Parents take a lot of time making a decision on the right car seat for their child. They go completely out of their way to make sure that the little precious passenger they are bringing along is sufficiently protected. With all of this though, baby seat safety is not being utilized correctly as 75% of safety seats inspected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are reported to be misused.
The results of this study conclude that 3 of 4 parents put their children at risk while in vehicles unknowingly because they do not use the restraints properly. What was frequently found in the study was that most folks leave the harness loose as well as the seat belt attachments. The potential for injuries with these mistakes is huge and that is why the NHTSA labels these misuses as “critical”.
So how am I to know when my baby is safe or not?
First you have to be certain that your kid is in the appropriate seat for their age and weight and that it’s situated in the appropriate position. Infant seats and for children under 1 year of age and 20 pounds need to be placed in the rear facing position.
A unbelievably great choice for newborn babies is the infant only seat as they are designed for younger and smaller babies. They offer a good fit and are conveniently small and portable. These infant car seats should only be installed facing the rear of the vehicle and located in the back seat as with all car seats.
As an option for those individuals who only want to look at buying one car seat for their child that will allow them to use it through all stages of development, you should look at a convertible car seat. Convertible seats are larger and heavier, so they can accommodate your baby for a longer period of time. As with regular infant car seats, these convertible car seats are still to be used in the rear facing position for any kid under 20 pounds and under a year old. When baby turns one and exceeds 20 pounds, you can turn the seat forward-facing. Normally most convertible car seats will hold a kid up to 40 pounds.
Proper use of a kid’s car seat is an absolute necessity no matter which style you choose. Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as your vehicle owner’s manual. To be effective, your baby’s seat must be buckled into the seat correctly, and the seat must be correctly buckled into your car.
Harness straps seem to be an area of particular difficulty for parents. For your baby’s safety, the harness must be in the right slot position and fitted snugly to your baby’s chest. For most convertible car seats, the straps should be in the slots at or above the baby shoulders while with an infant car seat they should be at or below your baby shoulders. The harness clip that holds the straps together should be at about armpit level, and the straps should not be twisted. You should always check the owner’s manual to confirm correct placement.
The use of safety belts is also a problem area. Be sure the seat belt follows the proper path for the position of the seat and recline the seat at about a 45-degree angle, if possible. A rolled towel under the base helps secure the seat into position. In order to make sure that the seat stays restrained in the vehicle tighten up the seat belt as securely as you can. If your automobile has a LATCH system, use it according to the specifications of your baby’s seat and those of the vehicle owner’s manual.
You also need to consider how old the seat is in and the condition that it is in. If your seat wasn’t bought new, check the label. Don’t trust the safety of your baby in a seat that is more than five years old and doesn’t have any manufacturers instructions along with it. It is critical that all the parts are there and that you know if the seat has been in any accidents. If there is any doubt don’t take any chances.
Another inconceivably good idea is that if you are unsure about anything make sure that you take the seat to a safety seat technician and have it checked.Your baby’s life may depend on it.
