Car Seat Safety: Secure Baby Correctly

Although shocking to hear, it is estimated that over 80% of installed car seats are being used improperly. Proper use of a car seat, be it how it the seat installed or how baby is fastened, can save your child's life. Thousands of children are killed each year from vehicular accidents. Given the staggering statistic of improper seat usage, it is vital that you adhere to all safety guidelines.

When purchasing a car seat, you do want the safest product available. However, that doesn't necessarily mean the most expensive seat available. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no such thing as the "best" or "safest" seat. The best seat is one that your child fits securely into, comfortably into, and is installed properly. It should be noted that independent consumer reports do claim the popular line of Britax car seats test well in crash simulations. However, they can cost you up to $500. The Evenflo Triumph 5 tested even higher and only costs approximately $120.

The safest place for an infant car seat is in the middle backseat. The front seat should never be used, but if you absolutely must, make sure the airbag is turned off. The airbag can cause serious injury or death. All children should ride in a rear-facing seat until one year of age and at least twenty pounds. Infant seats are generally used until baby grows too long, in which case you should upgrade to a convertible seat. The convertible seat will be big enough to use through the toddler years, but should be rear facing until baby is big enough for the other direction (see above).

It is best to keep baby in the rear facing position as long as possible. Be sure to read the instruction manual for your seat very thoroughly. Small details can make a huge difference in baby's security, such as where the plastic harness clip goes (it should be positioned at arm pit-level). Make sure your child is snugly harnessed and that the harness is lying flat across your child's body. Thicker, winter clothing may inhibit proper security, so try to avoid bulky clothing when putting baby in his seat (he can always have a blanket across his lap after he is secured). Also, be sure to stay current on all factory recalls. Be sure to mail in your registration card when you purchase your seat, just in case it is recalled.

Every car seat is a little different, so the instructions simply cannot be skipped, even if it all looks self-explanatory to you. It's really not- heed all safety instructions. Keep your child in a car seat as long as he can fit in one. Once he has grown out of one, he should be put in a booster seat until he is 8 to 12 years of age, or until he is tall enough to fit into the adult seatbelt correctly. Many parents assume that when their child has grown out of their convertible seat, then they are done- not true. Always follow it with a booster seat. These safety tips could help save your child's life. For added insurance, contact one of many local fire stations or Babies R Us to have your seat inspected.