The use of a car seat is critical for your baby's safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that the use of car seats reduces the risk of death in an accident by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for children ages 1 to 4. You can protect your baby from the risk of injury by using a properly secured car seat every time you drive.
Laws and Recommendations
Every state has laws regarding the proper restraint of children in automobiles. These laws require that children be in car seats until they meet both age and weight requirements. They also require that parents follow the manufacturer directions regarding the proper use of the car seat. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be placed in rear-facing car seats until they are one year old and weigh more than 20 lbs. Rear-facing safety seats should never be placed in the front seat, where the airbag can cause harm to the child.
Types of Car Seats
There are two types of infant car seats: infant carriers and convertible car seats. Infant carriers are designed to be rear-facing only. Babies can use infant carriers until they reach the height or weight limits determined by the manufacturer. Most infant carriers can be used until infants weigh 20 lbs or until they are taller than the rim of the seat.
The second type of car seat is a convertible car seat that can be used either rear-facing or forward-facing. These seats have higher height and weight limits than infant carriers, typically around 40 lbs. This type of seat can be used rear-facing for a baby under one year old who exceeds the weight limit for an infant carrier, and can be converted to forward-facing at the appropriate time.
Securing the Car Seat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 75 percent of car seats are not used correctly. To be properly secured, infant seats must be rear-facing in the backseat of the car. The seat belt must be secured through the correct slots on the seat, which may differ from rear-facing to forward-facing. The harness must fit snugly and should be at armpit level. Rear-facing infants should be at the proper recline, no more than 45 degrees, as indicated by the level indicator on the car seat.
LATCH
LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. This is a type of restraint system that allows car seats to be anchored to the car without the use of the seat belt. To install a car seat using LATCH, parents should follow the directions in their car seat and vehicle manuals. In general, the first step is to attach the lower car seat tether to the lower car anchor, and pull to tighten. The next step is to attach the top tether to the upper anchor, and pull to tighten. Parents can watch an instructional video regarding LATCH installation here.
Seat Check
You should always send in the registration form for your baby's car seat to be sure that you will receive information about any safety recalls. You can also check recall information here. In addition, you can take advantage of free car seat inspection sites to ensure that your baby is properly restrained in the car. For a comprehensive list of car seat safety checks available in your area, visit the SafeKids, USA or NHTSA inspection locators.
