Car seat safety ideas and rules are constantly
changing to put crash data to better use. These
car seat safety ideas
are designed to provide the best protection for your baby in case of a
crash, but the constant changes can be confusing for parents. Confusion
often leads to
car seat safety errors. Take a look at these ten common
car seat safety mistakes, then learn how to fix them so baby is as safe
as possible in the car.
1. Don't Use a Car Seat At All
Just
because most of today's adult generation rode around without
car seats
and lived doesn't mean this is the best
car seat safety practice now.
Crash data has shown us that
car seats work. A
car seat's primary
function is to prevent ejection from the vehicle, and preventing
ejection makes death in a car crash 4 times less likely. Add that to the
reduction in injuries when car seats are used, and you have good reason
to blow off the old-fashioned "no car seat" advice.
2. Throw Away Car Seat Instructions
That
car seat instruction book is useless, right? Wrong. The instruction book
tells you nearly everything you can or can't do to use the
car seat
safely. From where to place the harness height adjuster to when to use
the top tether strap and where to place the
car seat when installing
with LATCH, the instruction book is a wealth of car seat information. If
you've lost it, call the manufacturer for a new one, look it up online
or check the basic instructions on the
car seat's side label.
3. Take Bad Car Seat Advice
Unfortunately
a lot of car seat advice is outdated and dangerous. Parents report bad
car seat advice from friends, pediatricians and police officers, because
the advice-givers often don't have current information. When someone
says you must turn your baby forward-facing at 20 pounds, or that thick
towels are great under harness straps, check the advice with a certified
child passenger safety technician to be sure you're getting
car seat
advice from a trained, qualified source.
4. Pick the Car Seat with the Prettiest Pattern
It's
nice if your
car seat cover matches your car's interior, but the real
key to
car seat safety is finding a
car seat that matches your car and
your baby. Reputable baby products stores should let you test the
car seat in your vehicle before buying, or let you return it if it doesn't
work with your car. If you can't easily install the car seat so that
there is less than one inch of wiggle at the belt path, find a new car
seat.
5. Don't Install the Seat Correctly
You
need to install baby's
car seat so there is less than an inch of wiggle
at the seat belt path, and so that the recline angle is correct if the
seat is rear-facing. You also must learn to lock your seatbelts to keep
the car seat installed tightly, and you must be sure that at least 80
percent of the car seat's base is on the vehicle seat. A certified child
passenger safety technician,
car seat instruction book, and your
vehicle owner's manual are the best resources for installation help.
6. Throw the Whole Car Seat In the Washer
Car seats are specially designed with fabrics and plastics that can
withstand crash forces. Once you douse the harness straps in bleach and
iron them on high, they may not react the same way when baby really
needs them. Buckles and other moving parts also can be damaged by
soaking or rough cleaning. Babies can make incredibly gross messes in
their car seats, but be sure to check the instructions or call the
manufacturer for help before cleaning the car seat.
7. Buy All of the Car Seat Accessories
Car seat accessories packages are sneaky, claiming to meet all federal car
seat safety standards. The problem is that there are no standards for
these car seat add-ons. Federal standards govern only the car seats and
LATCH systems.
Car seat safety experts say toy bars, neck rolls, fabric
covers, seat belt ratchets and other after-market accessories should not
be used. If it didn't come with your car seat, leave it off.
Manufacturers often void the car seat warranty if extras are used, too.
8. Don't Use All of the Car Seat Parts
Sometimes
you have to re-thread the harness straps or take off the
car seat
cover. Getting the whole
car seat put back together properly is a
challenge, but it's important to get all of the parts back into the car
seat correctly without leaving a spare parts pile. I've seen car seats
used without chest clips and overhead shields, and with duct tape or
bungee cords where other parts should be. Always use your car seat
according to manufacturer's instructions. Ask for help if you're stuck
9. Ignore the Height and Weight Limits for Baby's Car Seat
Most
parents end up buying several
car seats as baby grows, especially if
baby starts out in a rear-facing-only infant car seat. With many states
now requiring boosters to age 6 or 8, one car seat just won't do. Watch
the height and weight limits for baby's car seat. Babies that are too
tall or too heavy for their car seat are not adequately protected in a
crash. Harness straps can pull through the seat if baby is too heavy,
and baby's head won't have impact protection if he or she is too tall.
10. Use the Oldest, Cheapest Yard Sale Car Seat You Can Find
Lots
of people try to recoup their
car seat cost by selling the
car seat at a
yard sale, or they give it to a friend to help out with new baby costs.
Most parents aren't aware that car seats have an expiration date,
though. Many car seats expire after 5 years, some after 6 years. Check
with the manufacturer for details. You should never use a secondhand car
seat if you don't know its crash history or recall history. The worst
possible choice is buying a used car seat online, sight unseen.
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