Baby Car Seats Safety
Baby Car Seats Safety — Frequently Asked Questions
Author: MY FIRST ROOM
In this article you will be provided with information about baby car seats and keeping your baby safe while in the car.
There are tips for buying new and used baby car seats.
Answers to some of the most asked questions about car seats are provided as well.
Q. What is the best baby car seat?
The best car seat is the one that matches your baby’s size and weight.
It also fits properly in your car and is easily installed.
Q. What types of baby car seats are available?
There are several types of baby car seats such as infant seats, front facing car seats, and convertible seats.
There are also combination seats (can face front or rear), booster seats and integrated car seats.
With each type of seat there are variations.
Q. Is a five-point harness or a shield safest for my baby?
A five point harness gives your child the greatest protection because it holds your baby tighter in the seat in the event of a crash.
A T-Shield or over-the-head restraint allows too much room or can get in the way of chubby tummies and legs.
The stalk of the T-Shield can cause serious injury to your baby.
Q. How can I find out how to safely install my baby’s car seat?
All car seats (except most second hand seats) come with printed directions.
If after reading the directions you still are not sure how to properly install it.
You can call or email the manufacturer.
Some police stations and hospitals have assistance programsas well.
Q. Is there a correct way to secure my child in the baby car seat?
Yes, there is a correct way in which to secure your child in his car seat.
How you secure your baby in the car seat will likely depend on the age and size of your baby.
For children under a year of age they should be placed in rear-facing seats in the centerof the rear seat.
Older children can sit facing front and their seat are generally placed behind the driver or passenger in order to utilize the shoulder/lap belts.
Q. What is LATCH?
LATCH refers to Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children.
It is a baby car seat installation system.
The lower hooks are attached between the bottom of the back of the seat and seat itself.
The tether piece is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip that secures forward facing baby car seats and prevents excessive movement of the baby’s head in crashes.
Q. What is a Tether?
The tether is a strap made of seat belt material with a clip.
It attaches to the clips on the seat and secures front facing baby car seats.
In a crash it prevents excessive movement of the seat and the baby’s head, reducing the severity of injuries.
Q. How can I tell when my child is ready to use car seat belts without a booster seat?
Your child will be ready for using the car safety restraint system when s/he can sitall the way back in the seat and the knees can bend comfortably over the edge of the seat.
The belt crosses the shoulder between the neck and the arm and the lap belt is low and touches the thighs.
Your child must be able to remain seated the whole trip.
Q. Can a baby car seat be used safely in an airplane?
Yes it can.
Airlines require children age 2 and under, to be in approved car seats.
The seats must be 16 inches or less to fit in the airplane seats.
Call ahead and find out ifyour seat is an approved seat.
Once on the plane, the hostess/es, will be able to assist you.
Q. Is it safe for me to use second-hand baby car seats?
Yes it is safe to use second-hand baby car seats provided you do a safety check.
Belts and harnesses should not be frayed or cracked.
There should be no cracks or tears in the seat cover and the seat should recline easily and stay upright when the baby is seated.
Look into the history of the seat, if it has been in a car crash do not buy it, its ability to safely restrain your child has been compromised.
If the seat doesn’t come with a manual contact the manufacturer to ensure the seat will be properly installed.If the seat is more than 5 years old do not use it, it may have been in a crash and older baby car seats may not fit in new model cars.
Q. What should I do if my baby car seat is recalled?
In most cases, the manufacturer will provide you with instructions of what to do if baby car seat is recalled.
In some cases they will replace it for free they will have you bring it somewhere to get replacement parts also at no cost to you.
Q. Are there baby car seats available for children with special needs?
Children with special needs may require different restraint systems.
Discuss your options with your pediatrician.
Agencies such as Easter Seals have programs and information on baby car seats for special needs children.
Q. What is the best type of harness for my baby car seat?
There are four types of harnesses in baby car seats.
The six-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and two at the crotch.
The five-point harness has two straps at the shoulders, two at the hips and one at the crotch.
The t-shield is a padded triangle that latches at the crotch while the overhead shield comes down from over the head and latches at the crotch also.
The safest harnesses are the five or six-point harnesses.
These prevent excessive movement of the baby in crash situations.
The t shield and the over-head shield allow for too much room and could cause your baby to be ejected from the car in a crash.
In Conclusion
You can never go wrong if you err on the side of caution when it comes to your baby.
The size and weight of your baby as well as your budget will decide what type of seat you will purchase.
This article has provided you with a number of tips to keep your baby safe while riding with you in the car.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
Where can I get baby car safety seats online?
