There is probably nothing more important for parents than to make sure that our kids are safe and healthy. Given that car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old (and oftentimes deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of child restraints and seat belts), it’s imperative for us parents to make sure we’re buckling up our kids the correct way. You might think that you are a massive car person and know everything about the car. You might even be getting car parts to help build or redesign your car (if this is something that you are doing then you might be interested in checking out these discounts on JC Whitney). However, even though you think you know the ins and outs of your car, when it comes to you children and in particular their safety, you still have a lot to learn.
So here are some Car Seat Safety Tips from the experts at Safety 1st:
Importance of Rear Facing
In March of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their car seat recommendations advising that children should remain rear facing until the age of two. According to a study in the Journal of Injury Prevention children under the age of two are 75% less likely to die or be severely injured in the event of a car crash if they are rear facing. When a child is rear facing their head, neck and spine are better supported and in the event of an accident, crash forces are distributed over the child’s entire body. If your child is supported in the correct car seat, should you be in an accident that wasn’t your fault, both you and your very important passenger will be able to receive compensation with the help of a personal injury lawyer, like the Joye Law Firm.
Location
Typically the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, and never install a car seat in the front seat. If your car does not have a latch connector for the middle seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing, make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. An easy way to test this is to hold at the belt path.
Car Seat Expiration
Car seats do have an expiration date, it is recommended that car seats be replaced every 5-8 years, or immediately after a crash. The reason for an expiration date is because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car seats not as effective in the event of a crash. Additionally car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change over time. Important warning labels may wear out and instruction books may get lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.
Safeguard the Car
Childproof the inside of the car and eliminate projectiles. Anything in the car that is not secured is a possible projectile – even a child’s toy, or a water bottle. In a crash, objects take on greater weight due to crash forces.
In the market for a new car seat? Here are some Child Safety Seats by Safety 1st:
A. onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat
Air Protect + combines the advanced protection of the Air Protect® cushion system with patented GCell HX™ foam designed with hexagonal shapes for superior protection around the torso. TOGETHER they provide full body side impact protection.
B. Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
For children from 5-65 pounds. In addition to Air Protect +, the Advance 65 Air + uses a steel-reinforced metal frame for extra stability and includes a 4-position recline for an optimal fit to your vehicle. We’ve also included color-coded belt paths and installation labels to help you install it quickly and correctly.
C. Summit® Booster Car Seat
Forward-facing: 22-40 pounds with Belt-positioning at 40-100 pound. Fully loaded with ease-of-use features that parents will appreciate: Like the 4-position QuickFit™ headrest which adjusts without the need for rethreading and a 5-point safety harness with Center Front Adjust.
D. Incognito Kid Positioning Seat
A new category for car seats. The goal for Safety 1st is to help educate parents that any child under 4’9” (57”) in height should still be in a belt positioning seat. The Incognito blends into the car and prevents slouching to ensure comfortable and proper positioning of the seat belt. The introduction of this seat has helped to extending child restraints to accommodate children 60 to 120 lbs. and up to 60 inches.
Did you know that September 14-20 is Child Passenger Safety Week? And September 20th is actually National Seat Check Saturday!
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the goal of Child Passenger Safety week is to make sure all parents and caregivers are properly securing children (ages 0-12) in the best car restraint (rear-facing, forward-facing, booster, seat belt) for age and size.
Get your car seat checked this week! Click HERE to find a car seat check near you!
Safety 1st Car Seat + Baby On Board Sign Giveaway
In honor of Child Passenger Safety Week, Safety 1st is giving away one of its child restraints plus a “Baby on Board” sign to one Bay Area Mommy reader!
Giveaway is open to residents of the continental US who are at least 18 years old. Void where prohibited by law. Winner can choose from any of the Safety 1st car seats mentioned above. Giveaway ends October 7 at 11:59pm EST. No Purchase Necessary. To enter, use the GiveawayTools form below. Good luck!
