Every state requires that infants and children ride buckled up. Using a car seat correctly can help prevent injuries to your infant. The biggest mistake new parents make is keeping the new car seat in the box. Some new parents bring the car seat to the hospital still in the box for the nurses to help put it in the car.
It is your responsibility to know the proper installation of your baby’s car seat. It is a good idea to completely read through the car seat manual and to practice installing and adjusting the car seat before the birth of your baby. A baby needs a car seat from the moment he takes his very first ride home from the hospital.
Let’s take a little true or false quiz and see how much you know about infant car seat safety.
Your baby should ride forward-facing in the car until they are 2 years old.
Answer: FALSE
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children should ride in rear-facing child safety seats as long as possible. New research indicates toddlers are more than 5 times safer riding rear-facing in a convertible car safety seat until they reach the maximum height and weight recommendation for that particular model, or at least until the age of 2.
You will need to have a car seat purchased and installed before you can take your baby home from the hospital.
Answer: TRUE
Nurses are not certified to inspect if your car seat is installed correctly. They can help buckle your infant into the car seat, but you need to adjust the harnesses and buckles beforehand. The National Highway and Traffic Safety website, NHTSA.gov, has child safety inspection station locations you can search for if you want professionals that can check the installation for you.
If your car seat has been in a crash, even minor, it should be replaced.
Answer: TRUE
Even a small crash at 5 miles per hour can compromise the structure and integrity of the car seat. It may have been weakened and should not be used, even if it looks fine. Check with your car insurance because sometimes it will pay for the cost of a new car seat. It is highly recommended that you purchase a new car seat as a replacement. If you must get a used seat, shop very carefully and make sure you know the history of the car seat
A car seat expires after 5 years.
Answer: TRUE
Look on the car seat label for the date of manufacture. Most infant car seats expire after 5 years. Some manufacturers have extended that to 6 or 7 years, so be sure to check the user manual to find out how long the company recommends using their seat. Even if a car seat looks brand new after 5 years, weather such as extreme heat and cold can affect a car seat’s performance. Wear and tear can also compromise the seat. It is recommended that you register your infant car seat with the manufacturer for future recall notices for your model.
Learn more about safe car seat information for infants and children.
EIRMC is the region’s leading pediatric provider, and the only hospital in Idaho Falls with pediatricians on Medical Staff. If your baby is injured, EIRMC is the only facility in Idaho Falls with the pediatric expertise to care for your child. In addition to a child-friendly ER that takes care of thousands of children each year, EIRMC also has the region’s only Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for children who are critically injured or ill.
