Basic Car Seat Check List for Infants

  Two kinds of safety seats are made for babies:

1.       Small, lightweight "infant-only" safety seats are designed for use rear-facing only.  This kind can be used only as long as the baby's head is enclosed by the top rim of the seat.  The label on the seat gives the upper weight limit (17 to 22 pounds).

2.       Larger "convertible" seats usually fit children from 5 pounds to about 40 pounds.  Some new models have weight limits as high as 30 to 32 pounds for rear-facing use.  These products are especially good for babies under age one who are growing more rapidly that average.  It may be turned around to face the front when the baby is one year old.

  How to choose the best seat for your baby:

The simplest and least expensive model usually will work as well as one with fancy features.  Choose a seat that you find easy to use and that fits in your vehicle.

¨       Before you buy a seat, try it in your car to make sure it fits and can be buckled in tightly.  If you choose a convertible seat, try it facing both rearward and forward.

¨       Look for the seat you can use facing the rear as long as possible.  Read the labels to check weight limits.  If you buy an infant-only seat, you will need a convertible seat later.  Most babies need to use rear-facing convertible seats as they get larger, because they outgrow their infant-only seats before age one.  Some products are made to carry a baby over 20 pounds facing the rear.  Look for a seat with higher weight limit when you shop. All babies need to rear face until 20 pounds and 1 year

  Other Tips:

¨       Carry your baby in a rear-facing car seat up to at least one year of age.  This position best protects a baby's weak neck and large head.

¨       Transport your baby in the back seat.  Generally, the back seat is safer for all children.

¨       Never put your baby in the front seat if your car has a passenger-side air bag unless the air bag has been turned off.

¨       Install the car seat with a tight seat belt.  Fasten the harness snugly over your baby's shoulders.

¨       Follow car seat instructions and vehicle manual to use and install the seat correctly.

¨       Adjust the harness to fit snugly.  Avoid using blankets, coats,  a heavy snow suit, or a bunting under the straps.  These make it impossible to get the harness tight enough to hold the baby in a crash.  To keep your baby warm, tuck a blanket over her after buckling the harness.

¨       Put the harness straps in the lowest slots.  Straps should be in slots at or just below your baby's shoulders in the rear-facing position.

¨       Make sure your baby reclines far enough back so his heavy head doesn't flop forward.  If the vehicle seat slopes, put a tightly rolled towel or "fun noodle" under the base of the seat.  Don't recline it more than 45 degrees.

¨       Fasten the safety belt tightly.  Different types of belts are tightened in different ways.  Check the vehicle owner's manual and labels on the safety belts.   Make sure the baby's seat can not be moved forward more than one inch.  A rear-facing car seat normally can be tipped toward the vehicle's seat back.

¨       The lap part of the belt must hold the safety seat firmly in place.  To make it tight, push the safety seat down into the seat cushion while you tighten the belt around it.  Push down on it with your full weight to get the belt really tight.  To check for a tight fit, pull the safety seat forward and push it from side to side.  If the belt loosens or the base of the safety seat slides forward or sideward more than an inch, you child may not be well protected.

¨       If the safety seat moves, first try another seat location in your vehicle with a different kind of belt.  The lap belt in the middle of the back seat may work best to keep your safety seat in place.

  While these tips may be very useful, the Pacific County Safety Task Force suggests you have a certified child passenger safety technician look at you child’s seat!  Certified technicians are available twice a year at All Season's Kidstuff and by calling the Long Beach Police Department (360) 642-3416.