Alien asked:


Once you have your new baby you're going to need a good baby car seat. It needs to be installed correctly in order to protect your baby in the event of a car accident. Most hospitals won’t discharge a mom and new baby until they see the car seat. Many kinds of infant car seats exist.

The easiest kind to use is the kind that has a base that gets buckled securely into the car, and the seat itself can be lifted off and carried around by the handle. This is very convenient because the baby can be carried to and from the house or wherever one is going while strapped into the seat. These infant seats usually will only be safe for transporting babies facing backward, until the age of one year.

When the baby is 18 pounds, and at least one year old, it is time for a forward-facing baby car seat. Plus, by the time the baby is that old, and weighs 18 pounds, he will be too heavy to lug around that way! You will want to get the baby out of the baby car seat, and carry him, or he may even be walking by then!

The next kind of baby car seat is called a convertible car seat. Many of these baby car seats can be placed in the backward-facing position for when babies grow out of their infant seats, but are not yet old enough, or at a heavy enough weight to sit facing forward. Then, the convertible baby car seat can be turned to face forward, and will seat the baby until the baby is 40 pounds or more. These have a 5-point harness that is buckled at the bottom and the chest.

Once the baby reaches 40 pounds, he will move to a booster seat. This seat is a small base that keeps the child secure, while allowing him to use the regular seat belt. The child can sit in this seat until he weighs 80 pounds! Most states require this and you should check with your individual state requirements.

Regardless of what kind of baby car seat or booster you are using, the place for babies and children under 12 years of age is always in the back seat of the car. The center of the back is the safest place to sit. Airbags in the front can injure a small child, so never seat a child under the age of 12 in the front seat.

By choosing the right baby car seat you can be assured they will remain safe and secure every time they are in your vehicle.



Ruben

Gary E Rosenberg asked:


I see children standing up in cars, looking out the back window or just sitting on laps. Don't parents know that in an accident the body of an unrestrained child becomes a projectile, bouncing around the interior of the car? A child can be thrown from the car or through a window or windshield and fatally injured, and occupants of the vehicle can be hurt by a child impacting their heads or necks. Apparently, some people still have not gotten the message.

Are car seats too expensive? Or are people just plain lazy?

There are different types of car seat, usually varying depending on the size, age or weight of the child. Remember to buy a new car seat - old car seats may not have the latest safety features or may have been compromised in an accident.

Infant car seats - only face the rear; usually used in the back seat; may be used as an infant carrier and may be attachable to a stroller.

Convertible car seats - Used in the rear; when your child gets older may change into a forward-facing car seat or even a booster seat.

Booster seats - the last step before your child can wear a regular seat belt; used with the car's seatbelt.

It is important that you follow the manufacturer's instructions about how to attach the car seat. Also, you always want to send in the car seat's registration form, so you are notified if the manufacturer recalls the seat for any defect. If your child is wearing a heavy coat, make certain that the harness straps are tight. Make sure to tighten the straps when your child wears lesser outerwear (when the weather warms up). Some safety agencies recommend removing your child's outerwear in the car, so that the child can be fastened securely into the car seat.

Do not re-use a car seat after a serious accident - one that causes severe damage to the car. Get a new one.

Common car seat mistakes:

Placing child in wrong size car seat for his weight/size;

Placing a rear-facing car seat in the front seat of the car;

Not making sure the harness is tightened correctly;

Positioning the harness chest clip incorrectly;

Not using the latch correctly.

Not just a safety issue, it's the law. Below I summarize New York Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1229-c. For specific questions, consult the statute. No person shall operate a motor vehicle in this state unless:

(1) all back seat passengers under the age of four are restrained in a specially designed seat which is either permanently affixed or is affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt,

(2) all back seat passengers of such vehicle who are age four or older but under age seven are restrained in an appropriate child restraint system (+ combination lap and shoulder harness belts)

(3) all front seat passengers (a) under the age of sixteen are restrained by a safety belt; or (b) if they are under the age of four, by a specially designed seat which is either permanently affixed or affixed to such vehicle by a safety belt, or children who are age four or older but under age seven are restrained in an appropriate child restraint system (+ combination lap and shoulder harness belts)

The rule changes somewhat if: the passenger four or younger weighs more than 40 pounds, or if the car is not equipped with shoulder harness belts, or if all the lap and shoulder belts are already in use by other children in the car

No person shall operate a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by an approved safety belt. No person sixteen years of age or over shall be a passenger in the front seat of a motor vehicle unless such person is restrained by an approved safety belt.

This section shall not apply to taxis, liveries, and buses other than school buses EXCEPT no person shall operate a school bus unless all passengers under the age of four are restrained in a specially designed detachable or removable seat, or another approved restraining device.



Iliana