The Clek Liing newborn support system has two main pieces: a body support cushion and a headrest. The body cushion is not removed on a birthday alone. Child weight, shoulder position and the seat's manufacture date all matter.
Clek's current rule: Use both support pieces when the baby weighs under 11 pounds and the shoulders are below the lowest harness slots. Above 11 pounds, the body cushion may remain until the shoulders reach the top harness slot, when it must be removed.
For Liings manufactured after February 1, 2024, Clek says the headrest stays in for the seat's entire use. Always confirm the label and matching manual because older seats can have different instructions.
Last verified: August 23, 2026. This guide summarizes current U.S. Clek materials. The label and official manual matching your seat's manufacture date control.
Liing insert decision chart
When to use the Clek Liing newborn support pieces
| Fit situation | Body cushion | Headrest | Next check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 11 lb and shoulders below the lowest slots | Required with the support system | Required | Harness at or below and closest to shoulders |
| Over 11 lb, shoulders still fit correctly with cushion | May remain within manual rules | Follow manufacture-date manual | Crotch buckle, chest clip and harness tightness |
| Shoulders reach the top harness slot | Remove | Post-Feb. 1, 2024 seats keep headrest for entire use | Re-route harness and recheck recline |
| After body cushion removal | Out | As the exact manual directs | Shoulders may now align with a different harness slot |
| Aftermarket pillow or strap pad proposed | Do not add | Do not substitute | Use only Clek-approved parts for the exact seat |
Source: Clek's current newborn support guidance. The seat label and matching owner manual control.
First, find the manufacture date
The manufacture-date label helps you choose the correct manual and resolve conflicting online answers. Some current Liing rules changed around February 1, 2024, including the overall maximum weight and headrest instructions.
- Remove the carrier from the stroller or base.
- Find the model and manufacture-date label shown in the manual.
- Photograph the full label.
- Download the matching manual from Clek's Liing manual page.
- Keep the manual with the seat's registration and history.
Do not identify a seat generation by fabric color. Covers can be changed, and used listings often repeat old weight limits.
What the 11-pound rule actually means
The frequently repeated phrase “remove the insert at 11 pounds” is incomplete. Clek links mandatory use of both pieces to weight and shoulder position: under 11 pounds and shoulders below the lowest harness slots.
After 11 pounds, the body cushion does not necessarily need to come out immediately. It may remain until the shoulders reach the top harness slot, subject to the exact manual and fit.
That gives caregivers a window to judge harness geometry rather than treating one scale reading as an automatic teardown date.
How to check shoulder position
For this rear-facing infant seat, the harness straps should come from at or below and closest to the child's shoulders, as the manual specifies.
Check with the baby sitting all the way back and the bottom against the seat, wearing ordinary thin clothing:
- Loosen the harness and buckle the child.
- Settle the back and bottom into the shell without slouching.
- Look straight across from the shoulder to the harness opening.
- Choose the permitted slot at or below and closest to the shoulder.
- Tighten until excess webbing cannot be pinched at the shoulder.
- Position the chest clip according to the manual.
A mirror angle can make a slot appear higher or lower. Look from the side at shoulder level.
When the body cushion must come out
Clek says to remove the body cushion when the child's shoulders reach the top harness slot. Leaving it in after that point can change how the body and harness fit inside the shell.
Remove it earlier only when the matching manual allows and the child still achieves a correct fit without it. If the baby is under 11 pounds or the shoulders are below the lowest slots, re-read the required support-system rule before making a change.
What to recheck after removal
Taking out padding changes where the child sits. Recheck the complete setup:
- harness-slot position;
- harness routing behind the seat;
- crotch-buckle position;
- chest-clip height;
- pinch-test tightness;
- headrest position;
- recline for the child's current weight; and
- clearance above the head required by the manual.
Do not assume the slot used yesterday remains correct once the body cushion is gone.
Does the Liing headrest come out?
For seats manufactured after February 1, 2024, Clek's current guidance says the headrest is required for the entire time the seat is used.
Older Liings may have different manual language. That is another reason to avoid using a current owner's photo as the instruction for an older used seat.
Why the baby looks slumped
First check the installation and harness rather than adding padding.
- Confirm the base or baseless carrier is at the permitted recline.
- Confirm the bottom is all the way back.
- Verify the correct insert pieces are installed in the correct order.
- Check that the harness is not routed above the shoulders.
- Tighten the harness evenly.
- Remove bulky clothing.
Newborn head position and breathing concerns deserve immediate attention. If the chin remains pressed to the chest, breathing looks obstructed or the baby cannot achieve an appropriate fit, stop using the setup and contact Clek, the pediatrician and a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.
Do not add aftermarket support
Do not add a generic head pillow, body insert, rolled blanket, strap cover or positioner unless the Liing manual or Clek explicitly approves that exact item and placement.
Extra padding can change harness geometry, compress in a crash, cover labels or create a fit the seat was not tested with. “Universal” on a package does not mean approved for this child restraint.
Washing and reassembly
Follow the care instructions for the exact fabric and support pieces. Photograph harness routing and part orientation before disassembly without using the photo as a substitute for the diagram.
After cleaning:
- Confirm every support piece faces the correct direction.
- Check that no harness webbing is twisted.
- Pull the harness through its full adjustment range.
- Buckle and unbuckle each part.
- Refit the child from the beginning.
Never use a damaged, missing or homemade replacement cushion. Obtain the correct part from Clek.
The insert-fit checklist
- Manufacture date recorded.
- Matching manual downloaded.
- Baby's current weight known.
- Shoulder position checked from the side.
- Harness at or below and closest to shoulders.
- Body cushion status matches both weight and shoulder rules.
- Headrest status matches the manufacture-date manual.
- No aftermarket padding or strap covers.
- Harness and buckle rechecked after every insert change.
- Technician or manufacturer contacted when fit remains unclear.
For the rest of the seat setup, see the Clek Liing owner's guide and installation guide.