One of the most important responsibilities of parents is to keep their children safe at all times. This includes keeping a child passenger safe when inside a moving vehicle. The best way to protect your kids when they are in the car is using a child safety seat, or simply a car seat.
One of the causes of death and injury among children is due to car crashes. Thus, to save lives, having a car seat installed has been mandatory in every US state. Ensuring your child’s safety depends on the proper selection and usage of a car seat. For instance, the best car seats for a 3 year old child will depend on the child’s weight, size, and your vehicle’s size. It will be best when you try to install the car seat and have your child try it for his first ride.
In some states in the US, you may visit a child car seat inspection agency to see and double-check that it is correctly installed. Some agencies may be public safety groups, law enforcement offices, or health departments.
How Car Seats Save Children
Nowadays, it is not practical to claim that car seats were not necessary during the old times and that nobody was into severe injury due to car accidents. The fact is, there are more cars now than before, and speeds are even faster, making roads and highways significantly risky and dangerous compared to 10 years ago.
There has been a conducted analysis that children placed in well-installed and proper car seats reduced the occurrence of severe injuries and death.
A child’s body is not as strong as an adult’s body is – after all, they have a softer skeletal structure. This makes them more susceptible to injuries in the event of a crash since the skeletal system has not been developed yet like that much of an adult.
Other car crash risks can also affect developing brains in addition to the spinal cord, which is quite dangerous for children. Another is the risk of them flying out of the car when a severe bump happens due to their lightweight or small size, and knowing that children are not easy to control or they cannot sit still can also make them vulnerable if a car crash happens.
So it is crucial to install the proper car seat that is appropriate for their size and age as well.
Related Article: https://www.zero2turbo.com/2018/12/car-seats
Why a Proper Size and Installation of Car Seat Matter
Having a good car seat to protect your child in the event of a car crash is not enough. Proper selection and installation will determine the success of the goal to keep your child safe. Some common mistakes when getting one are:
- Car seat size that can be too small or too big for your child can be unsafe.
- A car seat that is not properly installed or positioned, such as facing forward, can give less security.
- A car seat buckles that are not entirely or completely buckled fail to provide full protection.
Which Car Seat Suits Your Child
Several types of car seats are available in the market. It is again proper to emphasize choosing one that is appropriate for your child’s size and age. Rear-facing Car seats are recommended for infants until they reach the age of two.
It is the safest option for your baby. While on the other hand, a Forward-facing car seat is recommended for older kids when they reach the age of five. A booster seat may be used when they outgrow a forward-facing car seat. Seat belts may replace car seats once the seat belt already fits your child’s body.
Hence, when a car seat is perfectly installed in your vehicle with your child tied up properly reduces the chance of getting an injury.
How to Install a Car Seat and Ensure Safety
Now that you know why a car seat is a must when you have your child inside your car, here are some installation tips to ensure that the car seat is secured. Read both your car manufacturer’s manual and the car seat’s manual or installation instructions.
Check how to use the seat belts or the Lower Anchor’s and Tether’s for Children system of your car before installing the car seat. Always keep in mind that a car seat should be placed in the back seat of your car since this is the safest position for a child until they reach age 13 or a height of 4 feet and 9 inches.
Then carefully follow the car’s instructions in threading the seat belt through the car seat belt slots and tighten them. Do not forget to buckle and lock the seat belt. The harness straps should be placed through the slots provided, and the straps should lay flat on your child’s body.
In conclusion, it is a responsibility for parents with kids to follow the law on car safety. Accidents happen all the time, and having a car seat can save your child if a car accident may occur.