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Infant Car Seat Safety

Infant car seat safety is important for every parent to understand, yet the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) studies show that approximately 3 out of 4 child car seats are installed improperly. The problem often stems from trying to integrate the many varieties of vehicle seats with the many varieties of infant car seats.

“It sometimes happens, even in the best of families, that a baby is born. This is not necessarily cause for alarm. The important thing is to keep your wits about you and borrow some money.”
--Elinor Goulding Smith

There are 3 important steps that you need to take to be assured of the proper infant car seat safety:

Do not purchase a used car seat. You would be unaware of any structural damage resulting from a crash.
Read, understand, and follow your infant car seat manufacturer's instructions.
Find your nearest child safety seat inspection station so that certified technicians can show you how to properly install and use your seat.

Infant Car Seat Safety Basics
The safest way for infants to ride in a vehicle is rear-facing in the back seat. Rear-facing child safety seats protect the infant's head, neck, and back in a crash. The infant should ride rear-facing until at least 1 year of age AND at least 20 pounds... longer if possible.

Two kinds of child safety seats for newborn babies

1. Small, lightweight "infant-only" child safety seats are designed for rear-facing only.(A) Your baby's head must be at least one inch below the top of the seat. The label on the seat gives the upper weight.

2. Larger "convertible" seats can be used rear-facing (B) from about 5 to 35 pounds. Some older models only go up to 20-22 pounds when rear-facing. Always check the label and instructions for the rear-facing weight limit.

infant car seat safety tip b If a baby under 1 year old grows too tall or too heavy for an infant-only seat, a convertible seat with a higher rear-facing weight limit (over 22 pounds) is recommended.

Convertible safety seats may be turned around to face the front when your baby is over 1 year old AND at least 20 pounds.(C)

It is recommended that a child ride rear-facing as long as she fits. Follow the seat manufacturer's instructions.

When using a convertible seat, a 5-point harness works best for a newborn baby. Seats with a padded overhead shield do not fit small babies properly. The shield comes up too high and may make proper adjustment of the harness difficult.(D)

infant car seat safety tip d

The following infant car seat safety video shows basic installation of the 2 types of car seats for newborns, and also how to install the convertible car seat to the forward-facing position (only for when your baby reaches at least 12 months AND at least 20 pounds).

Click on the triangle at the bottom-left of the video screen to begin.

Buckling your baby in the safety seat

Use the lowest harness slots (E) for a newborn infant. Keep the straps in the slots at or below the baby's shoulders for the rear-facing position.

Harness straps must fit properly on your baby's shoulders and between the legs. Dress the baby in clothes that keep the legs free.

Keep harness straps very snug and flat on your baby's shoulders, not arms. If the harness is even slightly loose, the baby can be thrown out of the seat.

infant car seat safety tip f Place the plastic harness retainer clip (F) near your child's armpits to hold the harness straps on the shoulders. Check instructions if the seat doesn't have a harness clip.

Always buckle your baby in the seat first, then place blankets OVER the harness. Avoid buckling your baby in the carseat if he is wearing an infant snowsuit. (See the article Infant Snowsuits - Warm, But Not Necessarily Safe) If your baby needs support, fill empty spaces with small, rolled blankets on each side of her shoulders and head (F). A rolled diaper or small towel can also be put between her legs behind the crotch strap.

Thick padding should NOT be put under or behind your baby.

Babies must ride sitting in a semi-reclined position (halfway back or a 30-45 degree angle from vertical) to keep the airway open.

New infant car seat safety studies are suggesting that car seats may sometimes restrict newborn breathing. This is due to the baby's weak neck muscles which allow their head to fall forward. To prevent this, be sure to keep the car seat at the proper angle, and have a responsible person ride beside the newborn whenever possible.

If the safety seat is too upright for your baby and the base is not adjustable, put a tightly rolled bath towel or part of a foam pool noodle under the front edge of the child safety seat to tilt it back a little.(G) Do not tip it too far back or the child could be ejected.

What about infant car seat safety for preemies?A baby born earlier than 37 weeks may need to use a car bed if she has any problems breathing or other medical problems when sitting semi-reclined. infant car seat safety tip h Ask your baby's doctor if your baby needs to be tested for breathing problems or other medical problems before she is discharged from the hospital.

If the baby's doctor recommends it, a baby with medical problems may need to ride lying flat in a car bed .(H)

The Unthinkable
Unfortunately, it is becoming more and more common to hear news reports of infants who have died due to being inadvertantly left alone in vehicles for long periods of time. Often this is due to miscommunication between caregivers ("I thought YOU got the baby out of the car!"), or simply a lapse in remembering the baby is in the backseat when the caregiver is caught up with the events of the day.

I read recently of a couple who suffered this tragedy. Contrary to their regular routine, the mom was to take the baby to daycare that hot, summer day.

On the commute, the mother began thinking about her job responsibilities for the day while the baby slept contentedly in the back seat. Since she was not in the habit of dropping the baby off, she simply drove straight to work, locked the car, and went inside.

Don't think it could never happen to you. Take precautions to ensure that it can't happen. Make a habit of always putting your purse, briefcase, or cell phone in the backseat next to the baby so that you must retrieve it before leaving the car. Or you could set a toy or the diaper bag next to you in front to remind you of your precious cargo.

Infant car seat safety requires that you take a few moments of precaution each time you "load up". Think of these moments as insurance against a potential lifetime of heartache.