With all of that in mind, Graco is announcing that we are eliminating the 40” upper limit in rear-facing mode on the Size4Me™ 70 convertible car seat. The new height limit is that the top of your child’s head must be at least 1” below the bottom of the red head support actuator when the seat is in rear-facing mode. This change in height limit applies to ALL Size4Me™ 70 seats, regardless of when they were purchased.

We’re already getting terrific feedback (and lots of excitement!) about this announcement from the car seat advocate community and from parents across the country. We know you’ll probably have some questions, so below are common questions and the answers from our Graco car seat engineers.

Happy (safe!) riding!

What are the rear facing limits for the Size4Me™ 70 Seat?

Based on continuing child fit studies, Graco is changing the rear facing height limit for the Size4Me™ 70 car seat.  The rear facing weight limit will remain unchanged at 40lb.  We are updating the height restriction to eliminate the 40” upper limit.  The new rear facing limits will be:

• The Size4Me™ 70 CRS is certified for use rear facing with children up to 40lbs. (18Kg).  Some children approaching 40lbs. may be too tall to fit rear facing.  It is important that the top of the child’s head must be at least 1” (2.54 cm) below the bottom of the red head support actuator when using the seat rear facing.  The head support may be placed in any of the adjustment positions provided that the shoulder harness is positioned at or below the child’s shoulders and there is no interference with the front vehicle seats.

These new limits were established to support allow the longest rear facing usage aligned with the new American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines (In April 2011 – the AAP advised parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for the seat) while also allowing for proper vehicle fit and to avoid interactions between the adjustable head support and front vehicle seats.  The new limits take into account the significant variation in vehicle rear seats as well as differences that exist in seated child height versus standing height.    

This change is retroactive for all Size4Me™ 70 seats.

What head support positions are allowed in rear facing mode?

There are no restrictions on the head support for rear facing mode.  All positions may be utilized.  Based on our fit studies and the height and weight limits, most children will outgrow the rear facing mode by height and weight in head support positions 4-6.  Since the head support also controls the harness positions, it is important to adjust the head support so that the harness position is at or just below the child’s shoulders in rear facing mode.

Does the 1” rule for the top of the child’s head in rear facing mode apply to the Size4Me 70?

Due to the design of the Size4Me™ 70, the traditional 1” rule does not apply.  This rule was modified to measure the 1” distance from the bottom of the red head support actuator rather than the top of the seat shell.  The top of the child’s head must be 1” below the bottom of the red head support actuator when used rear facing.

Can the Head Support contact the back of the vehicle seat in rear facing mode?

It is OK for the back of the Size4Me™ head support to touch the back of the vehicle seat when installed rear facing providing the following:

1)      The contact does not interfere with the proper installation of the CRS

2)      There is no interference that would create pressure or force on the car seat from the back of the front vehicle seat that would cause the car seat to move or change recline angle.

3)      The car seat can be properly leveled and attached to the vehicle seat. 

4)      The child’s shoulders are appropriately positioned at or below the harness position set by the head support.

Since we know that you like to have speedy response times and sometimes the ability to dialogue in a language other than English, we have specialized contacts that are country-specific. These customer service pros can help answer questions about the specs of products available in your country, replacement parts, retailers and more.

For our complete list of Graco’s International Support Contacts, click here or as you’re looking at our site, the link is on the “Contact Us” page. You’ll see “International Contact Information” on the lower right side of the screen.

No matter where you live, we’re thrilled that you trust Graco with your precious child.

The process is simple:

• First, find your ID label on your Graco product. It will be a little white label with the product’s model number, serial number and /or manufacture date.
• Then, visit our Product Replacement page here.
• Just input the number you found and click search.
• The available replacement parts will appear on your screen.

Still have questions? Our terrific customer service team stands at the ready. U.S. customers can call us Monday – Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST at 800-345-4109, while our friends in Canada may visit us at www.graco.net or call us at 800-667-8184, Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Regardless, we’re here to help!

