Make Sense Of Car Seat Security For Your Newborn
Posted by Babies - 11/03/10 at 08:03 pmA lot of time is spent by parents to find an best and quality car seat for their baby. They go completely out of their way to make sure that the little precious passenger they are bringing along is sufficiently protected. Yet currently , the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, according to a multi-year study, misuse occurred in 3 quarters of the baby safety seats inspected.
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. The most common mistakes found were loose harness straps and safety belt attachments. These seemingly innocent mistakes are viewed to be the most critical of mistakes because they can result in the worst injuries.
So how am I to know when my child is safe or not?
First off making certain that the seat you have for your baby is fitting for their weight and age is critical and then you need to make certain that it’s position in the car correctly. If your child is under a year old and hasn’t reached the 20 pound mark yet then an infant seat is required 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. As with all childrens car seats these should only be used in the back seat and facing the rear.
If you fancy a seat that will hold your baby as she grows, a convertible car seat is another option. These car seats are made a lot heavier than a regular infant car seat therefore they can accomodate more weight and allow your kid to keep using it through the years.They are used in the rear-facing position for children under one year of age and for children over one year who do not yet weight 20 pounds. After your baby turns a year old and grows to be over 20 pounds you can turn the seat around and face it forward. Convertible car seats has a standard will hold a baby up to around 40 pounds.
Whichever seat you choose, it is absolutely essential you know how to use it. It is important that you pay attention to all of the manufacturers instructions and if your vehicle is in your check out the owner’s manual as it may have directions as well. To be effective, your baby’s seat must be buckled into the seat correctly, and the seat must be correctly buckled into your car.
For some reason many parents have trouble with the harness straps. In order for your baby to be safe, the harness needs to be fitted snugly to your babies chest and in the right slot position. The straps should be in the slots at or below your baby’s shoulders for most infant seats and at or above baby’s shoulders for more convertible seats. The harness clip that holds the straps together should be at about armpit level, and the straps should not be twisted. In order to make sure that you are placing it correctly always referred to the owners manual.
The use of safety belts is also a problem area. If it is at all possible, the seat wishes to be reclined at around a 45° angle and the belt needs to follow the suitable path for the seats position. 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 vehicle has a latch system, make sure that you use it according to the vehicle’s instructions and the owners manual of the seat.
The age of the seat and the condition of the seat are also important considerations. If the car seat that you have isn’t something you bought brand-new, you can find out the age by looking at the label. Don’t trust the safety of your kid 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 really 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.The life of your child is depending on your judgment.
