More Car Seat Safety!

Did you know that new recommendations are out for car seat safety? Remember being so excited for your child to hit the one year mark or 20 lb mark so you could turn them around in their car seat? Well that is no longer the case. Here are the new recommendations...

Rear Facing

(Birth to at least 2 years old and less than 30 lbs)

Child Safety Seat

• Read your child's safety seat instructions. This will help you know the right way to use and install your car set.
• An "infant Only" or "rear facing convertible" seat can be used for children weighing less than 22-30 lbs.
• Most "infant only" seats can be used with or without the base. Check instructions to see where the carrying handle must be place when used in the vehicle.

Placement

• Face you infant and toddler to the rear of the vehicle until your child is at least two years and 30 lbs
• Never put your infant in the front passenger seat of a vehicle with air bags. The back seat is the safest.

Child Safety Straps

• Fasten the harness straps on your child first. Cover your child with a blanket last. Do not wrap you child in blankets or extra clothing.
• Place harness straps in the slots on the back of the seat, at or below your child's shoulders. Fasten the harness snugly. At you child's collarbone, you should not be able to "pinch" any of the harness strap between your fingers.
• Always use the chest retainer clip to hold the shoulder straps in place. Position the retainer clip at armpit level.

Car Safety Belts

• The child safety seat should not move more than on inch side-to-side and front to back when shaken at anchor points (where the seat belt goes through).
• Seat belts in cars made before 1996 may need a locking clip. Always read the instruction manuals for your vehicle and you child safety seat.
• If your car needs a locking clip, place it on both the lap and shoulder belts 1/2 " to 1" from the latch plate.