“T” packing his Boost A Pak for grandma’s
Child Passenger Safety Week
*Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post. I received a car seat for review purposes.
Car crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the US. The best way to protect your child in the car is to put them in the right car seat, at the right time, and use it the right way. It is so important to have the right car seat that is installed correctly. Safety 1st has three new car seats on the market that would be right for your family. “T” has outgrown his convertible car seat and I have been on the hunt for a booster seat, since he will be turning 4 year old in a few weeks. He has always been a “big” child and the search for car seats has been a tedious one. We had the opportunity to try Safety 1st BoostAPak Belt-Positioning Booster Car Seat and we adore it. It is durable, practical, multi-functional, safe and portable. Check out the Car seat safety tips and Safety 1st car seats to find out which one is right for you.
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The Elite 80 works in rear-facing mode for babies up to 40 pounds, then converts to forward-facing with harness, but features an extended weight range to keep children safely in harness all the way to 80 pounds. In its 3rd mode, the Elite 80 goes beyond the traditional convertible seat to convert into a belt-positioning booster car seat for children up to 100 pounds. Additionally Air Protect + combines the advanced protection of our Air Protect® cushion system with patented GCell HX™ foam designed with hexagonal shapes for 100% full body production.
The BoostAPak is designed to help keep kids in boosters longer, as it’s often hard to get an older child to stay in his or her booster seat. This booster seat also doubles as a backpack! For children 4 to 7 years old, booster seats reduce injury risk by 59% compared to seat belts alone. (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). Additionally, the AAP recommends children ride in boosters until the age of 12 or 57 inches; but only 13% of children 54-56 inches tall ride on one (NHTS
Car Seat Safety Tips From Julie Vallese, Safety 1st Consumer Safety Expert.
Importance of Rear Facing
In March of 2011 the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their car seat recommendations advising that children should remain rear facing until the age of two, or until they reach the maximum height and weight requirements allowed by their car seat. According to a study in theJournal of Injury Prevention children under the age of two are 75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in the event of a car crash if they are rear facing. When a child is rear facing their head,
neck and spine are better supported and in the event of an accident, crash forces are distributed over the child’s entire body.
Installation
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 75% of car seats are installed incorrectly. Every car and car seat has different requirements for the
safest installation so before you get started it is important to read both the car seat and car manual.
Typically the center rear seat is the safest place for a car seat, and never install a car seat in the front seat. If your car does not have a latch connector for the middle
seat, you can use the middle seat belt to properly secure the base. When installing, make sure the base of the car seat moves no more than an inch from side to side. An easy way to test this is to hold at the belt path.
New parents and grandparents are encouraged to attend a car seat check before the baby is born. However, don’t just rely on the experts. You’re likely going to be
taking the car seat out and installing it somewhere else at some point, so make sure you’re comfortable with the process too.
Car Seat Expiration
Never use used or old car seats. Car seats do have an expiration date and it is to understand the risks associated with using an expired or old car seat. The reason for an expiration date is because plastic can warp and materials can fray, which can make car seats less safe to use. Car seat technology and state and federal car seat regulations change. A car seat deemed safe more than six years ago may no longer meet federal testing regulations. Important warning labels may wear out and instruction books may get lost, which can lead to improper use of the car seat.