Your child car seat Q&A
You’re bound to have questions when it comes to transporting your most precious cargo in your car. Here, the Supernanny team tackles parents’ most-asked head-scratchers…
How can I make sure my preemie is safe and comfortable in her car seat?
All newborns tend to slouch in their car seats because their spines aren’t yet strong enough to support them. If your preemie is at risk of respiratory distress, get her doctor to check how she’s sitting, to make sure her position isn’t impeding her heart rate or making it difficult for her to take in enough oxygen.
My baby weighs over 20Ib but he’s still under 1. Should I switch him to a forward-facing seat?
Although guidelines suggest a baby is ready for a forward-facing seat when he reaches 20Ib, if your baby is particularly big he may do that well before he turns 1. He’s definitely still safer in a rear-facing seat so consider purchasing a convertible seat that will last until he’s over 1.
Could my car’s airbags harm my child?
Yes, particularly if your child is still riding in a rear-facing seat – never position this in the front seat of your car. A rapidly inflating air bag can also harm a preschooler or tween, even if they’re riding in safety seats. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that under-13s always ride in the back of the car. If you have to seat your older child in the front, slide the seat as far back as possible.
Can I use a lap belt to secure a child safety seat?
Check the seat instructions – some infant and toddler seats can be fitted with just the lap belt. But you should never use the lap belt alone with a booster seat or with an older child who has outgrown his booster – a lap-and-shoulder belt is safest.
Can I use my baby’s car safety seat on an airplane?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend using a car safety seat for under-4s when when flying. Most infant, convertible, and forward-facing seats are certified to be used on airplanes but booster seats aren’t. Most seats manufactured after 1981 have a label stating that they meet federal safety standards for use on a plane – if you’re unsure, call the National Department of Transportation's Auto Safety hotline at 800-424-9393.
I crashed my car – is my child’s safety seat till OK to use?
You should buy a replacement if the impact was severe – even if the seat appears to be undamaged it could have sustained hairline cracks that could render it unstable in a future accident. If the crash was minor, no one was injured, the airbags didn’t activate and the door nearest the safety seat wasn’t damaged it may be safe to continue using the seat, but contact the manufacturer for guidance.
Are secondhand car seats safe to use?
If it’s been handed on by a friend or relative, is a recent model in good condition, comes complete with its instructions (vital to ensure correct fitting) and you know for a fact it has never been involved in an accident, it should be fine. However, you should check that it hasn’t been recalled before using it – contact the manufacturer or check through the NHTSA’s online recalls tool. Avoid buying a seat at a yard sale or thrift shop, since you won’t know its history.