Anyone that knows me knows that I am an advocate for child safety in a vehicle. I see way too many car seats being used incorrectly. As a mom of two I truly believe that more parents need to educate themselves on car seat safety. While I hate to step on any toes, I ask myself, "Is that more important than saving a life?" I know that helping to educate parents is always the better choice because I know that if they knew how to use a car seat correctly they would.
With the recent scare of drop-side cribs, the infant deaths, the recalls, and the way all of this safety information was so well received by the public, I cannot understand why car seat safety is not more widely talked about. The car needs to be just as safe as the crib.
An accident can happen in a split second, even on a quick 2 mile trip to the grocery store. Our children need to be buckled properly EVERY TIME. If you are a parent and find it important to buy a car seat, make sure you are fully educated on how to install and use that car seat, or your child is NOT safe in the car. I know your little blessings are very important to you, and so shouldn't their car seat be just as important? We rely on these to save our children's lives if they were ever put to that test.
First, find the car seat that is right for your child. Try not to stick to the bear minimum seat requirement. Each step up you make in your child's car seat is a step back in safety. For example, don't turn your child forward facing at 1 year and 20 pounds. Keep them rear facing until the maximum rear facing limit of their car seat. Sure we'd all love to look back and see their sweet faces, but which of the two is more important? If they are in an infant seat, get a convertible seat that will keep them rear facing longer. This is not just an extra seat you have to buy, you can turn it around when they reach the rear facing limit.
Keep them in a 5 point harness as long as possible! This is the safest way for them to travel. If they are too small for the vehicle belt to fit properly across their hips (NOT their tummy) they could slide under the lap belt in a crash or suffer major abdominal injuries. Once they truly outgrow their 5 point harness, use a belt positioning booster seat. This will keep the lap belt securely across their hips and the shoulder belt positioned correctly across their chest and NOT their neck. The safest car seat is the one that fits in your car and you can use correctly each time! If you can afford a Britax- I do find them the easiest to install and use correctly, which is important. If not, make sure you test them out in the store. Find one that is easy for you to use and understand. Sometimes the more simple it seems, the better. Check the belt paths and latch system, and ease of adjusting the harness.
Second, read the car seat's instruction manual cover to cover. Make sure you know exactly how to install the car seat. Make sure the latch belt or vehicle seat belt is not twisted. Use a tether strap if your car seat comes with one. The car seat should not slide more than one inch side to side at the belt path. I like to buckle the car seat in and then sit in it or use my knee to force it down into the vehicle seat while I tighten the seat belt. Also, a rear facing seat should have the back at approximately 45 degree placement to the ground. If you have an infant carrier, check the manual to see if it is OK to leave the carrier handle upright during travel. Most brands are OK to leave up but some do require you to place it horizontal. If you have any questions- call the manufacturer!
Third, buckle your child in correctly EVERY TIME. The harness or seat belt should never be twisted. When rear facing, the shoulder straps should be at or BELOW your child's shoulders. If they are above your child's shoulders they will not restrain him or her in a crash. When you do finally switch to forward facing, make sure the shoulder straps are at or ABOVE their shoulders. Use the harness slot closest to their shoulders, as long as it is above them (when forward facing). The harness should always be snug fitting. If it is too loose they could come out of it in a crash. Make sure you can not pinch the harness between your fingers, or place two fingers between your child's chest and the harness (one finger width is fine). At the same time it should not be too tight to cause them to hunch over.
The chest clip should ALWAYS sit at armpit level! If the clip falls down toward their abdomen their shoulders could come out of the harness in a crash and their whole body could come out of the car seat. Do not allow your child to get their arms out of the harness or the chest portion of a vehicle belt if using a booster. If they can get out of a harness it is probably too loose.
Do not use after market car seat products! They are NOT crash tested with your car seat. I see a lot of thick padded after market shoulder "pads." I agree, that shoulder harness does NOT look comfortable digging into your child's neck! However in an accident they will compress and create room for your child to bounce around in the seat. Take a pair of infant socks and cut off the toes. They will slide on to the harness and keep it from rubbing their neck (See photo below). It is the same reason why you should never buckle them in bulky clothing (Place a blanket or jacket OVER the harness after they are buckled.
Also, check that your car seat does not slide when using a vehicle seat protector. I have reservations about those but if you feel you must use one, make sure it is thin and does not keep the car seat from being "bolted" to that vehicle seat! You can safely use a towel laid flat- do not fold it up.
To support infants safely, there should be nothing between your child's bottom or back and the car seat. You can use some tightly rolled receiving blankets on either side of your child to keep their heads and body from slouching to one side.
Lastly a few tips- try not to use the retracting window shades, they may become a projectile in an accident. You can find the cling shades for just a few dollars and cut them to fit your vehicle window(s). I found a pack of 2 shades at Babies R Us for only $2.50 and I actually like these better because I can COVER the window in shade. They make a huge difference even in this south TX heat! Plus, they cost less!
There are many videos online to help you if you are more of a visual learner. Or you can find a certified car seat check station.
If you have any questions feel free to message or email me. My only goal is to save lives, and I know as parents you feel the same way. Feel free to forward this on to other moms and dads (and grandparents too!)
Here is a link to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Their website has tons of helpful information!
http://www.nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS
Here are the guidlines for finding the correct car seat for your child.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/DOT/NHTSA/Traffic%20Injury%20Control/Articles/Associated%20Files/4StepsFlyer.pdf
And finally a link to the importance of using a 5 point harness as LONG AS POSSIBLE!
http://www.elitecarseats.com/New-on-ECS/5-point-harness/index.cat
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| Chest clips always at armpit level. Rear facing harness at or BELOW shoulders, and Forward facing at or ABOVE shoulders. |
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