NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) estimates that over 80% of car seats are used incorrectly. These are some of the most common mistakes made, and how to fix them.
Straps Too Loose
The harness straps should be snug. Loose straps may not keep your child in the seat in a collision. Do the pinch test: You should not be able to pinch the fabric of the strap together
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Chest Clip Too Low
The chest clip should be, as the name suggests, on the chest, at armpit level. If the chest clip is too low, the straps may not remain in place, and the hard plastic can cause injury to internal organs in a collision.
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Straps Positioned Incorrectly
For rear-facing, the straps should be at or slightly below shoulder-level. For forward-facing, the straps should be at or slightly above shoulder-level.
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Winter Jackets
Puffy winter jackets compress in a collision, causing the straps to be too loose. In cold weather, use a blanket over the buckled straps, or slip the jacket on backwards after the straps are buckled.
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After-Market Products
If it didn't come with the car seat, don't use it. This applies to head & body supports, strap covers, car seat toys, car shades & mirrors, and seat protectors. Head & body supports can interfere with the harness straps, and strap covers can push the chest clip too low. Car shades, mirrors, and toys are projectiles, and seat protectors can inhibit tight installation. Not only can these items be dangerous, but using them voids your car seat's warranty.
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Infant Seat In Shopping Cart
An infant seat should NEVER be placed on top or across a shopping cart. It is not secure, and is at risk of falling, which can result in injury or death. If you must bring the car seat into the store, it should be placed IN the basket portion of the cart. A better solution: Wear your baby! Wearing your baby in a carrier will keep your baby close, your hands free, and won't take up room in your cart.
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Installing Car Seat With Seat Belt And LATCH
While it may seem like a car seat would be more secure using both the seat belt and LATCH, car seats are not made to be installed this way. Install using the LATCH system OR the seat belt, never both. Use whichever method will give you the tightest installation.
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Using LATCH Connectors In Center Seat
Many vehicles with 3-across seating have the Lower Anchors on each outboard seat, and do not allow for the Lower Anchors to be used in the center. Read your car's users' manual to be sure, but as a general rule, if the anchors are more than 11" apart, you must install the seat with the vehicle's seat belt.
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Using The Wrong Belt Path
Convertible car seats have 2 belt paths: One for rear-facing and one for forward-facing. The car seat's users' manual will specify which is which, and most car seats will also have labels at each path.
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Incorrect Recline Angle
A car seat must be reclined to a 30-45 degree angle when being used rear-facing. For infants, the angle should be closer to 45°, but for older babies and toddlers, the seat can be up at 30°. A convertible seat often has several recline positions, but you can use a rolled-up towel or pool noodle(s) to achieve the proper angle.
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Forward-Facing Too Early
By law, a baby must rear-face until they are 1 year old AND 20 lbs, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that children rear-face in their car seats for a MINIMUM of two years, or until they outgrow the rear-facing parameters of their convertible seat. A rear-facing child is 500% less likely to be injured in a collision than a foward-facing child.
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Moving To A Booster Too Early
A child should not be moved to a belt-positioning booster until he or she outgrows the harness. Many car seats allow for harness use up to 65 pounds, but some go up as high as 90 pounds.
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Using A Seat Belt Too Early
By law, a child must remain in a booster seat until they are 8 years old, but should continue to use a booster until they are 4'9". A seat belt is designed to fit an average adult, not a child. The seat belt should not touch the neck, and the lap portion should rest on the hips, not the abdomen.
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Not Reading The Manual
The manual tells you just about everything you need to know about your child's car seat. READ IT. I can't stress this enough. So many mistakes can be avoided simply by reading the manual.
I'll say it again: READ. THE. MANUAL! |