Safer Child Products

I recently read an article referring to recalls and warnings about the Bumbo baby seat.  Many parents have been using the Bumbo on chairs and other elevated surfaces.  Then babies were falling and sustaining skull fractures.  Not good.  So, I was thinking about it.  I know that Bumbo was intended for use on the floor to support a baby in an upright position once they can hold up their head. I have read the box.  That being said, my husband and I realize that we do not always read directions included in packaging because a product’s use and function seems obvious.  I’m sure that is what was happening with the Bumbo as well.  People think they know how to use it, maybe it was a gift or even a hand me down, with no box!  It certainly looks like it could be a booster that would sit on a chair, and wouldn’t it be nice to have baby in an upright position for a change?

Allen and I are very safety conscious. We always buckled the seat belts in the high chair and stroller, and always buckled tightly the booster seat w/ tray to the chair.  However, I know many parents do not feel the need to take that extra step. They certainly mean no harm by it, but they probably do not think it’s necessary.  Either they “know” that their child isn’t going to go anywhere, or they want their toddler to be able to climb out when they are ready.  It makes me nervous to see a child climbing out of the stroller while it is moving, and I’ve seen kids get tangled trying to climb out of a booster seat at the table.  The height of a high chair frightens me, because surely there would be injuries if a child fell from that height, were they not buckled in.  I am not passing judgment. I am just reflecting on common practice. 

My final thought is this.  Babies are very wiggly.  They do have control yet of their bodies. You never know when the baby is going to decide to kick or squirm or throw their weight and if the bouncy seat or infant carrier (or Bumbo) is up on the table, then they are likely to fall off.  Please keep all baby seats on the floor and supervise them at all times.

If parents are having trouble using something simple like a Bumbo, then it’s no wonder statistics show 3 out of 4 car seats are installed incorrectly!  It’s not stupidity; it’s that these products are not made with common sense in mind.

Safer Child Products

Did you know that last April the American Academy of Pediatrics and Safe Kids Worldwide made new recommendations for keeping children Rear Facing in Car Seats until age 2?  This is a big change.  If this is your first child, you may not know any different, but if this is not your first you may want to say “What?  That sounds crazy!”  However, the recommendations for “best practice” are not crazy.  It goes along with a 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention that “children younger than 2 are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding in a rear-facing child seat.” 

The purpose of buckling your child into a car seat is to secure them so they do not move in the event of a short stop or crash.  The seat should be tight like it is “one” with the car.  The harness’ job is to keep the child in the seat, so that should be snug to their body, not their clothes.  The goal is to have the child restraint (car seat) take and distribute the force of the crash, over the child’s entire body.  When forward facing, the heavy head is likely to snap forward, injuring or cracking the spine.  As discussed in an article in the Chicago Tribune, “A rear-facing child safety seat does a better job of supporting the head, neck and spine of infants and toddlers in a crash.”
NHTSA reported in USA Today that car crashes remain the leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 14, but a “Properly used child safety seat decreases the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.” NHTSA also said that ”Children are 59% less likely to be injured in a booster seat than if they were using seat belts alone.”

Always check the height and weight restrictions on the side of your child car seat and follow the recommendations.  If you are using the vehicle seat belt to attach the car seat check daily to be sure that it did not accidentally get popped open. 

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2011-09-15/gaps-in-child-seat-safety/50419556/1

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-05/health/ct-x-1005-car-seat-guidelines-20111005_1_child-safety-rear-facing-car-seats

Safer Child Products

Belt Positioning Booster Seats (BPB) are probably the most Misunderstood and Least Used of all Child Restraints.  We are working with our local legislators to help improve Booster Seat Laws.  We would love to see all states adopt the same laws when it comes to Child Passenger Safety, but so far, that is not the case.  Some States require children to use a BPB only until age 6 or 60 pounds, whereas others require it until age 8 or 80 pounds. We are basing our recommendations on the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice. To ensure proper fit of the vehicle seat belt, the AAP now states that children should use the BPB up to age 8, but ALSO until they reach 4’9” tall. They advise that children under age 13 should sit in the rear vehicle seat whenever possible.  Did you know that law enforcement can fine you for not using a car seat or booster seat for your child?  In many cases, they are allowed to stop your car solely to check if you are using an appropriate child restraint. Don’t forget that even when your child outgrows his/her booster seat, they are required by law to use a seatbelt.  Set a good example and buckle up every time you ride! Here is a link to a chart to help you figure out what the child restraint laws are in your state http://www.elitecarseats.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=car_seat_laws .  However, keep in mind that the AAP recommendations are for best practice on how to keep children safer in cars.

Safer Child Products

Should Delaware’s Child Restraint Laws be updated?  You’ve read our November 15^th blog about the laws in our surrounding states.  We are thinking of working with our local legislators when they are back in session in January.  We want to increase awareness that children up to 4’9” are safer when not using a seat belt alone. Tell us what you think.