Aliz Sass As safety month is June, I think it is very important as parents with older kids to remember their car seat safety while traveling in vehicles. Our baby is not a baby anymore and we give them more independence! However, safety always has to be first for our children. They may look big enough for booster seat, but please make sure they are actually ready for it.
Car accidents are the number one cause of death for children one to thirteen years old. Florida law requires that children right now be in a booster seat until they’re 6 years old. Other states have even higher limits or even have a weight law.
There’s a new plan to keep children in booster seats longer until their seventh birthday. But as for now, the following are the requirements:
- Children ages 0 to 3 must be in child restraint devices of a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat
- Florida law requires children age 5 and under to be secured properly in a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device.
- Children age 4 and 5 must be in a separate carrier, integrated child seat or booster seat.
- Children should be in the rear seats until at least age 12, since deployed front seat air bags can be dangerous to children.
- The best child seat is one that fits your child, fits your car and that drivers will use correctly every time.
- Read the car seat’s instruction manual and the portion of your vehicle’s owner manual when you install a car seat. If you are not sure that you installed a car seat properly (as I did when my first son was born), schedule an appointment on the following links.
- Remember to check for car seat and booster seat recalls.
- Refer to the official Florida Driver License Handbook for more information on seat belts and child restraints.
Visit Florida Department of Transportation’s website: Florida Child Passenger Safety Seat Fitting Stations by County to find a location near you for a car seat check.
When shopping for a car seat, keep the following tips in mind:
- No one seat is the “best” or “safest.” The best seat is the one that fits your child’s size, is correctly installed, fits well in your vehicle, and is used properly every time you drive.
- Don’t decide by price alone. A higher price does not mean the seat is safer or easier to use.
- Avoid used seats if you don’t know the seat’s history.
- Watch the Video: What to Look For When Purchasing a Car Seat
Never use a car seat that:
- Is too old. Look on the label for the date the seat was made. Check with the manufacturer to find out how long it recommends using the seat.
- Has any visible cracks on it.
- Does not have a label with the date of manufacture and model number. Without these, you cannot check to see if the seat has been recalled.
- Does not come with instructions. You need them to know how to use the seat. Instructions can be found on manufacturer websites or by contacting the manufacturer.
- Is missing parts. Used car safety seats often come without important parts. Check with the manufacturer to make sure you can get the right parts.
- Was recalled. You can find out by calling the manufacturer or contacting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888/327-4236. You can also visit the NHTSA Website.
- Do not use seats that have been in a moderate or severe crash. Seats that were in a minor crash may still be safe to use, but some car safety seat manufacturers recommend replacing the seat after any crash, even a minor one. The NHTSA considers a crash minor if all the following situations are true:
- The vehicle could be driven away from the crash.
- The vehicle door closest to the car safety seat was not damaged.
- No one in the vehicle was injured.
- The airbags did not go off.
- You can’t see any damage to the car safety seat.
- If you have specific questions about the car seat, contact the manufacturer.
Please, if you have any doubt after reading all the above take action and make sure your child is safe in the car. You never know what will happen on the road. Stay safe mamas!