One final note, my friend was recently in a car accident with their child and it was traumatic for her little one. She decided to pursue legal action and started to search for a legal representative similar to Car Accident Attorney Beaufort. After her long search, she found a fantastic lawyer that helped her get the settlement she deserved to take care of her little one with.
The nearest location to me would be the La Mesa Police Department in California!
My nearest location is the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
1700 W Leonard St
Pensacola, FL 32501
The closest to me is Community Action Wayne/Medina
2375 B Benden Drive
Wooster, OH 44691
Wayne
The nearest location according to the locator is my town’s police department.
2400 Mountain View, Longmont CO about 8 blocks away!!!
The closest location is in Raleigh, NC.
Our closed is in Mercer , Pa.
the closest station to me is michigan state police post caro michigan
The nearest location Lake County Fire Rescue in Delafield
at the firestation less than 2 miles away
Nearest is in Gurnee Illinois
Closest to me is Watertown, NY
My nearest location is at Randall Childrens Hospital just a few miles away.
hky fire department hky nc
The nearest location to me is Toms River Police Department – Silverton Fire House on Kettle Creek Road.
There are none available in the 34212 area
My nearest station is about 70 miles away from us.
The closest to me is at the Dekalb Health Center in Auburn, IN
boylaneely at hotmail dot com
Michelle Hagewood recently posted..Train is Back!!!! #BulletproofPicasso #O2O
the closest is in martinsville va
There is an inspection station at the fire station just a couple miles away
Nearest location is about 5 miles at the Grandville Police Station.
My location is: Leon County EMS
1800-2 N Blair Stone Road
Tallahassee , FL 32308
THe California Highway Patrol-Oceanside
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The state police station is close
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The Fire Department under a mile from my house
I’m so glad the safety tips are being promoted more and more. Some people don’t understand the changes and need o hear the statistics.
The nearest location for me is the East Pierce Fire and Rescue in Bonney Lake. About 5 miles from my house!
The closest one to me is the California Highway Patrol-Buttonwillow 29449 Stockdale Highway Bakersfield, CA 93312
The closest station is our local police station – about 12 miles from my house.
The closest is about 12 miles from where I live.
Our nearest location is Forsyth County Fire Department – Station 8 in Cumming, GA.
My nearest station
2. Safe Kids Maine-Goodwin Chevrolet
195 Pleasant St
Brunswick, ME 04011
California Highway Patrol-Temecula (685)
27685 Commerce Center Dr
Temecula, CA 92590
about 30 min away
The nearest location for me would be The Carr Center
1035 Beverly Ave
Zanesville, OH 43701
Muskingum
It is just up the road from me.
The closest location is the St. Louis Park Fire Department
5005 Minnetonka Blvd
St. Louis Park, MN 55426
I Have A Location Within 5 Miles!
AAA – Car Care Plus
2400 Sobeck Rd
Columbus, OH 43232
AAA Chicago in Joliet.
City of Aurora Fire Department
65 West Pioneer Trail
Aurora, OH 44202
Portage
The nearest location is Seattle Childrens Hospital
4800 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
King
The nearest location for us is only 10 minutes away on blairstone road in Tallahassee, Fl.
Bright Futures Family Program in Roodhouse, IL 🙂
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The Laramie fire department is the closest.
The closest location is the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, which is about 5 minutes away.
Rutgers University Child Safety Seat Inspection and Education Station
129 Davidson Rd
Piscataway, NJ 08854
The nearest location is at a hospital in Ft. Wayne a little over an hour from me.
Safe Kids Orange County
910 Fairvilla Road
Orlando, FL 32808
Orange
our local hospital in hudson1
Pomona Police Department
100 W Commercial St
Pomona, CA 91768
The closest station near me is the Martinsburg Fire Department.
National Safety Council, Nebraska
11620 M Circle
Omaha, NE 68137
Macomb County Health Department
25401 Harper Ave
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
The closest to me is
Waynesboro Ambulance Squad
603 West Main Street
Waynesboro, PA 17268
PA State Police
2632 State Route 72
Jonestown, PA 17038
And the closest for the 20th only is our Kohl’s which is about 20 minutes away from our house depending on traffic also on Jonestown Rd.
