Car Seat Safety Hub

It’s getting warm again, so here’s a reminder that denial isn’t helpful in preventing hot car deaths. The company Clever Elly created a tool to build the habit of always checking the back seat before getting out of the car! Check it out.

https://cleverelly.com/

Share from Safe in the Seat

“Let's talk about this article that was released this morning and on the CBS morning show.

I am going to keep this super simple.

Car crashes are scary. Car seats are intended to give our children the best possible chance of survival when they are used correctly. Used correctly means properly installed, safely harnessed and in an age-appropriate seat.

This is not about Evenflo. This is about putting our children in boosters (high back or no back) way too early. Which, by the way, happens ALL THE TIME. Kids should be at least age 5 before we are even thinking about boostering them.

Keep your child in the current car seat stage they are in until they reach the limits. If you are doing this, then you are doing what is safest. That means if your child is forward-facing in a 5-point harness, then keep them in that 5 point harness until they reach the height or weight maximum of that seat.

As always, please visit a child passenger safety technician about how to keep your child safest. Think of visiting us like you do an annual pediatrician or dentist visit--required. We are here to help you. You can find one of us at cert.safekids.org.

I have created checklists for how to know when to move from one stage to the next. They are free and can be downloaded here: https://safeintheseat.mykajabi.com/car-seat-progression “

Evenflo, Maker of the “Big Kid” Booster Seat, Put Profits Over Child Safety — ProPublica Internal video of side-impact tests shows that children could be injured or killed in Evenflo's “Big Kid” booster seats. But the company continued to market them as “side-impact tested.”

Rear-facing is important! Read on to find out why 😊

Ok, there are lots of numbers here so try to stay with me. 😊
By now it should be known that it is safest for your children to keep them rear-facing as long as possible. So, why was 2 years old considered the minimum for forward-facing? The study that had over 15 years worth of crash data only compared injury in rear-facing versus forward-facing children around that age group.
BUT, did you know that rear-facing beyond 2 years old is VERY beneficial for your child’s safety? The cartilage that connects a toddler’s vertebrae can stretch up to 2 inches, yet 1/4 inch stretch is enough to rupture the spinal column, resulting in paralysis or death. At age 3, there is only a 50% probability that the C3 vertebrae (the most commonly injured in small children) has finished ossification. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like those odds.
Unless you have the means of getting your child a CT scan, there is no way to determine how far along your child’s spinal maturity is. Because of this, physics and physiology tell us it’s safest to keep your child facing the back until they reach the height or weight limits of their seat in rear-facing mode (as long as possible!). The longer, the better. A 40-pound 2 year old has the same skeletal system as a 20-pound 2 year old! The spine matures with age. It isn’t dependent on how tall or heavy your child is.
Most convertible car seats sold today will easily accommodate the average child until 3 to 4+ years old in rear-facing mode.

Keeping your kids safe in the car is very important. How important? Car crashes are the #1 cause of preventable death in children, and roughly 90% of car seats are used incorrectly. Those numbers should be alarming to any parent. Have questions? Feel free to message me. I’m happy to help!

Sleep happens. In the car and out of the car. I get it. I am a mom too and sometimes we have to run in Target or pick up an older sibling or run an errand to get ni**le cream. While car seats are intended for transporting our kids from point A to point B, when your little one does inevitably fall asleep right when you arrive at your destination make sure you:⁠
⁠
😴keep that harness nice and tight (it positions baby's body properly to keep the airway open!)⁠
😴put the seat itself on the ground or in the large compartment of a shopping cart (tip-overs happen)⁠
😴 use a stroller that has been tested with your car seat (recline matters!) ⁠
😴 stick to short, supervised naps (then transfer to a safer sleeping location)⁠
⁠
Taking Cara Babies

If someone offers you advice on car seat safety (assuming they approach it in an appropriate and polite way), it’s because they want to keep kids safe. Period. That’s the only reason. They aren’t calling you a bad parent. Car seat safety has nothing to do with how you parent. It’s a responsibility and we aren’t born knowing how to keep our kids safe in the car.
I specialize in child passenger safety, but you can bet that I seek help for many other things. It takes a village, right?

Today is my forever 17month old baby boy Trent's 8th birthday. You know... The hardest thing I have ever had to do is lower my baby into the ground after hearing him take his last breath.
People freak out and say stop harassing me as a response to advice on Car seats.
"My baby is comfortable forward facing so that's where they will stay." "Stop mom shaming"

Well my son was comfortable forward facing as well, but his spine couldn't handle the force of the collision. And he isn't here to tell me how comfortable he was.
I'm sure that last painful breath he took thats all he was thinking about.

