Why Is Car Seat Safety Important?
Knowing how to correctly install car seats is essential to caring for your newborn. Because their spines are still developing, babies younger than two years old have a higher risk of injury in a car accident.
Tips for Keeping Your Baby Safe
You should practice installing a car seat before putting your child in it. And it’s best to avoid using used car seats. Even though they can be less expensive, there’s no way to know the condition of the seat. Car seats that have been in accidents or had parts removed are not safe to use. It is recommended to have your car seat inspected at an inspection station prior to your delivery to ensure it is installed properly.
It’s also important to know when your car seat was manufactured to ensure it meets safety standards.
To keep your child safe in a car seat,
- Adjust the shoulder straps so they are at or below your child’s shoulders.
- Always put rear-facing seats in the backseat of your car.
- Don’t move children to larger seats until they are at the height and weight limits for a rear-facing seat.
- Ensure the harness is snug enough that you cannot lift or make folds in the shoulder strap after buckling.
- Have your child use a rear-facing seat as long as you can before having them ride without a car seat.
- Never place blankets or bulky outerwear between your child and the shoulder straps.
- Never place a blanket underneath or behind your child in the seat.
Comprehensive Maternity Services
We provide comprehensive education, care, and services for new parents.
Whether you are having your first child or are adding to your family, you may benefit from our childbirth education services. Our classes cover a range of topics, from breastfeeding to infant safety. We also provide you with a directory of child seat inspection stations.
