Because I have so many friends who are first time mommies (and even friends who already have kiddos) I wanted to make a post about some basics about car seat safety. I hope you take these things into consideration when buying a car seat and when using one as well!
What to look for when buying a car seat
When you're making that big exciting purchase for your new little bundle, please take note: NOT all car seats are created equal! While it is true that every car seat currently on the market in the United States is required to go through rigorous safety testing and meet certain standards, some perform better than others. For example, your cheap low-end car seats you can buy for under $100 usually just meet the minimum standards and they don't bother going above and beyond. Basically, you get what you pay for. The high-end car seats that cost a lot of money cost a lot of money for a reason. They are made better, they have additional safety features, and they generally go far beyond the minimum safety standards. Since I am writing this as just a mom, I can tell you that I honestly believe certain car seats to be safer than others.
With all that in mind, these are things you should know when buying that first car seat for your baby. This is a list of things that comes from my favorite web site, Car-safety.org :
- Use rear-facing up to 22-35 pounds, depending on the model.
- A 5-point harness is preferred. Keep chest clip at armpit level and not on the neck or tummy.
- Harness strap slots should be at or below the shoulders.
- A front adjuster to tighten the harness makes it easy to use.
- Newborns and infants should have a 45 degree maximum recline.
- Built-in angle indicators and adjusters may help get the correct recline.
- Manufacturers have differing instructions on where handle should be while traveling. Read the instruction manual to learn if it should be up or down in the vehicle.
- A rear-facing tether or impact foam found on some models may improve safety.
- Infant seats may fit newborns better than convertible models.
My personal recommendations for an infant car seat are 1) Chicco (Key-co) KeyFit 30 or 2) Britax B-Safe. These two car seats are top of the line and offer superb safety for your little one. I have the Chicco (well, actually 2 now) and I love everything about it. It has a super easy to install base, and it fits well in smaller vehicles, as well as narrow seats. After you decide to purchase a car seat, please register it with the manufacturer so they can contact you directly about any recalls that may come out. This is very important!
Installing a car seat
First things first. Read the ENTIRE manual for your car seat. Then, read it again. and again...I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to read it! It has ALL the answers. Really, it does! You'll miss some things the first time around, so that's why I recommend to re-read it.
Second, read the manual to your vehicle!! Not all cars allow you to install a car seat in the middle position using the LATCH method. Why? Well, I don't know! They just don't! Your vehicle's manual will tell you WHERE you can install the car seat using both LATCH and seat belt. It should also tell you if there can be a passenger next to the car seat if it is installed using LATCH or seat belt. Every car is different, and sometimes it is tricky. For instance, in our car, if we install the car seat on either outboard seat using the LATCH method, nobody can sit in the middle seat using a seat belt. Why? I don't know, it just says they can't, so you follow the rules! Cars have been crash-tested and they have done all the work for you and they've written it out, so PLEASE read the manual! Do all this BEFORE you even take the car seat to the car to install. That way you know what you're doing beforehand and you're not standing outside the car reading and getting frustrated when you're confused.
After you've read all the instructions, go ahead and install the seat following the car seat's manual. Once you've got your seat installed and it is at the correct angle and doesn't more more than 1 inch side to side at the point of installation (i.e. where the LATCH is or seat belt path is) then you should be good. After you've done this, take yourself, your spouse and your car with the car seat installed to the nearest Car Seat Checkpoint to get it inspected. Why? Because sometimes you missed something and the awesome CPS technicians check your seat for FREE! They also won't consider the seat "checked" until you know how to correctly install it first, and you'll do that for them and they'll re-check it :)
Getting a car seat checked by a CPS technician
You can do this by clicking on this link and finding the nearest location to you! Trust me on this. It's important. When I was doing CPS checkups, there were SO many people who thought they had done it right, but then they were doing one little thing wrong (or in some cases one BIG thing!), all the while having NO idea that they didn't have their seat in right. 75% of car seats are used and installed INCORRECTLY! Don't be that 75%!!
How long to keep rear-facing
My first answer to this question is simply, "As long as possible" but the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends you keep your little one rear-facing until at least age 2! It may seem like an inconvenience to some people, but really your first priority should be safety, not convenience. Our little one is 24 lbs and 19 months old, but I will be keeping her rear-facing until she outgrows her current car seat's weight limit, which is 40 lbs. In order to keep your child rear-facing longer, you'll need to buy a convertible car seat that has a high weight limit. We use the Britax Boulevard 70 and we love it. It is super safe, super comfy and super easy to use! Best of all, once we have turned our daughter around, she will be able to use this seat until she is 70 lbs, or gets too tall, which is going to be a long time! If keeping your child rear-facing past 2 isn't something you're planning on doing, at least PLEASE keep them rear-facing until 2. Visit this link for more specific information about keeping your child rear-facing. I personally believe it is better to have the risk of my child's legs being broken in an accident, rather than her neck being broken because you can fix little legs, but you cannot fix little necks.
Using aftermarket products
Again, here is great information from Car-safety.org about using aftermarket products such as infant support pillows, JJ Cole BundleMe and like products:
Can I use an infant head support? Is it OK to put a padded cushion under the child for comfort?
