Protecting your children in the vehicle from a potential auto accident requires understanding car seat safety tips when you’re on the road.
While it may be a tragic statistic, there’s no hiding from the fact that thousands of children are killed in automobile accidents each year. The important thing is to take action to protect your child before they can become a statistic themselves.
This means purchasing, installing, and properly utilizing your car seat and other safety measures that can help save their lives.
When it comes to articles that are worth reading, none are more important than the one that can keep your child safe. Read on for some essential safety tips on installing a car seat for your child.
According to California State Law, children must be seated in the rear seat of a vehicle in an appropriate car seat or booster seat until they are 8 years old or 4’9″ tall. Children must remain in a rear-facing car seat until they weigh 40 pounds or more or are at least 40 inches tall.
When shopping for your first car seat, you may feel overwhelmed by the variety of options available.
The truth is the right car seat for your child depends directly on the child’s weight and age.
For example, when toting a newborn or an infant that’s 22 to 35 pounds you want to look for an infant-only seat.
Installing Your Car Seat
There are some options that allow you to adjust the chair so it grows as your child grows, keeping your child secure while still saving your money.
It’s important to remember that infant-only seats should always be installed so that they face the rear of your car. This is due to the fact that it dramatically reduces the rate of death or injury for such a small child.
This also ensures that the chair is able to cradle the baby’s head upon impact in the event of a collision.
It’s highly recommended that you keep your child in the rear-facing car seat until they reach at least 3 to 4 years of age. However, this is better determined by the child’s size than the actual age.
installing the seat correctly is crucial and if you need help, or need instructions on how to do it correctly you can go to your local fire department and they will gladly help you with your car seat.
When Removing Your Child from their Car Seat
While it may be tempting to keep your sleeping baby in an infant seat while bringing them into the house to sleep just a bit longer, it’s important to remember that this is dangerous as well.
To decrease the chance of SIDS, only keep a child and infant in their car seat when driving or while in a stroller.
It’s also important to keep in mind that the more time your child spends in the car seat the less they will be able to move, explore, and develop the necessary motor skills.
When Being Safe Isn’t Enough
No one drives more carefully than a parent with precious cargo in the back seat. Unfortunately, even if you take the precautions of a car seat or other safety measures, that doesn’t illuminate the other reckless drivers on the road.
If you have been a victim of an accident and are seeking counsel on how to be reimbursed for your damages and/or any injuries, contact us today for more information on how we can be of assistance.
We understand that there’s nothing more important than giving your family the care they need.
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