Car Safety Tips for Your Child
With all the time we all spend in our cars, it’s important to know how to keep your cuddlebug safe. Here are important “Car Safety” guidelines from OHealthy.
The importance of seat belts and car seats:
For children between the ages 14 and younger, unintentional injury-related deaths occur most often when riding in a car. According to the most recent statistics, among children ages 14 and under as occupants who were killed in motor vehicle crashes, 53 percent were not using safety restraints at the time of collision.
According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, children under age four who ride in motor vehicles unrestrained are twice as likely to die or suffer injuries in a car crash.
Car seats and seat belts MUST be used correctly to provide the best protection. The following are safety guidelines:
| Infants (birth to 20 pounds and 1 year old) |
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The infant car seat should:
Always read and understand the car seat manufacturer’s instructions and never prop a child up with blankets and/or pillow. Never place an infant in a rear-facing child safety seat in the front seat with an air bag. |
| Toddlers (20 to 40 pounds and up to 4 years old) |
The car seat should:
Toddlers should ride in a forward facing car seat as long as they fit well – that is, the child’s ears should be below the top of the back of the seat and his/her shoulders below the seat strap slots. |
| Children (40 to 80 pounds) |
| Check in your state as to when children can begin using safety belts, as the regulations differ from state to state.Children over 40 pounds and taller than 40 inches should use a booster seat with a lap and shoulder belt (the child’s head should not be higher than the back of the car’s seat), or sit on the seat and use a lap and shoulder belt if a proper fit can be maintained. |
To read the complete article on more tips you need to know about car safety, visit OHealthy.
Thanks for the info on this, the guidelines can get a bit confusing for a new mom like me!
Sarah, it’s confusing for many parents. And add to that the number of times you take the car seat out of the car and then put it back in, it adds up to a lot!
Remember you can always take the car seat to your local firestation if you need any guidance or help. Many run clinics on the weekend but you can stop by and ask for help. Click on this page http://www.ci.jacksonville.nc.us/Emergency/Fire-Department/Fire-Stations.aspx to help you find the one closest to you in Jacksonville, NC.