Installing the Car Seat Correctly & Securing Your Child in It
babyThe most common car seat installation mistakes — and how to avoid them — from a too-loose fit to the wrong recline angle and harness height.
It comes as no surprise that infants and children are less likely to get injured and can even survive death in car accidents when secured correctly in the right car safety seat. According to a study in traffic safety, car seats reduce a baby's risk of injury and death by 71% and 54% for children ages 1-4 years. That is why it is extremely important to know that you are installing the car seat correctly and keeping your little one safe and sound.
UAE law made the use of car safety seats compulsory for children up to 4 years of age. This was established in July 2017. In other countries, this law extends to children up to 12 years old. At those ages, children are still at risk — they need to be boosted high enough for the vehicle's lap and shoulder belts to fit them correctly and restrain them safely. That is why such laws exist.
What do I need to know about installing the car seat?
Installing a car seat can be a confusing and challenging task, especially for new parents. New research found that the majority of parents make mistakes when securing the infant car seat. If parents install the car seat incorrectly, it will leave their children unsafe and greatly increase the risk of serious injury — according to Rouba Matari, Middle East Marketing Manager of Chicco, a leading children's safety products brand.
"A car seat can only offer the needed protection for your baby if you install it correctly. An alarming number of parents make major mistakes when installing infant car seats. They don't position their newborns correctly in them, and they don't even know it. But fortunately, education can make a big difference when it comes to keeping the baby safe on the road."
There are plenty of common mistakes parents make when installing a car seat.
1| Installing the car seat too loosely in the vehicle
The most common mistake is securing the car seat too loosely against the vehicle seat. Parents need to achieve a firm and secure fit — this requires extra force to ensure the car safety seat is tight enough in case of an accident. Test this by giving the car seat a firm shake with your hands after you install it. It shouldn't move more than 2 cm in any direction.
2| Having the wrong recline angle
Another common mistake is not having the correct recline angle in the rear-facing position. Generally, the proper recline angle is 45 degrees. This is important because it protects the baby's spine in the event of a crash, by distributing the force of impact across the entire body.
Infant car seat manufacturers are continuously working on improving the safety features of car seats to help parents achieve a safer and more accurate installation. Chicco's NextFit Zip Convertible Baby Car Seat is a perfect example of the new innovations in infant car seats. Chicco's easy-to-install technologies include the LockSure & SuperCinch® force-multiplying LATCH tightener. It helps parents achieve a firm fit without an overload of effort, while the unique Bubble level indicators let parents know they installed it at the correct angle — and the 9 recline positions ensure parents find the right recline angle no matter what kind of car they have.
3| Not adjusting the harness correctly
The harness positioned too high is another common mistake made by parents when securing their baby inside the car seat. Parents should adjust the harness to the baby's shoulder level — the more harness position options available, the better, because as the child grows, parents will need to re-adjust the harness to fit. The Chicco Fit360 Cleartex Rotating Convertible Car Seat has 9 harness positions, the highest seen on convertible seats, helping parents achieve the correct fit at every growth stage.
Making sure the child car seat is fitted firmly and correctly, and using age- and size-appropriate car seats, is crucial to reducing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities in case of an accident. Always follow the manufacturer's and vehicle's instructions carefully before installing your car seat, since requirements can vary by model.
Check out more Chicco products here at Mumzworld.com!
