I dropped my 2 month old!

[dislocator3972]

I don't know what happened exactly.  We were walking in our friend's backyard, I stopped and turned to my toddler, and the carseat just fell off my arm!

It only dropped from waist level, and the baby was buckled in, and it did drop onto grass and soft dirt, but could she have gotten hurt?

She cried, I nursed her, she calmed down.  She cried after that and had a REALLY hard time getting to sleep, but once we went inside and out of the sun she was fine.  She's seemed fine since then (this happened this afternoon - it's evening now) but what do I look for?  

If carseats are supposed to be replaced after a fender bender, should I just get her a convertible carseat now instead of waiting a few months?

[mamadiamond]

i bet that was so scary for both you and baby. i'm sure your lo is fine. carseats are made to withstand car crashes, so it should definitely protect from such a short drop onto a soft surface. i wouldn't get rid of the carseat. you could always check the manufacturer's website, or call their hotline just to be sure, but i'm sure you're fine.

[Blanca78]

I'm so sorry, that sounds scary! That's my big fear whenever I carry her around in the carseat. DH reminded me they are meant to withstand impact. I'm sure she's fine, just shaken up a bit--but would it put your mind at ease to have her checked out?

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

I think the rule of thumb is that if the crash is sufficient to trigger the airbags, the carseat should be replaced. I very much doubt that a fall of only two feet would be enough to damage the carseat.  Don't beat yourself up, these things happen from time to time.  There are a few GREAT threads in this forum where everyone confesses the awful things that happened to their kids while they were on duty. It's cathartic for the one confessing, and both funny and reassuring for the reader.