Car Seat Craziness.

Oh the joys of being a parent.

Diapers, wipes, strollers, baby food, car seats.

It all seems so black and white. 

Kids need diapers.  Kids need food.  Kids need car seats.  

First they rear face.

Then they grow and they forward face.

Soon after they switch to a booster seat.

Then a seat belt, just like the rest of us crash dummies.

Before long they are shouting 'shotgun' and running to the front seat!

It seems pretty easy right? 

It wasn't until I became a mom x2 until I really realized all the rules (that continue to change) about car seats.  It seems like few people are clear on these rules.  Police officers, pediatricians, grandparents, preschool teachers, all have differing opinions on what is "correct" when it comes to car seat safety.  I'm not claiming to know everything - but here is some information that has come up over the past few years.

• Did you know they expire?
• That they have to be thrown out (with the belts cut) if you get into an accident (even a small one)?
• That children should rear face as long as possible... 2, 3, 4, 5 years... 
• That even YOU would be safer rear facing in the car (I mean I guess if you're not too busy driving)
• That your child shouldn't be in a booster with a belt until they can sit still?
• That ALL state have differing laws about this!?
• That your car seat is probably installed incorrectly?

WARNING - I AM NOT JUDGING YOU.  I am just passing on some information (most of which I have violated at some point in my LONG (3.5 year) career as a mom).  So step off.  Don't shoot the messenger.  Now you know what is safer and why.  It's up to you to make the change, if you want to.

Here are some car seat safety facts (click on the links for their source):

• Car seats expire 5-9 years after their production.  Each seat has a production date on it, and most have an expiration date.  Car seats that have expired should be disposed of in a way that makes it obvious that they are expired.  {click here for more info}

• Car seats expire because technology, laws, and materials change.  Additionally the material car seats are made of degrades (extended periods of hot and cold makes plastic brittle). {click here for more info}

• Children should rear face AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.  Now, don't get all up in my business about how uncomfortable your 12 year old will be facing backward - I am just telling you about safety here.  ANYONE would be safer facing backward.  With that said, kids should use their car seats in the rear facing position until they outgrow it NOT until they turn one (FYI D was 18 pounds at 1...).  Getting a car seat like the Dino Radian, that has a high rear facing height and weight limit is the safest option. {click here for more info}

• Once your child is forward facing, they are safest in a 5 point harnessed car seat (meaning your car seat flipped around).  There are car seats that are forward facing until high weight limits (80 pounds) - so search for one of those.  Only AFTER they are over the height and weight requirements of their car seat should they be in a booster.  Here is a checklist of "readiness" signs for a booster seat (one that the seat belt goes in front of).  {click here for more info}

• DO NOT use anything that did not come with the car seat (YIKES! I did) - this includes those snuggler things that make it so you don't have to wear a coat, pillowy things that wrap around the belts, NOTHING. {click here for more info}

• DO NOT use those mirrors that let you see your kids (this one I continue to violate... I just wanted to be honest with you).  {click here for more info}

• DO NOT put a winter coat on your child in the car seat.  {click here for more info}

• DO NOT put your infant seat (the one you can carry) in your carriage at the grocery store (I'm guilty again here!!) {click here for more info}  -- Instead snuggle your baby up in a carrier... I LOVE my Ergo and Kozy carriers.

• Car seats should be replaced after an accident.  Any accident.  Your insurance should cover the cost of the replacement.   It's for this reason you should NEVER rent a car seat or purchase (or take for free) a used one.   {click here for more info}

• The placement of car seat straps is different for forward and rear facing kiddos.  If your child is REAR facing, the car seat straps should come from BELOW their shoulders.  If your child is FORWARD facing, the car seat straps should come from above their shoulders.  {click here for more info}

How is ANYONE supposed to know these things?  

Are there public service announcements?  Door to door car seat safety specialists?  Education for pediatricians?  

What if I didn't have time to read up on this information?  What about the parents that haven't had a child in a couple of years and just assume everything is the same?  

I don't know, I figured I should share the information I have found... because it doesn't seem like anyone else is!  

Maybe you should share it too?

Resources for Car Seat Safety:
The Car Seat Lady 
The AAP Report of Child Passenger Safety 
GREAT Resource List from carseat.org 
Child Safety Laws by State (check them out!)

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