How to Seat a Baby From 0 to 6 Months in a Car
Traveling with an infant is a big responsibility. Auto accidents are one of the leading causes of death in children, but parents and caregivers can help keep kids safe by using an appropriate child safety seat every time they travel with a child. Not only is it safer for your baby to ride in a child safety seat, but it's also the law in every state in the United States.
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Instructions
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Choose an infant seat. You can purchase an infant car seat/carrier, which you can use until your child is around 20 lbs, or you can purchase a convertible car seat that can be used until a child reaches around 40 lbs. Carriers are convenient because they detach from a base that stays in your vehicle and have a handle to make them portable.
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Install the car seat in the rear-facing position according to the manufacturer's instructions. Children should be kept in the rear-facing position until they are at least 1 year old and weigh at least 20 lbs., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Place the car seat in the back seat of the vehicle, preferably in the middle of the back seat. Never place a child safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle with an active air bag, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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Secure the baby in the car seat, making sure that the harness runs through the slots on the back of the seat that fall at or below his shoulders. Place the chest clip level with baby's armpits. The harness should fit snugly against the baby when fastened, and straps should not be twisted.
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Place rolled-up towels or receiving blankets to the side of the baby's shoulders if he leans too far to one side, recommends The Nemours Foundation. Your car seat may come with an insert to support your baby, but you should never place padding under the baby's body unless it comes from the manufacturer of the car seat; this could keep the harness from working properly.
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Adjust the angle of the seat if necessary. If you need to recline the seat slightly, you can place a rolled up towel or blanket under the front of the seat. A 30- to 45-degree angle is the best position to keep a baby's head from flopping forward.
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Keep the baby restrained in the car seat for the entire trip. If you need to feed or soothe him, find a safe place to stop before removing the baby from his restraint.
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Tips & Warnings
Visit Nhtsa.gov or Seatcheck.org to find a child passenger safety technician in your area. Many fire and police departments, hospitals and other organizations offer free child safety seat checks and will help you correctly install your child's car seat.
It's best to purchase a new car seat if you can. If you accept a used seat, do not use it if it has ever been in an accident, is missing parts, is more than six years old or if it is missing the instruction manual or model number. Contact the manufacturer of a used seat to make sure it has not been recalled and is still safe to use.
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- Photo Credit infant, baby image by Natalja from Fotolia.com
