Preparing for Baby: Top 9 Car Seat Do’s and Don’ts

While car seats provide important protection for our babies, the fact of the matter is they are not used properly by most people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly 80% of all car seats are not properly installed. Additional problems result from the child not being properly secured within the seat.

I believe the majority of these parents are well-intended, just lacking proper guidance. Following are some key do’s and don’ts to consider.

Car Seat Safety
Photography by: Gracie and Viv

Do’s

Install the car seat properly: The seat should not move more than one inch in either direction.
Tighten harness: If there is too much play in the harness the integrity of the safety system is greatly jeopardized. When fit properly, one finger should fit just snugly under the straps.
Place chest clip at armpit level: Any higher and the clip can choke the baby; too low will not secure baby in seat.
Have installation inspected! - Car seat inspections, in my opinion, should be the law. Most hospitals, police and fire stations offer this service.

Don’ts

Too much clothing - Avoid over-bundling child during periods of cold weather, as this will not allow the straps to be properly snugged. Instead, use blankets.
Leave straps loose - Don’t be afraid to really tighten the straps to secure the child. This is critical. People make the mistake of leaving the straps somewhat loose because they believe the child will be more comfortable.
Turn baby around too soon - Resist the temptation to turn child to a forward-facing position until he/she is at least 12 months old, or weighs more than 22 pounds.
Hang toys from seat handle while driving - The car seat toys are okay when the child is stationary, but represent a real hazard if an accident were to occur.
Use car seat inserts - There are a multitude of car seat inserts on the market, and they should be banned. Inserts interrupt the integrity of the car seat safety system by introducing unnecessary padding/spacing.

Note that these are tips from my experience of how to properly install car seats. Always follow the car seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Please submit any additional tips I may have missed.

chris@clawblog.com

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