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Did you know that 4 out of 5 car seats are used incorrectly? Here are some of the most common misuse issues:

Incorrect Installation

bullet Always read your car seat instruction manual and consult your vehicle owner's manual before installing your child's car seat.
bullet Install your car seat using the seat belt or the LATCH restraint system. DO NOT use the seat belt and LATCH together. There has been no testing done on the use of both. The seat belt must be locked to tightly install the car seat.
bullet Only use the locking clip that comes on the back of your car seat if your vehicle owner's manual instructs you to. All cars manufactured after 1995 should have seat belt systems that lock. In rare instances you may still need to use the locking clip.
bullet Install your car seat tightly. The car seats should not move any more that 1" in any direction. Grasp the car seat at the seat belt pathway (where the seat belt goes through the car seat); the seat should not move more than 1".
bullet Best practice is to install the car seat in the center rear seating position if possible. Research has shown that this protects your child from side impact crashes.

Forward Facing Too Soon

bullet Infants should ride rear facing until reaching the weight, height, and age guidelines for their car seat (as all car seats are different). This information is found on the sticker at the forward facing belt pathway. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends rear facing until 18 months of age or the upper weight limits for the rear facing car seat. These weight limits are printed on the rear facing sticker on the car seat.
bullet Infants should ride in a reclined position at a 30-45 degree angle. Most infant car seats come with a base. Bases sometimes have an adjustable "foot" that can be adjusted for the incline of your vehicle seat. If necessary a foam pool noodle or firmly rolled towel can be used to obtain a correct recline angle. Never use the adjustable foot and a rolled towel together, unless your instructions tell you otherwise.
bullet Never put an infant car seat in the front seat with an active air bag. If you must use the front seat, such as in a pick-up truck, the air bag must be turned off or deactivated. ALL children should ride in the back seat of the vehicle until 13 years of age.

Harnesses Used Improperly

bullet Infants riding in a rear facing position need to have the harness straps in the slots that are at or below their shoulder level. This will hold the child down inside the car seat in an event of a crash.
bullet Toddlers riding in a forward facing position need to have the harness straps in the slots that are at or above their shoulder level. This will hold the child back against the car seat in the event of a crash.
bullet The harness retainer clip, sometimes referred to as the chest clip, should be at armpit level. This will hold the harness on the child's shoulders.
bullet The harness straps should be snug enough to gently hug your child in to his car seat without causing him to slouch. You should not be able to pinch any slack in the harness. (The pinch test replaces the finger test to test for tightness).
bullet Keep harness straps untwisted so that they lie flat on the shoulders.
bullet Never add padding to the harness unless it comes with the car seat.
bullet Avoid bulky winter coats. In a crash, the coat will compress, making the straps too loose and possibly allowing the child to be ejected from the seat.

Purchasing the Wrong Seat

bullet There are four types of car seats available on the market today. They are:

1.    Infant only car seat - typically for infants 5-22 lbs. and 29" or less

2.   Convertible car seat - can be used rear or forward facing. Typically used as a "second step" seat after the infant car seat, but can be used from 5-40 lbs.

3.      Combination car seat - a booster seat with a harness. Usually used from 30-80 lbs. Most of these car seats can only be used with the harness from 30-40 lbs. Then the harness is removed and used as a booster.

4.      Booster car seat - usually used from 40-100 lbs. Boosters can be backless or high back. To use a backless booster, the child must have head protection in the vehicle, such as a high back vehicle seat or a headrest. High back boosters are necessary with low vehicle seats or a child's head above the back of the vehicle seat.

bullet Avoid using a car seat purchased from a garage sale or a thrift shop. Be careful about using a seat given to you from a friend or relative. Typically these seats are older and do not come with an instruction manual. You may not know the history of the car seat. All car seats are now dated with an expiration date. Rule of thumb is to not use a car seat over 6 years of age.
bullet Make sure to send in the registration card that comes with your car seat. This will allow the manufacturer to notify you in case of recall. If you are using a recalled car seat that has not been repaired, you are putting your child at risk of being injured in a crash.
bullet Any car seat that has been involved in a crash may not be suitable for use. Plastic will show signs of stress and will look lighter in color or white. Thoroughly inspect your child's car seat after a crash. DO NOT use your child's car seat if the vehicle had to be towed from the scene of the crash, if someone in the vehicle was injured, or if the vehicle was side-impacted on the same side that the car seat was installed.

Using Aftermarket Products

bullet Anything that is added to the car seat after purchase is referred to as an aftermarket product. Examples would be items such as head support rolls, harness strap cushions, toys hung from the handle of the car seat, sun shades attached to the window near the baby, and mirrors hung from the headrest.
bullet These items were not crash tested with the car seat and may detract from the safety of the car seat.
bullet Any item added to the car seat handle or hanging near the infant may detach and injure the baby in the event of a crash.

Your number one priority in the vehicle should be your child's safety! Ohio law states that if your child is younger than 4 years old and less that 40 pounds, he or she must be restrained in an approved car seat. Effective October 7, 2009,  Ohio law states that all children under 8 years of age and/or under 4'9" tall must be restrained in a booster seat.  If you have any questions about your child's car seat or proper installation, please call the Health Department at 419-784-3818 and ask to talk to one of our Certified Car Seat Technicians.