3 Out Of 4 Adults Fall Short On Youngster Car Seat Safety - Are You Among Them
Parents go out of their way to choose the right car seat for their baby. A lot of time and money is spent on giving their kid the most protection that they can. It is strange with all of that though that the numbers of misuse incidents are absurdly high as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration currently reports that 75% of all parents do not use kid restraints correctly.
The results of this study conclude that 3 of 4 parents put their children at risk while in vehicles unknowingly because they do not use the restraints properly. Things like loose harnesses and seat belt attachments were the largest items found. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also calls these misuses “critical” because of the potential for injury.
So how am I to understand the fitting safety setup for my child?
First, make sure you are using the right seat - in the proper position — for your baby’s age and weight. Most infant seats can be used in the rear-facing position for children under one year of age who have not yet reached 20 pounds.
A exceptionally great choice for newborn babies is the infant only seat as they are designed for younger and smaller babies. They offer a good fit and are conveniently small and portable. These infant car seats should only be installed facing the rear of the vehicle and located in the back seat as with all car seats.
If you desire a seat that will accommodate your baby as she grows, a convertible seat is another option. These are much larger and heavier than a ordinary newborn car seat so they can be used as your kid ages and gets bigger.These car seats are still to be used in the rear facing position for any child that is under one year of age or it doesn’t weigh 20 pounds yet. After your baby turns a year old and grows to be over 20 pounds you can turn the seat around and face it forward. Convertible car seats has a standard will hold a kid up to around 40 pounds.
Proper use of a baby’s car seat is an absolute necessity no matter which style you choose. If your car is newer then chances are it will have instructions for car seat installation so you need to pay attention to this as well as the manufacturers instructions on the seat. The only way that the seat will protect your kid is if the child is buckled in right and the seat is secured correctly in the car.
Harness straps seem to be an area of particular difficulty for parents. In order for your baby to be safe, the harness needs to be fitted snugly to your babies chest and in the proper slot position. When installing the straps make sure that if it is a convertible seat that you place the straps and slots at or above the baby shoulders and if it is a regular infant seat they need to be at or below the baby shoulder height. The harness clip that holds the straps together should be at about armpit level, and the straps should not be twisted. In order to make sure that you are placing it correctly always referred to the owners manual.
Another common area with problems is the safety belts. If it’s at all possible, the seat requirements to be reclined at around a 45 angle and the belt needs to follow the correct path for the seats position. You could use a rolled up towel under the base in order to help secure the seat in the best positioning. In order to make sure that the seat stays restrained in the vehicle tighten up the seat belt as securely as you can. If your car has a latch system installed, then it is essential that you make use of it otherwise it does no good.
You also need to consider how old the seat is in and the condition that it is in. If your seat wasn’t purchased new, check the label. Don’t trust the safety of your child in a seat that is more than five years old and doesn’t have any manufacturers instructions along with it. It is important that you know whether the car seat has been in any accidents and that all of the parts are there. Don’t take a chance on anything you are unsure of.
Finally, if you are unsure about your safety seat sense - or even if you are, visit a safety seat technician to have your seat checked.The life of your baby is depending on your judgment.
There are many sites on the net to buy car seats for sale. If you are searching for a convertible car seat then you will do very well on getting a good price by going to http://babystrollersandcarseats.net/convertible-car-seats.php

