I just joined CNN’s Headline News today to talk about car seat safety – just in time for National Child Passenger Safety Week! Watch the clip here (or below)- and get additional details below. Here’s a scary fact (and you know me, I don’t usually like to *scare* you, but here we go. This scares me as a mama, so here we go). Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children ages 1-19, and according to the NHTSA, over half of our car seats are installed INCORRECTLY.
And then something else that really frustrates me? You cannot rely on your state’s laws to keep your baby safe. Nope. I mean, I know that when many of us were children, it may seem like our parents drove around town with us in a bucket. And, well, for many states, it seems like they stopped evolving state laws THERE. In fact, in some states, the laws actually contradict what the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. Not because they do that intentionally, but because they’re so beyond outdated. And personally, I think that’s pretty despicable.
So, I’m calling on all parents and grandparents and friends and anyone who loves a baby or child, to watch out for -and correct – these 5 most common car seat errors. Still in doubt? That’s fine – go to the experts! The NHTSA has a specific link where you can search for Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians in your area.
5 Common Car Seat Errors -That Any Parent Can Make
- Turning to face forward too quickly – Many parents do this because they think their child’s legs are uncomfortable or unsafe. Fact: baby’s spine and head + legs actually FAR safer and at lower risk of injury when facing backwards, than when forwards. (Also, some European countries recommend keeping rear-facing until 4 years old!!). Check your seat’s upper limits – and keep your child rear-facing for as long as the limits allow.
- Graduating children too soon – We also see parents graduate their child up to the next seat too soon – putting them in a booster, or even getting them out of the booster. Again, check the upper limits for each position for the car seat that you have. A good rule of thumb (and what the NHTSA recommends) is to keep kiddo rear-facing and then in the most secure seat up to the top height/weight limits allowed by the particular seat.
- Skipping the tether strap. Once your kiddo is facing forward, it’s NECESSARY to use the tether strap (which connects the head of the car seat to the back of the actual vehicle’s seat, to keep the car seat anchored and from flipping forward in the case of an accident. Without it, a child’s head could move by an extra 4-6 inches. So, tether it down, and make sure the seat is extra snug and not going anywhere.
- Having the restraints too loose – Keep those restraints snug! As pediatrician and car seat safety expert Dr. Alisa Baer (ie @thecarseatlady, as you know and love her!) suggests this rule of thumb: you should be able to slide a single finger under the restraints at the level of the collarbone, but not the width of two fingers. Also, make sure that baby isn’t wearing any coat or anything bulky that could keep the straps from being sufficiently snug.
- Keeping a car seat too long: Car seats have expiration dates – usually around 6-8 years. That’s why it’s never a great idea to use someone else’s car seat hand-me down. Also, if a seat has been in an accident, likely needs to be replaced, due to the possibility of micro-damage. To be certain about any recalls, make sure to register your car seat with the manufacturer (even if you didn’t do this when you purchased, you can likely go register now, to be sure that you don’t miss any important safety information). Want a new car seat? Target has an annual program that just ended – but Walmart is currently offering their car seat trade-in program throughout the US until September 30.
- Not securing OTHER passengers. You may think about your baby – but what about another parent or grandparent also in the car? Truth is, an unbuckled adult is an uncontrolled missile in an accident: if an adult is riding without a buckle, OTHER people in the car are 3-4x more likely to die in a crash because of being hit and injured by the adult. So, make sure that EVERYONE is buckled up!
Want to check your child’s car seat? Go to the experts! Click here to find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician. Also, check out seatcheck.org for more great information.
Fortunately, babies and children are so much safer with today’s car seats – but only If we use them correctly.
Travel safely
Xoxo,
Dr. Darria
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