There are more than 30,000 certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians across the country and in U.S. territories. Find one near you: https://bit.ly/373SIC5
Keep your child passengers safe by following these steps. Need more info? Watch car seat installation videos: https://bit.ly/3S8j3Gv
Want a free resource for expectant parents? Download and share this flyer about the importance of buckling up while pregnant: https://bit.ly/2XIMVTy
Rear-facing car seats are designed to support and protect the head, neck and torso of an infant and a young child in a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends children under the age of 1 should always travel in rear-facing car seats, and continue doing so as long as possible until they reach the weight or height limit allowed by the car seat manufacturer.
If your child’s feet or legs reach the back of the vehicle seat before they reach the height limit of their car seat, don’t be concerned. Research by the American Academy of Pediatrics has shown children are not at an increased risk for leg injuries, and riding rear-facing provides the best protection from injuries to the brain, neck and spinal cord.
Want to know more? Rear-Facing Car Seats for Infants and Toddlers: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Rear-Facing-Car-Seats-for-Infants-Toddlers.aspx
Shopping online can be convenient, but it also can pose unexpected dangers for kids. Counterfeit or copycat car seats have been popping up more as caregivers are increasingly shopping online. Vendors sell these counterfeit car seats at a fraction of the regular retail price, and often they are made of substandard materials and fail to meet federal safety standards set to protect children when in a crash.
Be aware if:
- Stickers on the car seat are in a foreign language or have spelling or grammatical errors.
- The labels don’t have U.S. height and weight requirements for the seat (i.e. pounds and inches), a model number or manufacture date.
- The car seat doesn’t include a statement about compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- The car seat does not come with a registration/recall card to be completed and mailed in with postage paid by the manufacturer.
- The price seems too good to be true.
If you have a counterfeit car seat:
Learn more about counterfeit car seats: https://www.saferidenews.com/resources/unsafe-products/
When checking the car seat harness for tightness, conduct the pinch test on top of the shoulder (not under). Tightening the harness to make it contact at the torso may never happen.
What drives this space is the child’s torso width but also where the buckle is placed relative to his/her body. If you try to make contact here, you probably will have a very upset child because he or she is in there too tight.
Car seats adjust to meet the needs of growing kids. Remember to regularly check and adjust your child’s car seat as he or she grows. Review your instruction manual for information on correct fit and seat adjustments.
Nothing warms your heart as much as the comfort that comes from knowing your child is buckled in safely while you travel. Unsure if your car seat is installed correctly? Get help. Find a Child Passenger Safety Technician near you and schedule a free car seat check appointment: https://bit.ly/373SIC5