Today I am angry and sad. Because the government seems to think its all a joke. Yes yes, I do have support in Government thank goodness there's movement.

It's not parenting advice it's life saving advice.

I would give ANYTHING, to be able to share his cake with him. I would give ANYTHING to hold him and smell his hair one more time.

I don't want anyone to have to go through this pain. This unbearable anguish that I am forced to live with.

Today my wish for Trent's birthday is that you reach out to a certified car seat technician to double check your seats. That's all I ask.

I love you my beautiful baby boy. You are forever missed.

It’s getting cold out there! Here’s a cold weather and car seat reminder.

Cool Weather Reminder! ❄️🍂
Thick winter coats and car seats don’t mix. That goes for booster-aged kids and adults, too! What looks like a snug harness or seat belt can be deceiving. When the coat is removed, there is slack left. In a crash, the coat will compress and all of that slack in the harness will allow the body to travel too far forward, making the risk of serious injury or worse much greater.
Stick to THIN jackets that will fit without interfering with a snug harness, OR use this coat trick all winter long. You could even keep blankets in the car to use! Wishing you safe cold weather travels ❄️🍂

Comment below to list the 5 booster errors pictured!

I often have parents—and even other techs—tell me they’re not comfortable with boosters and don’t feel like they know how to assess the fit and misuse.

So here’s a challenge. There are 5 errors here. Can you find them? Can your friends? (He’s well within the size and age limits for this seat and for boosters in general)

ETA: no, the jersey doesn’t count 😝 we are in Boston so we root for the home team, TYVM! 🤣

Whether you’ve been a parent for 10 years or 10 minutes, message the page for help at any time!

Have you ever heard someone say...
👉🏻It isn’t rocket science, it can’t be THAT hard.
👉🏻I’m sure I can figure out how to install a silly car seat.
👉🏻We didn’t have car seats when we were kids and we survived.
👉🏻Just buy a safer car. Car seats are a hassle.
👉🏻I have (insert amount) kids! I think I know how to keep my kids safe in the car.
👉🏻I’m a good driver. My kids are fine how they are.
👉🏻It’s just a quick trip. I don’t need to buckle them all the way.

I’ve heard these comments personally and read them online from parents. Car seat safety isn’t intuitive. It is confusing and difficult to understand, and needs to be taught! You could have 10 kids and years of installing car seats under your belt, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it correctly or that your kids are riding safely.
Reach out to make sure your kids of any age are riding safely, even if you THINK they are! Most who think they have it correctly actually don’t.
Car crashes are the #1 cause of accidental death in children up to 14 years old, and the car seat misuse rate is 90%. It’s that important.
Car seat safety isn’t a parenting style or opinion, it’s based on scientific fact. No one is judging you or assuming you’re a bad parent if you reach out for help. Keeping our kids safe is our responsibility as parents, and doing what you can to ensure they’re safe makes you a GREAT parent.

Feel free to message the page to get one on one help (online or in person) from a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST or “car seat tech” as we’re nicknamed). No question is too “silly.”

The event starts today! Who went to their local Walmart already?

Best of baby month - Walmart.com Baby month is here! Discover and get inspired with our In-Store Events, Rollbacks, and more.

Check your child’s straps the next time you’re in the car!

Pass this vital info on to friends and family~
Harness Straps! Where should they sit?
•AT or BELOW the shoulders when your child is rear-facing.
•AT or ABOVE the shoulders when your child is forward-facing.
You’re probably wondering why there’s a difference and why it matters. Read on to find out why!

For Rear-Facing:
During most collisions, a rear-facing child will ride up the back of their car seat. Having the harness straps placed below their shoulders reduces the amount of “ride-up” that occurs. If a rear-facing child’s straps are above their shoulders, that can cause the child to hit their head on the back of a vehicle seat and leaves the child vulnerable to severe injury.
****NOTE: for newborns, if the lowest harness slot comes from above your baby’s shoulders, they are too small to use that particular seat.****

For Forward-Facing:
During a crash while a child is facing the front of the vehicle, the child’s body is thrown forward. Having the harness straps coming from above the child’s shoulders prevents the amount of distance the child will travel when thrown forward and limits the amount of pressure on their spine and shoulders. If a forward-facing child’s straps were below their shoulders, the child’s body would move a greater distance forward, and leave them vulnerable to spinal injury.
*Note: if there are no more slots (or clicks of the headrest) to move up, then your child has outgrown their harnessed seat once the straps rest below their shoulders (applies to a forward-facing seat).

