Infant & Newborn Transportation Safety Flashcards
6 cards from real CPST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Infant & Newborn Transportation Safety flashcards as text
What is the purpose of a rolled cloth or pool noodle placed under the front of a rear-facing car seat base?
Answer: To achieve the correct recline angle when the vehicle seat is too flat
Some vehicles have a forward-sloping seat cushion; a rolled towel or noodle placed under the base's front edge can help achieve the manufacturer's required recline angle.
Which of the following items should NEVER be placed between a rear-facing car seat and the vehicle seat?
Answer: Aftermarket non-approved pool noodles or towels thicker than needed to achieve the required angle
Non-approved or excessively thick padding between the seat and vehicle can raise the car seat higher than tested, alter crash dynamics, and void the seat's certification.
An anti-rebound bar on an infant car seat base serves what primary safety function?
Answer: It limits how far the seat rotates rearward in a rear-end crash, reducing head excursion
An anti-rebound bar contacts the vehicle seatback and limits rearward rotation of the seat in a rear-impact crash, reducing the infant's head excursion and injury risk.
What is the correct chest clip position for a newborn in a rear-facing car seat?
Answer: At armpit level, across the sternum
The chest clip must be positioned at armpit level across the sternum to keep the harness straps properly positioned on the shoulders and prevent ejection in a crash.
A parent reports their newborn's head consistently falls to the side in the car seat despite a correct recline angle. What is the BEST first recommendation from a CPST?
Answer: Try a rolled receiving blanket on each side of the head, only if permitted by the manufacturer
Some manufacturers allow rolled blankets placed alongside (not behind) the infant's head as head positioners; CPSTs should always confirm with the specific seat's manual first.
What does it mean for a car seat to be 'federally approved' for use with infants in the United States?
Answer: The seat meets FMVSS No. 213 safety standards and is certified by the manufacturer for that weight/height range
Federal approval means the manufacturer has certified compliance with FMVSS No. 213 crash performance standards for the stated weight and height range; it does not involve individual government inspection of each unit.