Flamillion PLR Articles

Sample Article: Baby Car Seats

Although parents are careful to choose a high quality baby car seat to carry their precious newborn in the car, one of the saddest facts of child safety on the roads is that most parents do not fit the seat correctly. According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) almost 80% of child safety seats are badly fitted or misused.

The most common mistakes are loose harness straps and safety belt attachments that are incorrectly fastened. These mistakes are described by the NHTSA as 'critical' because there is a possibility of serious injury to the child in the event of an accident. So most baby safety seats are not nearly as safe as parents think, and many babies are at risk.

How can you be sure that your baby will be safe in your car?

First, make sure that you are using the right type of seat for your baby's age and weight, and that it is facing the right direction. Some multi-purpose seats can face either forward or backward and the fitting will change as your child grows. Babies under one year old and under 20 pounds in weight should have rear-facing seats. And all child safety seats, whether forward or backward facing, should be fitted on the back seat of the car.

It is also possible to buy special infant seats for young babies. These are designed to be rear-facing only, so you will need a new seat when your child gets bigger. However, they will be a better fit for your newborn baby and they are easier to store and carry, being smaller. You can carry your sleeping baby around in his or her infant car seat.

If you prefer, you can buy a convertible seat that can be adapted for both babies and toddlers. Convertible seats are larger and heavier and you are more likely to leave them in the car all of the time. They must be fitted in the rear facing position for young babies and then when the child turns one year old or weighs over 20 pounds, the seat can be turned around to face the front. A convertible seat will usually hold children up to 40 pounds.

But whatever style of seat you select, the most important point is to fit it correctly. You must study both the instructions that come with the car seat and the owner's manual for your car. First, make sure that you have the seat firmly and correctly buckled into the car. Then make sure you know how to fit and fasten the harness straps that hold your baby inside the seat.

Don't guess - if you are not 100% sure that you have it correct, you can have your baby's seat checked by a qualified technician. US residents can go to http://www.seatcheck.org to find a child safety seat inspection center near you. For other countries, check the manual that came with your car seat.

If you are thinking of buying a used baby car seat or accepting one as a gift, consider the age and condition of the seat. Seats that have been used by other children, or seats that have been in an accident, might be worn or broken and not safe for your baby. Even if the seat looks as good as new, you should not use a seat that is more than five years old. The label should tell you the date of manufacture. Be sure that you have the manufacturer's instructions and that all the parts are included. If not, do not use the seat, even if it was a gift. It is not worth taking a chance.

Above all remember that if there is an accident, your child's life depends on the baby car seat.