So the next time you go for a ride, check where your child’s harness is positioned. For rear-facing, make sure it’s on the slot right at or just below their shoulders— NOT above! For forward facing, make sure it’s at the first slot right at or just above their shoulders— NOT below!
Fix it if it’s incorrect! Need help making adjustments? Just message the page!

The key to preventing these tragedies that we see far too often is public awareness and the realization that it can happen to any parent.
So instead of saying things like, “I would never forget my child!! These people shouldn’t be parents”, let’s soak in the truth. It can happen.
I can guarantee you that the parents in these news stories, currently devastated over their heartbreaking mistake, also thought it would never happen to them. So be a part of the solution and share these tips with everyone you know.

Any judgmental or negative comments will result in being banned from this safety page.

This is too good 😂😂😂

🚨🚨This is not a drill!🚨🚨
You will be able to trade in old car seats at participating Walmarts around the country and receive a $30 gift card! There is a link in the article to find out what stores near you are participating.
Event starts September 16th and ends September 30th!
Click the link below for more info!

https://www.walmart.com/ideas/355624

Best of baby month - Walmart.com Baby month is here! Discover and get inspired with our In-Store Events, Rollbacks, and more.

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨
The Target Car Seat Trade-In Event is coming up! Mark your calendars for September 3-13.

“Target will accept and recycle all types of car seats, including infant seats, convertible seats, car seat bases, harness or booster car seats and car seats that are expired or damaged. Materials from the old car seats will be recycled by Target’s partner, Waste Management.”

Simply take your old car seats and/or bases to customer service and they’ll hand you a coupon to use at checkout for your new baby gear!

Don’t have any old car seats?
They are EASY to find in your community! People post old, expired car seats and other approved items for FREE all the time! Grab it and head over to Target for a great discount on new baby items.

Need help picking out a new seat for your child?
I’m always here to help! If you’re not sure what seat they should be in or need help choosing one, feel free to message the page.

Don’t assume that it can’t happen to you. I see and hear too many shaming comments regarding this topic, and pretending like it isn’t an issue that can happen to any parent is a very dangerous mindset to have. I guarantee you that every parent who forgot their child in the car thought that this kind of thing could never happen to them, either. This article hits some points home and talks about ways of being proactive to prevent these tragedies. Have a read and share with friends.

“It can be easy to assume that anyone who forgot their child in a car is a neglectful parent. But the majority of parents who have had a child die this way have no history of abuse. And a 2009 Washington Post article reported that it happens to people across all socioeconomic boundaries, in all kinds of professions, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity.
“The most dangerous mistake a parent or caregiver can make is to think leaving a child alone in a vehicle could never happen to them or their family.””

https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/hot-car-death-kids_ca_5d35f64ee4b0419fd330ea59

It's Frighteningly Easy To Leave A Baby In A Hot Car By Accident: Study Stress can be a big factor.

Make every ride a safe ride by keeping your grade schooler boosted in the back seat!

Seatbelts are designed and tested for the average full grown male - they generally don’t fit children safely until a child has reached puberty and is at least 4’9” tall.

The Graco Extend2Fit is a fantastic seat! Sometimes though, parents notice that the straps can be difficult to tighten. Here is a handy trick demonstrated by Driving Mom Crazy!!

A Surprisingly Simple Hack to Tighten Car Seat Straps - Driving Mom Crazy Sometimes harness straps on rear-facing car seats can be difficult to tighten. Here's a quick tip to tighten straps on the Graco Extend2Fit and other seats.

Have an upcoming trip? Here are some things to consider before you skip out on getting your kiddo under 2 years old their own seat on the plane—

https://carseatblog.com/47288/myth-busting-why-use-a-carseat-on-a-plane/

Myth Busting: We’re All Going to Die in an Airplane Crash Anyway, So Why Use a Carseat? It’s not uncommon to see children under age 2 riding on aircraft without child restraints. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) doesn’t require airlines to mandate their use, so parents feel there is little risk sitting with their kids on their laps held only by their arms—a federal decis...

