How to Keep Your Baby Safe on the Road
How to Keep Your Baby Safe on the Road
According to a recent study, nearly 85 percent of infant car seats are not installed properly. A car seat can save a tiny rider's life if it is set up correctly. Take a look at the following installation tips and make sure your baby is riding safely.
Always buy a new car seat. All new car seats sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety and crash performance standards; used seats might be missing parts or could have been involved in automobile accidents and no longer be able to provide adequate protection. Car seats also expire in six to nine years. Check the car seat's stamp to see if yours is still okay or call the manufacturer.
Make sure a rear-facing car seat is tilted at the correct angle. A rear-facing seat should recline at a 45-degree angle so the baby's head is supported and his or her chin does not fall to the chest and block his or her airway. Adjust the base or insert a rolled towel underneath the seat in order to get the right angle. Check to see if your seat has a built-in level indicator.
Place the car seat in the best location. Position the seat in the middle or the back seat, the safest location. If you have more than one child, any position in the back seat will help to protect them from harm should an accident occur.
Get familiar with the LATCH system. LATCH stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. The system was mandated by the federal government in an effort to standardize and simplify the installation of child restraints. Nearly all new vehicles and child safety seats manufactured on or after Sept. 1, 2002 are equipped with LATCH systems. Cars, minivans and light trucks are required to have anchor points between the vehicle's seat cushion and the seat back in at least two rear-seating positions. Child safety seats have tether straps or rigid connectors that hook into these anchors, thereby eliminating the need to secure the child safety seat using the vehicle's seat-belt system.
Have the experts help. The store in which you buy your car seat should have trained staff to help you install it. Baby Emporium has three certified child-passenger seat technicians. Tom Kim, of Baby Emporium on Cooke Street, says he and his staff have been trained by AAA under the NHTSA curriculum to install infant/child car seats. This requires certified technicians to keep up with training and product information every two years. “If you purchased a car seat from us, please talk to your sales person about scheduling a free installation. It is a service we offer to our valued customers,” says Kim. Call 596-4868 for more information.
