Keep children safe with the right car seat

When Louisiana parents put their child in the car, their top priority is their child’s safety. If a young child is not in the proper safety seat, though, it is more likely that he or she will incur an injury in a car accident. It is important for parents to make sure their children sit in a car seat that will protect them in a collision.

Many parents may not consider what might happen if their family is in a car accident. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that for children under the age of 13, motor vehicle collisions are a primary cause of death. Parents can help protect their children by making sure young kids sit in a car seat. In 2016, car seats saved the lives of 328 children younger than 5. However, it is important for parents to make sure their child has the right car seat.

Many parents may think they only need to purchase one car seat for their child. According to Consumer Reports, children typically need different models as they grow. Young babies generally need an infant car seat which faces backward. Although these seats have a 40-pound weight limit, it is a good idea for parents to put their child in a larger seat when there is only one inch between their child’s head and the shell of the seat. When children outgrow this seat, it is a good idea for parents to put them in a convertible seat. This type is typically good for children until they weigh around 65 pounds. Once a child has exceeded this weight limit, parents should usually make sure he or she has a booster seat.

It is also important for parents to make sure they install their child’s car seat correctly. A safety seat should usually move one inch at most after a parent installs it. Additionally, the harness typically needs to fit securely across a child’s shoulders. If a family gets into a car collision, it is important for parents to get a new car seat if their child’s seat incurred damage in the crash. This allows people to ensure that their child will always be safe.