Child Car Seats

I recently attended a car seat check at my dr’s office that is done by the Department of Public Safety. Now I thought I was Mrs. Safety when it came to car seats, but there were a few things I did not know or was doing incorrectly. It’s worth your time to get yours checked out. Be sure to come in the car you use regularly and have your kids with you in order to get it thoroughly checked. Some items I learned: When using an infant seat: – Always have the handle all the way back (down) for the safest practices. – Never use toys on the handle with it up for the baby to play while driving. It would hit them in the face if in an accident. – Only have soft toys for the baby. – Keep all other items out of the nearby areas (seat, floor) that could hit the baby in a crash. – Use a pool noodle to raise the incline of the seat under the base. – Always make sure the angle is correct – mine has a “level” to watch. – Safest position is middle. When using any car seat in general: - Only use approved items for “seat protectors”. They told me to only use a towel or the waffle type cabinet liners. - Make sure at least 80% of the car seat is on the vehicle seat. - Don’t use both the latch and vehicle seat belt. - Make sure the car seat is not “expired”. Look under the seat – Most are 5 years or so. - Have the chest latch at nipple level and tight enough that 2 fingers cannot pass through. From Fort Worth Pediatrics Website: http://www.fortworthpediatrics.com/ “CAR SAFETY CHECKS (in Fort Worth) Fort Worth Pediatrics is pleased to once again offer FREE car seat safety checks through our friends at the Texas Department of Public Safety. Certified members of their department will be at Fort Worth Pediatrics offices to help parents with the proper installation of all types of car seats. Simply come to our offices at one of the scheduled times and ensure that your children are safe inside your vehicle. Henderson Office - September 14, 2009 9:00am - 3:00pm Merrimac Office - September 21, 20099:00am - 3:00pm Southwest Office - September 7, 20099:00am - 3:00pm” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends infants stay rear-facing until 2. It is very important to protect your children as much as possible. Also from Fort Worth Pediatrics Website: “KEEP YOUR TODDLER IN A REAR-FACING CAR SEAT UNTIL AGE 2 (NOT 1) New research indicates that toddlers are more than five times safer riding in a rear facing car safety seat up to their second birthday. A child's lower extremities are unlikely to be injured rear-facing and the fragile skull and neck are much safer. The following are safety tips for car seat use: All infants (less than 12 months) should rid rear-facing in either an infant car seat or convertible seat. If an infant car seat is used, the infant should be switched to a rear-facing convertible car seat once the maximum height (when the infant's head is within 1 inch of the top of the seat) and weight (usually 22 to 32 pounds) have been reached for that infant seat as suggested by the car seat manufacturer. Toddlers should remain rear-facing in a convertible car seat until they have reached the maximum height and weight recommended for the model, or at least the age of 2. To see if your car seat is installed properly and to find a certified passenger safety technician in your area, visit http://seatcheck.org/ or http://seatcheck.org/. You can also call 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243) or 888-327-4236. “