Car seats are essential when driving anywhere with your child. Properly installed car seats will help protect your child from injury in the event of a car accident. According to Kids Health, more children are killed in car accidents than by any other accident and Healthy Children reports that up to 80 percent of child car seats are installed improperly. Learning how to correctly install and use your child's car seat will keep her safe while in the car.
Put The Car Seat in the Backseat
The backseat is the best and safest place for your child to ride in her car seat, reports Healthy Children. Most newer cars include passenger side air bags which, if deployed, can injure your child. If your child is sitting in a rear-facing car seat, never place her in the front seat. Forward facing car seats should also be placed in the backseat, says Kids Health, because air bags can injure a forward facing child as well.
Tighten The Car Seat As Much As Possible
A tightly installed car seat is the best way to ensure that your child is safe in the event of a car crash, says Robert Ipatenco, a Certified Car Seat Technician for the Golden Fire Department in Golden, Colorado. Ipatenco recommends installing the car seat according to the manufacturer's directions. Then place your knee into the car seat and pull the installation straps as tight as they will go. The car seat should not move more than 1 inch in any direction, says Ipatenco. You are also encouraged to tighten the car seat straps inside the car seat so that she is safely and tightly restrained.
Pay Attention To The Size Of Your Child
The American Academy of Pediatriacs (AAP) has issued guidelines that dictate how much your child must weigh and how tall she must be before transitioning from one car seat to the next. According to Healthy Children, a website from the AAP, if your child weighs less than 20 lbs. and is less than 1 year old, she must sit in a rear-facing car seat. Once your child reaches 20 lbs. and 1 year of age, she can transition to a front-facing car seat. Your child will likely sit in her forward-facing car seat for a longer period of time. Check the weight and height recommendations from the manufacturer of her car seat to see when she can switch to a booster seat. Healthy Children states that a booster seat must be used when your child outgrows her front-facing car seat and until she is tall enough that a seat belt fits properly. Following height and weight guidelines will ensure that your are using the safest car seat for your child.
References
- Kids Health: Auto Safety
- Healthy Children: Time to Buckle Up the Right Way
- Robert Ipatenco; Golden Fire Department; Golden, Colorado
