Car seat safety check!
The latest recommendations are as follows:
In the car
1.) Babies and toddlers should ride in a REAR-facing car seat until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.
The longer, the better! Most convertible seats can be rear-facing up to at least 40 lbs, which makes them a great purchase option. It’s OK for feet to touch the back of the vehicle seat.
2.) Once they outgrow the rear-facing seat, your child should ride in a FORWARD-facing car seat until they once again reach the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.
Car seats reduce the risk of injury by up to 82% and reduce the risk of death by 28% compared to seat belts alone.
3.) Upgrade your child to a belt-positioning BOOSTER seat next.
Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by 45% compared to seat belts alone.
4.) Your child is ready to graduate from the booster seat once he or she reaches a height of 4’9” AND can sit flat against the back of the seat with knees bent at 90 degrees over the edge. The lap belt should lie low across the hips and the shoulder belt should rest across the middle of your child's chest (not touching the neck or face).
5.) Children shouldn’t sit in the front seat until 13 years of age. Kids ride in the back until they're TEENs!
Please note proper placement of shoulder straps.
For rear-facing car seats, the shoulder straps should come through the car seat slots at or just BELOW your child’s shoulders. For forward-facing seats, the shoulder straps should be at or just ABOVE the shoulders.
Make sure that harness straps are snug enough so that you cannot pinch any excess strap material... no slack allowed. Slide the chest clip up to armpit level.
Do not let kids wear puffy coats or fluffy blankets between the body and the harness straps.
A blanket or cover on top is safe, but as the car warms up make sure the little one doesn't get too hot - open the cover as needed.
It's okay for babies to fall asleep in the car seat WHILE driving, but once you reach your destination, the child should be taken out of their car seat and moved to a firm, flat sleeping surface.
Put your shoe or a purse in the back seat so you NEVER forget your little one. It happens to the best of parents because any of us could be sleep deprived and distracted.
Every caregiver should know this information. It saves lives!
For more: (16) Car Seat Safety 2022 - YouTube
