Useful Car Seat Safety Tips

If you have children I am sure you already spend a lot of time in the car traveling from day care, play dates, sports practice, school, grocery store and more.  Use these helpful tips to make sure your children are safe during day to day travel.

1. If you have an infant child when placing the car seat in the car, be sure they are facing the rear until they’re about age 1 and at least 20 to 22 pounds depending on what the car seat recommends. Infants that reach 20 pounds before they turn 1 should ride in a car seat approved for higher rear-facing weights. As always it’s important before restraining your child in any car seat for the first time to read the owners manual for instructions on how to properly use it. Additionally if your child is over the age of 1 and over 20 pounds should ride facing forward.

2. Now that you know how they should be facing lets move on to where they should ride. Be sure your child always rides in the backseat. The backseat of a vehicle is the safest place in the event of a crash.

3. Make sure the seat belt holds the car seat securely in place. Make sure the seat belt is put through the correct slot on the car sear. If your child’s car seat can be used facing either way, use the correct belt slots for each direction. The seat belt must stay tight when securing the car seat.

4. Next you want to be sure the car seat harness is buckled snug and securely around your child. Straps should always be over your child’s shoulders. Adjust the harness so that you can only slip one finger underneath the straps at your child’s chest, and the chest clip should be at the child’s armpit level.

5. Children over 40 pounds should be in a booster car seat. Your child should be in a car seat with a full harness as long as possible or until they are 40 pounds. Then once they are in a booster car seat the vehicle seat belt will fit properly. Most booster seats recommend children use them until they are 80 plus pounds. It best to ask your doctor or local fire marshal what they recommend before you discontinue use.

6. Once your child is of correct weight or no longer in need any type of car seat and they are now using a regular seat belt. Make sure the sea belt fits properly. Your child must be tall enough to sit without slouching, with their knees bent at the edge of the seat, and their with feet on the floor. The lap part of the belt must fit low on them and tight across the upper thighs. The shoulder belt area should rest over your child’s shoulder and then across the chest. Do not ever put the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind her back.Most children will not properly fit in a regular seat belt until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches and weight around 80 pounds.

Are you in need of a good family vehicle? I recommend you head on over to Neuwirth Motors and check our their new vehicles. Who knows you might just find the perfect vehicle for your family!

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