The Ever-Evolving World of Car Seat Safety
Today, I want to dive into a crucial aspect of keeping our precious passengers safe on the road: car seat safety. I recently came across an incredibly insightful article on common car seat mistakes that I knew I had to share with all of you.
Car seat use reduces the risk of injury for children from car accidents by 71–82%
We all know that choosing the right car seat is just the beginning of the journey. It's equally essential to understand how to use it correctly to provide the utmost protection. This piece not only highlights some of the most frequent errors parents make, but also offers practical solutions to ensure our children are riding safely every time we hit the road.
Did you know that there are certified technicians that can help you determine if your child’s car seat is installed correctly? Certified technicians will inspect your car seat free of charge, in most cases, and show you how to correctly install and use it.
As a sleep coach, safety during naptime on-the-go is always on my mind.
One critical aspect of car seat safety that often goes unnoticed is the potential danger of letting a child sleep in the car seat outside of the car. While it may seem convenient to bring the car seat into the house without disturbing their peaceful slumber, studies have shown this practice can pose serious risks. A 2019 Pediatrics study revealed a startling fact: more than half of the deaths that occur in child safety seats happen in the child's house, not the car. The concern lies in the angle of the car seat—inside the vehicle, when installed correctly, the seat is positioned at an angle that supports the child's posture and breathing. This angle is especially crucial as young children's muscles are still developing, and they may not have the strength to hold their heads up without support. However, if the car seat is used inside the house, this optimal angle is lost, potentially impairing the child's breathing and leading to suffocation risks. Additionally, the car seat is not secured outside of the car, increasing the likelihood of falls or tipping over. For these reasons, experts strongly advise against using the car seat outside of its intended vehicle setting to ensure the safety and well-being of our little ones.
Car seat safety standards and recommendations evolve rapidly over the year so it’s important to keep up with the latest recommendation.. What might have been considered safe or best practice with our older children might have changed by the time our youngest arrives. Staying informed about these updates ensures we are providing the latest and safest options for our little ones.
I urge all of you to take a moment to read this insightful article and schedule an appointment with a technician if you have any questions. The safety of our little ones is a collective responsibility, and the more informed we are, the better we can protect them on our journeys together.
Here's to many blissful and safe adventures ahead!
The first step to see if I can help you achieve beautiful, blissful sleep is to schedule a 60 minute ZOOM sleep strategy session. Go to this link and complete the contact me form and I will be in touch within 24 hours with directions on how to schedule your Sleep Strategy Session.
If you are still wondering if I can help, please know I do NOT advocate 'cry-it-out'. I am a Gentle Sleep Coach. If you want to learn about my guilt-free and gentle process, please go to these links.
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