http://www.babysafetyzone.com/infant-safety/infant-safety-products.html Infant safety products such as car seats are among the most important. But making sure that infant safety products are used properly is paramount. en-us Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:05:07 EST Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:05:07 EST Weblog Editor 2.0 Infant Safety Products for the Family Vehicle The number one killer of children under the age of 14 is motor vehicle crashes. Most of these could have been prevented by properly securing the child in a car seat. Although infant safety is presumably top priority for all parents, many simply don't think that it can happen to them. But, the scary thing is that it can happen to anyone. Even if you are the most careful driver on the road, other people might not be and that is what we all need to remember- it can happen, so it's best to be prepared. Buy it New There are many infant safety products that you will buy for your new baby, and most of them are fine if purchased second-hand or given as a hand-me -down. This is definitely not the case for car seats. They should always be purchased brand new with the instructions included. This way you can be sure that the seat has not been damaged in any way or is defective. Most used car seats will also not come with their original instruction manual having been discarded by the original owner. Installation is Key There is no car seat that will serve its purpose of saving a life if it is not installed properly. First and foremost you should read the instruction manual in its entirety. It may be a bit tedious to do so, but it will pay off and help to ensure that the seat is installed according to the manufacturer's specifications. But there are also a few universals when it come to how every seat should be situated. Children need to ride rear facing until they reach the age of one and have reached 20 pounds in weight. Both limits must be met before the child is turned around to a front facing position. The harness straps need to be tight enough that only one finger can be placed under the strap at the collar bone. The plastic chest clip should be placed at the level of their armpits. A child in a rear facing car seat is protected from front impact in much the same way that an adult seat protects us from a collision from the rear. Since the majority of accidents are the result of a head-on collision, children in a rear facing car seat are 71% safer than the other passengers in the car. Make sure that your infant is as safe as he can be and find out all you can about the various infant safety products on the market. Once purchased, take the time necessary to learn how to use them properly. All of the instructions that come with any of the infant safety devices should be read in their entirety, these are not the kinds of things to simply skim over in a hurry. Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:05:07 EST