One of your most important parental responsibilities is to keep your child safe while riding in a vehicle. Using baby car seat safety correctly contributes to children’s safety.
But with so many different seats available, parents find it overwhelming. Help is available. Read on to learn how to select the best car seat for your child.
Types of baby car seats
There are different types of car safety seats. You will need different kinds of car seats according to your baby’s age, size, and developmental needs. When you install the seat, read the vehicle owner’s and the car safety seat manual. All parents can benefit from professional installation assistance to ensure correct car seat installation.
Infant-only car seat
Newborns and smaller infants fit best in infant-only seats. When using an infant-only car seat, the baby faces toward the back of the vehicle. Depending on the model, infants can use infant-only seats from birth.
Conveniently, infant-only safety seats double as rockers, chairs, or carriers. Some models attach to a base, which can remain inside the vehicle. Some fit into strollers with a click.
Convertible car seat
Both babies and young children can use convertible seats. Most will work from birth to 65 pounds (30 kilograms). Some are suitable for even bigger kids. Rear-facing or forward-facing use is possible, based on the child’s weight and height. Some convertible seats are labeled as “all-in-one” or “three-in-one” because they can transition from rear-facing to front-facing to booster mode once the harness is removed.
Convertible seats can save you money because you don’t need to purchase an infant seat. However, they can only be used inside the car (not as a carrier or seat outside). In addition, infant-only seats are better suited to smaller babies.
Forward facing only car seat
Once a child surpasses the height and weight limits of a rear-facing car safety seat, you can transition them to forward-facing-only seats. They wear a harness with a buckle. Some can be converted into booster seats for older children and used with the car’s seat belt.
Booster seat
Booster seats are for children who outgrow their forward-facing car seat. Until the seat belt fits correctly without the booster, they can use the booster seat in the backseat while wearing a seat belt.
A properly fitting seat belt positions the lap belt over the upper thighs, not the stomach, and the shoulder belt across the center of the shoulder and chest. Seat belt usually fits children between the ages of nine and twelve.
Baby car seat safety tips
A finding regarding car safety seat statistics is particularly astonishing: According to a 2016 Journal of Pediatrics study, nearly 95% of new parents make at least one mistake when strapping their baby in and installing the seat. To be one of the five percent who get it right, make sure you understand the following car seat safety guidelines:
Ensure the baby car seat is tightly secured.
Installing a child seat can be challenging. An estimated three out of four car safety seats are installed incorrectly. Without the need for seat belts, the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system was created to make installing child safety seats easier. Infant, convertible, and forward-facing child safety seats, along with cars, manufactured after September 1, 2002, are compatible with the LATCH system.
The LATCH system contains the safety seat’s built-in hooks, straps, and vehicle anchor hardware. The attachments and anchors serve as a replacement for seat belts when using LATCH. To prevent hindering the lower anchoring system, neatly tuck away the seat belts.
Adjust the baby car seat to the proper angle.
Your car seat is designed to recline at an optimal angle, preventing your baby’s head from tilting forward and potentially obstructing their airway, while still maintaining safety in the event of a crash. Typically, the recommended recline angle falls between 30 and 45 degrees. However, refer to the instructions provided to ensure you set the correct angle for your specific seat and make any necessary adjustments accordingly.
Ensure to review all provided instructions thoroughly.
We acknowledge the temptation to figure it out independently, but please refrain from doing so, as it is one of the most significant violations of baby car seat safety. Before taking action, carefully read the instructions for your vehicle and the car seat. Additionally, inspect the seat belt labels for any safety alerts regarding car seat usage.
Make sure it’s locked and drive safely.
You can buy locking clips to fasten the car seat if your seat belts don’t have an automatic locking feature.
Always ensure to fasten your seatbelt, setting a positive example for the baby. From then on, it is your responsibility to drive defensively and safely.
Adjust the harness height.
It’s important to use the appropriate harness slots for your child’s car seat. When using a rear-facing seat, use the slots located below their shoulders. For a forward-facing seat, use the slots positioned above their shoulders. Also, the chest clip of the five-point harness should be centered on the chest and level with the child’s armpits. These adjustments can make a big difference in keeping your child safe while traveling in a car.
Avoid bulky clothing
According to the AAP, avoid wearing bulky clothing, such as winter coats, under car seat harnesses. In a crash, fluffy padding can flatten out from the force, potentially allowing the baby to slide under the harness. In chilly weather, dress your child in light layers and opt for a thin fleece jacket. Once you buckle them in, you can, if needed, put their coat on backward, covering the straps. Sleeping bag inserts or car safety seat bundling products are unsafe.
For years, car seat safety experts believed that turning your child front-facing once they reached the age of two was acceptable—but in 2018, the AAP updated their recommendations to remove age-based guidelines and focus solely on children’s height and weight. “If you have a choice, keeping your child rear-facing for as long as possible is the best way to keep them safe,”
The lead author of the AAP policy statement and chair of the AAP Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention, Benjamin Hoffman, MD, FAAP, stated.
Using the proper booster and car seat can save lives. Ensure that the car seat or booster seat is age- and size-appropriate.