Something that we must always take very seriously, is the safety of our children, especially when traveling in the car is about. We all know that children should always travel with proper restraint systems for their weight and age.
But it is not enough to buy a seat for the car and now. If they are not used correctly, it could be almost the same as they were without him, and unfortunately many parents continue to make mistakes mainly due to lack of information.
This is probably why an image published on Facebook, in which a mother appears turning her head to the car seat with her son sitting in it, has gone viral.
Rachel McNamara is a mother from Maine, United States who recently shared some images in which she appears lifting up on her and turning her son's seat upside down to prove a very important point: the correct use of the seat harness. What she wanted to demonstrate with this is the answer to the following question: Can your baby's seat protect him if the car turns over during an accident?
This is a good way to prove it, because although it is difficult to believe, the misuse of child seats in the car is more common than we think. According to an expert of the Seat brand, 63% of children do not travel correctly when driving due to misuse of the seat. And it is not enough to buy it, sit the child and now. We must make sure that it is well placed and that the harness is adjusted as it should.
"I would like to clarify that I am not recommending that parents turn their children upside down in the seat before each trip in the car"says Rachel in her post."Only they should feel confident that their children are safe in case the seat turns over during an accident. I think it's a good visual way to show you how important it is to use the car seat correctly.".
As a defender of the correct use of the car seat, I couldn't like Rachel's example anymore. If there is a subject on which I am very firm, it is precisely this. And although we make short journeys, we must never neglect security. Some people believe that nothing happens if the child does not go in the seat or if the harness is not placed, but you never know what could happen in a few meters. Even if we are safe and trust our driving skills, we cannot trust that other drivers are equally responsible.
That is why it is very important that we always place our children in their chair and that we use it properly. You have to remember that Each seat is different, so it is very important to inform us before using them.
Recommendations for the proper use of the car seat
In addition to showing us the importance of placing the harness correctly, Rachel adds some safety tips on the use of the car seat. I share ours and hers so that you know the correct way in which they should be used.
The first step is get well informed and carefully choose the chair for the car that we will buy. It is extremely important that we take into account the age, weight and size of our children in order to find the best seat for them. You also have to have a moment to read the instructions for use, and if possible take our children to be able to do tests with several seats and choose the one that feels most comfortable.
The next is the correct installation of the seat in your car. It is useless to have a chair that offers the greatest security if it is not well installed. For its installation we must follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter (hence read them before buying it) and ensure that it is well anchored. The safest place to install it and for children to travel is the central seat at the back of the car.
The third point, just as important as the installation of the seat, is the correct use of harness. When children are going to backlash the straps should go to the level or below their shoulders, while when they go in the direction of travel, the straps should go up to or above them. A test that experts recommend to know if the seat belts are tight enough is to do the "pinch test"As its name says, it is trying to pinch the seat belt between two fingers. If you manage to pinch it between your fingers, the straps are too loose and you have to adjust them. But beware: You also do not have to tighten them too much because they could harm the child.
Respect the recommendations and change groups until necessary. Sometimes to feel pressured or have more children and want to save, we change the seat earlier than recommended. Remember that Each group is suitable for a specific age and weight: Group 0 is up to 10 kg (newborns up to approx. 12 months), Group 0+ up to 13 kg (newborns up to approx. 18 months), Group 1 for children between 9 and 18 kg (12 months up to approx. 4 years), Group 2 from 15 to 25kgs (approx. from 3 to 6 years) and Group 3 from 22 to 36 kgs (approx. from 5 to 12 years). Children over 12 years of age will use an approved system appropriate to their weight and height or safety belt.
Flip the seat to the recommended age. This is a very big mistake that most parents make. Regularly at the first year of age, babies change from Group 0 (up to 10kg, newborns up to 1 year) or Group 0+ (up to 13kg, newborns up to 18 months) to Group 1 (from 9 to 18kg, approx. 1 year to 4 years) and when making this change the parents turn the seat and place it in the direction of travel because "it is no longer a baby". But that does not mean that they are ready to turn the seat, because their bones and muscles are not yet able to counteract a frontal impact. It is advisable for children to travel backwards at least up to 4 years, as it is safer for them.
Do not place blankets, stuffed animals or other accessories in the seat. Some parents worry that their children travel uncomfortably in the seat and place a small pillow or blanket so that the seat is softer but this can reduce the effectiveness of the chair. It is also not recommended that children wear a coat when they are placed in the seat. It is best to cover them with a blanket on top since we have put them in it.
And as a final recommendation: read the manual. The advice I can give you are general for all seats but in specific things like the installation or the correct use of the harness each chair is different. Remember that the safety of your children is the most important.