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. thats where we had baby!
Schuyler Country sheriffs office in Montour Falls, NY. That is only about 5-10 minutes for me.
West Pierce Fire & Rescue Lakewood WA
The neatest location got me is our local police station. It’s just down the street.
mine is:
South Davis Metro Fire
255 South 100 West
Bountiful, UT 84010
Our nearest location is on Kipling Street just a few minutes away from our house.
3560 Evergreen Parkway
Suite 101B
Evergreen, CO
my nearest location is 8. Harris County Sheriffs Office-Aldine Storefront
5202 Aldine Mail Rd
Houston, TX 77039
Hours: Appointment Required
Phone: 281-449-6600
Contact: Deputy Luna Deputy Card
It won’t give me the distance, but my closet one is the Seminole County Safe Kids Coalition.
Thanks for the giveaway! =)
The nearest location to me is,
Seminole Co. Safe Kids Coalition
451 E. Altamonte Dr.
Altamonte Springs, FL 32701
Seminole
My sweet baby girl is outgrowing her infant seat. Thanks for the opportunity.
[email protected]
The nearest location is
PA State Police
85 Keystone Industrial Pk.
Dunmore, PA 18512
Our closest one is in South Jordan , Utah
the nearest location to me is 1. NEW YORK STATE POLICE
9825 MAIN STREET
CLARENCE, NY 14031
This is the nearest location to me:
Jefferson County Health Department
405 Main St
Hillsboro, MO 63050
UNM Hospital
AFD Station #3
141 Girard Blvd., NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
Troy IL fire department, which is about 47 seconds from me!
There are NO events near me. Hard to believe the largest county in Illinois (Cook) is NOT represented.
ADVANCED SE 65, because it grows with my child.
If I won I would probably pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would chose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat because I could use it for my youngest child.
B
I would choose B the convertible one.
I went to the local fire department to get mine inspected i mean they’re right around the corner from me. They told me that in my area they don’t inspect anymore… That i needed to go to sunstar (ambulance company) to get my carseats inspected.
That’s a bummer! 🙁 They should have at least taken a look at your car seat since you were already there.
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I would LOVE to have the Summit® Booster Car Seat.
I would choose the infant carseat for my little love that will be born in January! 🙂
i would pick Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I am most likely to choose the onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat.
I would pick the Summit® Booster Car Seat.
I would choose the advanced SE 65 seat
I would pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would probably pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would get the summit.
Advanced SE Convertible Car Seat
I would pick the C. Summit® Booster Car Seat!
Would live to have the Safety First Advanced SE Air 65 +Convertible car seat
I would choose the Summit Booster car seat:)
I would choose B for my son!
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 air.
The Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat because it’s for such a wide range of weight and age!
More Than Likely , it would be the onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat. That would be the first choice for me. It will be what I would need for the new one one the way.
i would choose the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat since its the right weight limit for my son.
I would get C the Summit Booster Car Seat
I would pick the advanced convertible car seat!
I would choose the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat.
I’m mostly interested in the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat because it includes a 4-position recline, love that feature.
i would choose A. The onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat
I would choose B- the convertible car seat.
The car seat I would most likely choose is the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat. The comfort, safety, and flexibility features were the most appealing. Two of my grandchildren are infants. I could really use a new car seat, to keep in my car, for when they’re with me. That would save having to transfer their own car seats every time.
I’d like the onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat.
I would use the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat! 🙂
I would most likely choose the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat – St. Germain if I were to win. However, I love the Summit® Booster Car Seat – Rachel also. Will be a hard choice to make.
Summit® Booster Car Seat
Advanced SE 65 Air+Convertible Car Seat
I’d choose the convertable one. My 9month old is really tall for his age so itd be helpful to have a carseat he could fit.
I would love to have the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat. This is so very nice.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would choose the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat for my grandson, if I won this.
Either the convertible or summit booster.
