Although parents take so much trouble to pick a quality baby car seat to carry their dear bundle of joy in the car, one of the saddest facets of kid safety on the roads is that in most situations they don't fit the seat in the correct way. According to a study by the State Road Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) almost 80% of child safety seats are badly fitted or misused. And this means that of those 80%, an equal number equipped with
infant car seat covers are also misused.
These errors are outlined by the NHTSA as 'critical' because there's a possibility of significant injury in the event of an accident. So most baby safety seats are not just about as safe as parents think, and many babies are at risk.
How then are you be certain that your baby will be safe in the car?
First, ensure that you are using the right type of seat for your baby's age and weight, and that it faces facing the proper way. Some multi-purpose seats can be fitted to face either forward or backward and the fitting will change as your youngster grows. Babies under one years old and under twenty lb in weight should have rear-facing seats. But note that all kid safety seats, whether forward or backward facing, should be fitted on the back seat of the car.
It is also feasible to buy child seats for young babies. These are designed to be rear-facing only, so you will need a new seat when your youngster gets bigger. However, they are going to be a better fit for your newly born baby and they are less difficult to store and carry, being smaller. You can carry your sleeping baby around in his or her safety seat.
A convertible seat will sometimes hold children up to 40 lb.
But whatever sort of seat you select, the most vital point is to fit it in the correct way. First, ensure that you have the seat firmly and correctly buckled into the vehicle.
US visitors can go to http://www.seatcheck.org to get a kid safety seat inspection center near you.
The label should tell you the date of turn out and you mustn't employ a seat that is more than 5 years old. Ensure that you have the manufacturer's instructions and that all the parts are included. If not, don't use the seat, even if it definitely was a gift. It is not worth taking the chance.
Above all remember that in an accident, your child's life depends on the baby car seat.
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