The times have changed since your parents had children and car seat laws were lax or nonexistent. Now strict laws exist concerning the usage of car seats for babies and small children, and your parents, as new grandparents, may dismiss car seats as unimportant. Taking the time to instruct grandparents about safety issues when using car seats can help them understand their importance. This training ensures that they will understand how and why to use car seats properly when babysitting their grandchild.
Step 1
Invite the grandparents over for an afternoon, or arrange to go to their house. Have your car seat installed, and bring your baby with you so you can demonstrate correct usage. During your visit, ask them to come out to your car for a quick lesson on the right way to use your baby's car seat.
Step 2
Talk to the grandparents about the importance of car seats for babies and small children. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has completed studies on child safety as recently as 2006 and has released information about the effectiveness of car seats. For instance, point out that in 45 percent of fatal car accidents, children were unrestrained. Note that when used correctly, car seats reduce fatal accidents by 71 percent for infants. Stress to the new grandparents that not only is it safer to use a car seat but it is against the law not to. Each state's laws vary to some degree, but all states require car seats for babies under age 1 year.
Step 3
Describe the different types of car seats and their usages. According to HealthyChildren.org, infants should ride rear-facing in infant car seats until they reach age 1 year and 20 lb. Toddlers should ride in convertible seats with harnesses until they reach the height and weight requirements of that seat, usually from 35 to 50 lb. After that, boosters are still necessary until the child is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and at least 8 years old. Laying down the ground rules for car seat safety can help the grandparents understand expectations for their proper use.
Step 4
Demonstrate correct usage in the car. Bring your parents out to the car to show them the type of car seat you have and how it's anchored in the car. Some car seats use the seat belt, while some use the seat belt and a LATCH system that anchors the seat. Describe the harness and point out where it clips. Put your baby in the seat, and demonstrate how to correctly buckle him in and to adjust the straps.
Step 5
Allow the new grandparents to try buckling their grandchild in to ensure they know how to do so properly.
