Car Seat Inspections

When it was time to move Leah to her convertible car seat, my husband and I just didn't feel comfortable with our installation.  For some reason, they just didn't seem secure and so we decided to visit a car seat inspection center to make sure we had them in correctly. So many people just assume that their seats are in correctly- and maybe for some people they are. However, I don't think it's something anyone should risk and if there are people out there who specialize in car seat installation, why not take advantage of their expertise?

The workers we dealt with seemed to know car seats in and out- which harness slots were right for your baby's height, which cars you can use the latch in and which ones you can't. The center we went to (the fire station in Plymouth Meeting, PA) showed John and me how to install it, then took it out and had us re-install it.  Of course they are standing right there watching you but by having you do it, you really learn what to do!

A couple notes about car seats (and I don't mean to sound preachy about this- I just think it's really important!):
First, the workers at the inspection center said that basically no car seat was better than another. They all have to pass certain regulations in order to be sold but they will differ in their ease of installation, features and basic design.  So buy the one that fits best in your car (Babies r Us will allow you to try out the seat in your car) and the one that your child seems most comfortable in!

Secondly, The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that you keep your child rear-facing for as long as you can.  It's not easy to keep a child rear-facing, trust me, I know!!  But, rear-facing can help prevent injuries or death in case of an accident.  When we were debating turning Leah around at 11 months, one of my best friends (who also happens to be my on-call Pediatrician :)) really stressed to me the importance of keeping Leah rear-facing for as long as we could.  She isn't usually that opinionated about things but when it came to this, she couldn't stress her point enough so I listened! 

Lastly, don't put your child in the car seat with a heavy jacket on.  This isn't a law, but it is a strong recommendation. You can't get the harness straps tight enough when a child is wearing a jacket. It's a pain in the neck to take a jacket on and off a child as you get in and out of the car.  Again, trust me, I know!!  We always start up our car before going out, that way it's warm enough for Leah to be in the car without a jacket and then we give her a blanket to snuggle (on top of the harness straps) while driving.  She likes it better this way. We tried keeping her jacket on once for a quick drive to the food store and she was miserable, trying to pull the jacket off of her arms. On the way home, I took her jacket off and she was much more pleasant!  

Find a car seat inspection center near you.  Your child will thank you someday for taking time out of your busy schedule to ensure their safety! :)

3/21/11
The American Academy of Pediatrics now states that children should ride rear-facing until they are 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their car seat.  They also state that children should sit in a booster seat until they are 4'9" and are between 8 and 12 years old.

Children who are rear-facing are less likely to sustain head, neck and spine injuries because the impact of a crash would be distributed over their entire body.  A 2007 study in the journal Injury Prevention showed that children under age 2 are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing.

For more information, read the online article, AAP Updates Recommendation on Car Seats.

Although I believe the AAP has reliable research to back up their recommendation, I can't imagine keeping my daughter Leah rear-facing until she was 2.  We waited until she was 15 months and even that was pushing it.  Having her forward-facing has made car rides so much more enjoyable (for Leah and us).  Obviously safety is more important than convenience and pleasure, but I really don't think we can put Leah's car seat rear-facing again.  I'll be honest- I did mention it to my husband who quickly said "no way we can turn Leah back around." Part of me wishes we had never put her car seat forward-facing because then I would follow the AAP's recommendation.  I am definitely a rule-follower, and I'm also a bit of a worrier.  I think my husband is right though, and for now, we'll keep Leah forward and say some extra prayers during our car rides!

So, I'm curious...will you keep your child rear-facing until 2? When did/will you move your child's car seat forward-facing?