Frequently asked questions about infant car seatsSee also:-About infant car seats -Checklist when buying or mounting infant car seats -Car travel during pregnancy What should I think about when buying an infant car seat?
Yes, but bear the following in mind:
The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI), The Swedish National Society for Road Safety (NTF) and experts from the Swedish insurance company Folksam all all recommend that infant car seats be mounted in the front passenger seat facing backwards when the driver is the only adult in the car. The VTI has noted that some of the accidents registered have occurred because drivers have turned their heads to check on a child placed in an infant car seat in the rear of the car, and have then driven off the road. If you are the only adult in the car, then, it is safest to mount the infant car seat in the front passenger seat. If there are two or more adults in the car, it is safest to mount the infant car seat in the rear with an adult sat next to it. In the event of a head-on collision, the child is somewhat safer in an infant car seat mounted in the rear. It is also easier for the driver to maintain focus when another adult is responsible for supervising the child. If you decide to mount the infant car seat in the front passenger seat, always ensure that the airbag is deactivated. Infant car seats should be mounted as near to upright as possible. This is so that the child’s head is afforded as much horizontal support as possible in the event of an accident. Is the airbag deactivated? The answer to this question is yes, if the airbag was deactivated by an authorized salesman of your car model. Some cars are fitted with a manual airbag switch, which you can yourself use to activate and deactivate the airbag. The airbag switch is reliable, but there is a risk for the human factor – i.e. leaving the airbag turned on when it should have been turned off. Try not to use the switch to activate and deactivate the airbag too often. Why are airbags hazardous to children? Airbags are constructed for persons taller than 140 cm. If a person is shorter than this, the airbag may lead to injury. When an airbag explodes, it does so with enormous force. The shell that opens when the airbag fills with air may hit the child. Children should never sit in the front passenger seat with an activated airbag. Children that are slightly taller than 140 cm may sit there, but it is important to make sure that the passenger seat is placed as far from the dashboard as possible. Infant car seats and toddler car seats should never be mounted in the front passenger seat with an activated airbag. If you do deactivate the airbag manually, it is of utmost importance that the airbag is reactivated when an adult sits in the front passenger seat. Are side airbags dangerous? There are no known cases of a child in a safety seat being injured by a side airbag. When should children begin to sit in toddler car seats or booster seats? Children should sit facing backwards in the car for as long as possible, and at least until they are four years old. As long as you are using an infant or toddler car seat, the child should be facing backwards. In the event of a head-on collision, children sitting in toddler seats facing to the rear run a lower risk of head or neck injuries than children in forward-facing toddler seats. Booster seats for older children are always constructed to be forward-facing however. Ensure that you mount your booster seat facing to the front and not towards the rear. How safe is my car? The safety standard of a given car is naturally very important, both for adults and children. It is particularly important in the case of smaller cars, since safety standards vary a great deal within this group of vehicles. If you travel in a small car with the lowest safety standard, for example, the risk of being killed or maimed is six times greater than that associated with travel in the safest small car. Follow these links to check the safety standard of your car. The report “How safe is your car?” published by the Swedish insurance company Folksam analyses real-life accidents: The Folksam list with real-life accidents Euro NCAP’s own car collision and safety tests. They also present a special child-safety car test: Euro NCAP’s car collision and safety tests Recommended safety rules for car travel Travelling in a car is one of the most risky things you can do. It is therefore recommended that you apply a number of safety rules when travelling with children in the car. Here are some suggestions:
Most infant car seats are approved for mounting with the handle in both the upright and down positions. Ask in the store before you purchase the infant car seat. In the upright position, the handle can serve as a practical towel rail in order to protect the child from strong sunlight. Is the removable bed section from the baby carriage or pram safe for mounting in the car? Definitely not. The bed section will be fastened and secure, but the child will not. Infant car seats are the only safe way to secure and travel with your baby in the car. Premature babies may need to be placed in the car lying down. In cases of this kind, there are special car seats which such babies can lie in safely. Is it okay to sew a new cover for the infant car seat? No, turn instead to a child safety store and purchase a new one. It is important that the seat cover is the one intended for the seat in question. The material from which these seat covers are made is not only fireproof but also meets a number of other safety requirements. If you plan to purchase a second-hand infant car seat, and to replace the cover with a new one, check the price of the cover first to make sure it isn’t cheaper simply to buy a new infant car seat. What can I do if the child can’t stretch its legs when sitting in the infant car seat? From a safety perspective, there is no danger associated with a child travelling with bent legs. Nor is it common for children to complain of discomfort as a result. It is rather we adults who think it looks uncomfortable. How safe are minibuses? In the studies published by the Swedish insurance company Folksam, minibuses appear to be relatively safe. The safety standard of minibuses varies a great deal between different models, however. The safest minibuses are as safe as the safest cars. Older minibuses with a short front-end are generally less safe than newer minibuses. See also: -About infant car seats -Checklist when buying or mounting infant car seats -Car travel during pregnancy |
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