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Why should I have my child in a child restraint? Why do I need a seatbelt?
ANS: About 99.9% of car accident deaths to children under 5 involved children that were unrestrained. Of those that were restrained, misuse is reported in 80-95% of cases. Injuries requiring hospitalization are even more common, and many involve the head, neck and spine. Some of these injuries are permanent. Child restraints are VERY effective for reducing deaths and injuries.
Isn't it safer to hold my baby? Won't I be safer if I don't use a seatbelt and can be thrown from the car? Won't it be harder to escape after a crash if I use a seatbelt?
ANS: No. No. No. These are three of many myths used by people to avoid proper use of child restraints or seatbelts. Statistics prove that those ejected in a crash are four times more likely to die. The forces in a crash can be hundreds of kilograms or much more, too great for someone to hold a child safely. Plus, the reaction time needed in a crash makes it virtually impossible to restrain another passenger. It is far easier to escape a vehicle if you don't suffer the serious head and chest injuries associated with crashes where seatbelts aren't used.
How long should children be in a car seat? In their seatbelts?
ANS:Children should be in an appropriate safety seat until they are about 8 years old, unless they are already 1.2 meters or taller. After that, they should be properly seated with a lap and shoulder belt. Children 12 and under should remain in the rear seat. All passengers should wear lap AND shoulder belts at all times.
How long should a child remain rear facing?
ANS:Rear-facing IS safest. It is best to remain rear-facing to the weight and height limits of the car seat. Some convertible car seats have 13 or 15 Kilograms rear-facing limits. In all cases, infants should be rear-facing until they are BOTH one year AND 9-10 Kilograms at the very minimum.
My rear-facing car seat is touching the back of the seat in front of it? Is that OK?
ANS:Please consult the owner's manual of your car seat. For most car seats, this is not a problem and may actually improve safety. A rear-facing seat can be installed so it rests against the back of the vehicle seat ahead if not counter to manufacturer’s instructions. If the gap is small or the child is on the heavy side, it is much better to be already touching any forward structure prior to a crash than to hit it during the crash. Resting against a forward seat back is only one way to achieve these benefits."
Can I put my car seat in the front seat of my vehicle?
ANS:Airbags can be deadly to infants in rear-facing car seats, and to children 12 and under using the seatbelts. The front seat is generally not recommended for children 12 and under. The airbag MUST be disabled if you must use a rear-facing child seat in the front. Some vehicles without a rear seat, especially pickup trucks, have an on/off switch for this purpose. If a child must ride in the front, you should also move the front seat as far back as it will go. Please only consider a front seat if no other option is available.
Is it OK to put a towel under my car seat to adjust the angle?
ANS:You may put a tightly rolled towel or foam pool "noodle" under the front of a rear-facing car seat (near the crack of the vehicle seat) to get the necessary recline. You must not put a noodle, thick towels or any compressible material under a front-facing car seat.
When should a child be put into a booster?
ANS:Most convertible and front-facing seats have 18 kilograms weight limits when using the harness. A convertible or front-facing seat with a 5-point harness is the safest option for children from 15 to 18 kilograms who are not too tall for their front-facing car seat. If a child's shoulders are above the level of the top slots in their regular car seat, or the tops of their ears are above the top of the shell, then they may be able to move to a booster or another forward-facing seat which accommodates taller children. Usually a child can be moved to a booster when they are too big for a harnessed car seat, and once they are able to sit properly in a seatbelt. A child should be in some type of booster seat until around 8 years old; unless they are already 4' 9" tall (Also see Question 10 below).
Are used car seats safe to use?
ANS: If you are unable to verify that the car seat has never been involved in a crash, do not use it. Above that, you should inspect it carefully to make sure all the parts and labels are intact, and that there are no visible stress marks. You should also verify that the stickers with the manufacturer, model number and date of manufacture are legible. You must also have the owner's manual, or get a copy from the manufacturer (website). Finally, you need to make sure the used car seat has not been recalled (or if it has, that the appropriate corrections were made). Older seats may not meet current safety standards. Older seats may also be less convenient and more difficult to use, and may lack the latest safety features. If there is any doubt on the condition or history of a used car seat, please destroy it completely and permanently (using a saw or otherwise) and purchase a new one.
When can my child be in a regular seatbelt without a booster?
ANS:Children are not ready to be in a regular lap/shoulder seatbelt until:
- They are tall enough so that their legs bend at the knees at the edge of the seat; and
- They are mature enough to remain seated with their backs flat against the back of the seat and not slouch; and
- The lap belt sits high on the thighs or low on the hips (NOT on their tummy!); and
- The shoulder belt crosses the shoulder and chest (NOT on their arms or neck!); and each passenger must have their own lap and shoulder belt! Never allow children to share a seatbelt.
Which car seats are compatible with my vehicle?
ANS: It may be impossible to tell in advance if a car seat will fit tightly in a particular vehicle. The best advice is to see if you can try the car seat in your car with your child before you buy it. Also make sure you have a good return policy in case it doesn't fit.
How many years can I use my car seat?
ANS: Many manufacturers now put "expiration" dates on their car seats. Six (6) years is the general recommendation in most countries that have laws governing the use and manufacture of car seats. At most, 10 years is the accepted maximum lifetime of a car seat. The reasons for these limits involve possible degradation of the plastic shell and other parts, the possible loss/breakage of parts and the fact that older seats will often not meet current government safety standards in the country of origin (international).
Which car seats can be used on an airplane?
ANS: Car seats should have a label with FAA approval for use on an airplane. Many infant and convertible models have this label. Most booster seats, safety vests and car seats over 16" wide cannot be used on an airplane. Once a child is 18 Kilograms, they can generally use the regular seatbelts on an airplane. Please check the instructions for your car seat for specific details. It is always best to buy a separate ticket for your child to guarantee a seat; some airlines offer discounts for small children. Many airlines prefer a car seat to be put in the window position, contact your airline for specific rules.
Can I install a car seat/booster in a position that does not have a headrest?
ANS: The child MUST have some type of head support behind the head, to at least the midpoint of the skull, or around the tops of the ears. This head support is provided by infant seats, convertible seats, front-facing only seats with a harness and high back booster seats. If a child is using a backless booster, or is old enough to use the lap/shoulder belts alone, then they should not be seated in a position without a headrest if the midpoint of their head is above the top of the vehicle seat. If no rear seating position with a headrest is available, then they should be in a high-back booster model (some of these models are rated to 45 kilograms). Whiplash is a serious injury even in a minor rear-end crash. Adults require adequate head support just as children do.
How far should my car seat be reclined? Should it tilt to one side?
ANS: For newborns and infants, it is recommended that they sit in a rear-facing car seat at a 45 degree angle (maximum). Some infant car seats have a built-in level indicator. Older infants should have less recline, once they are able to support their heads. Front-facing car seats should not be reclined. Though some front-facing and convertible models are approved in a semi-reclined position, this recline does concentrate crash forces in the crotch so an upright position is preferred.
A slight tilt is not a problem in front or rear-facing seats. This tilt should not be so severe that it lifts part of the base of the car seat off the vehicle seat. This issue is generally more common with rear-facing car seats, and in some cases a locking clip (refer to the manufactures manual)can be used if nothing else works to reduce the tilt caused by a locked shoulder belt pulling up on the car seat.
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