A 4-Step process to choosing, using, installing and checking your first child safety seat.
Are you a first time parent trying to figure out which car seat is best to purchase? Although Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) cannot recommend specific brands/models, we can recommend a 4-Step process to choosing, using, installing and checking your first child safety seat.
Step 1: Selecting the child safety seat A rear-facing infant carrier may be the best selection for a newborn child because it is designed to fit smaller children. If you would like to use a rear-facing infant carrier (with or without a base), select an infant seat with at least two positions (preferably three) for the shoulder harness to come through from the back of the seat. If there is a possibility you will have a low birth weight or premature infant, choose a seat with weight ranges labeled "Birth-20 or 22 pounds" to ensure it can be safely used with a smaller infant. Harness choices include either a three-point harness (sometime referred to as a "V" harness) or a five-point harness. Usually a five-point harness provides a better fit, especially with a smaller infant. If selecting a rear-facing convertible seat for your first child safety seat, safest practice is to select one with a five-point harness. Do not place a newborn child in a rear-facing convertible seat that has an overhead tray shield or T-shield, due to the infant's head being at the level of the shield and poor harness fit. If you must chose a rear-facing convertible seat for a newborn or premature infant, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, "Car safety seats with a distance of less than 5 1/2 inches from the crotch straps to the seat back should be selected to reduce the potential of slumping forward of the low birth weight infant. Car safety seats with a distance of less than 10 inches from the lower harness strap to the seat bottom should be selected to reduce the potential of harness straps crossing the infant's ears." A seat that has at least three to four sets of shoulder slots and at least two sets of crotch buckle slots can ensure a better fit on a small infant. The lower the shoulder slot and closer the crotch buckle to the diaper area, the better the fit on a small child.
Step 2: Using the child safety seat First and most important is to read the instructions for both the child restraint and vehicle. The child restraint instructions will explain how to use the child restraint. The vehicle owner?s manual will explain how to put the actual child restraint correctly into the vehicle. To correctly use a rear-facing child safety restraint, you must know: -Which set of shoulder slots to use for your child. -How to adjust the harness snugly and how to loosen. -What is considered a correct harness fit (including how snug the harness should be and where to put the harness retainer clip on the child). -What the minimum and maximum weight and height limits are for the seat. It is a good idea to practice placing a doll or teddy bear in the child restraint and adjusting the harness so that you are familiar with this step, before you attempt to do this step with a newborn!
Step 3: Installing the child safety seat To correctly install the child safety restraint, you must know: -Which is the best position for the child in the vehicle? (Remember to NEVER place a rear-facing child in front of an active passenger side front air bag). -How your seat belt locks and is kept secure around the child restraint? (The seat should not move more than one inch side-to-side or to the front of the car when secured properly). -Do you have LATCH receptacles (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) in your vehicle? -Do you have LATCH attachments on your car seat? -What is considered a correct and tight installation in the vehicle? -What is the correct recline for the child and how do you adjust it? If using a rear-facing infant carrier, does the carrying handle go up or down? If you have not looked up and followed instructions for these basic points you cannot safely transport your rear-facing child!
Step 4: Checking the child safety seat The final piece to making sure you are ready for baby?s first vehicle ride home is to have a certified child passenger safety technician double-check your work. These people have had extensive training on the correct use and installation of child safety restraints and will check all safety points to make sure your child is as safe as possible. To find a technician near you, call KISS at 800-370-SEAT. KISS strongly encourages all parents desiring to have their child safety restraints checked for correct use/installation to NOT wait until the last moment. Many agencies/organizations have appointment waiting lists, so plan to have your child safety restraint checked at least 4-6 weeks before your due date to ensure you can schedule an appointment. A word about "after-market" products? After-market products are accessories that may be purchased separately from the child safety restraint or vehicle. These are products that may include but are not limited to head inserts, harness pads, seat belt tightening products, sunshades and mirrors that did NOT come from the child safety restraint manufacturer or vehicle manufacturer. They are not recommended because there are no safety regulations to design or crash test these types of products. Child safety restraint and vehicle manufacturers will not stand by the integrity of their products if you add after-market products to their products. For more information call Maryland Kids in Safety Seats at 800-370-SEAT or visit www.mdkiss.org.
