About Baby Language

Parents take a lot of time making a decision on the proper car seat for their kid. They spend significant time and money to protect their most precious cargo. With all of this though, baby seat safety is not being utilized correctly as 75% of safety seats inspected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are reported to be misused.

It is suggested by the study that most parents put their children in danger without even knowing it because of improper use. The most common mistakes found were loose harness straps and safety belt attachments. Unfortunately, the NHTSA also calls these misuses “critical” because of the potential for injury.

So how am I to know when my child is safe or not?

First you have to be certain that your child is in the correct seat for their age and weight and that it’s situated in the best position. If your child is under a year old and hasn’t reached the 20 pound mark yet then an infant seat is required in the rear facing position.

A incredibly great choice for newborn babies is the infant only seat as they are designed for younger and smaller babies. These smaller seats are a exceedingly good size fit for these smaller babies and are easy to transfer as they are lighter. As with all childrens car seats these should  only be used in the back seat and facing the rear.

If you are looking for a seat that will grow with your kid, you can look into what is known as convertible car seats as an option. These are much bigger and heavier than a ordinary newborn car seat so they can be used as your kid ages and gets bigger.These car seats are still to be used in the rear facing position for any kid that is under one year of age or it doesn’t weigh 20 pounds yet. After your baby reaches 20 pounds and it’s their first birthday you can feel safe to turn the car seat around to face the front position. Normally most convertible car seats will hold a baby up to 40 pounds.

Whichever way you decide to go with your child’s car seat, you need to make sure that you understand completely how to properly use it. It is important that you pay attention to all of the manufacturers instructions and if your vehicle is in your check out the owner’s manual as it may have directions as well. The only way that the seat will protect your child is if the child is buckled in best and the seat is secured correctly in the car.

For some reason many parents have trouble with the harness straps. Having the harness and the best slot possession and fitted nice and snug to your kid’s chest is the only way that your baby will be safe in it. When installing the straps make sure that if it is a convertible seat that you place the straps and slots at or above the baby shoulders and if it’s a regular infant seat they need to be at or below the baby shoulder height. The harness clip that holds the straps together should be at about armpit level, and the straps should not be twisted. You should always check the owner’s manual to confirm right placement.

The use of safety belts is also a problem area. If it is at all possible, the seat wishes to be reclined at around a 45° angle and the belt needs to follow the proper path for the seats  position. A rolled towel under the base helps secure the seat into position. Make sure to tighten up the seat belt as much as you can so that the seat is restrained securely in your vehicle. If your automobile has a LATCH system, use it according to the specifications of your baby’s seat and those of the vehicle owner’s manual.

Other important seat considerations include seat age and condition. If your seat wasn’t purchased new, check the label. Don’t trust the safety of your baby in a seat that is more than five years old and doesn’t have any manufacturers instructions along with it. It is important that you know whether the car seat has been in any accidents and that all of the parts are there. Don’t take a chance on anything you are unsure of.

Another unbelievably good idea is that if you are unsure about anything make sure that you take the seat to a safety seat technician and have it checked.Your baby’s life may depend on it.

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