Grasshopper New Media Presents...

I was driving on a Maine interstate the other day with my family. We were nearing the end of a 5 hour car trip during which we had to stop several times for empty bellies and full bladders, full diapers and empty gas tanks. As usual, it was a heck of a ride.

We passed a sedan driving the speed limit (65 mph) in the slow lane. From our passenger seat my husband noticed that in their passenger seat sat a Mom nursing her infant. I felt scared. Seriously, I was immediately scared for that baby’s safety. There have been plenty of times that my husband or I have been without seat belts in the car (usually very briefly to retrieve a dropped toy or switch seats to comfort one of the Punks). I’ve never allowed my kids to be out of their seats in the car (ok, except occasionally when we are driving to our next door neighbor’s house at 2 mph). As a matter of fact, on many a long car trip I could be found leaning over the babe’s car seat to nurse the baby. Yes, leaning over the baby. I often wondered what the truck drivers were saying to each other over their CB radios as they drove past us.

Today I fell across this article on CNN that reports that “eleven percent of parents who own vehicles equipped with air bags put their child in the front seat.” Who, I ask you, isn’t deterred by the death warnings that have decorated the visors of so many cars for the past decade?

Lots of people have problems with car seat use or installation. Let’s face it, lots of people don’t like instruction manuals and often assume that they know how something is supposed to work just by looking at it. This article states that 80% of kids aren’t secured properly in a car seat. 80%!

Now, numbers on the amount of car accidents that occur annually are impossible to find. According to Lawinfo.com, in 2002 alone, nearly 43,000 people died in highway accidents nationwide [US]. That equates to over 115 fatalities per day. I have no idea how many of those 43,000 were children. I have no idea how many of those children were killed due to improper or no use of a child safety seat. I will wager that that number would have been reduced if the children were secured properly in a car seat.

It’s not always easy to identify a problem. Here are a few that might not be obvious to everyone:

If your car seat was in a car accident it might need to be replaced.

Some lap belts (especially those found in older vehicles) need a special heavy-duty locking clip that are only available from the vehicle manufacturer. (Check the manual that came with your car for more information).

Your infant should not be bucked with a blanket under her. Blankets should be tucked around the child after she is fastened properly.

Without a car seat, a seat belt usually fits properly when the child reaches about 4′ 9″ in height and is between 8 and 12 years of age.

The American Academy of Pediatric offers this more complete guide to car seat safety. If you have questions about installing or using your child’s car seat you can find an inspector at Seatcheck.org. You can also call call toll-free at 866/SEATCHECK (866/732-8243).

I really hate to preach, but here’s the thing: this is an issue worth preaching about. Please use your seatbelt, and always use a car seat to keep your children as safe as possible in the car.

Thanks to me, for a great photo of baby Lucy!

[tags]car seat safety, child safety seat, airbags, children riding in the front seat, parenting, installing car seats, car seat inspector, proper use of a car seat[/tags]