1. Secure Child, Safe Child
When you're in a car accident, the force of the collision can turn human bodies into projectiles through the windshield unless those bodies are appropriately secured. For adults this means seat belts. For children, this means the right kind of child safety car seat based on the weight or height of the child. Allowing fussy children free is never a wise choice. People can't anticipate accidents, and even a mom's arms aren't enough to hold onto a baby when there's a collision.
2. Consider Combo Car Seats for Child Safety
You start with a baby car seat from day one. The rear-facing seat must sit in the back seat. It drives some parents crazy to not be able to see their baby while driving, but this really is safest for baby. Once your baby reaches his first birthday and weighs at least 20 pounds, you can turn him around. Many people have combination seats that sit higher in a forward position until kiddos double their weight and turn four. Another combination seat combines the forward facing toddler seat with the booster seat for children from 4 to 8. When a child reaches 40 pounds, you can convert the infant seat to a booster seat by removing the harness and using with the car seat belt.
3. Check Car Seat Ratings
Some parents think that once a child starts school that she's ready for the car seat belt, but she's not. Car seat belts are for adults; children need more support from a car seat that boosts the child up for a better fit with your car's lap and shoulder belt. Booster seats fall under the same safety standards as other car seats. You can find the best one for your child by checking car seat ratings.
4. Watch for Recalls
Although child safety seats undergo stringent testing, sometime defects aren't discovered until later. Just as with toys, manufacturers issue car seat recalls. It pays to regularly check recall websites like SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A. (http://carseat.org/), which can also share car seat ratings with you. Another thing you can do is send in your registration to receive notification of problems. Manufacturers must also send replacement parts and instructions free of charge for easy repairs. Make sure your car seat passes federal security standards.
5. Obey the Law
If parents need another reason to use car seats for children, then they need to know that it's often the law. Most states require parents to secure children in appropriate safety car seats until they reach at least the age of four. The law is there for a reason. Unfortunately, most laws only address children up to age four, when car accidents are the leading cause of death for children ages 4 to 8. Children whose parents strap them in a car with regular safety belts instead of a booster seat have a 59 percent higher risk of suffering a severe injury.
