The purchase of a car seat is an investment. Parents should have a clear understanding of the types of available children's car seats. When informed, parents can choose the car seat that best suits the needs of their child and their vehicle.
Injuries sustained during vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children in the United States (CDC 2006). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that an average of 4 deaths and 556 injuries occur each day (NHTSA 2006b). Even more troubling, NHTSA found that 72% of 3,500 observed child vehicle restraints were being used incorrectly and in the event of an accident would be expected to increase the child's risk of injury. NHTSA offers some peace of mind to these statistics. They estimate that properly used child safety seats lower children's risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers aged 1-4. Parents can further enhance the safety of their child's seat by using the following guidelines.
Only use approved child restraints. All current car seats meet the federal guidelines where they are sold. Choose a seat that best fits the child, the vehicle, and the budget of the family.
Car seats should not move more than an inch in any direction. If they move more than that see your car seat's owners manual to determine what can be done to secure your car seat. You may need to tighten straps or adjust other parts of your car seat to get a secure fit.
Infants seats should sit at a 45 degree angle. Many seats have adjustments on the base of the infant seat to help you achieve the right angle. Read your car seat manual to see what you can do to achieve the correct angle.
Higher weight forward-facing restraints, such as the Britax Regent, can harness children up to 80 pounds. These seats would be necessary for children who cannot sit properly in a belt-positioning booster seat or for parents who prefer to keep their child in a harnessing seat for as long as possible for added safety. Vehicles with lap belts only must use a higher weight forward-facing restraint for children over 40 pounds not old enough to ride without a car seat restraint.
It is best to keep a car seat in each car that your baby will be traveling in. Moving a car seat back and forth between cars makes it more likely that the car seat will be installed incorrectly.
Harnessing slots are typically higher than convertible seats to accommodate larger children. When used with the harness, combination car seats can be installed using a lap belt or a lap/shoulder belt. When used as a belt-positioning booster, it must be installed with the lap/shoulder belt.
Injuries sustained during vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among children in the United States (CDC 2006). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that an average of 4 deaths and 556 injuries occur each day (NHTSA 2006b). Even more troubling, NHTSA found that 72% of 3,500 observed child vehicle restraints were being used incorrectly and in the event of an accident would be expected to increase the child's risk of injury. NHTSA offers some peace of mind to these statistics. They estimate that properly used child safety seats lower children's risk of death by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers aged 1-4. Parents can further enhance the safety of their child's seat by using the following guidelines.
Only use approved child restraints. All current car seats meet the federal guidelines where they are sold. Choose a seat that best fits the child, the vehicle, and the budget of the family.
Car seats should not move more than an inch in any direction. If they move more than that see your car seat's owners manual to determine what can be done to secure your car seat. You may need to tighten straps or adjust other parts of your car seat to get a secure fit.
Infants seats should sit at a 45 degree angle. Many seats have adjustments on the base of the infant seat to help you achieve the right angle. Read your car seat manual to see what you can do to achieve the correct angle.
Higher weight forward-facing restraints, such as the Britax Regent, can harness children up to 80 pounds. These seats would be necessary for children who cannot sit properly in a belt-positioning booster seat or for parents who prefer to keep their child in a harnessing seat for as long as possible for added safety. Vehicles with lap belts only must use a higher weight forward-facing restraint for children over 40 pounds not old enough to ride without a car seat restraint.
It is best to keep a car seat in each car that your baby will be traveling in. Moving a car seat back and forth between cars makes it more likely that the car seat will be installed incorrectly.
Harnessing slots are typically higher than convertible seats to accommodate larger children. When used with the harness, combination car seats can be installed using a lap belt or a lap/shoulder belt. When used as a belt-positioning booster, it must be installed with the lap/shoulder belt.
About the Author:
Rochelle Normski has been working with babies and infants for over 15 years and has informative articles on High Chair Covers and Shopping Cart Seat Covers.
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