As a parent, you will more than likely spend a good deal of time in the car between going to doctor appointments to heading to Grandma’s house to picking up a few groceries to traveling to play dates.
Here are some safety tips that you will need to know regarding car seats.
Table of Contents
Car Seat Basics: How To Keep Your Child Safe In The Car
Research car seat history
Before you even consider buying a travel car seat, you want to make sure that you are getting the right one.
It needs to have full instructions that shows the model number and manufacture date.
You also want to look up the car seat to be sure there are not any recalls on it.
Backseat placement
The car seat needs to be placed in the backseat because this is the safest place for your child should you be in an auto accident.
Children facing rear
Children that are under the age of a year old and weigh less than 20 pounds need to be in a car seat facing the rear of the car.
Children over the age of a year old and weigh at least 20 pounds may ride facing forward.
Notice that word is MAY.
It is always safer for a child to be rear facing.
Many recommendations are until at least 2.
Personally I keep my little ones rear facing until around age 3.
Some may say this is too early still.
Tighten seat belt
Before you take off in the car and after your child is placed properly in the car seat, you want to be sure that the car’s seat belts are tightly in place.
There are slots on the car seat in which the seat belt is designed to go through.
Correct angle recline
When you have your child in the rear-facing position, you need to ensure that you recline the car seat so that the child’s head doesn’t flop forward.
To prevent this, you can tightly fold a couple of blankets and place them alongside the child.
Consistent usage
Even if you are just going two blocks down the street to the corner store, you need to always use a car seat with your child.
Accidents can happen at any time, even a block from your home.
Car seats are designed to reduce the risk of serious injury or even death if you are in an accident.