raisingsuperchild.com

Child seats and kids safety

May 17th, 2009 |

Author: admin

Safety in the car becomes our first priority when kids are traveling in the car. Car manufacturers have come a long way about car safety and car safety ratings have improved. As parents its our responsibility too, to make sure that our kids are safe and secure once in the car. Most common cause of infant,toddler or young child death, is car accidents. Children in the car without the proper restraint can be seriously injured or die during the accident.

Child safety seats and seat belts are the major safety features for the kids. Children of all ages from new born to teenagers should be fastened properly in the car according to size and weight, when traveling. We have discussed the safety measures as per children age and weight because their safety requirements change. We are working on the assumption that the child has healthy weight. If the child is underweight or overweight please choose a suitable category.

Note: This is only a general guide applicable in most of the countries. For further details check the country specific child safety web sites at the bottom of the page.

Safety measures for new born to 9 months old’s/ children up to 9 Kg

Carry cot/ baby capsule is the preferred way to carry the infant child or toddler in the car at this stage. Baby capsule can be hired from the hospitals, maternity supplies, Red Cross and some local councils. You need infant seat or child seat basically for the first six months of babies life. Get it fitted before child’s birth because you will need it for that very first trip home from hospital. In some countries doctors and nurses will not allow baby to leave the hospital till car is fitted with a baby capsule or child seat.

Child should always be fastened in the child seat while in the car, whether traveling or stopped for a break. While stopped for relaxing taking infants out of the car is recommended. It will refresh them and relax their still developing muscles. A child should not be left in the child seat for more that 30 minutes in a day, it can damage their still developing muscles and cause back problems. If you travel long trips often, consider installing a carry cot/baby capsule will always be the preferred option than the child seat.

Child car seat should never be placed on the front passenger seat. Correct installation is critical, incorrect installation is an ineffective restraint. Make sure to get it fitted by trained and authorised technicians. It is recommended that the child seat for toddlers and infants should be placed facing backwards and in the center of the car, to minimize any injuries in case of an accident.

For the children placed in the carry cot/baby capsule, extra precaution must be taken because it does not provide same protection as the child seat.

Be careful if you are looking for a second hand child restraint. Make sure that the equipment is not been in the accident, does not have any cracks or broken parts, seat belt and 3 point safety belt fits properly. Before using it for the first time make sure to wash properly to get rid of any possible infection or germs.

Babies are not safe when being held by another person. The person’s arms will not be strong enough to hold the baby in an accident. In most of the countries it is against the child seat safety laws as well.

Safety measures for 9 months to 3 years old/ children weighing 9 to 18 Kg

At this age some kids may not like to stay in their safety seat. They continually undo the seat belt or other harness. There there are some devices available to prevent this happening but these are not recommended, in case of emergency they are hard to undo and can cause extra injuries. Only the parent, or another adult, should undo and fasten the child’s safety belt. Parents should not teach their child how to do this, as they can otherwise never be sure that the child is securely fastened. If they already know, best way to deal with this bad habit is to be very firm about children staying in their restraint. If the child undoes the seatbelt, stop the car and tell them firmly that the car will not move unless everybody has their seatbelts on. You have to be persistent till they learn you will not drive if anyone’s seat belt is undone.

In case of emergency if you have to place child seat on the front passenger seat, make sure to disable passenger airbag. Do not forget to turn it on after wards. If your car does not offer the option of disabling the airbag, move the seat as far back as possible. Airbags are made to protect adults weighing about 75kg. They are very powerful when, inflated. Child placed in front of an airbag may suffocate or be severely injured by the impact of a rapidly inflating airbag.

Safety measures for 3 to 7 years old/ children weighing 15 to 30 Kg

Keep using the child seat till they can fit in them. Once your child is too big to use the child seat you have to get a booster car seat, which is a raised seat using cars existing seat belt. Booster seat with back and wings provide better support and safety in case of an accident. In most of the countries, children at this age are legally allowed to travel without the child seat. As parents for their own safety seat them on the back seat and make sure that their seat belts are on at all times while traveling. Adjust the seat belts so that they are tight to fit your child, remember incorrect installation is an ineffective restraint. If you can not afford a booster seat at least get a child harness.

Safety measures for older children

Don’t rush to use the adult seat belt for children. Allow to use the child harness as long as possible. Make your kids sit on the back seats as long as possible. Once your child grows out of child harness than use adult seat belts and follow the basic safety principles like: make sure they are tight, always done while traveling. Try to avoid any confrontation in the car, as it can distract the driver causing an accident.