Child Car Seat Safety

Child car safety seats save lives. It’s as simple as that! Here are some tips on keeping your children safe.

We know it’s fun for children to sit in the front seat of the car but it’s just not safe. If your children are under 12 years of age or 100 lbs they are safer sitting in the back seat. Check your state laws on child passenger safety. Every state is different.

Help get your children accustomed to car seats beginning with the ride home from the hospital. For the first year until a child is 20 lbs he must ride in a rear-facing car seat. Check the height and weight requirements of the specific car seat you own.

• Never place a child in a rear-facing car safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle that has an airbag.
• Set a good example-always wear your seat belt. Do not even start the car before you hear “Click.”
• Remember that each car safety seat is different. Read and keep the instructions that came with your seat.
• Read the owner's manual that came with your car on how to correctly install car safety seats.

When your children are babies, car seats are a necessity and it’s important that you purchase one that fits securely into car. You might be heading to your friend’s down the road or the store up the street and have a crying baby that longs for your arms rather than a confining car seat. While you may be tempted to hold your baby versus dealing with the process of getting him settled in, it is imperative that you secure him in a seat.

Car accidents do not only happen on long journeys. Visit these sites for child safety guidance.

http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/CPS/CSSRating/Index.cfm

Be safe. We even have a Be Safe song in our family "You'r better safe than sorry, it's better if you wait. Follow the rules, 'cause you're better safe than sorry."

Forward facing-seats and booster seats should be used as your child grows and needs continuing security before he is able to use a seat belt alone.

Check the advised height and weight requirements before advancing to these safety seats. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration webpage to check their ratings on the safest car seats available, recalls, or local inspection stations and technicians to make sure your child’s seat is properly installed.

As mothers, it’s in our blood to multitask and this trait is generally a huge strength when managing a family life. However when in your vehicle, this is the one time when multitasking is not good idea. As tempting as it is to call work to confirm a meeting, wait. Wait until you are home or until you are no longer driving.

Keeping your family safe should take precedence.

From: Brienne Hollingsworth and Lynne Kenney