Car Seat Safety...

Last week I got pulled over for speeding. (yes I know this post is ironic) I wasn't paying attention to my speed...the kids were arguing in the backseat, Amber had just had a baby, and I was in a hurry to get Landon to his dad and I was already running late.  Regardless..I'm human and it was my fault.  The officer was very nice.  He had me roll down the back window so he could check the kids car seats and belts.  He reached in and made a comment about how well they were buckled and that the seats had solid installations.  He went back to his car after telling me he was just going to print out a warning and I could be on my way.  When he came back he told me the main reason he was letting me off with a warning was because he rarely sees kids buckled into there car seats, let alone the seats buckled and installed correctly.  A very sad statement for me to hear even though I know its true.  I see it with my own eyes ALL the time.  Many times when a friend posts a picture of their child in the car on Facebook or even just walking through the parking lot at the local Walmart; I'm reminded how few people actually know how and do use their seats properly.  80% of child safety seats are used incorrectly, 4 out of 5.  That's a very high percentage.  Car accidents are the #1 killer of children ages 1-14.  About 50% of these deaths to children under 5 involved children that were unrestrained.  Here is a basic list to keep in mind.

~ First and foremost - Read your car seat's owner's manual and your vehicle's owner's manual before installation!


~ Car seats expire 6 years from the manufacture date and should be replaced after expiration.  Plastic parts become brittle after a few years of exposure to extreme temperatures in a car.



~ Car seats are subject to recalls.  Check frequently to make sure yours isn't one of them.  Search here for recalls.

~ Car seats should be replaced after an accident.  It puts stress on the seat and can cause weakness in future accidents.

~ When a car seat is installed the seat should not be able to move more than an inch in any direction.  This is the number one car seat mistake according to car seat inspectors. The best way to get a solid installation is to kneel on the seat with all your weight while pulling the belt tight.  If you're worried about your vehicle seat place a bath towel under it. Using aftermarket seat protectors is not recommended because they have not been tested with the seats and can alter how it performs in a crash. 

~ When installing a car seat using the vehicle belt make sure the belt is routed through the correct spaces.  Pull the belt all the way out so it locks when it retracts and cannot be pulled back out.  If it doesn't lock make sure you use a locking belt clip.  Most new seats come with an extra one attached to the back or bottom of the seat.

~ The latch system and the vehicle's seat belt should not be used at the same time.

~ Use the tether and make sure its tight. Using the tether decreases how far the child head moves forward by four to eight inches with a properly installed car seat.  Also seat belts can fail.  A tether can keep the seat from being ejected.






~ Never place a rear facing seat in a front seat with an active airbag. 

~ Rear facing seats should be installed with a 45 degree recline.  A newborn's head should not flop forward or it is too upright.  Levels on the seats are often unreliable.  I use a protractor app on my smart phone to get the correct angle.  Older babies with good head control and toddlers can have a 35 degree recline.  You can use a rolled towel or a small piece of a pool noodle under the front of the seat to get the correct recline.





~ Chest clips should be at armpit level.



~ Straps should be tight enough that you cannot pinch any slack in them.  

(I loosened Danica's to show what I mean....this is bad)


~ When rear facing the straps should be AT or BELOW shoulder height.  



~ When forward facing the straps should be AT or ABOVE shoulder height.

~ The crotch strap should be in the closest slot to the body but not under it.

~ Seat belts should not be twisted.  Twists reduce the strength of the belts. - Study here
      - 1 twist: 6%
      - 2 twists: 11%
      - 3 twists: 20% 
      - 6 twists: 40%

~ Harness Straps should not be twisted.  Harness straps are made to spread the force of a crash over a certain amount body surface area. If the straps are twisted, the area that bares the load becomes narrower, which can increase the chance injury.   

~ Toddlers are 5 times safer rear-facing.  The new standard is rear facing until 2 or until they reach the rear facing weight limit of a convertible(not infant) car seat.  20lbs AND(not or) 1 year are the MINIMUM for turning a baby forward facing.  (But who wants to have their child minimally protected?)

~ Children are too big for a car seat when they exceed the weight limit, their shoulders are above the top strap slot, OR the tops of their ears are higher than the seat's back.

~ Children should not go into a booster until they are AT LEAST 3-4 years old (know your state's laws, this varies)  AND is AT LEAST 40lbs.

~ A booster needs to be used with a lap and shoulder belt combo.  NOT just a lap belt.

~ When using a booster seat with the car's seat belt the belt should rest on the shoulder and collarbone.  Not against the neck.

~ Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seat belt until: They are at least 8 years old or 4' 9" tall.  They should be tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat.  They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch.  The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their stomach).  The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!)  * Even if a child is technically big enough, make sure he also has the maturity to stay seated in the belt in a safe way—not slouching, or putting the shoulder portion behind his back.*

Finally when in doubt or even just to be sure you did it correctly go to a local car seat inspection location and have your seats checked. Better safe than sorry...as they say.