This week we have a very important topic and one that many parents are often confused about. Please take a moment to read this very helpful article provided to us by CPST Barbara Bilo.
How do you know you have your child in the right car seat?
It is the one that fits your vehicle, fits your child, and is used correctly 100% of the time.
Using the seat correctly includes adjusting the harness or seatbelt a particular way to maximize safety and reduce the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
5-point Harness Facts:
Did you know that the height of the shoulder straps in a 5-point harness should be adjusted differently, depending on whether the occupant is rear facing or forward facing?
1. For a rear facing child, the harness straps should be set in the position AT OR BELOW the child’s shoulders. It is okay if the harness wraps over the top of the shoulders and comes out from the seat behind their back somewhere – if that is the nearest position to their shoulders without leaving a gap above, it is the correct height.
*For newborns, you may find that using the infant insert that comes with your car seat is necessary for the baby’s shoulders to sit above the lowest possible harness slot.
2. For a forward facing child, the harness straps should be set in the position AT OR ABOVE the child’s shoulders. In this case, it is okay if the closest option means that the harness straps come out of the seat almost near their ears – if that is the nearest position to their shoulders without the straps tucking behind them, it is the correct height.
How do you know when your child has outgrown their forward facing seat?
It is important to keep in mind that if your child’s shoulders sit higher than the top harness slots you have available, then your child has outgrown that seat (or at least the harness mode if the seat also converts to a booster). The upper tips of their ears also should not exceed the height of the car seat. Most kids outgrow their seats in the forward facing mode by height based on these rules before they reach any maximum weight limit the seat offers.
Tightening the 5-Point Harness:
1. When tightening the 5-point harness, you should use the “pinch test” to be sure it is snug enough. The harness should slip out from between your thumb and pointer finger when you try to pinch it in the area of the shoulders. If you are able to pinch the strap between your fingers, give it another tug to pull out the slack.
2. Make sure there are no twists in the harness, especially in the hard to see area around the waist, where bunching can often occur.
*Note: this is where bulky clothing and winter coats interfere, because they add compressible material under the harness that interferes with the ability to tighten the straps enough. Remember to remove that jacket before buckling in!
3. Proper placement of the harness retainer clip (more commonly known as the chest clip) is important because it is intended to be a pre-crash positioner. The chest clip should be aligned between the child’s armpits or along the nipple line, not any lower on the child’s belly.
Booster Seats:
1. Kids in boosters need the seatbelt to lay flat and centered across their shoulder and low across their hips or upper thighs in order to have it restrain them properly.
The seatbelt should not hover away from their shoulder. Using the guide (typically a plastic piece on the end of a long strap that can be attached to a backless booster) can help to pull it closer to their body.
2. The headrest of a highback booster should be adjusted to the appropriate height to cushion beside the ears and allow the shoulder belt to be positioned across the center of their shoulder.
**As usual, meeting with a certified car seat technician is the best way to get the reassurance that your child is safely secured in your vehicle and protected the best they can be.
Do not miss the next public car seat inspection opportunity held in Merrimac Next week. See event info HERE
