Sorry, it’s been so long since the last Child Safety post.  We have been very busy here at Findlay Chevrolet – lots of events.   So, here is the final installment on car seats.

This post is going to focus on Booster Seats and correctly adjusted Seat Belts. 

Booster seats are for the older child who has passed the age/height limits of the car seat but can’t fit the shoulder and lap harness as needed, usually when the child reaches 4’9” in height and around 8 years old.  A booster seat is designed so the child is lifted and the seat belts will fit correctly as if they were adults.  The booster seat is not usually attached using the LATCH system rather using the child’s weight and the seat belts to hold your precious cargo in position. 

The lap and shoulder belts should fit your child snugly – with the lap belts lying low and snug and the shoulder belt lying across your child’s chest.  Make sure it doesn’t lie across the neck.  Backless booster seats are less expensive and easier to move from vehicle to vehicle making them a good choice.  The booster seats with backs should be used if your vehicle doesn’t have head rests.

When your child hits the 4’9” height requirement they will most likely fit perfectly in the adult seat belts. Make sure that the shoulder belt lies across the chest and should – not touching the neck or throat. The lap belt should lie snugly across the upper thighs.  If not, back to the booster seat for a little extra growing time.

Children should stay in the back seat until they are 12 or 13 years old – just for extra safety.  After that they can move up front with you.  Be sure to read about the airbags in your owner’s manual at that time.

If you need help with the installation, to double check that you have installed it correctly or to check recalls you can find someone qualified  at your local fire department or police department.  You can find a CPS Certified technician by checking out:

            NHTSA 888.327.4236

            SeatCheck 866.732.8213

            National Child Passenger Safety Certified Technician 877.366.8154

Additionally, here in Las Vegas Sunrise Hospital, St. Rose Dominican Hospital and Summerlin Hospital can assist.

Remember, 71% of all car seats are not installed correctly. All it takes is 15 minutes to ensure the safety of your child.

If you have any questions or suggestions – please let me know.

Child Safety Part 2

This blog is going to concentrate on the little ones that would be most safe utilizing a rear-facing only seat or a rear-facing convertible seat.  These are only general guidelines and do not constitute any recommendation of manufacturer of car seats.

 Infants and toddlers should always ride in a rear-facing car seat until they reach 2 years old or they reach the highest weight/height recommended by the car seat’s manufacturer.  If a crash happens, a rear-facing only car seat may cradle the child's neck to protect it and help protect against any spinal cord injury.

Rear-facing only car seats are used for infants for approximately 22 pounds, depending on the model. Though convertible seats can be used for a newborn, they will likely fit better in an infant seat. Convertible seats are best for when a baby's weight reaches the infant seat's limit, which may be as early as 6 to 9 months old.

These seats are usually small, have handles and usually have a base that stays in the car. Sometimes they come as part of a stroller system.  The seat clicks into and out of the base so you don’t have to reinstall every time you want to travel. Plus you can usually buy an additional base for another vehicle. With its removable carrier and swing-up handle, an infant seat lets you move your baby in and out of the car without disturbing him. Though it might be a better value to jump into a convertible seat first, infant seats, by their design, tend to be more compact and secure infants better when compared to larger convertible models.

The main feature of a convertible car seat which is different than other models of car seat is that they can adapt to suit the needs of your growing child and feature an adjustable harness to fit your child. Convertible car seats generally have padding in the side of the car seat for side impact protection (SIP) and they are generally LATCH equipped. The convertible seats have a 5-point harness that attaches at the shoulders, at the hips and between the legs. They are larger so be sure there is room in the car.  Also, make sure that the seat belt or LATCH belt is routed through the correct belt path.  If you are not sure, it only takes a few minutes to get it checked out to be safe.

When the child reaches the recommended weight for the current car seat you will need to start shopping around for a front facing car seat or turn your convertible car seat around. Always adhere to the suggested weight because some children grow in height quickly and without putting on the weight. Don't worry if the child's feet hit the back of the seat.  When my grandson started kicking the back of the seat I was tempted to turn the car seat around. Instead I just took his shoes off and let him kick away.  It didn't hurt the seat and my grandson remained protected. Luckily. children tend to be contortionists and having their legs bent is not usually a problem.

Another good rule of thumb is, when you only have one car seat to deal with, place it in the middle of the seat.  This minimizes the chance of side impact injuries. And always, always check with a professional to make sure the car seat is attached correctly. 

In my next blog I will be discussing front facing car seats and booster seats.  Let me know if you have any questions or a topic to discuss.  

Child Safety

IT'S ALMOST SUMMER!  The children will be in the car more...

One of the most important jobs faced by a parent is to keep their child safe. By far the most common type of injury accident involving children are those that also involve motor vehicle collisions. Not using a child safety seat correctly is a contributing factor in more than half of the cases involving death. And let’s not forget how distracting children can be to the driver. 

According to NHTSA crash data, nearly 325 children are harmed daily due to accidents on our roads. Approximately 5% of total fatalities due to car accidents are children. Car accidents are also the leading cause of child disability nationwide (brain injury, paralysis, etc.).  Hispanics are likely to move their children out of car seats and booster seats earlier because car restraint use is not a cultural norm back home so some are unaware of the extra steps they can take to improve their child’s safety.

These statistics are intense so I am going to write a series of blogs on keeping your child safe while you are in your car.  Over the years our cars have become much safer but we still have to do our part.  It is very important to know which seat is best for your child and your vehicle. You also need to know how to install the restraint properly.  But, with so many different car seats on the market it’s no wonder that parents find this subject overwhelming.

I am going to use information from the US Department of Transportation, NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), American Academy of Pediatrics, IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and more.  I am going to include videos showing how to use car seats and booster seats. I am going to include locations where you can get your car seats inspected.  And I will answer (or direct you to the proper authority) any questions you direct to me.  This is going to be fun, educational and hopefully help keep our children safer.