Pop Quiz: Car Seat Safety

1.) Installing your car seat, as well as maneuvering your child in and out of it, is easier when the seat is on one side of the car or the other. However, the recommended placement is in the center of the backseat. Is this rule one that can be safely bent?

A)   Yes. The placement of your child’s car seat should be what’s easiest for you to manage.

B)   No. It’s important to adhere to the center placement guidelines, as it’s significantly safer for your child in the event of an accident.

C)   Yes, if there’s a console between the two front seats.

2.) When should a child transition from rear-facing seats to those of the front-facing variety?

A)   When her feet touch the back of the vehicle’s seat.

B)   Around one year of age.

C)   When she’s reached the top weight or height limit allowed by the manufacturer of her car seat.

3.) You’re in a financial bind after purchasing baby items, and find a great deal on a used car seat. Is it okay to use a second-hand car seat?

A)   Yes. Every penny counts and you should save money wherever possible.

B)   Yes, as long as the seller assures you it’s never been in an accident.

C)   No, it’s never a good idea to purchase a second-hand car seat.

4.) When making a car seat purchase, is it better to choose one with a high weight limit, or a lower one that your child will outgrow in time to transition to a booster seat?

A)   A high weight limit.

B)   A smaller seat.

C)   The cheapest possible option.

5.) Your child is almost at the legal weight and height to transition from a car seat to a booster seat in your state, but she still fits comfortably in the high-limit car seat you purchased. Should you:

A)   Transition to the booster seat on the schedule recommended by your state.

B)   Continue to use the car seat until she no longer fits properly.

C)   Ask the child what she’d prefer.

6.) Your ten-year-old is clamoring to sit in the passenger seat. Is it okay to let him do so?

A)   Yes, as long as there’s no air bag, or an existing air bag has been disabled.

B)   Yes, as long as he wears his seat belt.

C)   No, even if there is no risk of air bag deployment.

7.) You’re planning to take a long-distance train with your toddler, who is far from graduating out of his car seat. Should he ride in his safety seat on the train?

A)   Yes, his safety seat is non-negotiable.

B)   No, his car seat is not a necessity for rides on a long-distance train.

C)   Only if he wants to ride in a safety seat.

8.) You’re bringing your newborn home from the hospital for the first time. Should after-market items like head positioners and strap covers be placed in her car seat?

A)   Yes, these products keep your baby comfortable in her car seat.

B)   No, these items can actually prove to be dangerous.

C)   Yes, but their value is mostly decorative.

9.) Your child is prone to motion sickness, which becomes problematic during longer car rides. Will turning his seat around so that he’s facing forward help?

A)   Yes.

B)   No.

C)   Maybe.

10.) You’re traveling by plane for a family vacation. The airline doesn’t require you to purchase a seat for children under the age of two; does this mean that it’s okay to leave the car seat at home?

A)   Yes. You’ll be forced to carry enough through the airport, and his car seat is an unnecessary burden.

B)   No, it’s safer to purchase the additional seat and properly install a car seat before take-off.

C)   Only if you plan to hold your child for the entirety of the trip.

Answers:

Question 1: B. Because a child whose car seat is placed in the center of the back seat cannot be directly struck in a crash, he’s 43% safer than he would be on either side of the vehicle. The myth that consoles make center placement risky has been dispelled.

Question 2: C. Even if your child’s feet are touching the back of your car’s back seat, she’s still not too big to ride in a rear-facing position until she’s reached either the height or weight limit for her rear-facing car seat.

Question 3: C. In addition to the fact that you’re simply not able to accurately ascertain whether or not a seller is being honest with you regarding prior accidents, car seats also have expiration dates that older, used seats may have exceeded.

Question 4: A. When your child transitions from an infant seat, or if your chosen car seat is a convertible model, the longer you can keep her in a full car seat, the safer she’ll be. Don’t rush to transition to a booster seat.

Question 5: B. State requirements are often the bare minimum in terms of safety, so your child should continue to ride in a booster seat until she’s reached a weight or height that meets the upper limits put in place by the manufacturer.

Question 6: C. Even if the air bag in your front passenger seat is disabled or non-existent, the CDC recommends that they ride in the back seat until at least age 13.

Question 7: B. In fact, trains seats aren’t equipped with safety belts, making it impossible to install your child’s car seat safely.

Question 8: B. Any after-market items that are advertised as being an additional comfort measure may actually adversely affect proper head positioning and the fit of the car seat’s harness.

Question 9: B. The evidence supporting facing forward as a remedy for carsickness is purely anecdotal. A study reported by The Car Seat Lady shows that both front and rear-facing children showed identical 2% rates of carsickness.

Question 10: B. In addition to keeping your child safely restrained in the event of turbulence or difficulty in takeoff and landing, bringing your child’s car seat along ensures that you won’t be tempted to take the “short drive” from the airport to your destination without one.

Source: Nanny.net

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