Life-Saving Carseat Reminders

By Caitlin Bootsma
Consultant to the VIRTUS® Programs

Car seats can't be that complicated, right? As first-time parents struggle to install them, they might tell you differently. Even though they aren't always the easiest things to deal with, they serve an irreplaceable purpose: to save a kid's life. Therefore, here are just a few essential pointers to keep in mind:

Make sure that the car seat is:

  • Still fully functional: If you're buying a used car seat, check that the model hasn't been recalled, that it isn't more than 6 years old, and that it has all the necessary parts. 
  • Placed in a safe spot in the car: Car seats should never be placed near airbags. If you have the option to put the car seat in the middle of the backseat of a car, that is the location with the least risk to your child.
  • Correctly installed: For many people, this can be the tricky part. The manual should give specific instructions detailing how to ensure the seat is tightly secured.
  • Supporting your baby's head: For young babies, you'll want to be sure that their head doesn't constantly flop forward. If this is happening, you may want to check the angle adjustments on the car seat or prop a towel under the seat to level it out if necessary.
  • The appropriate setup for your child's age and weight: Babies should start out rear-facing and, according to the Mayo Clinic, not be moved face-forward until age 2 or about 35 pounds. From there you'll want to observe best practices for moving your child to a booster seat (typically when they pass the weight limit of the car seat) and then to a seat belt.

In addition, its always helpful to double check that a child is secured correctly and that they are not wearing too bulky of a jacket that could cause breathing problems, or keep the harness straps from doing their job. 

If you have questions, there are many places that perform car seat safety checks to help make sure the seat is installed correctly. Keep an ear out for checks happening near you or check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

You can find more detailed car seat safety tips at the Mayo Clinic.

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