When having a baby there are many big purchases that have to be made. From the crib all the way down to bottles and socks. But, one of the more important things that are needed is the Child Safety Seat otherwise known as a car seat. Getting the correct seat for the age and size of the child, making sure the baby/child fits in it correctly, and that it is installed correctly can save your child’s life. Although South Dakota’s and a couple other states laws only go to the age of 4, Child Safety Seats are needed well after that age.
Certified Safety Seat Technician’s can direct and educate you on the best seat for each situation. When picking a safety seat the first things most people look for is the color or design on the seat. Thinking that having a boy or girl, they will need to have a pretty pink or blue seat. When really, what you should be looking for is the correct fit for the child. Does the seat’s weight limits fall within the weight of the child, and when the child is put in the seat are the harness holes in the correct position to the shoulders of the child.
Having an incorrect fit or seat could injure the child instead of saving its life. The cost of safety seats can be extremely expensive, but the more expensive does not mean the more safe. There are safety seats as low as $30 and can be upward of $900. The more expensive seats always look prettier but most have the same safety features as the lower cost seats. A good example of a good low cost seat would be a Graco, they have many different types of seats and most of them are at a low cost and have the same safety options as more expensive seats.
Then there is the most expensive seat out there, the Orbit, this is an infant seat that you will see a lot with celebrities. During my training I got to test this seat out and personally I wouldn’t waist my money, it is a lot heavier and more awkward to carry and doesn’t have any more safety options than the lower cost seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives recommendations on how to keep children safe in a vehicle. Their standards say that from birth to ge 2 the child should be rear facing in the back seat of the vehicle, from 2 to 6 they should be forward facing in a 5 point harness in the back seat, from 6 till the child grows to 4 foot 10 inches and 80 pounds should be in a booster/belt positioning seat in the back seat. NHTSA tests show that adult safety belts without a safety seat are made for someone that is at least 4 foot 10 inches and 80 pounds, anyone below this belt will not correctly fit them, and anyone below this should never sit in the front seat of any vehicle. These recommendations make South Dakota’s safety seat laws look depressing.
South Dakota’s laws state that any child age 5 and up are not required to even be in a safety seat, and nothing is stated anywhere in the law on not being in the front seat. When I got certified as a Car Seat Technician, I thought that this would be easy, I don’t have any kids of my own but I have 3 nieces and used to haul them around everywhere with me when they were in their safety seat. But, the first things that you are told is that roughly 70% of car seats are being used incorrectly. I was baffled by that amount and thought that was an exaggeration, but at my first car seat check event I could see that they are right.
After talking with most people, the most common mistake I see is not reading the owner’s manual with it. Just like a TV or furniture you have to put together, you have to read the owner’s manual. This will tell you everything from how to buckle it in correctly to the correct positioning for the child. All vehicles that are made from 2002 and on have what is called the LATCH system, which is the little metal hooks in the crease of the seat. I see these used wrong the most. People think they need to use that and the safety belt from the car, but in fact when using the LATCH system the safety belt is not needed.
In conclusion, Child Safety Seats can be a big purchase and you want to educate yourself on being able to pick the correct seat for your child’s weight and size. With all the expenses that come with children remember you can get an affordable seat with the same or better safety options as the more expensive seats. And until our state cares enough to change the laws on child safety in vehicles, it is the parent’s jobs to keep them safe by following the recommendations of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
