We take a lot of things for granted. Putting our infants and toddlers in car seats is now an accepted part of daily life.
But there are some things we should remember as we do that "buckling up."
If you're driving in the car with your child, the natural inclination would be to put the youngster in the seat beside you.
"Actually, the safest place for a baby or a child is safely buckled in a car seat that's been approved in the back of the car,” said Stephanie Capllonch of Castle Medical Center.
Even though the child may be safely seated in the back of the car, you have to focus on driving. That means, no looking over your shoulder to check on the baby.
"What you really want to consider is the safety of your child and you so, if you have the infant or child near you and your checking on it, you're not effectively driving the safest. So the safest position is the position your car requires,” said Capllonch.
Sooner or later, the child is going to want out of the safety seat.
But Stephanie says, you're the parent. You decide when the time is right.
"On your car seat it has a weight restriction, weight limits. So as long as you can keep the baby in the rear-facing, up to the highest weight limit, as your car seat. And some parents choose to get a higher weight limit, rear-facing car seat,” she said.
What is the most important thing to look for in a car seat?
"One very importantly is that you can install in your car easily and correctly so that you and any caregivers that will be taking care of your child. Unfortunately, 80 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly,” she said.
When the child outgrows the car seat, consider a booster seat they can be belted into.
"Their safety is first and you can make it a plus. They can see out the window a lot easier and it really is the safest. The number one concern is surviving a car crash,” she said.
