit toward the aisle. Some airlines allow the car seat to be placed in the center of the center row of seats (a configuration typically found on very large aircraft for long-haul flights). Always check with the airline before choosing your seats.

To install the Graco on the plane (see video above) the lap belt goes through the lap belt guides, you’ll buckle the seat belt on top of the child’s leg area and pull the tail of the seat belt to get the seat belt tight. The Pipa always goes rear-facing – in a car, on a stroller, on a plane. The installation on a plane is super easy – it shouldn’t take you more than 5 seconds. If your baby figures out how to unbuckle the seat belt, flip the buckle upside down and you’ll have stumped the baby!

Note the “FAA sticker” on the side of the car seat that states, in red, that “this car seat is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft.” The flight crew may ask to see this label to make sure the car seat is approved.

If the flight attendant tries to tell you something that doesn’t seem correct (such as telling you to hold the child during take-off & landing, to turn the seat forward facing which this seat never does, etc) you will want to reference the FAA’s advisory circular which you can read more about here on our website and find the full PDF of the document here– as well as an additional FAA document here.