| Most safety inspections find that children are | | | | Installing Your Car Seat |
| improperly secured in car seats. Without proper | | | | All car seats come with an owner's manual. It is |
| restraint, your child can be seriously injured in the | | | | important to read it, even if you feel confident |
| event of an accident. Knowing a little about child | | | | that you know how to install the seat. |
| restraints can help you ensure that your child | | | | When fastening an infant or convertible seat with |
| stays safe in the car. | | | | harness straps, you should place your knee in the |
| Shopping For A Car Seat | | | | seat while fastening your car's restraining belt to |
| The first step in choosing a car seat is | | | | ensure a snug fit. You should not be able to move |
| determining your child's current height and weight. | | | | the seat any more than one inch in any direction. |
| This will tell you which type of seat is appropriate | | | | If your seat has a tether strap, use it. Newer |
| for your child. These restrictions are usually listed | | | | model cars have an anchored hook in the |
| on the outside of the box for easy access. You | | | | backseat for securing a tether strap. |
| may want to invest in a convertible type seat | | | | Don't allow straps to become twisted or frayed. |
| that can be adapted to fit your child as they | | | | Inspect them periodically for wear and damage. |
| grow, but never rush to advance your child into | | | | Securing Your Child |
| the next seat before they meet the height and | | | | The retainer clip of a safety harness should be |
| weight requirements. | | | | fastened so that it is level with your child's |
| Another important factor in choosing a seat is | | | | armpits. The harness straps should protrude from |
| making sure that it will fit the backseat of your | | | | the seat level with your child's shoulders or just |
| vehicle. Purchasing a seat that is too large for | | | | below them. |
| your car or one that does not fit the slope of | | | | All children should be secured in the backseat. And |
| your back seats without tipping up, is not safe. A | | | | never use a car seat near an air bag. |
| seat should fit into the backseat, with enough | | | | Children younger than 12 months should be placed |
| room to get the child in and out easily. The child | | | | in a rear facing car seat. |
| seat should rest squarely on the seat of the | | | | Toddlers who are secured with your vehicle's seat |
| vehicle, not at an angle. Using pillows or blankets | | | | belt and a booster seat, should have a shoulder |
| to prop up the car seat is not safe. | | | | belt as well. The belt should be placed snugly |
| Do not buy a second hand car seat. It may be | | | | across your child's hips and routed correctly |
| missing vital components, or may have been | | | | through the seat before being fastened. |
| involved in a crash previously. Once a seat is | | | | Securing your child properly will help keep them |
| involved in a crash, it can have stress cracks that | | | | safe. Taking a few moments to check over your |
| would cause the seat to splinter in a second | | | | child's safety restraint can save their life. |
| collision. | | | | |