When You Know Better, You Do Better - Car Seat Safety

11/06/2019

Only buy from reputable online stores. If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is!!

There is an explosion of untested, uncertified car seats for sale online. Here’s what to know.

10/11/2019

TW: child death

This is why you don't let your child sleep in their car seat outside of the vehicle.

Ryne Jungling says his son's death was "100 percent preventable."

09/19/2019

08/29/2019

2 great car seat trade-in events coming up!!

Target- https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/planet/sustainable-products/car-seat-trade-in
Car seat trade-in returns to all Target stores September 3-13, 2019. When you bring your car seat to Guest Services, you'll get a coupon for 20% off a new car seat, stroller or select baby gear. The coupon is valid through September 14, 2019.
Target will accept and recycle all types of car seats, including infant seats, convertible seats, car seat bases, harness or booster car seats and car seats that are expired or damaged. Materials from the old car seats will be recycled by Target’s partner, Waste Management.

Walmart (NEW!)- https://www.walmart.com/ideas/355624?fbclid=IwAR0Yuf93NGby_io8k-bA-JX9GSqR8vnvm9rfioKg30YVJAQdkbieOKuHxxI
From September 16–30, bring in the car seat that your kiddo's outgrown and get a $30 Walmart gift card for your baby's next car seat!
Car seats collected in this program will be recycled 100% by TerraCycle and each component will be diverted from the landfill. Limit 2 trade-ins per household. Any car seat brand accepted. Booster seats are not eligible for trade in

07/10/2019

Yeah.... don't do this.

05/10/2019

This happened to a friend of mine. A good reminder to always buckle in unoccupied booster seats! Another option (if your seat allows it) is to use the lower anchors in booster mode- they don't hold the child in (that's the seat belt's job), but it will help prevent this.

“Always secure the unoccupied child seat.” is a line found in the owners manuals for belt-positioning booster seats. This is why. [Pictured is an unoccupied Britax Pinnacle combination seat (aka harness-to-booster seat) attacking the front passenger seat of the vehicle.] The Pinnacle was in its usual seating position but it was not installed or secured when the driver made a short stop at a slow speed. When used in booster mode, the Pinnacle can still be “installed” with the lower anchor system and top tether to prevent the seat from becoming a projectile when unoccupied. Crash forces will send all loose objects flying around and they can cause a lot of damage. Keep potential projectiles to a minimum and buckle up those unoccupied boosters!

04/19/2019

Watch the video and then ask yourself: Is your young child in a booster seat? Until they pass the 5 step test they need to use one. For most kids that's 10-12 years old. Yes, those ages are correct.

Some great links if you want more info:

https://csftl.org/boosters-are-for-very-big-kids/

https://csftl.org/the-five-step-test/

While any restraint is better than none, a seat belt that doesn’t fit properly can cause a pattern of injury known as “Seat Belt Syndrome,” which can include...

04/19/2019

This right here. Watch the video. This is why my 19mo is still rear facing and will be for a long time. I'm hoping to make it to 4 years old. I maxed out the weight limit of my seat (40lbs) with my first kid, but that got us to 3-1/2 years old!

In this simulation, we show an 18-month-old child properly restrained in a rear-facing child safety seat during a 35 mph crash versus the same child in a for...

04/08/2019

Why I never check my kids' car seats! Yikes!!

This seat was checked instead of being used on the plane, this is just one reason you need to use your seat on the plane for your child! https://csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

01/24/2019

Even seasoned car seat techs read the manual when they get a new seat! Britax Emblem- got it on super sale! (I've owned and used seats from $35-$500 for my kids and they all have their strong points.)

A few things I found out about the Emblem:
★You can only use the bottom insert until a child weighs 22 lbs and only in the rear facing position. Never forward facing.
★You need to use the inner buckle slot when installing rear facing with a vehicle seat belt.
★While you could normally use the seat in recline position 1 or 2 when forward facing, if a child is over 40 pounds and you are installing it with a lap-only belt it has to be in position 1.

And I'm only on page 5!

Read your manual at least once, cover to cover, when you get your seat. If there's anything that doesn't make sense, call up the manufacturer and ask to speak with one of their CPSTs! They will be happy to go over this with you.

10/24/2018

Recall!

General Motors is recalling 15,800 of its 2018 and 2019 Cadillac CT6 sedans, Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrids, and Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade ESV SUVs because a faulty ...