We understand the ride home from the hospital and the place where your baby will sleep are two very important decisions. When choosing a travel system, you are not only selecting a stroller, but also picking the infant car seat that will help protect your new little one on the road. When taking a look at Playards, Graco is the only one with the iconic Pack ‘n Play (which turns 25 this year!). Pack ‘n Play playards come with a ton of different features—from diaper changing stations to gentle vibration to soothe to removable bedroom bassinets. The options seem just about endless, but the good news is that there is something out there to perfectly suit your needs. Now, with Amazon’s Buying Guides, we’re making this decision easier for you by helping you understand these key points:

What is a Playard/Travel System?

Why do I need it?

What are my options?

Things to consider…

The buying guides were made to be simple and easy to navigate. They can help you make an informed decision by considering your lifestyle and the key features and benefits of each type of Playard and Travel System. Check them out, and continue to get excited about the exciting next chapter for you and your growing family!

We’ve heard you: You want this to be a place where you can easily find what you’re looking for, have your questions answered, and get down to the nitty gritty details on products you’re considering with reviews, videos and step-by-step guides. You also want to share your parenting journey and hear from other moms and dads who are going through the same things.

We hope our new design will let you do all of that and more – and much more easily for that matter!

Be sure to check out:
- Easier navigation at the top of the page to help you find what you’re looking for — faster!
- RSS Feeds for each Graco blog contributor – be sure to subscribe to keep up with your favorite writers
- More detailed information on some of your most frequently asked questions in a streamlined customer service section
- Featured promotions – like discounts on awesome Graco products ONLY for blog readers!

What else do you want to see here? This blog is all about YOU, so please tell us how we can make it even better!

Thanks so much for reading and we look forward to sharing more stories, ideas and info – and to hearing from you!

All our best,

Kelly & The Graco Blog Team

We’re here to help, so please get in touch with our team before you return your product to the store – we can save you a trip.

Please be patient with us! Every customer or potential customer is important to us and we’ll do our best to help you as quickly as we can. Also, please let us know how we’re doing – we’re always looking for ways to get better at giving you the best customer service experience possible. Thank you for being a part of the Graco family and for getting in touch.

1. How can I contact Graco’s Customer Service Department?
There are a number of ways to get in touch with us at Graco – no matter what you need help with! Check out the information below and pick the one that fits you best.
If you contact us online, please allow 1-2 business days for a response – we’ll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible!

Phone:
M-F 8:30am to 5pm EST
800-345-4109 (US)
800-667-8184 (Canada)

E-mail: www.gracobaby.com/contactus

Facebook: www.facebook.com/graco

Twitter: www.twitter.com/gracosupport

Blog: Leave your question in the comments and we can answer it here.

FAQs: Find answers to your questions on our Web site.

2. What is the best way to return my Graco product?
Do not return your product to the store until you contact us first! Our team of experts can help you replace parts, change fashions or help with assembly and use.

3. I want to change the pattern of my car seat – can I do that?
Yes! However, certain car seats are only compatible with certain car seat covers – we try to have at least one boy, one girl and one neutral fashion available for each model of car seat, but sometimes that’s not always possible. If you are looking for a replacement car seat cover for your car seat, please click here.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Well, the Graco Team is putting together some informal “How-To” videos and we could use your help.

Here’s the skinny:

Over the next few months, we’ll be filming short “How-To” videos with the help of in-house product experts. Take  Kelley (pictured left), as an example. She works in Brand Management  for our Nursery and Care products. Kelley and her team have the knowledge and experience to help you and your friends get the most from your Graco Monitors, humidifiers, thermometers and more! We also have resident experts in car seats, strollers, playards – you name it!

So what do we need from you? We want your ideas and your questions. What do you want to know more about? What types of “How-To” videos would be the most useful? Are there any of our products that you would love to have a deeper knowledge of?

