When it comes to protecting your family, you want to make sure you’re taking all the precautions you can. If you have children under the age of 8, it’s important to make sure you’ve got them safely secured, as accidents (sadly) do happen. Let’s go over some car seat safety just to make sure your little ones are as safe as they can be, especially in this slippery winter weather.
*Indiana requires children under 8 to ride in a federally approved car or booster seat that is appropriate for the child’s height and weight. Instead of waiting for your child to outgrow his/her seat, you could put reminders on your calendar every 6 months or so to make sure he/she is still within the requirements.
*Indiana also requires that car and booster seats be installed and used according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Once installed, the car seat should not be able to move more than 1 inch in any direction. If you have questions as to whether you’ve installed yours correctly, you can always visit your local fire station or AAA for car seat checks.
*Make sure all harness straps are tight. No more than 2 of your fingers should fit between your child and the straps. To help you remember, think of the term “Tight is right!”
*Infants under 1 year old (and less than 20 pounds) should be in rear-facing car safety seats. Newborns may need padded support until the harness fits.
*A child over 1 year (and over 20 pounds) can be in a forward-facing seat.
*Children 4-8 years old (over 40 pounds, until 4’9”) should use an age/size appropriate booster seat and sit in the back seat until they are at least 13 years old.
By simply taking a few extra minutes of precaution, you could be saving your child’s life...and that’s priceless.
