Safer Child Products

I have heard so many stories of frustration from parents saying their car seats don’t fit properly in their car.  This is often a problem, especially if you have to put a larger seat rear­-facing, or when you need to fit 2 or 3 car seats across.  Did you know that Evenflo does not allow a RF car seat to be touching the back of the seat in front of it? Their infant carriers must be 1 ½ inches from the seat back in front of them. Think about it. How many vehicle manufacturers are there?  Multiply that by the number of child car seat manufactures and then don’t forget to include the number of different car seat models and vehicle models!  It’s impossible for every car and every car seat to be compatible with so many sizes and shapes of each one!

I find it so frustrating that some manufacturers allow the handle of the infant carrier to be upright while others require it to be back.  There are no hard and fast rules about what car seat is best.  More expensive does not necessarily mean better.  All child car seats need to meet the same safety standards.  You need to choose the car seat that fits best in your car, is appropriate for the age, height and weight of your child and is easy for you to use, so that you will use it the right way, every time you travel. It is so important to read the owners’ manual that comes with your car seat and to reference the vehicle owner’s manual as well.

When shopping for a car seat, ask the store manager if you can try it in your car.  I’m not sure if you will need to buy it first, but if so, be clear about the return policies of that store.  You may be able to take it right out into the parking lot and try it in your car. 

Do you know which positions in your car are able to be used with LATCH?  Has using LATCH made your car seat installations easier?  That’s now always the case.  Check out this article about the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) which were instituted to make car set installation easier.    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/study-says-baby-seats-hard-to-install-in-most-cars/1#.T7pisEVfEWo

Once you’ve read the owner’s manual and installed your seat, consider going to get your installation checked by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.  Visit www.safekids.org for a list of checkup events or inspection stations in your area.

If you are a parent or a caregiver who routinely transports young children, then you know how difficult it is to get the child car seats installed properly.  Be sure that the child car seat is installed so tight that you cannot push or pull it more than 1 inch in any direction when you grab the child car seat at the rear where the seat belt or latch belt goes through the seat.

Our children all get to the age where they want to buckle their chest clip themselves.  It’s wonderful that they feel they can participate! Make sure the chest clip is secured snugly will top of clip at armpit height. Be sure to check that the straps are tight enough that you cannot pinch a fold in the straps at shoulder.

www.safekids.org/safety-basics/babies/on-the-way/carseat-safety-for-babies.html

Safer Child Products

As a Child Passenger Safety Technician I come into contact with people from all income levels, all types of cars and car seats.  However, being in Delaware, I was surprised to receive a call from an expectant Mom in Mississippi this morning.  She told me that she is unemployed and will soon be welcoming her baby.  Parents are not allowed to leave the hospital with their newborn without an appropriate car seat.  This woman asked my assistance as she cannot afford to purchase one.

This is a common situation.  Child car seats can be very expensive.  There are programs in many states that offer low-cost car seat assistance.  The Department of Motor Vehicles runs this program in Delaware, but the best resource for low-cost car seats and other car seat related questions is to contact your local Safe Kids Coalition.  http://www.safekids.org/in-your-area/coalitions/ .  This link is a great resource for all types of child safety information.  Just select your state to find a coalition or an inspection station near you.  It will even tell you if there is a Safe Kids Community Event being held in your area.

While we don’t advise buying or using a 2^nd hand seat unless you are sure you have all the parts, the instruction manual and know the car seat’s history, a used  car seat is better than no car seat at all.

Let's keep all our kids safe!