I need car safety seats for my baby.-
ANSWER:
www.albeebaby.com
www.babyuniverse.com
www.elitecarseats.com
www.babyage.com
You can even go with Walmart online, b/c online they have several car seats taht aren’t offered in stores for cheaper than at other places. Amazon and eBay are ok, too, as long as the seat is brand new, with tags attached to the harness.
sign up with ebates.com for discount at babyuniverse, and check out fatwallet’s site, they offer discounts at different stores, too. Most of the places above offer free shipping as well. And depending upon your child’s current age and size, if your’e in the market for a Britax convertible seat, they’re on sale right now. Britax only allows 2 sales a year, so its a big deal.http://www.car-seat.org
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QUESTION:
Where should the baby safety car seat be located, middle or sides of the car, when facing front?-
ANSWER:
The middle is safest by far… but having said that, you can put the baby in any position you wish so long as there is an anchor point to attach the seat to.When i had one baby she went in the middle forward facing but on the side when rearfacing due to issues with the size of the car.
When i had two kids the baby was on the side the whole time as well as the older child who was also in a car seat still.
When i had three kids the newborn capsule went on the side as its hard to get it in the car when its in the middle, but when he went forward facing he went in the middle, with the two older ones in car seats on the sides
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QUESTION:
Baby Car Seat Safety – older vehicles? install teather latch?
I know that vehicles made after 2002 have an anchor for the carseat teather strap….but my vehicle is a 1990 Chrysler VanI read somewhere online that dealerships install the anchor latch free of charge….is that true or how much would it cost? Im in Canada
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ANSWER:
In Canada, it is a law to have your carseats tethered. Yes, GM will install one tether anchor at no charge…and there is no charge for the hardware. You need to contact your local dealership and they will install it for you. Since it is required in Canada, they MAY be able to install more at no charge.Is it a Chrysler Town and Country? You can have TA’s installed outboard, but not in the center and you can have them at all seating locations in the 3rd row. The part number is 05017529AA. That part no. is for all of the seating locations.
Refer to Technical Service Bulletin 23-08-00 Revision A for details. It is only with certain older models.
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QUESTION:
Where can I rent/hire a baby car seat in Madrid? Are there taxis that offer that service?
We will be visiting Spain next month and we are traveling with our 8 month old daughter. I need to rent a car seat to use for 7 days. Are there taxi or other transportation services that offer baby safety seats. I’m mainly worried about the trip from the airport to our hotel.-
ANSWER:
Being an advid traveller, i prefer to bring my own, i then know what condition the car seat in. every time i rent one it never seems to be in great condition.
most airlines allow you to transport the car seat for free, and not counted as a piece of luggage
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QUESTION:
How should a baby car seat be installed to maximize safety?
We followed the instructions when installing the car seat, but we want to be sure that it is installed to maximize safety. Can anyone show me, step-by-step, how to properly install a car seat? There is even a gap between the car seat and the back seat of my car, does anyone have any tips for making this as secure as possible?
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ANSWER:
Tip 1. Securing your child car safety seat Always install the seat tightly, using your body weight to tighten and fasten the seatbelt. There should be no more than 2.5 cm (1″) of movement of the seat from side to side or forward. Each time you place your child in the car safety seat, give it a tug to make sure it is still secureTip 2. Using tether straps with forward-facing car seats
The tether strap for a forward-facing child car safety seat must be used. The tether strap is located on the rear of the child car safety seat and has a hook. The hook is designed to attach the strap to the tether anchorage on the vehicle as specified by the vehicle manufacturer. Ensure the tether is only secured to the designated anchorage point(s) in the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer.Tip 3. Using Universal Anchorage System (UAS) / LATCH
All new Canadian vehicles manufactured on or after September 1, 2002 come with lower universal anchorage points. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual before using the UAS system/LATCH to determine where the anchorage points are located and ensure that the correct method is used as advised by the car seat manufacturer.Tip 5. Using harness slots
Your child car safety seat’s harness straps must be positioned correctly by ensuring they pass through the correct slots.Rear-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or below the child’s shoulders.
Forward-facing child car safety seat harness straps should sit at or above the child’s shoulders.Tip 6. Securing your child in the harness
Ensure that the harness system is snug enough on your child’s chest to allow only one finger width between the strap and the child’s collarbone.Tip 7. Positioning your harness straps
Ensure that harness straps lie flat and they do not twist or fold. Harnesses need to be straightened out each time the child is secured in the seat.Tip 8. Adjusting chest clips
Properly adjust the chest clips on the harness. They should lie flat against the chest and be positioned at armpit level.Tip 9. Installing away from active air bags
Always install child car safety seats away from active air bags. The safest place is in the back seat of a passenger car, sport utility vehicle or light truck and either the second or third row in a mini-van.Tip 10. Installing your rear-facing child car safety seat on a proper angle
Most child car safety seats have a recline position that must be used when in the rear-facing position for an infant (up to 9kg or 20lbs). Check your child car safety seat owner’s manual for instructions. For rear-facing seats, if necessary, use a tightly rolled towel or a foam bar (pool noodle) under the base of the child car safety seat to adjust the angle to 45 degrees. A forward-facing child car safety seat should be in the upright position. Make sure that when the seat is turned from rear-facing to forward-facing, the recline feature is adjusted to the upright position.
