Everything You Need to Know: Car Seat Safety

From the moment your precious angel has been born your natural instincts has been to keep them safe and sound. I have stocked up on drawer latches, special baby gates, outlet plug covers, furniture bumpers and car seats to ensure my little one is protected. However, despite my efforts, I was shocked to learn road accidents are the leading cause of injuries to children around the world, due to incorrect car seat installation and usage. The good news is a correctly used and installed baby/child car seat reduces their risk of injury by 71 percent.

While the world of car seat shopping can be confusing and intimidating to some, I have gathered information to help keep your little ones safe and your worries behind.

 There are three basic types of car seats:

1. Infant seat: This type of seat is rear-facing and is suitable for newborns due to their cozy cushion; making it more comfortable during their sleepy stage. It is designed with harnesses and a reclined angle made specifically for newborns. This seat comes with bases that stay installed in the car, just snap them in and out. This type of seat will last approximately until one year of age, but each infant car seat will have its own weight/height limits so make sure to monitor your child at every doctor’s appointment.

Tips for Correct Installation:

• The harness straps come over your child’s shoulder and should be snug enough to slip one finger between the harness and the baby’s chest area.
• The first chest clip should be at armpit level.
• Avoid bulky clothing under harness such as puffy jackets or snow suits.
• The crotch strap should be closest to your child.
• The seat should be installed in the correct angle as shown in your owner’s manual.
• The car seat handle should be locked in its travel position.

Additional Safety Information:

• Avoid having your baby spend lots of extra time in the car seat. Studies have shown that it may cause lower oxygen levels and flat spots on a baby’s head.
• If possible, install your infant seat in the middle of the back seat due to its furthest impact point position.
• Avoid flying/moving projectiles such as rear-seat mirrors and loose items such as groceries, toys or books because they are not crash-tested with an infant seat.
• Have a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST), who is a trained expert on the installation of car seats, provide you with hands-on education. Check out NHTSA.gov for more information.

2. Convertible Seat: This type of seat can be both used as rear-facing and forward facing (once your little one has reached the appropriate size and stage). Some manufacturers offer convertible car seats that can be used from the early stages of a newborn. This type of car seat will last you until your child’s ready to sit in a regular vehicle seat, but will depend on the type of convertible seat you choose. Many convertible seats can convert into a booster seat.

Switching from rear-facing to forward-facing-

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that kids under two years of age are 90 percent less likely to sustain injuries when they are in a rear-facing position and recommends rear-facing until the age of two, but ideally for longer.

Tips for Correct Installation:

• Shoulder straps go below a child’s shoulders.
• The chest clip should be at armpit level.
• The crotch strap should be closest to your child.
• If forward-facing, the top tether must be attached.
• Avoid bulky clothing such as puffy jackets or snow suits.

3. Booster Seat: A booster seat positions the seatbelt in a safer way (a child is 45 percent less likely to be injured in case of a crash). Your big kid is ready for this type of seat if they have passed the weight/height limit of a convertible seat; around 5 years of age and must be mature enough to stay seated without unbuckling. Booster seats must be used until your child is between the ages of 8 and 12 and is able to pass the Five Step Test (read below).

Tips for Correct Installation (High-Back Booster):

• The lap belt lays flat across the child’s hips and under the booster’s armrest.
• The shoulder strap is positioned above a child’s shoulder, while lying flat and not slipping off.
• A child’s ears must be below the top of the head rest.

Tips for Correct Installation (No-Back Booster):

• The lap belt lays flat across the child’s hips and under the booster’s armrest.
• The shoulder strap is positioned above a child’s shoulder, while lying flat and not slipping off.
• The child must have head support from the vehicle’s headrest.

Five Step Test:

1. A child’s knees are able to bend down at the edge of the vehicle’s passenger seat with their feet touching the floor.
2. A child is able to sit all the way back without any lower back gap.
3. The lap belt lays flat across a child’s hips.
4. The shoulder belt must cross a child’s collar bone.
5. A child must be mature enough to stay seated.