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Car Seat FAQs
A reader of our site gave us this excellent suggestion: Put your child's basic information somewhere on the car safety seat (perhaps with a covered travel tag so that it isn't visible to a casual passerby): full name, Social Security Number, address, phone number, allergies, blood type, emergency contact and doctor's name. That way, if you're in a car accident and can't speak, a rescuer would be able to quickly access this important information. This idea would also be helpful if a caregiver has your child and the car safety seat for the day. FAQs:
What's the law concerning car safety seats? Which type of seat is best for my child? All 50 states have laws regarding buckling up a child, but the laws concerning car safety seats are up to each individual state and can vary. In fact, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, almost half the states fail when it comes to their laws on safety seats. Additionally, in April 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said that no state met the recommended standards. This is what NHTSA suggests as far as type of seat goes. (NHTSA now also rates car safety seats on their ease of use. See the NHTSA Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cssrating/) Experts recommend, therefore, that parents go by the tougher recommendations posted by reputable child health and safety organizations. See these organizations for more recommendations and tips: American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; the National SAFE KIDS Campaign; or SafetyBeltSafe USA. Here are some of the current recommendations, adapted from various sources (not implied or intended to be a complete list; see above organizations for more):
What do I do if I can't afford a car seat? There are many organizations that will help you, either by giving you a seat or by subsidizing a seat. Call your local police station or hospital first. If they have nothing available, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign or SafetyBeltSafe USA. Ford Motor Co. announced in December 2000 that it will donate 15,000 booster seats to Native American tribes in 18 states as part of a drive to provide 1 million seats to low-income families. From 2001 to 2003, Ford also sponsored the Boost America! program to educate parents about booster seats and to provide low-income families with booster seats. If you buy a seat secondhand, make sure that it hasn't been cracked or damaged, and that all the parts are present and in working condition. And call the manufacturer (usually a toll-free number) to make sure that no recalls or repairs have been announced on the seat.
My child is now 4 years old. He's big enough for just a seat belt, right? Actually, no. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration now recommends that children ages 4 to 8 be placed in a booster seat. (In fact, several states -- including the District of Columbia, California and Arkansas -- have made booster seats a requirement and other states are working on similar legislation). Children too tall or too large for a convertible seat, but too small (shorter than 4 feet 9 inches and lighter than 80 pounds) for a seat belt, should be placed in a high-backed booster seat. There are two types of booster seats: a high-backed booster seat and a simple booster without the back. High-backed boosters typically accommodate two methods of strapping your child in: the five-point harness that you've used with other seats (for smaller/younger children), and the shoulder and lap harness from your vehicle (used for larger/older children). For more information on booster seats, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
How do I know if my car safety seat is installed correctly? Two good rules of thumb: If the seat moves more than an inch in any direction, it isn't tight enough. If your child can wriggle out of the straps, they aren't tight enough (you shouldn't be able to get more than one finger between the straps and your child). Safer Child knows that your child will go through phases of squawking over being in a car seat. Don't cave in. Explain to your child that your desire is to keep him from going headfirst through the windshield and getting hurt. Make it an inviolable rule: The vehicle doesn't move until everyone's buckled in, and if someone wriggles out, the vehicle stops. You will have less resistance if you always buckle yourself in, too. There's no reason to be driving around with a car safety seat that isn't installed and used correctly. Most cities now train personnel in car seat installation, plus there are several organizations dedicated to making sure your seat is being used properly. And all of these car seat checks are free. Try your local police department, local hospitals or local fire departments. Or, call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign or SafetyBeltSafe USA for help. Additionally, DaimlerChrysler's Fit For A Kid program includes education and free inspections (1-877-FIT-F-AKID). Also, for a safety seat inspection or to find a car seat inspection location near you, check out the Seat Check Web site (sponsored by DaimlerChrysler), or call their hot line: 1-866-SEAT-CHECK. Even with all the reading Safer Child does, and all the car seats we've had to buy, we've NEVER gone through a car seat check that didn't make the seat just a little tighter or more stable.
How do I know if a seat has been recalled or is not recommended by experts? A good place to start is the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which will list any recalls or poor reviews of a particular car seat. (In Canada, try Transport Canada). Other helpful organizations include the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, SafetyBeltSafe USA or Consumer Reports. Always fill out the warranty card for your car seat and mail it in. That way, the manufacturer can reach you if there's been a recall or problem with the seat. Additionally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has begun to rate car safety seats on their ease of use. The grades, which go from A to C, are based on five categories (such as how easy to understand the instructions are to how difficult they are to install. Ratings can be found on the NHTSA Web site at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cps/cssrating/.
My child is a special needs child and regular seats don't work for us. Are other options available? There are other options available for special needs children. See the Medem site for information (go to Medem and do a search under "special needs."
What's being done to make safety seats safer? Many car seats now come with a tether strap that binds the car seat to the top of the vehicle's seat. Check with your auto manufacturer to see if the company will pay for or subsidize installation of a tether strap. Additionally, a major change has come to the way car safety seats will be installed in new vehicles. As of September 1, 2002, all new cars will have one type of machinery installed in the back seat, called the LATCH system, which fits all new car safety seats. LATCH is an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children. Owners will simply lock the car seat in place, and all owners should be able to do this without the tricks traditionally necessary. This system, however, will have no bearing on older vehicles or older car safety seats. Also, the LATCH system is used only for forward and rear-facing seats, not with booster seats for children ages 4 to 8. Additionally, automakers are required to put the LATCH system only at the two seats by the windows, not in the middle where many parents put their children in an effort to protect against side impacts. Finally, the newer car seats are likely to be more expensive, which might limit how many parents can afford them. Please be reassured that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that old seats (that have not been recalled) are just as good if they are installed properly. If you're struggling with your car seat, or if you aren't confident you've done it properly, take advantage of the expertise found in police departments, hospitals, fire stations, health departments or certain non-profit organizations -- people who are working hard to make sure your child is buckled in properly. We encourage you to allow one of them to check your seat installation. It only takes a moment to save your child's life. Safer Child is also doing some advocacy work in this area.
How do I convince my child to sit in a car safety seat or to wear a seat belt? You don't have to convince your child to do anything. You're the boss. Make the rule and then make it stick: Nobody goes anywhere until everyone's buckled in. Having said that, here are some suggestions for preventing the squawking:
How do I contact the manufacturer of my car safety seat? (Do you need help tracking down someone not listed here? Or have any of these addresses or phone numbers changed? Please let us know!) On the Web: Cosco, Century, Evenflo, Gerry (Evenflo), Kolcraft, Fisher-Price, Graco, Britax, Basic Comfort, Daimler/Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co., GMC/Chevy, Volvo Cars, Strolex, Safeline By Telephone:
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