Everybody loves to take road trips during the summer. Whether it’s to the beach or your favorite theme park, nothing beats a pleasant getaway. These drives can be extremely stressful, but you’ll be more relaxed knowing that your child is safe and secure in the backseat. Your child’s safety is the number one priority when traveling any distance and it’s extremely important that they are properly fastened into a stable car seat. Car seat safety professionals will tell you they see a lot of car seats installed incorrectly, and very few done right. Here are some helpful tips on proper car seat installation!
It’s vital that you always place your car seat in the backseat. The front seat air bag can pose a serious threat to your child’s safety – should you get involved in an accident.
Determine whether you’ll use the seat belt or lower anchors for your fastening method. Make sure you pull the end of the belt tightly from the top of the car seat instead of the side after you connect the straps.
If you use seatbelts, they should be self-locking if your car was made after 1997. If they’re not, look to see how to use the metal locking clip that came with your seat or the seat belt lock-off found within your car seat.
If you use the lower anchors, read your manual and find out if you’re using the right anchors for whatever position you choose to place the car seat. Contrary to popular belief, most cars do not have lower anchors for the center seat and people often mix up anchors on side seats for ones located in the center. Make sure you tighten the straps once you lock the clips into place!
The tether is one of the most important components of a car seat, yet roughly 42% of parents use it. The tether holds the child in place and decreases the risk of head whiplash if involved in an accident. All forward facing car seats should be tethered to the appropriate anchor for the car seat’s position in the back seat. Refer to your manual and install the tether properly to both sets of directions.
When you’re finished, grab the car seat where the car or latch belt is holding it and pull it a couple of times to make sure that it’s secure. If it moves more than an inch, check your manual and restart the process.
We value the safety of our customers and especially their little ones. Before you head out on that summer getaway, now is the perfect time to make sure that you’re covered. Give us a call to make sure that your auto insurance policy is up to date and you’ve got the best rate and coverage possible!