Keys to the Car Seat

Car accidents are the number one killer of children in the United States. According to research, 7 out of 10 carseats are installed incorrectly. One of the things I have struggled with is figuring out the correct way to install the carseat for my son. Each carseat is slightly different and comes with different instructions. Even if you follow the instructions step by step, it still may not be installed correctly, which could place your infant or toddler at risk for serious injury or death in case of an accident. Finding a carseat installation check place and following a few simple guidelines can give you the peace of mind that your child is safely secured. If you're equipped with all the information you need, you can pass it on to all of the people that your child rides with on a regular basis, like your spouse, grandparents, babysitter, etc. Here are a few local places you can have your carseat inspected for proper installation:

St. Johns Springfield Safe Kids

417-820-6672

Safety Council of the Ozarks

417-869-2121

Cox Health Medical Center South

417-269-0919

If you're not a neighbor of ours, you can find listings for help with carseat installation at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website, www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting . Just enter your zipcode to find the nearest check place.

Here's a few guidelines from http://www.babycenter.com/ that will help you decide the placement and type of carseat to use with your little one.

1. Use the correct type of car seat for a child's age, height and weight. Most infant safety seats only hold up to 22 pounds and should always be used in a rear-facing position. Children in car seats should not face forward until they are older than 1 year and weigh more than 20 pounds. Children should continue using forward-facing car seats until they are older than age 4 years, or weigh more than 40 pounds.
2. Children aged 4 to 8 years should use a booster seat and continue to do so until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches or taller, regardless of their age.
3. Children younger than 13 years of age should not sit in the front seat because they could be crushed by air bags if they deploy.
4. Read the instructions that came with the car seat as well as your vehicle owner's manual thoroughly before installing the safety seat in the car. Have a professional check to ensure the seat is installed correctly. Your local police station should have information on safety seat inspection sites in your area.
5. Never install a safety seat in the front seat of a car.
6. When a child is in a safety seat, the harness should be level with the shoulders and the straps should be secure and tight.
7. If possible, don't use a secondhand car seat. If you do, make certain it's never been in an accident and has all the parts, including instructions. Never use a car seat that's six or more years old.