According to the National Safety Council, car crashes are the leading cause of death for children.
It’s a sad thought, and not a very inviting blog post. It’s true, though, and it’s something I love to talk about. I am crazy obsessed with my children’s car seat safety. I always tell them, “I can’t control what other drivers are doing, but I can control what happens in this car” and because of that I am a car seat stickler.
Before my oldest was born, I worked for the health department. Because of my background, I wanted to make sure that her car seat was installed properly. I called around trying to find someone who was certified and could check my car seat. It was really hard!
I called the labor and delivery wards for two of the local hospitals, I called pediatricians offices, and even asked the police station. They all told me to talk to the health department, and were stumped when I told them I was from the health department and we didn’t have anyone who could do that. I eventually found someone at a small local hospital who was certified. In the meantime, I started reading all of the information I could get on car seat safety.
Here are my tips:
Keep your child rear-facing until age 2.
I know it’s annoying. I’ve been listening to the screams of my daughter for the last 18 months every time we get in the car. She hates it and I wish I could turn her around…
Small children’s necks aren’t strong enough to withstand the force of a car crash. Yes, it’s hard to keep them rear facing that long. Yes, they look so big and grown up long before they are two, but please! Keep them rear facing.
Use each carseat properly.
Every car seat is different, and every car seat has its own limits. Every car seat has been tested extensively. The weight and height limits aren’t just nice guidelines; they are there to protect your child in case of a crash. Find the right car seat here.
Just like every car seat has different height and weight limits, each one has a different installation. Read the manual and look on the manufacturer’s website to find videos to show you proper installation. I recommend contacting a licensed Car Seat Technician to have them check the install of your car seat.
Wait until all of your passengers are properly buckled.
My husband is 13 years older than his youngest brother. The first time I drove my brother-in-law, he wouldn’t put on his seat belt; he looked at me like I was crazy! I was a little crazy, but I couldn’t imagine not buckling up in the car. I waited until he buckled up. He was unimpressed, but I firmly believe that every passenger needs to be properly buckled before the car moves. The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration reports over half of accidents occur within a 5 mile radius of home. Don’t start driving until everyone is secure!
No thick jackets in car seats (even when it’s freezing).
It’s hard during the winter to take jackets off and on every time you get in and out of the car. Unfortunately, if you were to get into a crash and your child had a thick/puffy jacket on, the jacket would compress and the straps on your child’s seat would be too loose, causing your child to get injured. It’s not worth the risk. Find something that helps your family to stay warm in the winter while not wearing thick jackets in car seats.
Know your local laws.
In Nebraska, it is now illegal for children under the age of 2 to forward face in the car! Additionally, children under the age of 8 need to be in a child safety seat AND in the rear if that is possible. Laws change regularly and every state is different. You can look here to learn more about the laws in each state.
Make sure that car seat chest clips are in the right position.
Car seat chest clips should be level with a child’s armpits. They should not ever be placed over the child’s soft stomach. Chest clips can only do their job when they are placed over a child’s chest.
Register your car seat, and know when your car seat is set to expire (yes, they expire)!
My children all have the same car seat make and model. Because they are all 2 years apart, each child’s seat is slightly different. My oldest child’s seat had a recall last summer. I wouldn’t have known about it if I hadn’t registered her seat 5 years ago when I bought it. Register your car seat so that you will know about important recalls and safety information.
You also need to know when your car seat is set to expire. Most seats last between 5 – 10 years, depending on the make and model. Wear and tear on car seats is inevitable, and after a certain amount of time, they can’t be guaranteed to keep your child safe.
Make sure the seat will fit into your car.
Car seats come in varying widths and heights. My car seats are very narrow so that I can fit three across. Last week, I had my friend’s children in my car and their mom gave me their booster seats. One of the seats covered HALF of the back row in my Honda Odyssey. I had to shuffle seats around so that I had enough room for the booster in my car. Every car and car seat is a different size; make sure it will fit into your car!