Generally, NO. Unless such items come with the car seat or are recommended by the manufacturer of the car seat as an accessory, do not use them. Aftermarket pads and cushions are not tested with the seat and any compressible material inside the harness may allow for more slack in the restraint. With a small infant, it is usually OK to put a rolled towel or receiving blanket along the sides of the head (outside the harness straps) to keep it upright. You may also put a rolled towel between a small infant and the crotch strap if there is a large gap, though you should never put towels or pads under a child in a car seat.
Please friends, just don't use these. If you're worried about your baby being too cold, then use blankets AFTER you've put your baby in the car seat. It's best to dress baby a little warmly or just add a blanket on top of baby after they're securely in the seat! Another thing to keep in mind, especially with older children is to not put them in the car seat with their coats on! If you don't think it matters, do this, put your child in the car seat with their coat on and tighten the straps then take them out, take the coat off and put them back in. If you need to tighten the straps with their coat off, don't let them wear their coat in the car seat.
Buying/using used car seats
Also from Car-safety.org:
Are used carseats safe to use?
If you are unable to verify that the carseat has never been involved in a crash, do not use it. Above that, you should inspect it carefully to make sure all the parts and labels are intact, and that there are no visible stress marks. You should also verify that the stickers with the manufacturer, model number and date of manufacture are legible. You must also have the owner's manual, or get a copy from the manufacturer. Finally, you need to make sure the used carseat has not been recalled (or if it has, that the appropriate corrections were made). Older seats may not meet current safety standards. Older seats may also be less convenient and more difficult to use, and may lack the latest safety features. If there is any doubt on the condition or history of a used carseat, please destroy it completely and permanently (using a saw or otherwise) and purchase a new one.
Other important info about car seat safety:
Here are the ten basic rules from Car-safety.org
- Kids 12 and under should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. This cuts their risk of death by 36%.
- Kids should be in a carseat or booster until they can be seated properly in a seatbelt. For most kids, this is around 8-12 years old or 4' 9" tall, but proper seatbelt fit is the most important factor.
- Never place a rear-facing carseat in the front seat when there is an active frontal airbag.
- Keep your baby rear-facing as long as possible. That can mean up to 35 or 40 pounds in most current convertible seats, unless they outgrow it by height first.
- All current car seats pass government safety standards. Select the one that best fits your child, your vehicle and your budget. Some models do have different features; select one that has the features that will allow you to use it correctly EVERY trip.
- Always read the owners manuals for your vehicle and carseat thoroughly. They often contain specific information about carseat installation that may not be obvious. Some models may vary from what you would expect.
- Make sure that the harness fits snugly on your child, the carseat fits snugly in your vehicle, and that your vehicle seatbelts are locked properly.
- When you buy a carseat, make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit or in case you find you don't like it. Have your seat inspected by a certified technician for free at a checkup event or fitting station.
- Please be wary of used carseats, especially those over six years old, those with an unknown history that may have been in a crash, those that show any form of cracks or damage, and those with missing labels, model number, manufacturing date, instructions or parts.
- Please give driving your complete, unimpaired attention and wear your own seatbelt all the time. These two simple steps are among these easiest ways you can protect yourself and your passengers from injury or death.
Do some research if you have a question about if you can/should do something pertaining to using your car seat. The forum provided on Car-seat.org is a wonderful place to find every answer imaginable for any question. An example of the things I have looked for on the forum are what car seats will fit 3 across in a Honda Odyssey and in what seat positions. I found the answer and now I feel better knowing it is safe and can be done. Please use this resource!
Check your vehicle's manual for information about weight limits on the LATCH system. If it isn't specific, assume that you can only use it until your child is 40 lbs, then you need to be using the car's seat belt.
Here is a great resource for picking a car seat based on ease of use rated by the NHTSA.
Refer to your car seat's manual any time you have a question about weight/height limits or anything else. Please take note that the inserts that come in your car seat can usually only be used up until a certain poundage is reached, so make sure you know what that limit is and follow it! Another thing that will be listed in your manual is whether or not you can leave the handle of an infant car seat up while using it in the car. These are the types of things you can find in your manual.
Most car seats expire 6 years after the date they are manufactured, NOT the date you purchased it. So, pay attention to the manufacture date when buying a car seat. If your car seat expires, you can take it to a car seat recycling center or destroy it. Yes, it seems harsh to destroy something you spent so much money on, but you don't want someone using your expired seat so cut the straps, and frame so it's unusable.
Please visit the Car-safety.org FAQ page for any other questions, and for A LOT more information than what I have provided here.
One last thing I like to tell friends and family when they cringe at the cost of a good high-end car seat is that you can't put a price on safety. Many people are so willing and eager to buy a new iPod, iPhone, other electronic device or something for $200+ but not willing to spend that on a good car seat for their child. To me it is a matter of priority. I would rather have less "fun things" and have a better car seat, which is why I have bought expensive, high-end car seats. That's just my two cents.
I hope this has benefited someone, and please, feel free to ask any questions! I will for sure point you in the right direction if I can't answer the question myself!
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