22 Jun Car Seat Safety Tips

Car Seat Safety Tips

According to the law in most of the US states, all kids under the age of 7 or 8 must always be seated in the back seat in a safely secured baby seat or booster seat. While you usually get a safety manual from the car seat’s manufacturer. Here are some car seat safety tips that can help you ensure your baby’s safety while they’re in the car:

1. Keep the seat rear-facing for as long as possible

Rear-facing car seats are always safer than forward-facing ones since they keep your child more protected in case of an impact. It’s recommended that you keep your child’s car seat rear-facing for as long as they can comfortably sit in one.

Always check the weight limit on your rear-facing car seat to make sure your child falls under it. Most rear-facing car seats should be able to seat your child for up to 3 years of age. As long as it’s not weirdly uncomfortable for them to sit rear-facing it should be okay for them to be seated that way.

2. Use a booster seat until your child is tall enough

Booster seats make sure your child has the seat belt where they need it to be. It ensures that your child’s height is at a level where the seat belt would securely go around their chest and belly.

Until your child passes the 5-step test of being able to sit without a booster seat, it’s highly recommended that you use one. 

3. Keep the belt straps snug around your baby

While your child is seated in a baby seat, make sure the shoulder straps securely fit into the buckle. Moreover, you need to make sure that the straps are snug against your baby. 

Be sure to remove any blankets or bulky jackets when you secure the straps so it’s actually snug against their chest and there are no wide gaps between the strap and your baby’s body. This helps keep your baby in place in case of an impact and prevents them from falling forward.

4. Avoid keeping any sharp or hard toys in the car with pointed ends that can potentially injure your child. 

Make sure that any toys in the car are soft and squishy. Avoid keeping any toys with sharp edges or small objects that are connected to them. 

5. Make sure adults in the back buckle up too

Adults sitting in the backseat with kids should make sure they put on their seat belts too. This not only acts as a positive influence but also keeps both kids and adults safe in case of an accident.

Adults not only stay safe when they have their seatbelts on, but it also keeps them from being launched at the children in case the car goes sideways.

Apart from these tips, the most important thing you can do is practice safe driving at all times. Avoid texting and driving or doing anything else that can potentially distract you. Also, if you have any questions, it is a great idea to speak to a car seat specialist to make sure your car seat is properly installed!