Child Safety Seat Guidelines Every Parent Should Know August 2011

Speaking with several maternity nurses and midwives, I was amazed to find out how many new parents arrive at the hospital having no clue how to install the car seat properly. 2

In fact, according to a Safe Kids Coalition study observing the misuse of 3,442 child restraint systems in six states, approximately 73% of seats showed at least one critical misuse. 3

4 The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration statistics indicate motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children ages 3-14. Visit nhtsa.gov/Safety/CPS more information by age group

5 Before taking a new child home from the hospital here are some basic safety precautions to remember: Select a car seat based on your child's age, height, and weight Infants should always be placed in a rear-facing car seat and they must stay this way until they are 20 pounds and 1 year of age Follow your car seat manufacturer's instructions and your vehicle owner's manual on how to install Keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as your child fits the seat's height and weight requirements All children under 13 should ride in the back seat and never put an infant in the front seat of a car Get help from a certified technician who is available to check your car seat installation for free

6 Fortunately most towns have a fire fighter or police officer on staff trained in the installation of car seats, and will be happy to check that your car seat is installed properly. They should also be able to update you on requirements for each type of seat. Usually this service is free of charge to residents of the town or a nominal fee for a resident of a neighboring town. Click on these links to find the nearest inspection stations in Michigan and Ohio.

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