here’s a video*
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QUESTION:
where do you find reviews on the safety of car seats and other baby products?-
ANSWER:
Hi! Here is a link to Consumer Reports Infant car seat products.. you don’t need to be a member for this parthttp://www.consumerreports.org/cro/babies-kids/baby-toddler/car-seats/infant-car-seat-ratings/ratings-overview.htm
For other baby products, I google the name of the product + safety test.
Also, check the reviews on Amazon, Target, Babies R Us… they aren’t “official” but they’ll give you a good idea about how the product functions and if other moms like it.
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QUESTION:
Baby Car Seats Crash Test Information?
Newborn and Baby
Consumer Reports Magazine Crash test worriesIn its February 2007 issue, Consumer Reports magazine reported on crash tests it performed to test the safety of car seats. The results were not encouraging.
Most of the infant car seats tested by Consumer Reports “failed disastrously” in crashes at speeds as low as 56 km/h. The seats came off their bases or twisted in place, the report said. In one case, a test dummy was hurled more than nine metres.
Of the 12 car seats tested, Consumer Reports said it could recommend only two, and it urged a U.S. federal recall of the poorest performing seat, the Evenflo Discovery, which is not sold in Canada.
All the car seats passed U.S. standards — but Consumer Reports argues those standards should be raised.
To be sold in Canada and the United States, an infant seat must perform adequately in a 48 km/h frontal crash, and Consumer Reports found that all but the Discovery did so. But it noted that the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducts its crash tests for new cars at higher speeds — 56 km/h for frontal crashes and 61 km/h for side crashes — so the magazine tested the seats at those speeds.
“It’s unconscionable that infant seats, which are designed to protect the most vulnerable children, aren’t routinely tested the same as new cars,” said Consumer Reports’ Don Mays, a product safety director.
The only seats that passed all the tests were the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS — expanded polystyrene foam — both selling for about US. Consumer Reports urged parents shopping for seats to buy one of those two, but it also noted that “any child car seat is better than no seat at all.”
It also said some seats performed better when attached by vehicle safety belts than when attached with the LATCH system. The system, which stands for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, includes belts that hook the base of a car seat to metal anchors in the vehicle.
Consumer Report Article
On January 4, 2007, Consumer Reports published a safety alert in the U.S. claiming that most infant car seats failed their new front- and side-crash evaluation tests. The report also claims that of 12 seats tested, only two performed well: the Baby Trend Flex-Loc and the Graco SnugRide with EPS (i.e., expanded polystyrene). Only six of the twelve infant car seat models chosen by Consumer Reports for this testing are officially certified for and marketed in Canada. They are: the Graco SnugRide; the Peg-Perego Primo Viaggio SIP; the Evenflo Embrace V; the Graco SafeSeat; the Safety 1st Designer 22; and the Combi Centre ST.
Transport Canada wants to reassure the Canadian travelling public that the Department’s collision investigations and data analyses do not support the results obtained by Consumer Reports. When car seats are used correctly, they perform effectively in motor vehicle collisions and child occupants are afforded optimum protection.The Department takes the safety of children travelling in vehicles very seriously and is continually working to improve crash protection for children through research, development and enforcement of safety regulations, participation in various national and international committees that work on policy development, and public awareness campaigns.
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ANSWER:
Where is the question?
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QUESTION:
do NYC cabs have baby car seats?
We are planning on a trip to NYC. We’ll be travelling with a 15 month old. Our concern is safety for the baby in a car. presently we’re not planning on renting a car. We were thinking about taking a taxi from the airport to where we’ll be staying with family. Any suggestions will be appreciated.-
ANSWER:
From what I found, no. http://www.nyc.gov/html/tlc/html/passenger/faq_pass.shtmlBut, I did find this….
I have had good luck installing my “mini-car-seat” in American taxis. I think it is actually called a “Travel Vest.” I bought it brand new for about at Baby World on College Ave. It amounts to a rigid plastic board with a five-point restraint on it, which is belted into the car’s seat belt. It meets the federal safety standards and goes up to a 40-pound child. It installs in about three minutes–probably less the more you use it. It isn’t super comfortable, because it doesn’t have the nice reclined chair-shell that typical car seats have, but for a short ride while she is awake, my 18-month-old daughter is fine with it. Also, because it is very small, it can easily fit into a tote bag. Hope this helps. Meg
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