Car Safety Seat Check

Car Seat Safety Facts

Having a child in a car seat is not only meant to ensure they are safe while in a car, but this is the law as well. According to a study on the number of accidents that have happened where children are injured, many of these injuries are blamed on improperly installed car seats.

In fact, one certified car technician states that they believe that almost 90% of car seats are installed improperly in vehicles!

This post is for parents, grandparents or even caregivers who will be having children in their cars. Knowing the car safety seat rules and how to properly install them into cars is a must for everyone’s safety and to ensure that you are abiding by the law.

The Different Types of Car Safety Seats

Not every car safety seat is made to accommodate each child. There are certain restrictions on each car seat as to how they are used in the car and how much weight they are intended to hold.

Infant car seats are sometimes also called rear-facing car seats. These are meant for babies and are always rear facing. In most cases, the car seat can be detached from the base and carried into stores and the like as a holder.

The convertible car seat is meant to be for older children that are over a year old. These are heavier and can be forward facing. They are not meant to be removed, but they still offer that cradling position like infant car seats do.

Lastly, there are booster seats. These are small seats that are meant to be given to children who are older in an effort to make the vehicle seat belts work better for the child and to be safer.

Common Mistakes that are Made With Car Seats

What are some of the common mistakes that are made when installing car seats into cars?

Here are a few that are seen time and time again:

  • The seat is too loose in the car. When the car seat is in place, you should be able to shake this without it coming loose from the base or the vehicle seat. If you do shake it and it moves, it is too loose.
  • The harness is too loose on the child. A five-point harness is meant to protect a child. You should only be able to get one finger in between the child’s body and the harness. If a person can get more than one finger in this space, this harness is too loose.
  • Many people put children into front facing car seats too soon. While it may be easier for a parent to see their baby when they are in a front facing car seat, it is too soon to do this if the child is under the age or height requirement. If you were to be involved in an accident with a front facing car seat and a small child, this could be disastrous.
  • The angle of the car seat is off. All rear-facing car seats should be at a 45-degree angle. In fact, newer car seats on the market often come equipped with a level to ensure this happens. Having this car seat at the wrong angle could make it easier for a child to get hurt.

These mistakes can lead to a dangerous situation if you were to be involved in a car accident.

The Regulations for Car Seats in Ontario

For parents, grandparents and caretakers in Ontario, the car seat regulations are straightforward. For anyone who is found to be disobeying these regulations, it can turn into a hefty fine.  Here are the regulations that are enacted by the Ontario Highways Traffic Act:

  • Infants must be in a rear-facing car seat until they are at least 20 pounds. The idea is to keep your child in a rear facing car seat as long as possible. Tip: look for those rear facing car seats that hold a child up to 45 pounds.
  • Children can begin using a forward-facing car seat when they weigh 20 to 40 pounds. This can be used until they have outgrown it, which is often at 65 pounds.
  • For children that are 4 years up to 8 years old, they are required to use a booster seat when they get up to 40 – 80 pounds and are less than 4 feet, 9 inches tall. Once they are passed this point, they can use the regular seat with seat belt.

These regulations are meant to protect children if you were to be involved in an accident to keep them from suffering lifelong injuries.

How to Install a Car Seat

How to install these car seats will really depend upon what type you are installing. The manufacturer will have clear directions on the side of the car seat for you to follow. For a rear facing car seat:

  • Separate the carrier from the base. The base is the part that will remain in the car no matter what, while the carrier can be carried into houses, stores, etc.
  • Anchor the base to the car’s back seat. Most cars have two hooks that are meant to attach to these car seats. Anchor these to the straps on the car seat.
  • Then use your cars seat belt to thread through the base for added security.
  • Be sure to check the base angle so that this is at 45 degrees. Most newer car seats will have a level on these to ensure that you are getting this right.
  • Pop the carrier into the base and shake a bit to ensure that this is snug fitting.

For a front facing car seat:

  1. Thread the seat belt through the car seat. There should be an opening and the back or the bottom that is meant to anchor it.
  2. There is a tether on the front facing car seats that is meant to be attached over the vehicle’s seat and latched onto a metal anchor on the back.
  3. Next to the seat belt should be latches that are two metal hooks that you can also attach, much like you did with the rear facing car seat.

For a booster seat:

  1. Place the booster seat in the seat.
  2. When a child is sitting in the seat, use the car’s seat belt system just as you would with a regular adult.

Remember: a booster seat is only meant for those kids who are tall enough and have the weight to wear this regular seat belt!

A Few Extra Tips

For those with children riding in their vehicles, here are some important tips to remember:

  • Have the car seat installation checked by a certified specialist if you feel as though this is not right. It is better to be safe than sorry!
  • Never put kids into a car seat that they are not ready for, as this does increase the chances of having injuries if you were to be involved in a wreck.

Heading out on the roadways with children is a responsibility, be sure that you are ready for this by having a car seat that is properly installed.

If you do find that after an accident, due to a faulty product or no fault of your own that you or your child becomes injured, be sure to contact Conte Jaswal at 1-877-614-0008. We work with several clients in the Ontario area and may be able to help you.
Contact us today for a FREE Consultation.

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