Courtesy of Safe Kids Worldwide
The best way to keep your child safe in the car is to use the right car seat in the right way. Here are some car seat safety tips to protect your most precious cargo.
Hard facts about safety in cars
- Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States.
- Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.
- Three out of four car seats are not used or installed correctly.
Top tips for car seat safety
- Use the right car seat. Your baby needs to ride in a rear-facing car seat as long as possible, at least until age 2. When your child has outgrown that seat, you are ready for a forward-facing car seat.
- Install your car seat correctly. You will need to decide on using either the seat belt or lower anchors to secure your car seat. Both are safe, but don’t use them at the same time. Once your child is forward facing, it is important to use the tether with the seat belt or lower anchors.
- Get the right fit. A properly-fitted harness gives the best possible protection for your child.
- Change your car seat at the right time. Look on the car seat label to make sure your child is still within the weight, height, and age limits for that seat.
How to ride safely
- The back seat is the best. It is the safest place to ride for all children under age 13. Not all cars allow for a car seat in every place that has a seat belt. Check your car owner’s manual to see where you can put a car seat.
- Be wary of toys in the car. Choose toys that are soft and will not hurt your child in a crash. Secure any loose objects in the car.
- Wear your seat belt. We know that when adults wear seat belts, kids wear seat belts, too. So, be a good example and buckle up for every ride. Be sure everyone in the vehicle buckles up, too.
- Never leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute.
