Advice and help when buying or mounting infant car seatsSee also:-Frequently asked questions about infant car seats -Checklist when buying or mounting infant car seats -Car travel during pregnancy When travelling in a car, newborn infants should always be placed in infant car seats. Most infants make their first car trip within a few days of being born. It is crucial at this time that you know how to transport your newborn child home safely. In addition to the advice provided on this website, ensure that you also read the manual for your infant car seat carefully. If for any reason you don’t have a manual, you can order one, or download it from the manufacturer’s website. 
Infant car seats may be placed in either the front or back seat of the car. They should always
be placed facing backwards. Front seat installation When infant car seats are placed in the front seat, it is essential that any passenger airbag is deactivated. Remember to reactivate the airbag when an adult sits in the front passenger seat. The front passenger seat should then be moved back as far as possible from the dashboard, which will minimize the risk of injury in the event of a collision. There must be a space of at least 20 centimeters between the dashboard and the infant car seat. Do not be tempted to place your infant in anything other than an infant car seat. Babybeds, travel cots or the removable bed section of your baby-carriage or pram will provide the infant with no protection at all. Rear seat installation If the infant car seat is installed in the back seat, it should be mounted with a seat belt that has three anchor points, and not in the middle of the rear seat using a lap belt with only two anchor points. Infant car seats should not recline too far from the vertical. The car seat should be mounted so that it sits firmly and naturally, irrespective of whether it is installed in the front or rear of the car. It is important that the child’s head is provided with horizontal support in the event of a collision. Airbags If the passenger seat has an airbag, there should be a dashboard sticker of some kind indicating this, and also stating that infant car seats should not be placed there unless the airbag is deactivated. If you are unable to find such a sticker, but know that the car has a passenger airbag, you should order a sticker from your car manufacturer. If the airbag cannot be deactivated manually, you can turn to your car dealer, who will help you deactivate the airbag. Unfortunately, you will have to repeat this procedure to reactivate the airbag the next time an adult is to sit in the passenger seat. Where to mount – front or rear seat? If the infant car seat is mounted in the rear of the car, it is recommended that two adults travel in the car, one of whom sits in the back with the infant. Studies have shown that rear-seat mounted infant car seats provide a somewhat greater level of safety, provided there is an adult sitting beside the infant. Otherwise it is safer for the infant car seat to be mounted on the front passenger seat. Studies have shown that a single adult in a car is more distracted when driving with a child placed in the rear of the car, than when driving with the child in the front. Remember When you drive to the store to look at infant car seats, take the car that you intend to mount the car seat in. Ask store staff to mount the infant car seat before you purchase it. The most common problem when mounting car seats is that the seat belt is too short. Besides ensuring that the car seat actually fits your car, having the seat mounted prior to purchase also gives you the opportunity to learn how the car seat should be installed. When the child reaches a size where it’s head extends up beyond the rear of the infant car seat, and is thus no longer being fully supported, or when the seat’s weight limit is exceeded, it is time to switch to a toddler car seat. You will find the weight limit specified in the manual. See also: -Frequently asked questions about infant car seats -Checklist when buying or mounting infant car seats -Car travel during pregnancy |
||
 |
|
|