Car-Seat Safety for Children From the Virginia Department of Health
Few parents forget the first time they put their infant into the car. In fact many hospitals won’t release a new mother unless she has an infant car seat for her baby.
Clearly, installing car seats correctly is an essential part of being a good parent. But, almost anyone who has installed a car seat knows it’s a challenge to get the seat in right. The good news is that help is available.
At Curry’s Auto Service, we want to be part of the solution for parents with young children.
Although we aren’t car-seat specialists, we are your partner in car safety. So we turn to the experts for advice on how to install a car seat, as well as other great tips on how to keep your kids safe in the car from the VA Dept. of Health.
Remember: VA law states that all children under 18 years of age must be properly restrained in the car. The VA Highway Safety Office wants to make sure that all children in Virginia are riding safely in the car. Read on for tips and assistance with transporting your children safely.
Studies have shown that children are more likely to become lifelong seat belt users when their parents are lifelong seat belt users. So, your child’s safety begins with you. Set a good example by making sure that you buckle up on every ride.
Car-Seat Tips:
- Until they are 2 years old, children should ride facing the rear—or as long as the safety seat manufacturer allows, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
- Everyone needs to be properly restrained in the car, whether it’s in a child safety seat, a booster seat, or a seat belt. This means one seat belt for each safety seat or person. Do not share seat belts!
- Did you know that an individual is four times more likely to die outside the vehicle than inside? The primary function of the safety seat and seat belt is to prevent ejection from the vehicle.
- Keep in mind that individuals not buckled up can be thrown from the car or tossed around inside the car, which can seriously injure themselves or others.
- Never hold a child on your lap while in the car or allow anyone to ride in the cargo area of a station wagon, van, or pickup.
- One of the most frequently asked questions about safety seats is: “What’s the best child safety seat I can buy?” Federal regulations state that all safety seats made in the United States must conform to a specific set of guidelines, so the best seat is the safety seat that fits the child, the vehicle, any special needs of the child, and that will be used correctly every time.
- Child safety seats needs to be tightly installedwith either a safety belt or LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) to hold it in place.
- How “tight” is tight? After installation, you’ll know you have installed the seat securely when it can move no more than one inch side-to-side or forward.
- Use the correct slots on the safety seat for your child: at or slightly below the rear-facing infant’s shoulders, at or slightly above the forward-facing toddler’s shoulders.
- Note: Harness straps should be positioned on the child’s shoulders and chest, not on the arms. The goal is to keep the straps flat on the child’s body and snug enough that you cannot pinch any slack in the straps at the child’s shoulders. Place the harness retainer clip at the armpit level on the child.
- “When is my child ready for a booster seat?”When the child reaches the upper weight and height limits set by the manufacturer of the convertible seat, a belt positioning booster can be considered for use. This forward facing seat requires the use of a lap/shoulder belt and “boosts” the child to better fit the vehicle seat belt system.
- To be able to fit in an adult seat belt, the child must: be tall enough to sit without slouching, keep his or her back against the vehicle seat back, keep his or her knees completely bent over the edge of the seat, keep his or her feet flat on the floor, and be able to stay comfortably seated this way.
- The lap belt must fit low and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt should rest over the center of the shoulder through the center of the chest.
- Never put the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the back. This can cause serious internal injuries in a crash. If the seat belt does not fit properly, use a belt-positioning booster.
Learn more about VA Child Passenger Safety Laws here.