Clunk Click Every Trip

Parents go out of their way to choose the right car seat for their baby, they spend significant time and money to protect their most precious cargo. Yet, in a recent study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that, according to a multi-year study, misuse occurred in 79.5 percent of the child safety seats inspected. Through the wrong use of safety restraints, many children are actually put in potential harm by otherwise well meaning parents.

The improper usage of safety restraints was the major fault found in the study. Problems were discovered in the looseness of both the safety belts and the harness straps. These mistakes, the ones that almost every parent makes, are the ones that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, as it is also called, say can be the most "critical".

Age, weight, and position of the seat are all factors that need to be strictly adhered to when picking a safety seat. Many parents put their child in rear-facing car seats, but this should only be done if the child is less than one year old and weighs less than twenty pounds. Always be 100% certain you have bought the correct safety seat for your child. Never let your baby "borrow" his big brothers or his older sisters car seat from when they were 1 year old or older. It can prove fatal..!

If you prefer a seat that will accommodate your baby as they grow, a convertible seat is another option. Support needed by convertible seats is something that makes them larger and heavier. Convertibles should also be placed in the rear-facing position for infants weighing under 20 pounds and under 12 months of age. When the baby out grows that position, the seat can be forward-facing until they reach 40 pounds.

It goes without saying, that the most important part of car safety dictates that you simply use the seat in the manner it was intended. Make sure to read the manufacturer's instructions, as well as your vehicle owner's manual. Remember to double check the buckle that straps in the car seat and the restraints that hold the baby in place.

Many parents find harness straps annoying and confusing, but they merely need to accomodate the size of your baby, comfortably, yet tightly, around the chest area and fit into the correct slot. Convertible and infant-only car seats have different requirements for harness strap slot positions; aim above the shoulder for convertibles and below the shoulder for the infant-only ones. Other things that matter in using the harness are the proper placement of the harness clip, around the armpit level, always check the owner's guide to confirm the exact placement, and having non-twisted straps.

All seats should be reclined by 45 degrees if possible and the seat belt should be followed through the right path for the position of the seat. A rolled towel under the base helps secure the seat into position. Tighten the seat belt, as needed, to ensure the restraint is secured to your vehicle. For LATCH systems and car seats, consult your owner's guide and safety seat instruction manual. Other important facts to keep in mind are the general seat age and condition. Don't use a seat that is more than five years old or does not come with the manufacturer's instructions. Along with the owner's manual, your seat should have all its parts, and should have never been involved in any type of car accident.

Article Source: ArticlesMaker.com

About the Author: Read this article by author Vivienne Myatt and discover if your child is in peril. Discover how you keep your child safe. Also, see how subscribers to her monthly newsletter save money every month. Her blogs are visited by author mums and moms everywhere. 

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