Introduction
When it comes to keeping your little one’s safety a priority on the road, there are few things more important than having a car seat Babyhillsthailand. Many parents think they’ve done everything right — buckled tight, double-checked before driving. But studies find that more than half of all car seats are installed improperly, including many involving veterans of parenthood who feel they’ve got this covered. This article looks at five things you may be doing wrong with your car seat, and how to fix them so your child is protected anytime you’re on the road.
1. Having Your Child in an Age-Inappropriate Car Seat
Perhaps the most frequent problem is the use of a car seat that does not fit the age, weight, or height of the child. It is best that infants always begin life in a rear-facing child seat, while their head and neck muscles are still developing and relatively weak. If you turn a baby forward too early, even before two years old, the chance of serious injury jumps dramatically.
As the child grows continue use from rear-facing to forward-facing up to 50pounds and then right on as a booster seat Always refer to the seat manual and make sure you are meeting Thai safety regulations for optimal protection.
2. Loosening Car Seat
The best car seat in the world will not prevent injury if it is installed improperly. Pull firmly: A car seat should not shift more than one inch side to side or front to back at the base. A lot of parents make the mistake of not securing the seatbelt or LATCH connectors tight, only relying on the vehicle belt to keep it stable.
To resolve this issue, exert firm pressure and retighten the seatbelt or LATCH strap. You might even have to use your knee to push down on the car seat while you pull as hard as possible. If the lunch break of gunboaters intrigues you, so too should this morning’s lifting. It shouldn’t move more than an inch in any direction once you’re finished with it.
3. Incorrect Harness Positioning
A car seat harness should keep your child securely in place during a crash. But the number one mistake is positioning the harness straps wrong. For rear-facing, the straps should thread through slots at or below a child’s shoulders. For forward facing, the straps should be at or above their shoulders.
The shoulder strap should be snug enough that you cannot pinch loose slack. In an accident, loose ones can permit your child to move in a dangerous manner. And mind the chest clip position: It needs to be at armpit level, not higher or lower, as doing so can result in very serious injuries during a collision.
4. Adding some Accessories, that wasn’t Checked in Test
Plenty of parents want to make their child’s car seat more comfortable or snazzy, so they add cushions, covers or neck pads that didn’t come as part of the original product. Regrettably, these accessories can interfere with the seat’s safety features and have not been tested in crashes.
Use only products that originate from the manufacturer of the seat, or they are labeled for your particular model. But even soft cushioning can alter your car seat’s performance in a crash and put you at greater risk of injury. Safety should always outweigh aesthetics.
5. Ignoring the Car Seat’s Expiration Date
Here’s a hint that might surprise some parents: Car seats have expiration dates — typically from six to 10 years after they were manufactured. Over the years, materials can deteriorate, plastics age from heat, safety standards change. By submitting your expired car seat or using it as a resting place for your smoke, you’re depending on outmoded and perhaps unsafe science.
It’s always a good idea to check the sticker on your car seat or the manufacturer’s manual for the expiration date. If your chair’s best days are behind it, you want to replace it. We have a great selection of comfortable car seats at Babyhillsthailand, all safety approved and tested to the latest international standards.
Bonus Tip — Always Read the Manual
Even confident car seat installers — and, really, aren’t we all? — will find that every model has its own design and installation instructions. Not yawning over the manual or depending on your wits to do everything is better than installing it wrong. Spend a couple of minutes reviewing both your car’s and the car seat’s manuals. They offer essential instructions on anchor points, recline angles and belt layouts based on your configuration.
Keep Safety Simple with Babyhillsthailand
A great looking and fitting car seat can be easy to install. Some brands, such as Babyhillsthailand, offer many easy and safe car seats. Their products are designed to comply with worldwide safety standards and accommodate any type of seat, making it easy for parents to use in baby’s first year and beyond up until about age five.
And always remember, no matter how seasoned you are at car seat installation and proper use of your car seats, a quick review of your installation and checking of your car seat setup will serve as an excellent reminder. Road safety starts before the car moves at all. When you don’t make these five commonly made mistakes, your child rides safe and happy on every ride.
Conclusion
Even the most experienced parents can unintentionally make errors when installing and using their car seat. From choosing the wrong model to forgetting expiration dates — these mistakes can result in deadly consequences, but are very preventable once you know how and with some guidance. For the safest and most secure options out there, take a look at Babyhillsthailand’s premium selection of car seats for all ages. Because when your child’s safety is on the line, doing it right is not an option — it’s the only option.