Car Seat Safety
Did you know that car seats/boosters are needed from birth until roughly 8 to 12 years old (longer that you probably thought, huh?)! Depending on the study, between 40 and 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly. According to one study by The Journal of Pediatrics, 291 families were studied and nearly 95% of car seats were misused, with 1 or more errors in positioning (86%) and/ or installation (77%).
Some of the frequent errors includes loose harness and chest clip errors, incorrect recline angle and seat belt/ lower anchor use errors (loose car seat), shoulder straps at the wrong height, harness. Utilizing a child passenger safety technician before delivery were significantly less likely to misuse their car seats.
What does this mean for you?
First, determine the car seat for your needs that is based on age and size (there are four car seat types!), compare car seats & safety ratings (see source for NHTSA Car Seat Finder below). Do not get car seats from places like Temu and Shein; they are not safety rated in this country and are knock offs of real car seats. If the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
Make sure you read your manual prior to delivery around 35-36 weeks so that you are comfortable placing it in your car on the way to the hospital. Employees at the hospital cannot help with the car seat at discharge, so please read the manual for height and weight restrictions. And if possible, visit a Car Seat Technician for installation.
One tip is if you have an infant car seat with a base is to bring it to your room on the day of discharge (not before, it takes up a lot of space!). You can place the baby in the car seat and place it on your lap in the wheelchair when leaving the hospital, if you are up to it.
Bulky jackets in the car seat are not recommended because the fluffy material can compress during a crash. It creates an issue where the harness straps become too loose. Thin layers and blankets or coats over the buckles are preferred. In addition, do not add anything that did not come from the manufacturer (neck pillows, etc).
Also note that you should register your car seat when you purchase it to ensure you are notified for any recalls. If getting a secondhand car seat, ensure that it has not been in any accidents. There are certain stipulations that are ok to keep one after an accident per the NHTSA (https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/car-seat-use-after-crash) so follow that link if needed.
Knowing that car seat safety is paramount, getting prepared early on is ideal!
Sources:
NHTSA car seats info and where to find a registered car seat technician: https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/car-seats-and-booster-seats#find-the-right-car-seat-find--compare-seats
Journal of Pediatrics Study: https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(15)01459-6/pdf
Common mistakes: https://saferide4kids.com/blog/5-of-the-most-common-car-seat-mistakes-parents-still-make/
