FF car seats and head slumping forward when napping...

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FF car seats and head slumping forward when napping...

By PrincessBaby Dec 22, 2014

We just FF my 2 yr old and even though we have it set on the "most reclined" setting for FF, it is still straight up and it's basically impossible for her to take a nap in it because her head slumps forward.

We have a Clek Foonf and I have no idea if this is a Clek issue or a general issue with FF car seats bc I'm totally new at this. There are 3 recline settings on the Clek, but only 2 are okay for FF, and since she is in the most reclined one, I don't know what else to do for her. I read the Car Seat Lady's tips and all I could find there was to make sure the straps were tight enough, which obviously we are pretty meticulous about.

Anyone have any tips to get her more comfortable for a snooze?

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18 comments

petunia354
pomegranate / 3863 posts

Dec 22, 2014

No advice, we have the same issue with our clek! We took a 7 hour road trip last weekend and I do not know how his neck survived all the slumping....
Madison43
persimmon / 1483 posts

Dec 22, 2014

We're still RF but have had the same issue with our Clek. It's not as frequent now - I think LO has figured out how to lay her head to the side to avoid the slump - but it was/is super annoying.
PrincessBaby
cantaloupe / 6610 posts

Dec 22, 2014

@petunia354: We were in the same boat, drove to Disney (6 hours) and it was just painful watching her! I kept trying to push her head back but it's too straight up for her head to stay! I read on the car seat lady site that they make head straps for this problem but for whatever reason they're not safe, so that's out:(
@Madison43: DH says that the 3rd setting, which is the one for RF recline, is not allowed for FF, so if you can imagine - when you FF it's CRAZY straight up. He said there is a setting that is even less reclined and I honestly cannot imagine how straight up that must be...I envision her pointed toward the floorboards lol.
littleveesmommy
persimmon / 1472 posts

Dec 22, 2014

We just switched to FF 2 months ago for my 2.5yo and I have the same problem! I actually didn't want to do FF for this reason and also for the safer RF reasons but DH was insistent that DD's legs are cramped when she's asleep and hates that she has to cross her legs. We have the Diono Radian RXT and have it on the recline position (it only has two positions) which is ok if we drive gently but anytime DH has to break a little harder than coasting to a stop, her head slumps forward. I sit next to her and sometimes just keep my hand on her forehead to keep this from happening but my arms falls asleep after a while...

[Side vent but DD still crosses her legs and actually dislikes her legs just dangling FF plus her head jolts forward a bit if we have to break hard which wakes her up. Now DH wants us to do RF again even though I told him it'll be hard to switch her back. ]
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 22, 2014

Duct tape?

The straps are at/above her shoulders? Is the chest clip at armpit level? That's usually the issue. No inserts behind her body/head?

When FF, they're most like they'd be in a real seat ... Just like an adult, their head will slump. Thankfully at that age, the airway isn't a concern (in that situation), but you're right, it can look super uncomfortable.

I would hop over to the Car Seats for the Littles group on FB (warning, it can be a little intense, but your question won't bring many crazies), I am almost certain you'll get some great advice.
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 22, 2014

@littleveesmommy: I remember seeing some really solid science about the leg thing (safety related). Most people switch way early because they think the kids are uncomfortable. In reality, most kids don't like their feet hanging. At 2.5, your LO will either love it or hate it. You've almost got a threenager!
littleveesmommy
persimmon / 1472 posts

Dec 22, 2014

@littlejoy: haha threenager is correct! The things she says these days has DH and I just shaking our heads. She never complained and at one point in the first week we FF her, she asked to have her seat reversed cause it was more upright than she's ever know. I wish I stood my ground and kept her RF but DH was really against it for the comfort reason and I told him I'd consider it after she turned 2.5. He asked me, like, RIGHT when she turned 2.5.
SeptMomma12
pear / 1849 posts

Dec 22, 2014

Same thing here and I haven't found a solution. The only thing I can say is that it doesn't seem to bother him like I would think it would!
Pumuckl
pomegranate / 3601 posts

Dec 22, 2014

@PrincessBaby: I haven't seen these in the US but you should be able to order them abroad:
http://www.amazon.de/Osann-Sandini-SleepFix-Schlafkissen-schwarz/dp/B0037XP9F8/

Basically it's a cushion that goes around their neck and is velcroed in the front. It has a little sandbag in the back as a counterweight. They're cleared as carseat safe here in Germany.
HLK208
pineapple / 12234 posts

Dec 22, 2014

I bought a neck pillow for DS when he was 2, but it didn't really help. His neck still slumps forward at nearly 6 years old!
Smurfette
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

Dec 22, 2014

R had this problem at first with the Clek when RF but she figured out soon enough to lean her head to the side.
PrincessBaby
cantaloupe / 6610 posts

Dec 23, 2014

@littleveesmommy: Exactly - the one brief nap that she got was cut waaay short bc my husband had to stop short and the head jolt woke her up:(

@littlejoy: I am pretty OCD about car seat safety - hence having the Cleks in our cars:) The chest clip is always in the right position, I've schooled my husband on this and he is OCD about it as well, and straps are always perfectly tight. Definitely nothing behind the neck. It's sooooo straight that could definitely be a complete disaster! I'll check out that page! Thank you!

@Pumuckl: Oh wow! I will research this! Thank you so much for the info!

@HLK208: Bummer! I was kind of wondering if a mini neck pillow would help at all, or just make it worse (pushing her head forward even more)...Stinks

@Smurfette: Is she still RF? Or do you mean that she leaned her head to the side while FF and it worked itself out? We didn't really have any problems RF. This FF thing sucks.
Mrs squirreld
nectarine / 2522 posts

Dec 23, 2014

DS has the same problem with slumping forward, carseats in australia arent made to RF after 1 and we dont have chest clips so it probably makes it worse! We got him this little pillow which helps, it's crash approved and the front is secured by magnet. Helps alot.
Smurfette
GOLD / wonderful coconut / 33402 posts

Dec 23, 2014

@PrincessBaby: it was when we first switched her to the Clek from the infant. She is still RF since she isn't 2 yet. But I just meant it took some time for her to get use to it. Her head would slump but she figured out to lean it to the side. Hopefully in time your LO will do the same.
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 23, 2014

To @Mrs squirreld: point - I've only studied US car seat standards, so the pillow might be ok in Austrailia. I wouldn't use anything like this with your Clek.

http://csftl.org/aftermarket-products/

Clek actually discourages any aftermarket products with their seats. Even though these products say crash tested, unless Clek sells the pillow, they have not been tested with your seat.
PrincessBaby
cantaloupe / 6610 posts

Dec 29, 2014

My LO invented her own solution, the Elsa head wedge
littlejoy
pomegranate / 3375 posts

Dec 29, 2014

@PrincessBaby: Ha!
Mrs. Lovejoy
clementine / 972 posts

Dec 29, 2014

@PrincessBaby: haha, that's pretty stinkin cute. So crafty, that LO.

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