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Written by Vivienne Myatt

Saturday, 28 June 2008

by VivienneMyatt

One of the greatest investments that parents make is to pick the right car seat for their baby, and although they obviously are putting forth the protection to keep their child safe, most parents go about it the wrong way. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has discovered that almost four in every five cases parents actually made dangerous errors when using the safety seats they placed their child in.

By failing to properly use the safety restraints, the study reports, many parents unknowingly put their child in peril. The most common mistakes found were loose harness straps and safety belt attachments. These mistakes, the ones that almost every parent makes and are the ones that the NHTSA report as being the most "critical".

Age, weight, and position of the seat are all factors that need to be strictly adhered to when picking a safety seat. Many parents put their child in rear-facing car seats, but this should only be done if the child is less than one year old and weighs less than twenty pounds. Always be 100% certain you have bought the correct safety seat for your child. Never let your baby "borrow" his big brothers or his older sisters car seat from when they were 1 year old or older. It can prove fatal..!

If you prefer a seat that will accommodate your baby as they grow, a convertible seat is another option. Support needed by convertible seats is something that makes them larger and heavier. Convertibles should also be placed in the rear-facing position for infants weighing under 20 pounds and under 12 months of age. When the baby out grows that position, the seat can be forward-facing until they reach 40 pounds.

A more important factor than which seat you pick is actually knowing how to use it correctly. You will find it easier to do so if you read all the important parts of your vehicle owner guide and the instruction that came with your safety seat. Obviously, to be effective, your child's car seat must be buckled into the seat correctly, and the seat must be correctly buckled into your car.

Many parents find harness straps annoying and confusing, but they merely need to accomodate the size of your baby, comfortably, yet tightly, around the chest area and fit into the correct slot. Convertible and infant-only car seats have different requirements for harness strap slot positions; aim above the shoulder for convertibles and below the shoulder for the infant-only ones. Other things that matter in using the harness are the proper placement of the harness clip, around the armpit level, always check the owner's guide to confirm the exact placement, and having non-twisted straps.

Also consult your owner's guide as you strap in the seat belt, making sure it goes through the right path, and tilt the seat back by 45 degrees. Some parents put a rolled up towel under the seat's base as well. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. For any car that has LATCH systems, the owner must take note of that and make sure their seat is installed the way their car seat guide and vehicle ownership guide detail. The seat should be in good condition, so if you purchase a used one, double check the label for age. For age, keep your seat under five years old, and never purchase any seat that does not include a set of full manufacturer's instructions. Know your seat's history, including whether or not it has been in any accidents, and make sure it has all its parts.

About the Author:

Read this alarming article by Vivienne Myatt and check if your child is in danger. Learn how you keep your child out of harms way. Also, see how subscribers to her newsletter save money every month. Her interests are shared by mums and moms everywhere.

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