Car Seat Safety: Is Your Child in the Right Seat?

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recognizes this week as Child Passenger Safety Week. Did you know that car crashes are the leading cause of death among children ages 1 to 13, and that the proper use of car seats can help prevent many of these deaths and injuries? According to the NHTSA, car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71 percent for infants and 54 percent for toddlers in cars, and 58 percent and 59 percent for infants and toddlers in SUVs, pickups and vans. Use the following car seat safety tips to help you ensure that your child is in the right seat and that you’re using it properly:

• When traveling with an infant in your car, use a rear-facing car seat. It’s best to keep children in these types of car seats until the reach age 2 or exceed the seat’s height and weight limits.

• Once your child outgrows the rear-facing seat, move him/her into a front-facing seat. Children should remain in front-facing seats until they reach age 4 or the seat no longer fits. How do you know if the seat no longer fits? Check the height and weight limitations, your child’s shoulders, which should not be above the seat’s top harness slots, and your child’s ears, which should not be above the top of the car seat.

• When your child outgrows the front-facing seat, the next step is a booster seat, where he/she should remain until growing big enough for a seat belt to fit properly. A seat belt fits properly when the lap belt lies across the child’s upper thighs and the shoulder belt crosses over the child’s shoulder and chest. Every child grows at a different rate, but this typically occurs between 8 and 12 years old, when he/she reaches a height of 4’9”.

• Once you’ve identified the correct car seat for your child, it’s important to ensure that you’re using it properly. Make sure the seat is less than 10 years old, and review the instructions manual thoroughly to be certain it isn’t missing any parts. You should also check for any damage or defects like stiff buckles, cracked plastic and frayed straps.

• It’s a good idea to stay up-to-date on CPSC product recalls and consider subscribing to email updates that will alert you when a new recall is announced. Car seats can be recalled for defects that could put your child’s safety at risk, so it’s crucial to stay informed. If you discover that your car seat has been recalled, have it repaired immediately, as manufacturers are required to fix recalled products free of charge. However, if you aren’t able to get the seat fixed right away, do not let your child ride in the car without his/her car seat. Keeping your child in the car seat before it gets repaired is still safer than letting him/her ride unrestrained.

• As a parent, set a good example for your children by always buckling up. According to the CDC, nearly 40 percent of children who ride with drivers lacking seatbelts aren’t strapped in either.

At Hunkins & Eaton, the safety of you and your loved ones is important to us. For additional safety tips and other valuable resources, please read our other blog posts, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Photo: NHTSA