car seat safety tips
amynicole21 wrote: These were a few tips that I have found many people don't know about!
* For infant carriers, it is NOT safe (for most carriers) to leave the handle in the upright position. It could come crashing down on baby in a collision.
* Children should NOT wear bulky winter coats in carseats. The straps need to fit snuggly. Try putting the coat on backwards AFTER they are buckled in, or using a blanket or car seat cozy on infant carriers instead.
* When rear-facing, you should use the harness slot which is at the level of the child's shoulders, or slightly below. When front-facing, use the slots at the level of the child's shoulders or above.
* The chest clip should be across the chest, at armpit level - not near the neck or belly.
Just thought I'd pass these along!
DansMom replied: Thanks, Amy! I think I've erred on the winter coat scenario many times.
Kaitlin'smom replied:  thanks I will pass them along
My2Beauties replied:
Thanks I had no clue about the winter coats, I wonder why 
amynicole21 replied:
The straps need to be snug against their body. There is too much leeway with a really fluffy coat (fleeces and thinner material coats are fine).
A&A'smommy replied: Thank you SO much for sharing this with us!!!
Kentuckychick replied:
There is just no possible way to get a good snug fit with a winter coat or a snowsuit on. Llbean has the infant and toddler fleece coveralls that are very warm and very light that we use which are WONDERFUL and do not add too much bulk in a carseat.
To add to your rules (hope you don't mind!) I've been studying this stuff for several years now and still am disheartened by the carseat misuse.
* Booster seats should NOT be used until a child is 4 years old and/or 40 lbs. I have seen far too many 2 and 3 year olds in the seatbelt boosters and they just aren't safe. They are making the convertibles larger these days and children can be harnessed up to 65 lbs. in some so there's no reason for going to the booster seat early.
and with the infant seat. The instructions for your seat should say if the handle can be up or not. Most new seats the handle can be up. The newest Graco Snugride's and Safeseats the handle can be in the upright position. You should always read the manual though.
And lastly
* the LAW for front facing is 1 year and 20 lbs. but it should NOT be the recommendation. Children should rear face as long as absolutely possible! Each convertible carseat comes with a height and weight limit for rearfacing that exceeds 20 lbs. and often times can be pretty tall (Cosco Sceneras and the Britax seats have very high rearfacing limits). A child should not be turned around until they reach those limits. Many parents worry about a child's legs and feet but think of it this way, it's much less devastating to suffer a broken leg than a broken neck!
And the argument "my pediatrician told me to turn him/her around" is pointless... pediatricians are not the ones who study these issues or make the carseat regulations. They are however made to suggest to their patients that they meet the most basic safety standards set by the federal government.
Kaitlin'smom replied: okay a question since i have been asked alot lately, what are the basic guidlines for boster seats meaning how old or what weight can they stop using them? I cant remember 
amynicole21 replied:
amynicole21 replied: Here's another good resource for info:
http://www.cpsafety.com/default.aspx
Kentuckychick replied:
Also check your state laws (not sure are you in the US?)
I know that many states have now made it a law that children must be in a booster seat until they are as the article stated 8 years of age or 4'9" tall.
The woman I nanny for actually got a nice ticket for not having her almost 7 year old daughter in a seat not too long ago during a routine traffic stop. She rides in a seat in my car, but her mother doesn't see the need. 
mom21kid2dogs replied:
The safest measure to as to when a child outgrows the booster is not based on law, height or weight. The child must be able to pass a 5 step test to safely ride in a car with a vehicle seat belt only. Here's a link to the test.
http://www.carseat.org/Boosters/630.htm
Something I've noticed is that whether or not your child is safe in EVERY car with this test varies from vehicle to vehicle. For example~ Olivia (7yo today  ) and 80lbs can pass this test in my friend's Toyota Seinna. She comes no where near passing it in our Chevy Prizm or my MIL van.
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