Just a little reminder moms and dads:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all infants should ride rear-facing starting from the moment they leave the hospital. All infants and toddlers should ride in a Rear-Facing Car Safety Seat until they are 2 years of age or until they reach the highest weight or height allowed by their car safety seat’s manufacturer.
The 3 types of rear-facing car seats are: 1) infant-only seats; 2) covertible seats; and 3) 3-in-1 seats. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should still continue to ride rear-facing in a covertiable or 3-in-1 seat.
Please don't base your decision on which car seat to buy based on the price. The most expensive is not necessarily the best option. Please base your decision on the consumer reports crash safety ratings. I can't tell you how many people I know have gone on and on about how their $300 carseat is the best on the market. When we purchased our convertible car seat, the consumer reports listed the Evenflo Triumph as the #1 safest car seat. At about $115, it even beat out the widely popular and much more expensive Britax (although not by many points). Anyway, my point is to keep current on the consumer reports ratings because they do change as products are tested, and please don't base your decision on cost or looks. There are a number of other factors to consider such as ease of use (see next paragraph) and test ratings.
Ease of use and knowledge of use are very important. Did you know that 4 out of 5 car seats are installed and/or used incorrectly? A seat appropriate for your child’s size may not properly protect your child in a crash unless it is used correctly. Here's a helpful safety checklist on the AAP website (http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/carseatsafety.cfm). Also, make an appointment for a free car seat safety check. Child safety seat checkups and inspection stations provide parents with the opportunity to have their child's safety seat checked by a nationally certified child passenger safety (CPS) technician or instructor to determine if it is safe and being used correctly. You will also learn how snug your child should be once strapped in. This is a public service so it is free of charge!
Please don't base your decision on which car seat to buy based on the price. The most expensive is not necessarily the best option. Please base your decision on the consumer reports crash safety ratings. I can't tell you how many people I know have gone on and on about how their $300 carseat is the best on the market. When we purchased our convertible car seat, the consumer reports listed the Evenflo Triumph as the #1 safest car seat. At about $115, it even beat out the widely popular and much more expensive Britax (although not by many points). Anyway, my point is to keep current on the consumer reports ratings because they do change as products are tested, and please don't base your decision on cost or looks. There are a number of other factors to consider such as ease of use (see next paragraph) and test ratings.
Ease of use and knowledge of use are very important. Did you know that 4 out of 5 car seats are installed and/or used incorrectly? A seat appropriate for your child’s size may not properly protect your child in a crash unless it is used correctly. Here's a helpful safety checklist on the AAP website (http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/carseatsafety.cfm). Also, make an appointment for a free car seat safety check. Child safety seat checkups and inspection stations provide parents with the opportunity to have their child's safety seat checked by a nationally certified child passenger safety (CPS) technician or instructor to determine if it is safe and being used correctly. You will also learn how snug your child should be once strapped in. This is a public service so it is free of charge!
In Houston car seat safety checks are sponsored by Texas Children's Childhood Injury Prevention Center and Safe Kids Greater Houston. There are several locations throughout Houston. Inspectors take about 15 minutes to inspect your car seat installation and/or to teach you how to properly install your car seat. They also demonstrate how tightly your child should be strapped in.
If you live elsewhere, check with the Department of State Health Services (http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/saferiders/checkups.shtm) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (http://www.nhtsa.gov/cps/cpsfitting/index.cfm). Let's keep our babies safe!
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