It happens. For whatever reason, you car seat cannot be used again. It might have expired, been involved in a recall that requires its destruction, or has been crashed. So now what to do with this hunk of plastic, fabric, and nylon that once protected a child?
When we are handed our mewling bundles for the first time, we are told to support their heads and keep their heads back. They have no head control forward or backward, so support their head. Support their head. Keep their head back, but support their head.
After that is drilled into us, it’s no wonder we have parents buying new car seats or rearranging everything to do away with head slump.
For many years, a locking clip was used to lock all lap and shoulder belts when installing a car seat. This was the only available method for locking the belt. Today, there are a number of other options available.
Sometimes it seems manufactures are out to confuse parents as much as possible.
For years Child Passenger Safety Technicians stated that you don’t use LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) with boosters. The booster simply sat on the seat under the child, then the seat belt held in both the child and the booster.
You want less than one inch of movement when you give it a firm handshake at the belt path with your non dominant hand.” I have said that statement many times to parents and caregivers. It’s one of those times where I wish English had a few more words so I could describe that in the same detail, but with less verbosity.
What does it mean, though? Let’s go through it a bit at a time.
New Jersey has become the first state in the nation to pass a law requiring that all children under age two years who are less than 30 pounds be rear facing.
A very common question that Child Passenger Safety Technicians are asked is whether or not new parents can take their baby home in a convertible car seat. They’ve heard that hospitals require a rear facing only seat and they won’t be allowed to go home.
