Child Car Seat Safety 101
Every year, thousands of children are killed or injured in traffic crashes. As a parent, guardian, or caregiver, you must ensure the safety of your child on the road. Although you cannot control what happens while you travel, using a child car seat can help keep your child safe in the event of an accident. However, with so many child car seats on the market today, picking the right one can be quite overwhelming for many parents. Fortunately, we’re here to help.
Read on to learn more about child car seat safety tips and the importance of complying with child car seat laws.
Types of Car Seats for Children
Some parents usually make the mistake of choosing a child’s car seat based on what looks cute on their child. This is not the right approach. To find the right child car seat, ensure you consider various important factors, such as your child’s age, height, weight, and developmental needs.
That said, here are the common types of car seats for children:
Rear-Facing Infant-Only Seat
This car seat is designed to carry newborns and small babies in the rear-facing position only. In most cases, babies outgrow these seats before turning one. As a result, parents, guardians, and caregivers are advised to check the car seat’s manual to determine when it’s time to move forward with another option.
Convertible Seat
This car seat is designed for children of different sizes, including newborns. The best thing about a convertible child car seat is that it can easily be switched from rear-facing to forward-facing mode simply by adjusting the harness and tether. Although convertible child car seats are bigger than infant-only seats and come fitted with carrying handles, children can comfortably use them for a longer period.
Most convertible child car seats have high rear-facing weight limits of up to 50 pounds. Plus, they can be used in forward-facing mode by children of up to 65 pounds. This makes them ideal for newborns, bigger babies, and toddlers.
Forward-Facing Seat
These seats are meant for children who meet the weight and height requirements to face the front during a car drive. All children are required to ride in forward-facing car seats until they outgrow the harness fitted on the seat.
Booster Seat
Booster seats are designed for children who have outgrown forward-facing-only car seats. These seats usually raise a child up so that the shoulder and lap part of the car’s seat belt fits properly. However, like the other child car seats on this list, booster seats should remain in the back seat until the child turns 12.
All-In-One Seat
All-in-one and convertible child car seats are quite similar. The only difference between the two is that all-in-one child car seats can be converted from rear-facing to forward-facing seats and then into booster seats as the child grows. Since all-in-one child car seats are bigger than all the other seats on this list, they may not fit comfortably in all cars. The only way you can tell for sure if an all-in-one child car seat will fit in your car is by actually installing it. If it doesn’t fit, you can always return it to the retailer.
Child Car Seat Safety Tips
The following are some helpful tips to help you ensure your child is safe in a car seat:
Review the Manufacturer’s Guidelines and Instructions
Even the right child car seat will not do its job if your child is not strapped in properly. Review the vehicle’s and child car seat manuals and guidelines to ensure you get everything right. According to most experts, the safest place to install a child car seat is in the middle of the backseat, away from passenger and driver’s airbags.
Install the Seat Tightly and Securely
Installing a child’s car seat properly is vital for your child’s safety while in the vehicle. Although you can easily install a child’s car seat with the right tools, it may be best to leave the job to a professional. Fortunately, most businesses that sell or hire out child car seats also provide this service at a small fee. However, if you choose to install the seat yourself, ensure you have the installation inspected by a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST).
If a child car seat is installed properly, you should not be able to move it more than an inch from side to side or front to back at the belt path. On the other hand, the top of a child car seat is supposed to move significantly in any direction to help distribute crash forces in the event of an accident. Once the seat has been installed, inspect it regularly to ensure it has not loosened over time.
Adjust the Harness
The seat’s harness straps should be tight on your child’s shoulders at all times. This helps secure your child to the car seat and ensures crash forces are not directed at the child. A tight and secure harness also minimizes the chances of your child getting ejected from their seat.
That said, each time you strap your child into their car seat, ensure you do a pinch test on the strap. If you can easily pinch extra webbing from the harness, the strap is too loose. In that case, adjust the harness to make it tight on your child’s shoulders. Remember, the middle of the chest clip should always be at the same level as your child’s armpits.
During cold weather, ensure you remove your child’s bulky winter clothing before strapping them into the harness. This will allow for a tight and secure fit in the child’s car seat. Once you’ve strapped your child into the harness, you can proceed to cover them with a coat or blanket to keep them warm.
Importance of Complying With Child Car Seat Laws
Here are some benefits of complying with federal and state-specific child car seat laws:
- Minimizes the risk of your child sustaining catastrophic injuries in a crash
- Keeps your child properly positioned in their car seat, preventing them from being thrown around the vehicle in the event of an accident
- Helps you avoid legal liability for injuries sustained by your child in the event of an accident
- Helps you avoid potential civil penalties and fines
- Allows you to demonstrate the importance of safety and responsibility to your child, setting a good example
Keep Your Child Safe on the Road
Installing the right type of child car seat is a great investment in your child’s safety. Unfortunately, even the best car seat cannot stop a traffic accident from happening. That said, if your child is injured in a car accident, a reputable car accident lawyer can help you navigate the entire legal process and recover compensation for the damages you and your child have incurred.
