Most safety inspections find that children are improperly secured in car seats. Without proper restraint, your child can be seriously injured in the event of an accident. Knowing a little about child restraints can help you ensure that your child stays safe in the car.
Shopping For A Car Seat
The first step in choosing a car seat is determining your childs current height and weight. This will tell you which type of seat is appropriate for your child. These restrictions are usually listed on the outside of the box for easy access. You may want to invest in a convertible type seat that can be adapted to fit your child as they grow, but never rush to advance your child into the next seat before they meet the height and weight requirements.
Another important factor in choosing a seat is making sure that it will fit the backseat of your vehicle. Purchasing a seat that is too large for your car or one that does not fit the slope of your back seats without tipping up, is not safe. A seat should fit into the backseat, with enough room to get the child in and out easily. The child seat should rest squarely on the seat of the vehicle, not at an angle. Using pillows or blankets to prop up the car seat is not safe.
Do not buy a second hand car seat. It may be missing vital components, or may have been involved in a crash previously. Once a seat is involved in a crash, it can have stress cracks that would cause the seat to splinter in a second collision.
Installing Your Car Seat
All car seats come with an owners manual. It is important to read it, even if you feel confident that you know how to install the seat.
When fastening an infant or convertible seat with harness straps, you should place your knee in the seat while fastening your cars restraining belt to ensure a snug fit. You should not be able to move the seat any more than one inch in any direction.
If your seat has a tether strap, use it. Newer model cars have an anchored hook in the backseat for securing a tether strap.
Dont allow straps to become twisted or frayed. Inspect them periodically for wear and damage.
Securing Your Child
The retainer clip of a safety harness should be fastened so that it is level with your childs armpits. The harness straps should protrude from the seat level with your childs shoulders or just below them.
All children should be secured in the backseat. And never use a car seat near an air bag.
Children younger than 12 months should be placed in a rear facing car seat.
Toddlers who are secured with your vehicles seat belt and a booster seat, should have a shoulder belt as well. The belt should be placed snugly across your childs hips and routed correctly through the seat before being fastened.
Securing your child properly will help keep them safe. Taking a few moments to check over your childs safety restraint can save their life.
By: Levi Quinn
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