4 Steps 4 Kids – The Right Car Seat Matters for Safety
Did you know that about 8 out of every 10 child safety seats are not used correctly? It is a good idea to always read the manufacturer’s instructions for your child safety seat when using and installing your child safety seat. Here are 4 quick steps below to follow.
Step 1: Rear-Facing Child Seats
Kids are VIPs (Very Important Persons) and we all know that VIPs and kids ride in the back seat. Use a rear-facing car seat for your infant and until your child is 2 years old or reaches the highest weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer. A convertible or 3-in-1 car seat should be used in the rear-facing position for babies who outgrow infant only car seats.
Step 2: Forward-Facing Child Seats
Use a forward-facing car seat when your child is 2 years or older, or if younger than 2 years old and has outgrown the rear-facing seat. Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness as long as possible, up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer.
Step 3: Booster Seats
Use a belt positioning booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt when your child has reached the highest weight or height limit of the forward-facing car seat. Keep your child in a booster seat until the lap and shoulder belt fit properly, usually between 8 and 12 years old.
Step 4: Safety Belts
Use a lap and shoulder belt when the seat belts fit properly. The lap belt should be low and snug across the upper thighs and the shoulder belt should lie across the middle of the chest and shoulder. Children should be tall enough to comfortably bend their knees over the edge of the back seat with their back against the vehicle seat.
Other Safety Tips
1. Restrain your child on every trip. Most crashes occur at low speeds and close to home.
2. The best seat fits your child’s size, is correctly installed and is used properly every time.
3. Weigh and measure your child often to make sure the right type of restraint is being used.
4. Set a good example for your child. Buckle up!
5. While it may seem like you need an engineering degree to figure out which car seat is best for your child, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered. Read more tips and we’ll help you pick the right seat for your child’s age, weight, height and developmental stage. – Click on Learn More for more car seat safety
