A study published in the online journal Traffic Injury Prevention has learned that a child's car seat is not compatible to the size and shape of the seat inside the car 42 percent of the time. This has an effect to safety, support and performance as ill-fitting car seats may lead to other problems.
"I want to emphasize that all car seats are safe and have passed federal regulations. But to really optimize the safety of a child's car seat and provide the best protection for the child, one must make sure it fits properly in the vehicle," said Julie Bing, one of the study engineers in a report on Health Day.
Bing and her team checked for dimensions of 61 vehicles and 59 car seats for comparison and came up with 3,600 combinations based on 34 installations. They learned that of the installation, a rear-facing car seat provided better fit at 60 percent, while a forward-facing car showed that it the installation doesn't align with the seat properly 66 percent of the time.
Thus, it is the experts' recommendation that parents take measurements of their car first in order to purchase a car seat that will have the right fit. The experts also recommend asking the store for a model shelf to try on the car first. "It might look great on the shelf and have all the greatest safety ratings but, if it doesn't fit in your vehicle, it may not be the best option for you," Bing said in the Health Day report.
Apart from these suggestions, parents must also take note of the following when buying car seats:
1.) Choose the type of car seat based on the child's age, weight and height and replace as required. According to Baby Center, car seats come in three types - an infant-only seat, a convertible seat to adjust when the child grows, and a booster seat for children who are bigger and weigh more. Check for the proper car seat age guide at Healthy Children.
2.) Know how a car seat's latch works inside your vehicle. The design and placement of the latches depend on the vehicle manufacturer. According to Parents, read your car's manual for further information about this.
3.) Go over the installation instructions carefully and master this. While store staff usually provide assistance on installation, a recent investigative report by BBC One in the U.K. has shown that some store clerks don't know how to attach car seat correctly, according to Mirror. Thus, it would be better if you're also familiar with the installation to ensure the baby's safety.