One reader as already asked for a  “Monitors 101: Helpful Tips From Graco,” for example.  This video would then show you all the basic “how-to’s”  involving monitors–including avoiding weak signals and interference, how to properly install batteries, and simple trouble shooting. This video is coming soon, so check back shortly to watch it and to see what others have suggested.

At Graco, we want you to get the best out of our products, so share your  ideas for “How-to” videos and we will break out the cameras, rally our experts and then it’s Lights, Camera, ACTION!

Question #1: I am hearing noise from my monitor.  Why do I hear static?

The two main causes of static are due to a weak signal and/or interference.

Weak Signal
Think of your AM/FM radio in your car – the further you drive from the city or radio station transmitter, the weaker the signal.  That means the further the parent unit is from the nursery unit, the greater the chances for static.  Make sure to read your product instructions for maximum range – this is the “best case” tested range, but will be affected or reduced by interference.

Interference
There are many things that disrupt your monitor’s reception.  Common causes of interference include:

Background Noise:
- Your monitor’s job is to pick up sounds in the nursery – this includes background noise that may not be static.

Channels:
- Monitors allow you to manually change channels.  On Analog monitors, make sure you change the channel on both the parent and nursery units.  On Digital monitors, you only need to change the channel on the nursery unit.
- Ask your neighbor if they are using a baby monitor.  You may have to change channels to avoid interference with their monitor.
- Also try changing channels on other wireless equipment in your home (WiFi modems and routers).

Other Electronics:
- Lots of signals are being transmitted at the same frequency as your monitor, which will cause interference.
- Analog monitors operate at 49Mhz and 900Mhz, similar to AM/FM radios and some cordless phones.
- Digital monitors operate at 900Mhz and 2.4Ghz, which also supports some cordless telephones, WiFi, Bluetooth, microwave ovens and other wireless devices.
- Try turning off other electronics and wireless devices one at a time to see which device may be interfering.
- Keep your cell phones away from both the parent and nursery unit.

Batteries:
- Low batteries or dead batteries cause weak signal conditions, so make sure both nursery and parent unit batteries are charged. Think about how long your cell phone will last — a monitor needs to be charged almost as often. Check your manual for guidelines on how often to charge your monitor.

Construction/Furniture/Plants:
- Signals can be weakened or blocked by construction materials in your home (metal studs, wire mesh for stucco, plumbing or A/C ducts, etc.). Avoid placing your nursery and parent units on metal objects. This causes a weak-signal condition. In some cases, even non-metal items can interfere.

Motors:
- Motors will cause interference. This includes: washer, dryer, vacuum cleaner, ceiling fans, humidifiers, air filter, dish washers, treadmill, furnace, kitchen appliances, and refrigerators.

Sun:
- The FCC requires radio stations to reduce power output at night to keep them from interfering with each other after the sun goes down.
- Energy from the sun will increase background noise on analog monitors and cause weak signal conditions for digital monitors.
- Lightning storms also cause interference.

Question #2: Is my monitor private?

Privacy:
- Did you know that not all monitors are private? There are two types of monitors – analog and digital.  Read below to understand the difference between the two technologies.
- ANALOG – simple, continuous sound transmission at a fixed frequency.  Note, some video monitors are analog, so both the audio and video signals will NOT be secure.
- DIGITAL – clear, secure connection that offers privacy and virtually eliminates static and interference.

Question #3: What type of batteries should I use for my new monitor?

There are two types of batteries – rechargeable and non-rechargeable.

Rechargeable batteries:
- Make sure to charge the rechargeable batteries for at least 16 hours before your first use.  Parent units should be able to run 8-10 hours before needing a recharge.

Battery lifespan:
- Rechargeable batteries have a limited number of times they can be charged. Be sure to check with the manufacturer before use.
- The battery storage capacity diminishes over time, so the batteries will not hold a charge as long over the life of the battery.
- A battery should last about 2-3 years.

