Car Seat Safety

If there is one thing I am passionate about it is car seat safety. It is so devastating to see children injured or die because of something that could of preventable. By no means do I know it, however, by doing some research I definitely have learned the basics.

1. Picking the correct car seat is essential. Whether you decide to use a carrier or a convertible car seat for your newborn, it is important that you know the weight, height and age requirements for the seat. We used a Chicco Keylift 30 carrier for E while she was a newborn until she was six months. From then on we switched to the Graco Headwise 70 convertible car seat. It is also important that you do not move your child to a booster or the like until they have met ALL requirements for the seat. Yes your child may be a certain age but are they meeting the required height/weight?
2. Read your manual. Every car seat is different. It is super important to read your manual for the car seat as well as the manual for your car.
3. Strapping in your child correctly. The chest clip AND the crotch clip should be clipped at all times. BOTH need to be clipped to be effective. The chest clip should be at the nipple line. Not higher or lower. If the strap covers get in the way of this happening... remove them.
4. Those cute covers and strap covers void your warranty if not from the manufacture. So those cute little froggie or duckie strap covers likely are putting your child at danger. Esspecially if it enables your ability to place the chest strap in the right place. Also, you think that cover that is keeping your child warm is important? It also voids your warranty unless it was purchased from your seats manufacture.
5. Bulky clothing and winter coats should not be worn in the car seat. Here is why...

   
6. Rear facing is recommended to the age of 2. However, it is the LAW that the child be rear-facing until the child is one year old AND 20lbs. This is an AND not an OR.
7. Strap placement. If your child is rear-facing the straps should either be at or below your child's shoulders. If you child is front-facing, the straps should be at or above the child shoulders.
8. If your car seat isn't properly installed then taking all other precautions does nothing. 

Those are the basics rules to follow. If you have something to add, please let me know. Also, let me know if my information is not correct. To find more information on car seat safety you could go to this website to find out what the AAP recommends. Click here

Also, keep in mind that most hospitals, fire stations and even police stations have a certified tech that will install you seat properly.