RESNS newsletter article - Nov.2009

This is an article I wrote for Grayson's Nursery School in November.


Child Car Seat Safety – What You Need to Know

Statistics show that 80% of carseats in Manitoba are being used incorrectly.

To start with the basics, the Manitoba Highway Traffic Act states that all children must be restrained in a Canadian-approved child restraint device until they are both 5 years of age and 50lbs.
This means that, by law, your child must be restrained in an age-appropriate, weight-appropriate child restraint (either a harnessed carseat, or a booster seat) until they are 5 years and 50 lbs.Also, all forward-facing child seats must be used with a tether strap. The fine for having an unrestrained, or improperly restrained child is $247.00.
Manitoba is one of only 3 remaining provinces currently without booster seat legislation. There have been formal recommendations made which could see the MB Traffic Act changed to include restraining children up to age 8 and 80lbs.


Now, how can you make sure you are keeping your child as safe as possible? First of all, you need to consider the weight, height, and maturity of your child.

REAR FACING
A rear-facing infant seat is safest for a newborn. You want to make sure that the shoulder straps are coming out below, or just even with the shoulders. If the strap slot being used is above the shoulders, it is not a proper fit, and you should move the harness to the next lower slot, or a different seat should be used.
By law, you need to keep your child rear facing until they are 1 year old and 20 lbs. However, it is now recommended to keep your child rear facing for as long as possible.
Don’t worry about your child’s feet touching the vehicle seat back, or their legs being “too long”. Your child’s legs and feet are fine, and will not be injured. The biggest concern should always be your child’s head and neck, since children as old as 2 or 3 still have large heads and weak necks in proportion to their bodies. Once your child outgrows the infant seat, it is recommended to use a convertible carseat in a rear facing position. Many convertible seats now rear-face to 30, 32, or even 35 lbs, which gives you the opportunity to keep your child rear facing past a year. When buckling your infant, make sure the chest clip is at armpit level, and that the straps are untwisted and snug enough that you cannot pinch any slack in the webbing. You should only fit 1 finger between the webbing and your child’s shoulder.

FORWARD FACING
Most forward-facing carseats used to have a maximum-harnessed weight limit of 40lbs, after which you would be required to move your child to a booster seat, regardless of height or age. There are now many options available which will allow you to keep your child harnessed up to 47, or even 65lbs. A 5-point harness is the safest option for your child, and it is recommended to keep them in the 5-point harness to the maximum weight/height limit of the seat. Again, when buckling your child, the chest clip should be at armpit level, the straps should be untwisted, and snug enough that you can’t pinch any slack in the webbing. You should be able to fit only 1 finger between the webbing and your child’s chest.

BOOSTER SEATS
Many parents wonder when they can safely move their child to a booster seat. A booster seat can have a high or low back, and its sole purpose is to raise the child up to fit properly in the adult seatbelt. A booster seat does not restrain the child, but allows the seatbelt to restrain them. A booster seat may ONLY be used with a lap/shoulder belt system, NEVER with a lap belt alone!
You may not legally use a booster seat until your child is over 40lbs, and even then, you may want to consider keeping your child harnessed if they are not mature enough for a booster. It is not recommended that a child use a booster seat until they are at least 4-1/2 years of age.
To safely use a booster seat, your child must sit properly at all times. This means no napping, no wiggling/squirming, no reaching for toys, or slumping, or leaning. Any movement or shifting that puts the child out of position for the seatbelt to fit properly puts your child in danger of being injured in a collision.
If your child weighs at least 40lbs, and is able to sit properly in their booster seat every time, make sure they fit the booster properly. The shoulder belt needs to come over the child’s shoulder, not the neck, and should never be placed behind the child, or under their arm. The lap belt should come across the child’s hipbones, not their upper thighs, and NEVER over their abdomen. If the seatbelt does not fit properly, it will not protect your child, and you may want to reconsider keeping your child in a 5-point harness for a while longer.

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Useful Links:

Transport Canada Road Safety –
http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/roadsafety/safedrivers-childsafety-index-53.htm
(lots of information here about the different kinds of carseats, as well as recall information, and research & testing information)

MB Carseat Coalition FAQ Page –
http://www.carseatsafety.ca/faq.html


MPI - http://mpi.mb.ca/english/rd_safety/OccupantProtection/or_child_car_seat.html
(Please be aware that some of the info regarding weight limits on MPI’s website is out-of-date, and that there are now higher weight limits available than those mentioned on the website)

The Importance of Rear-Facing (explanations, as well as crash-test footage comparisons)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psmUWg7QrC8&feature=related


5-point harness vs. Booster Seat
(crash test footage)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2kO8AxKbrM&feature=related


** How to Safely Buckle your Child in Winter (important for Winnipeg winters!!) **
(a demonstration of how to get the harness close to your child)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLTVPqn0aR8&feature=PlayList&p=D0C1DC6A07241A50&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=100