Car seat check indianapolis
Place your child in their car seat with their winter coat, adjusting straps to fit. If you are in doubt perform this easy car seat test. In colder months DO NOT place children in their car seats with a bulky coat, as this prevents straps from being snug to your child’s body. External devices such as strap covers and car seat covers should not be used in order to be ensure proper fit and snugness to the seat. Chest clips that are lower or near the child’s belly button will be less effective or even ineffective in the case of a car crash.ĭouble check that the shoulder straps are snug to the body. Make certain the plastic retainer clip/chest clip that connects the two shoulder straps is kept at the armpit level. Rear-facing convertible seat with a seat belt: Rear-facing infant seat with a seat belt: Here are a few videos taken from with detailed, step by step instructions for installing car seats. **Be sure to consult the (long!) list below of Indianapolis area facilities that provide car seat installation checks! ** You want to make sure, again, to read the installation instructions of your car seat, but child seats must be secured using either the seat belt or the LATCH system and not move back and forth or forward more than one inch. If a vehicle doesn’t have a rear seat, airbags should be disabled and the front seat should be moved back as far as it can go. Indiana law suggests that children under the age of 13 ride in the back seat of a vehicle. A booster helps the seatbelt fit a child most effectively. Again, children should remain in the high back booster until he or she reaches the upper limit of the height and weight restrictions of the seat – this may be upwards of 6 or 7 years of age.īooster: Indiana State law requires all children to use a car seat until the age of 8, often as children get older, the booster is the most appropriate safety seat. High back boosters must be forward facing, so be sure not to move into this seat prematurely.
High Back Booster: Once your child outgrows the convertible seat, he/she is ready to ride in a high back booster with a five-point harness. Just because your child’s legs are bent or touching the back of the seat it’s attached to does not mean he/she should be turned forward facing! Rear facing is the safest position for your child. This is until your child outgrows the height/weight specifications for a convertible seat (often around age 3).
Children should remain rear-facing as long as possible (Indiana State law states children must remain rear-facing until the age of one AND 20 lbs). Just because children are moved to a convertible car seat does not mean they should, or need to, be turned forward facing. Some parents find that their infants, as they get larger, are more comfortable in the convertible seat. Check the height and weight requirements of your seat, but often children can remain in the infant seat until a year old.Ĭonvertible car seat: This is normally a larger seat that positions the child in a more upright stance than the infant seat. These seats may be installed with a seatbelt, or include a base that the seat clicks into. Infant seat: The infant seat is meant to ONLY be used rear facing. The following chart taken from outlines when children should be in certain car seats. There are generally four types of car seats: infant seat, convertible car seat, high back booster, and booster seat. Below some general information to be sure your child is safe when traveling in the car! **Always be sure to check the specifications and manufacturer instructions on your car seat as height/weight/installation requirements vary.
Unfortunately one area of safety is often unclear and it is one of the most important – car seat safety.With so many products and conflicting information parents often can’t determine what is safe and age-appropriate. I made sure to baby-proof my house, bought age-appropriate toys to avoid choking hazards, and make sure that their sleep space is clear of danger. As a parent, I am always looking for ways to keep my child safe.