Non-rechargeable batteries:
- Be sure to check or replace backup batteries on nursery units periodically (just like you should check the batteries on your smoke alarms regularly). Do NOT mix old and new batteries.
- Note: Nursery units are constantly transmitting a signal when they are ON, which will use up battery life if they are not plugged into AC power.

Hopefully, these tips will help you with your new monitor purchase. Are there any questions that we didn’t cover?

Please let us know in the comments and we’ll try to help!

Eeeeeee Yuck! Spoiled milk Lesson learned – always check the expiration date.

Did you know car seats expire too?

Question #1: How many years can I use my car seat?
Six (6) years is the general recommendation. Each manufacturer determines the specific useful life for its seats. The reason for these limits involve possible degradation of the plastic shell or other parts, the possible loss/breakage of parts, and the fact that older seats sometimes do not meet current government safety standards (http://www.car-safety.org/)

Question #2: How do I find out when my car seat expires?

There are two things that can help you find out your car seat’s expiration date:

1. Expiration Date Imprint:
We imprint “DO NOT use this car seat after Month, Year” on the bottom of every car seat.

2. Registering Your Product: 
We place a sticker with the model # and date of manufacture OR serial # on every car seat. This information can then be used to register your Graco car seat in one of three ways: mail in card that comes the seat, call Graco’s consumer service center 1-800-345-4109 or register your product online.  

Once your product is registered, Graco can notify you in the event of a recall or you can more easily order replacement parts like a new car seat pad.

Question #3: Where do I find the expiration date, model # and serial #/manufacture date on my Graco car seat?

Here’s a guide based on the type of car seat:

Question #4: What do I do with an expired car seat?

Right now, your local Babies R Us is hosting the Great Trade-In Event where you can bring in your expired car seat or trade in other baby gear products and receive coupons to use on your next car seat and/or other baby products.

If a local store isn’t doing some kind of trade in event, we recommend cutting the straps of the harness so someone doesn’t try to reuse an expired seat for their child before you dispose of the seat.

Golden rules from Mommy … “don’t drink out of the carton”
And from Graco …“car seats expire too”

Lesson Learned:
Always check the expiration date

Basically it’s a “micro-blogging” tool that allows you to tell your friends (“followers” in this case) “What you are doing” in 140 characters or less. Another way to think about it – it’s like the status update feature in Facebook (and if you’ve never heard of Facebook, you’ll probably want to stop reading now and check back tomorrow when we get back to talking about fussy newborns and toddler tantrums)

This video does a great job explaining Twitter:

So that’s what it is and this is what we’re trying to do to serve you through that venue…

Technically, we’ve been on Twitter for over a year. I started using Twitter last January after a meet-up with some lovely bloggers from DC. In fact, funny enough, my first follower was @whymommy. I quickly “got” Twitter and was hooked. (and so are these other Graco tweeps – @Erin509 @KarenHartzell @AmySleep @KimLefko @MelissaParlaman @JJDeHart)

This past summer, when Graco launched our online car seat resource, readyfortheroadahead.com, we launched a Twitter account alongside it to give daily car seat safety tips to our Twitter followers.

Just recently, we moved that account over to a more general account @gracobaby. We will still be giving car seat safety tips but we’ll also be providing tips, product news, company info and, the best part (I think), servicing our consumers whenever possible.  Our Twitter account is manned by me (LL) as well as by Amy Trice (AT), fellow blogger and one of the Customer Service Supervisors.

Take a look over there on the sidebar ————> we have our tweets coming into the blog here so you can see what we’re tweeting about! Better yet, follow us yourself.

Sooo…. between now and Wednesday (the 25th), anyone who comments on this post with a thought or idea on how we can use Twitter to better serve parents and our customers will be “entered” to win, in a random drawing, a Sweet Slumber sound machine! (HUGE fan of the sound machine- it’s the only way our yappy dogs don’t wake up the kids during naptime) You can receive a second “entry” if you are following us on Twitter, just leave your Twitter username in your comment.

We hope you enjoy following us on Twitter and before you know it, this will be you!