Dangerous Mistakes Parents Make when Using Car Seats

It’s important to understand how to use a Child Car seat so you avoid Dangerous Mistakes Parents make when using car seats.It's important to understand how to use a Child Car seat so you avoid Dangerous Mistakes Parents make when using car seats.

You already know that it is a law in every state that kids must be in a car seat when riding in a vehicle.

However, you may not know that there are simple mistakes that parents make when it comes to car seats.

It is important to know what these mistakes are so they can be prevented.

Here are some dangerous mistake parents make when using car seats.

 

Dangerous Mistakes Parents Make When Using Car Seats

Installing the car seat incorrectly

This is the most common mistake that parents make when it comes to car seats, but more specifically, loose installation.

A properly installed car seat should not move more than an inch from side to side.

 

Having the car seat straps too loose

If the car seat straps are not tight enough, your child has the potential to be ejected from the car seat.

You should not have any slack at all in the webbing of the straps.

 

Car seat straps in the wrong position

For car seats that are forward-facing, the straps should be at or above shoulder level and for car seats that are rear-facing, the straps should be at or below shoulder level.

This will prevent the child from moving upward should a car accident occur.

The straps need to be checked on a regular basis since kids tend to grow rather quickly.

 

Turning the car seat around too early

Children should be in car seats that are rear-facing until they reach the age of two years old.

The reason for this is that rear-facing seats are designed to support a child’s head, spine and neck in the event of an automobile accident.

Personally, I keep my kids rear facing until around age 4.

 

Positioning the car seat at the wrong angle

The majority of car seats are equipped with recline indicators that are built-in.

These indicators are designed to angle the car seat correctly.

If your seat does not have recline indicators, you must position the car seat at the correct angle manually.

For small babies, the car seat must be positioned to maximum recline position setting of the car seat.

As the child grows, the car seat must be adjusted to a more upright position.

 

Readers that liked this article also enjoyed Car Safety Tips for New Parents, Winter Car Seat Safety and Car Seat Tips for Your Vehicle.

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