*New Louisiana Child Passenger Safety Laws, taking effect August 1, 2019*
Share with parents you know in Louisiana 🚙🚗

Secure everything on your vehicle for the safety of yourself and everyone around you!

It's not just junk flying out of your truck. It could be someone's life.
Secure your load - as if someone you love is driving behind you.

Remember that even if you live in a state that still has outdated Child Passenger laws, it’s never illegal to follow best practice and keep your kiddos as safe as possible!
Have questions? Feel free to message the page!

My handsome almost 6 year old now! Share this graphic as a reminder to family and friends who have kiddos old enough to forward face!

My handsome almost 5 year old helped me make this quick forward-facing checklist! ✔️ If you need assistance with your seat, feel free to message the page and I would be happy to help.
1️⃣ At least 2 years old (2 is bare minimum to forward face for safety)
2️⃣ Car seat is top tethered
3️⃣ Tops of ears are not above top of shell
4️⃣ Harness must be AT or ABOVE shoulders
5️⃣ Chest clip at armpit level
6️⃣ You are unable to pinch straps at shoulder (which makes sure the harness is good and tight)
7️⃣ No twists or slack anywhere

Time for another round of “Name the Misuse”! 🚙
Can you list 5 misuses in this photo??
*Bonus points for naming a 6th in this specific situation that isn’t pictured!*
Photo credit goes to a fellow CPST, Meredith Heitkamp! 💙

Time for a reminder! Check your kiddo’s straps the next time you’re in the car!

Pass this vital info on to friends and family~
Harness Straps! Where should they sit?
•AT or BELOW the shoulders when your child is rear-facing.
•AT or ABOVE the shoulders when your child is forward-facing.
You’re probably wondering why there’s a difference and why it matters. Read on to find out why!

For Rear-Facing:
During most collisions, a rear-facing child will ride up the back of their car seat. Having the harness straps placed below their shoulders reduces the amount of “ride-up” that occurs. If a rear-facing child’s straps are above their shoulders, that can cause the child to hit their head on the back of a vehicle seat and leaves the child vulnerable to severe injury.
****NOTE: for newborns, if the lowest harness slot comes from above your baby’s shoulders, they are too small to use that particular seat.****

For Forward-Facing:
During a crash while a child is facing the front of the vehicle, the child’s body is thrown forward. Having the harness straps coming from above the child’s shoulders prevents the amount of distance the child will travel when thrown forward and limits the amount of pressure on their spine and shoulders. If a forward-facing child’s straps were below their shoulders, the child’s body would move a greater distance forward, and leave them vulnerable to spinal injury.
*Note: if there are no more slots (or clicks of the headrest) to move up, then your child has outgrown their harnessed seat once the straps rest below their shoulders (applies to a forward-facing seat).

So the next time you go for a ride, check where your child’s harness is positioned. For rear-facing, make sure it’s on the slot right at or just below their shoulders— NOT above! For forward facing, make sure it’s at the first slot right at or just above their shoulders— NOT below!
Fix it if it’s incorrect! Need help making adjustments? Just message the page!

It’s true, with more people keeping their small children rear-facing longer, vehicle crash deaths have dramatically decreased.
But our older children shouldn’t be overlooked. Many state laws say it’s legal to have your child ride without a booster seat at 8 years old. But what’s legal doesn’t equal what is safe. An adult seat belt will not fit a child correctly and safely until they reach a bare minimum of 4’9”, and even then, only 25% of kids fit correctly at the bare minimum height. Most children do not fit correctly until 10-12 years old.
Keep your big kids in boosters until they pass the 5-Step Test. Let’s spread this information and decrease the number of deaths for older children in crashes.

If you’re wondering if your child is ready to ride without a booster, don’t hesitate to message the page.

Washington state is the latest state to update their child passenger laws. This article is a great read. Share with family and friends that live in WA!

https://newsroom.uw.edu/news/washington-updates-child-car-seat-law-improve-safety

Washington updates car-seat law to better protect children Gov. Jay Inslee today signed into law updated regulations on car-seat and booster-seat use in Washington state. The updated law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

BREAKING: This isn’t car seat related but infant safety related. If you own a Fisher-Price Rock N’ Play, you can contact Fisher Price for a refund or voucher.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fisher-price-rock-play-sleepers-recalled-infant-deaths/story?id=62364665

All models of Fisher-Price Rock N' Play sleepers recalled after infant deaths The Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall of all models of the Fisher-Price Rock N' Play sleepers after infants died.