There are several mistakes those parents often make regarding their child’s car seat. A car seat is used in place to ensure maximum safety of the baby. It is a sad fact that many parents fail to ignore the height, weight and age specifications that safety laws have placed. The installation of the seats is also faulty at times. Let us see some common misconceptions in the use of seats and ways to rectify them.
Parents should keep their babies in rear-facing seats until the age of two years or until the child reaches the height and weight limits. The car seats themselves have this height and weight limit printed on their backside. The fact is that many parents are in a hurry to have their baby facing forward; in fact as soon as it reaches its first birthday the child is flipped over. This is one of the few mistakes that parents often make as far as seats for toddlers and babies are concerned. A rear facing seat is better in supporting the head, neck and spine of infants. This is due to the distribution of the force of collision throughout the body. Almost four to five infant deaths can be prevented daily if this rule is followed.
A second common mistake is the erroneous installation of the seat as parents fail to read the accompanying seat manual. Several injuries can be avoided by carefully reading the car seat manual as well as the vehicle manual. In fact, you should read the manual not only while installing but also while flipping the seat to front facing after the baby has reached the correct weight/height limits and also when it graduates to a booster seat. Also, during the installation, belts of the seats are often left too loose. It is also better that you take help from a friend or partner to install the seat; one should push it down with his weight, while the other should ensure that the seat does not move more than 2.5 cm in back, front and side directions. And if it does move then you need to re-install the seat. The tether strap is also left loose and even absent in some cases. Studies show that the tether system can greatly reduce the collision on the baby’s head. If your seat comes with a tether strap, you should definitely use it.
The bulky and heavy winter clothing can also render the seat belt harness system loose. So, in winters; remember to remove the coats and jackets while placing the baby in the seat. You can place the blankets over the child, once the seat belts are buckled. But a common mistake is wrapping the child in a blanket first and then using the seat belt.
Finally, you should never place a car seat in the front passenger seat of the car with air bags. Only a child above the age of 12, with the specified height/weight limit, is allowed to ride in the passenger seat. If a child under 12 years of age has to be placed in the front seat, then you need to move your car’s seat as far back as possible and also switch off the air-bags where possible.
Parents should keep their babies in rear-facing seats until the age of two years or until the child reaches the height and weight limits. The car seats themselves have this height and weight limit printed on their backside. The fact is that many parents are in a hurry to have their baby facing forward; in fact as soon as it reaches its first birthday the child is flipped over. This is one of the few mistakes that parents often make as far as seats for toddlers and babies are concerned. A rear facing seat is better in supporting the head, neck and spine of infants. This is due to the distribution of the force of collision throughout the body. Almost four to five infant deaths can be prevented daily if this rule is followed.
A second common mistake is the erroneous installation of the seat as parents fail to read the accompanying seat manual. Several injuries can be avoided by carefully reading the car seat manual as well as the vehicle manual. In fact, you should read the manual not only while installing but also while flipping the seat to front facing after the baby has reached the correct weight/height limits and also when it graduates to a booster seat. Also, during the installation, belts of the seats are often left too loose. It is also better that you take help from a friend or partner to install the seat; one should push it down with his weight, while the other should ensure that the seat does not move more than 2.5 cm in back, front and side directions. And if it does move then you need to re-install the seat. The tether strap is also left loose and even absent in some cases. Studies show that the tether system can greatly reduce the collision on the baby’s head. If your seat comes with a tether strap, you should definitely use it.
The bulky and heavy winter clothing can also render the seat belt harness system loose. So, in winters; remember to remove the coats and jackets while placing the baby in the seat. You can place the blankets over the child, once the seat belts are buckled. But a common mistake is wrapping the child in a blanket first and then using the seat belt.
Finally, you should never place a car seat in the front passenger seat of the car with air bags. Only a child above the age of 12, with the specified height/weight limit, is allowed to ride in the passenger seat. If a child under 12 years of age has to be placed in the front seat, then you need to move your car’s seat as far back as possible and also switch off the air-bags where possible.
Baby Car Seats To Toddlers And 4 Popular Mistakes Associated With All Of Them