One of the topics that we focus on in our Child Safety courses is car seat safety, and we wanted to share some tips with you! Check them out below.
When To Switch From Rear To Forward Facing
One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to car seat safety is that many parents believe their child should switch from rear facing to front facing much sooner than they should. Because not every car seat is the same, it is always best to follow the recommended age/size guidelines that are provided on the car seat in use.
The Manufacturer Knows Their Product
Using the car seat in the way that the manufacturer intended is the best possible way to make sure that you are not affecting the safety of the seat. That includes adding aftermarket additions like harness pads or infant inserts.
Is It Actually That Much Of A Risk?
We know through crash data that young children, especially under the age of 2 years old, are less likely to survive a crash when they are forward facing. They do not have the bone strength and muscle development to support the movement of their head.
When children are rear facing, the car seat is designed to absorb the crash forces with what we call the “ride down”. The car seat rocks down almost like a rocking chair while fully secure in the belt path. When children are forward facing in a car seat, their head, neck, spine, arms, legs, and hips absorb all of the shock and movement from the crash forces.
Is There A Difference In Safety When There Is A Difference In Price?
The short answer… No. There is no difference between the safety of a car seat that costs $60 and one that costs $400. They all have to pass the same safety regulations. The safest car seat is one that fits your child (height, weight, and developmental needs), fits your car, and that you can safely and correctly install and use every time.
Is There Someone Who Can Verify I Installed It Correctly?
Parents can call Gainesville Fire Rescue (Krista Ott), Alachua Health Department or myself (Denise Devonish). There are also Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs) at Shands and North Florida Regional Hospital.
Infant/Child Car Seat Assessment + Certified Installation Services
Servicing Central + Northwest Florida
GAINESVILLE, JACKSONVILLE, ORLANDO, LAKE CITY, TALLAHASSEE, OCALA, + TAMPA
More Resources
For more information on car seat safety, you can visit:
https://www.safekids.org/
Families and caregivers can also click below to find a certified child passenger safety technician near them:
https://portalskcms.cyzap.net/dzapps/dbzap.bin/apps/assess/webmembers/secure/manage?webid=SKCMS&pToolCode=CERT-SEARCH&pAdd=Yes