Many parents visit a place to check that their baby’s car seat is securely fastened to their car. A car seat is an easy way to protect your child – but are you doing it right?
This month there are 2 great events to help you make sure you are using and securing your car seat properly in your vehicle. Child Passenger Safety Week is September 13-19, 2015 and National Seat Check is Saturday September 19, 2015.
One of the goals of Child Passenger Safety Week is to encourage parents and caregivers to visit SaferCar.gov/TheRightSeat to determine if your child is in the right seat for his or her age and size and to locate a car seat inspection event in your area. You will also be urged to register your child’s car seat with the manufacturer so as to be informed in the event of a recall. There have been several recalls on car seats – so you want to be informed!
Is your child in the correct seat? Here are some great questions to help you know if you are using the proper car seat.
- Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
- Children ages 1-3 should be kept rear-facing as long as they fit the car seat.
- Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12.
- Be certain you’ve installed your car seat correctly by having it checked at an inspection station or by a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Bring the car seat instructions AND the vehicle owner’s manual with you to a seat check appointment!
We have a minivan and my 10 and 7 year old sit in the very back row. My 7 year old still uses his high back booster seat.
Many parents may not realize their child is in the wrong car seat. Visit safercar.gov/therightseat and make sure your child is riding safely.
Car Seat Safety Tips:
- Find a car seat that fits your child. As children grow, how they sit in your car will change. Make sure the car seat you purchase is designed to fit your child’s current size and age and allows some room growth.
- Not all car seats fit in all vehicles so test the car seat you plan to buy to make sure it fits well in your vehicle.
- Before putting your child in a car seat, read the manufacturer’s instructions so you know how your car seat works and how to install it.
- All-in-One car seats offer you the advantage of using the same seat for the following positions: rear-facing, forward-facing with harness, then booster. These seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time, which physicians and safety experts strongly recommend.
Make sure you visit safercar.gov/therightseat – it has a ton of information that can help you keep your child safe. Also mark your calendar for the Twitter Party on September 16 at 2pm – 3pm.