Child safety is a top priority with parents, and this is reflected in the amount of time and money they are willing to spend on a car seat for their child. Yet according to a multi-year study done by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 79.5 percent of all car safety seats for children were used incorrectly.
The improper usage of safety restraints was the major fault found in the study. Problems were discovered in the looseness of both the safety belts and the harness straps. These mistakes, the ones that almost every parent makes, are the ones that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, as it is also called, say can be the most “critical”.
Age, weight, and position of the seat are all factors that need to be strictly adhered to when picking a safety seat. Many parents put their child in rear-facing car seats, but this should only be done if the child is less than one year old and weighs less than twenty pounds. Always be 100% certain you have bought the correct safety seat for your child. Never let your baby “borrow” his big brothers or his older sisters car seat from when they were 1 year old or older. It can prove fatal..!
If you prefer a seat that will accommodate your baby as they grow, a convertible seat is another option. Support needed by convertible seats is something that makes them larger and heavier. Convertibles should also be placed in the rear-facing position for infants weighing under 20 pounds and under 12 months of age. When the baby out grows that position, the seat can be forward-facing until they reach 40 pounds.
It is of the utmost importance that every parent should know how to use whichever seat they pick. There are two reading pieces that should help you learn how to do use the seat properly: the manufacturer guide that came with the seat and your own car’s vehicle guide. Remember to double check the buckle that straps in the car seat and the restraints that hold the baby in place.
Many parents get frustrated having to use harness straps, but they do need to fit around baby’s chest tightly and correctly and connect in the appropiate slot. If strapping the harness into a slot position in a convertible, the relevant slots are above or at the shoulder; if using an infant car seat, the appropriate place is below. Parents should check their owner’s manual to confirm placement, and they should make sure that the harness clip is at the same level as the baby’s armpits, and double check that no straps of the harness are twisted.
Also consult your owner’s guide as you strap in the seat belt, making sure it goes through the right path, and tilt the seat back by 45 degrees. Some parents put a rolled up towel under the seat’s base as well. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. For any car that has LATCH systems, the owner must take note of that and make sure their seat is installed the way their car seat guide and vehicle ownership guide detail. The seat should be in good condition, so if you purchase a used one, double check the label for age. For age, keep your seat under five years old, and never purchase any seat that does not include a set of full manufacturer’s instructions. Know your seat’s history, including whether or not it has been in any accidents, and make sure it has all its parts.