Okay, I have a lot of friends who are putting their babies and small children in their car seats the wrong way. Instead of addressing each of you individually, I'm just going to list the most common mistakes I see.
When all else fails, READ THE MANUAL! These issues are ALL addressed in your car seat manuals!
Use of after-market accessories.
These accessories have been "crash-tested" but not necessarily with your particular car seat! These can interfere with the way your seat works, causing it to not function properly in a crash. This includes harness strap covers, head support cushions, any additional padding between child and seat (including thick, heavy winter suits), add-on trays, mobiles and toys, bunting bags, seat belt adjusters, and seat belt tighteners (such as the Mighty Tite).
ONLY use accessories that came with the seat!
Chest clip is too low.
It's called a CHEST clip. That means it goes across the CHEST. Not the belly. It should be level with the armpits! This clip will not hold the straps together properly in a crash if it is not positioned correctly, and your child could be ejected.
Straps are WAY too loose!! The straps should be nice and snug. Once the child is belted in properly (bottom buckle and chest clip already buckled and moved into position), you should not be able to pinch the fabric of the strap together. If the straps are too loose, your child could be ejected in a crash. For every inch of slack in the straps at rest, the straps will stretch 3 inches in a crash, remember that.
Straps are at the wrong level! If your child is rear-facing, the straps should be AT OR BELOW the shoulder line. If your child is forward-facing, the straps should be AT OR ABOVE the shoulder line.
Child is turned forward facing too soon! The law states that children MUST be rear-facing until one year of age AND 20 lbs. If your child is one year old and only weighs 18 lbs, you cannot face them forward! If your child weighs 23 pounds and is 8 months old, you cannot face them forward! If you choose to turn your child around at one year and 20 lbs, it is at your discretion, but please remember that It is even safer if you leave them rear-facing for as long as the weight limit of the seat allows.
In most car seats this is 35 lbs!!! Here is a video that explains why extended rear-facing is so much safer.
Using expired car seats or not replacing a seat after a crash.
Most car seats have a lifespan of 6 years! Check the bottom of your seat for an expiration date, and never use a seat that you don't know the history of! Replace a car seat after you have been in an accident, even if the seat seems fine or doesn't look damaged!
Again, READ YOUR MANUALS for more information! These things can ALL be found in the manuals!!
And you know what else? Using boosters too soon.
Just because the box says you can use it on a 33-lb child doesn't mean the LAW allows you three-year-old in a booster! And even if your child is in the weight and age to be in a booster, it's only going to protect her if she sits in it properly for the WHOLE trip! The seat belt should be across the thighs, and across the chest, not on the neck or tucked under an arm.
For the whole trip!
Excellent MySpace car seat safety group
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