Car Seat Safety Tips For Parents and Caregivers

Car seat safety is an important topic for parents and caregivers to understand. Every year, about 139,042 children between the ages of 1 and 13 are injured in motor vehicle collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Children in cars are at an especially high risk for injury because they are smaller, less stable and often unrestrained. Fortunately, accidental injury has declined significantly since the introduction of child safety seats. However, it is still the number one cause of death for children ages zero to 14.

It is recommended that a baby be kept in a rear facing car seat until they reach 2 years old or are at least 57 inches tall, depending on the car seat and vehicle manufacturer instructions. It is also recommended that the top tether, when available, be used to reduce the impact in a crash by reducing your child’s forward motion. If your vehicle has tether anchor points, be sure to check the owner’s manual for their location and instructions on how to use them.

The harness straps should be in the slots at or below the shoulders when your child is riding rear-facing and at or above the shoulder when they are front-facing. The chest clip should be level with the armpits. The lap belt should lie low and snug across the hips, touching the upper thighs. If you can pinch the harness straps together with your fingers, they are too loose and need to be tightened. For infants, you can put a tightly rolled washcloth between the crotch strap and your baby’s belly to make the seat fit better.

Whenever you’re buckling up your child, it’s best to remove any bulky clothing like winter coats, snowsuits and hats. These can compress in a crash, leaving the harness straps too loose to restrain your child effectively. It’s okay to wrap your child in a blanket once they are secured in their seat, but always re-buckle the harness afterward to ensure it remains snug.

Many parents and caregivers may be tempted to buy add-on products for their car seat, such as harness extenders, belt guides and booster seat cushions. These are unnecessary and can actually interfere with proper seat belt fit. They can cause the shoulder belt to ride too high or the lap belt to rest on the stomach, putting your child at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

Remember, it is against the law in New York to leave a child alone in a car, even if they are in a properly fitted car seat. Also, remember to lock your car doors when you are putting your child in the car or exiting it. Several gadgets are available to help you remember to lock the door, such as the Sunshine Baby iReminder and Baby Alert International’s ChildMinder SoftClip. Hopefully, these tips will keep you and your family safe during your next road trip!