The Role Of Childrens Car Seats

By Amanda Gamdana

Safety is a priority with parents, and this is reflected in the amount of time and money they are willing to spend on a car seat for their child. 5 percent of the child safety seats inspected. As the study suggests, many parents actually put the child in danger by not using the restraint properly. Typically, the biggest mistakes were loose harness straps and safety belt attachments. The NHTSA classifies these as 'critical' errors, because of the potential risk they could cause the child.

So how do you know make sure of keeping your newborn safe?

Always use the correct seat for your baby's age and weight and in the correct position. For children who are a year old and not yet 20 pounds, they can usually be placed in a rear-facing position in their car seats. For both their size and their design, infant-only seats are carefully crafted especially for the smaller children. Make sure your infant car seat is placed in the back seat of your car, and only in the rear-facing position.

Many parents do not see the purpose of an infant-only seat, choosing instead to go with a more flexible convertible seat. Out of necessity to accommodate a growing child, these car seats are larger and more bulky. Convertible seats allow parents to put any child that would be placed in a rear-facing infant-only seat in the same position. You can go ahead and place any child that is 20-40 pounds in a front-facing position. Far more important than the style of seat is that the parent use it exactly as it was designed to be used.

The car seat should buckle into the car, and the baby should buckle into the seat. Of the critical components that the study by the NHTSA found, the biggest majority dealt with parents who did not have the harness strap in the right slot or fitting snuggly enough. If strapping the harness into a slot position in a convertible, the appropriate slots are above or at the shoulder; if using an infant car seat, the appropriate place is below. Harness clips should hold the untwisted straps around armpit level - for exact placement double check the guide that came with the seat.

It helps seat belt placement to recline the seat 45 degrees; always double check that your seat belt is in the right path for the position of the seat. Another tip is to include a rolled up towel that you can place under the seat. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. Every car that has a LATCH system has special requirements, and those mean that the parent should read their owner guides, to both their car and their car seat, to make sure their seat is installed correctly. If you purchase a seat that is not new, make sure you check it's age and condition.

When buying a used seat, be sure to get one that has all its instructions and is less than five years old. Along with the owner's manual, your seat should have all its parts, and should have never been involved in any type of car accident. - 21396

About the Author:

You can visit: Free Online Car Guides plus Cheap New Cars Online for more reviewed information.