Pediatrician Offers 'Friendly Reminder' About Newborn Car Seat Safety Following Valerie Concepcion's Post

Actress Valerie Concepcion recently celebrated the birth of her second child, a baby boy named Viktor Francis. Baby Viktor is her first child with her husband, Francis Sunga.

"Our tiny human, the fruit of our unimaginable love, our family's biggest blessing was born exactly a week ago," Valerie wrote in the caption of an Instagram reel she shared on November 1.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Valerie Concepcion ???????????????? (@v_concepcion)

Interestingly, her son was born on October 25, 2023, the same day as her daughter Heather Fiona, but 19 years apart. Valerie said it was "Definitely one of God's miracle in our lives."

In Valerie's Instagram reel, a photo of their newborn in the car seat grabbed the attention of netizens. This image was shared on Facebook by a local website, and users expressed concerns regarding the baby's position in the car seat. Comments suggested that it might not be age-appropriate.

One user wrote, "Hoy! Totoo ba 'to? 'Yung baby nakaupo at naka-seat belt!" Another user said, "Oh no! Dapat nakahiga 'yung baby sa car seat. Pang-3 years old na 'yung car seat niya. Walang support 'yung neck ng baby. Sana stop na nila paggamit nito."

Dr. Richard Mata, a renowned pediatrician with a Facebook page followed by over 2 million users, noticed the photo and commented on KAMI's post, offering his expert advice: "Dapat nakahiga ang baby sa car seat (for infants) kasi wala pang neck support ang baby. Bawal pa siyang nakaupo without holding the neck and head." He later shared a screenshot of his comment on his Facebook page with a caption, "Friendly reminder."

Dr. Mata's recommendation aligns with the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), which emphasizes the safety of infants and toddlers in rear-facing car seats. These seats provide superior head and neck support, reducing the risk of head and spinal cord injuries. The AAP advises parents to keep their babies and toddlers in rear-facing seats for as long as possible, following the weight and height limits specified by the manufacturer.

On November 3, Chicco Philippines, the manufacturer of the car seat featured in Valerie's son's photo, issued a statement on their Facebook page. "We 100% agree with Dr. Richard and Erika Mata for newborns to be in a lie-flat position when traveling with a child restraint," the brand wrote.

Chicco assured parents that the Chicco Unico car seat had undergone thorough testing and certification at the Chicco Research Center in Italy, making it suitable for newborns up to 12 years old. They highlighted the development of a secure 5-point harness system, which keeps newborns safely secured, minimizing injury risks during sudden stops or collisions. Additionally, the Chicco Unico car seat offers multiple recline positions, ensuring the newborn's comfort at all times.

Chicco explained that Valerie had been properly instructed on car seat installation and safety measures, and they believed that the photo might have been taken from an unfavorable angle, creating a misleading impression of the baby's position.

The brand also called for a stop to parent shaming, "The last thing we want is to hurt the feelings of our co-parent [sic]. As we can all agree, no parent could ever want anything bad to happen to their precious babies." They urged a healthy and supportive parenting community based on understanding and respect.

In an article by the American Academy of Family Physicians, Dr. Shannon Dowler, a family physician in Arden, North Carolina, emphasized the importance of discussing car seat installation and safety with parents even before the child's birth. 

"New parents are often overwhelmed and stressed, and installing your first car seat is pretty stressful. Doing that in advance and having it checked for proper installation will make everyone more comfortable on that first ride with a new baby," Dr. Dowler said.