For most parents, there is no amount of money that is too great for a proper car seat for their loved ones. According to figures produced in 2005 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these well meaning parents do not correctly apply child safety seats 79. The study states that although it was accidental, many people jeopardized the very person they were trying so hard to protect by messing up the application of the safety restraints. Many people, in the study, allowed the harness straps and safety belt attachments to be too loose. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also calls these misuses ‘critical’ because of the potential for injury.
So how do you know make sure of keeping your newborn safe?
Keep in mind three things as you pick out a car safety seat: your child’s age, weight, and the position of the seat. Newborn car seats are the ones that allow a baby that is less than a year and under twenty pounds to ride in a rearward-facing position. Because of the way they are designed, the small, portable, snug seat is ideal for a newborn. The infant-only car seats should also always be placed in the back seat of the car, in the rear-facing position.
Many parents do not see the purpose of an infant-only seat, choosing instead to go with a more flexible convertible seat. These types of safety car seats will not be tiny – if they were, they could not support the child as it grew. Place children in a rear-facing position in the convertible seat if they weigh less than 20 pounds or under one year of age. You can go ahead and place any child that is 20-40 pounds in a front-facing position. The most important part of car safety dictates that you simply use the seat in the manner it was intended. Read the seat’s instructions and your vehicle owner’s guide.
Make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions, as well as your vehicle owner’s manual. There are two sets of buckles to worry about: those that put the baby into place, and those that do the same for the car seat. The slot position and a firm fit are important for the harness straps in particular. Above or at the shoulder is where the straps should go into the slots for convertible car seats, while below is a good place to measure for infant-only. You’ll want to re-read your owner’s guide to the seat, but most guidelines for harness clips sit them at armpit level, around straps that you want to make sure are not twisted.
Recline the seat back at 45 degrees, and slip the safety belt through the right path for the position you have the seat in. Purely for security basis, a rolled up towel slid beneath the base of the seat helps. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. The vehicle ownership manual and the car seat manufacturer guide will help you install your car seat in a LATCH system car. You should feel free to buy a used seat, but you should pay attention to the age and condition of it.
When buying a used seat, be sure to get one that has all its instructions and is less than five years old. Along with the owner’s manual, your seat should have all its parts, and should have never been involved in any type of car accident.
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