I would choose the booster car seat
Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would like the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
Definitely Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
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I would choose the Summit® Booster Car Seat.
The summit booster car seat
I would pick the advance se 65
The Summit Booster
I could choose the Summit Booster
The Advance SE 65 convertible seat
Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat
I would pick the Summit® Booster Car Seat
The . Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would most likely choose the summit booster!
I would choose the
Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat
The onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
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If I were to win this giveaway, I would go with the advanced we 65 air+ convertible car seat; this would be a great help!!
I would choose the advanced SE 65 air+ convertible car seat.
I would chose B. That is exactly what I need right now.
I would pick the Advanced SE 65 air+ if I win.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
Incognito Kid Positioning Seat
Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would choose C for the car seat, the belt positioning seat fits up to 100 IBS. Thank you for the chance to win!
I would choose the booster seat since most of mine are in that age and size range.
The Advanced 65 SE Convertible!
onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat for baby i am expecting
If I win I would choose the SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat.
I’d pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
christine k recently posted..MOMables Kid’s Chicken Curry
I would pick the Advanced SE Air 65+convertible car seat.
C! For my growing girl
I would most likely choose the onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat.
60 miles away from us
We would pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would want the On Board infant car seat.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat for my nineteen month old son.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I like this car seat: Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
B. Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
i would pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convert
A. onBoard 35 Air +Infant Car Seat
Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat would be the one I would choose if I won.
If I was to be lucky enough to win, I’d pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I’d pick the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would choose the Summit Booster Car Seat.
I would choose the Advance SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat.
love it need it
Advance 65 Air + please
I would love the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat, my baby is ready for an upgrade!
I will probably choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat
I would love to have the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
The state police station is close
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat if I won.
I would choose Summit® Booster Car Seat
The convertible car seat would be perfect for my little girl. Great Christmas present!!
I’m thinking I’d choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat. My oldest daughter is having a baby in November and I think that carseat would be a wonderful gift for her.
if i won, i would get the Advanced 65 SE Convertible
I would love to have the Summit® Booster Car Seat
Advanced 65 SE Convertible
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat.
I would choose the Advanced SE 65 Air Convertible Car Seat for my son.
Summit Booster Car Seat
Summit® Booster Car Seat
I like the Summit® Booster Car Seat the best for my nephew.
I’d choose the Advanced SE 65 Air + Convertible Car Seat.
I would most definitely choose B. Advanced SE 65 Air +Convertible Car Seat for my little girl. I love being able to have her rear facing longer!
Thanks so much for the Fantastic Review on Car Seat Safety Tips From Safety 1st! I have heard that they are definitely an awful lot safer in the newer car seats which are purchased now! This is an important fact when purchasing a car seat! I know my daughter has been through several of them now! I really enjoyed reading all the tips and information which you provided all of us! It’s really terrific how they are coming out with all these new safety rules and products to make car seats much safer! Thanks again for the Fantastic Review and the information! I honestly do appreciate it! Thanks again, Michele 🙂
Michele Ash recently posted..AMC Movie Night For Two Giveaway
I am so glad I came to read this. It has been years since I dealt with car seats for the little ones. Now I have to learn for the grandchildren. Things have changed in the last twenty years. Thanks for the course.
All these tips are very good to know. Sometimes us parents need a refresher course too. It’s sad but there are parents out there that don’t know to put your child in the rear and have them rear facing. So, thanks for ll these great tips!
You can never ever refresh your memory enough on any child safety tip, but especially the car seat safety tips. Your child’s safety should be on the top of your list. I think it is one topic that is not talked about enough. I’ve seen quite a few parents put there child in a seat that a- was not the correct size seat or b- was not positioned rear facing when it should’ve been. It doesn’t take any longer to fasten the seat correctly than it does to fasten it incorrectly. Thanks for the safety tips!
Safety 1st really does make some awesome and super safe car seats! I love that there is so much car seat awareness out there, it is surprising how many parents are installing their car seats the wrong way.
Thank you for the information on the booster seat. We were wondering about it for our Granddaughter. She has the height but not the weight.