Car Seat Safety

By Catlin Bootsma

One of the first things parents do for newborn babies is install a car seat to make sure the baby fits and is secured properly before taking them home from the hospital. As the months and years pass, however, it can be a great practice to be double check that the children in your care still have the safest car seat arrangement possible per their age, height, weight and the particular dimensions and capabilities of your actual vehicle.

Here's a few questions to answer for each child:

Does the child have the right kind of car seat?

Infant seat. Car seat. Convertible car seat. Booster. Seat belt. There are many different options for the safest choice per the weight and height of the child within your vehicle. The Department of Transportation has an easy tool to enter in your child's measurements to figure out which one is the right fit-check it out here.

Is it installed correctly?

It is important that a car seat is set up in your car correctly. You can go to a car seat checkup event or do it yourself. Whether you are using a latch system, lower anchors or the seatbelt, ensuring that the car seat is secure and that it doesn't move more than an inch in any direction from the belt path is essential. Find more installment tips here.

Is it fitted for my child?

As a child grows, caregivers should be sure that seat belts still fit them properly and that the car seat is adjusted to the appropriate height for the child. This includes weather safety, such as being sure that kids aren't wearing bulky coats in car seats that can jeopardize their safety. This can sometimes be tricky in the Winter, but a nice cozy blanket will help them stay warm.

Car seats help keep kids safe! Incorporating a car seat check regularly is an easy way to minimize risk and help keep kids as safe as possible while in the car.






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