The following items may be discussed at your appointment.
A brief summary is detailed below as a reminder/ refresher
- Best practice is to aim for the limits of your seat for maximum safety
- Rear face until at least age 2 but longer is better to ensure the spine is strong
- Forward face until mature enough to sit properly in a booster
- Booster until the adult seat belt fits, usually around 4’9″ tall
- When seat is outgrown
- Check the limits of your car seat; once ANY limit is reached, it’s time to switch
- Limits are typically weight and height, but check for other requirements
- Typically 1″ above the head when rear facing; straps above shoulders when forward facing
- Unregulated or aftermarket products
- Do not use any products not provided with the car seat or approved by the car seat manufacturer
- Bulky clothing
- Dress your child in thin, compressed layers like fleece. Keep them warm by using blankets over the harness once they’re buckled in
- Bulky clothing like snowsuits or clothing that is not well-fitted may interfere with proper harnessing
- Airbags
- Do not install car seats in front of vehicle air bags – check your vehicle owner’s manual for information on restrictions
- Children should only ride in the front after age 13/ puberty, when their bones have matured enough to handle the forces of a collision
- Projectiles
- Secure any loose items, or items that may become loose, in your vehicle as they may injure occupants during a collision
- Unattended children
- Do not leave your child in the vehicle unsupervised
- Infant (“bucket”) car seats are for cars
- Car seats are not safe sleep spaces. If used outside of the vehicle, they may not provide the appropriate recline for your child’s safe positioning whilst sleeping