Car Safety
Automobile safety is HUGE! Nowadays, most parents are responsible about making sure their children are buckled in. It is estimated though, that many of those children are not buckled in properly or safely.

Be aware of airbags. They can kill children and small adults. Do not place children in the front seat, especially not in rear facing car seats! Read up on this subject at some of the government service web-sites!

Make Sure Your Seat is Properly Installed - Many, many car seats are installed incorrectly. Check with the seat manufacturer for proper installation instructions. Not all parents actually manage to install them tightly enough. Some local police departments will check the installation of your car seat for you.

Is A Matter Of Size, Not Age - Legally, in some states, children past a certain age do not have to use car seats. This does not mean that this is safe! The ability of a seat belt to properly protect a child has nothing to do with age, and has everything to do with the child's height & weight. Check with the National Highway Safety Council for more information on this subject.

Do Not Borrow or Buy Used Car Seats - You have no way of knowing if these seats have been in an accident or structurally damaged in some way. You will also be unable to register the product so that you can be advised of any recalls or safety fixes.

Do Look at Consumer Reviews and Reports When Buying a Child Safety Seat - Just like cars not all safety seats perform the same. You might as well make an informed purchase and get the best money can buy. Incidentally, cost and performance are not always linked. You may find that many of the highly rated seats are mid-priced.

Register Your Car Seat Purchase - this way the manufacturer can advise you of any safety recalls. Actually, you should register all your baby furnishings and toys for this reason.

If You Have Only One Child, And There Is No Other Reason Not To Do So, Install The Safety Seat In The Center Of The Back Seat - This is statistically the safest place. Plus it makes baby accessible from both sides of the car. (Or some will argue equally inaccessible from both sides)

If You Have The Financial Resources, Select A Safe Car - Again, more expensive does not necessarily mean safer. Read some of the reviews and crash tests done on new cars and choose the best you can reasonably afford.

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Disclaimer: Note, these lists are provided to start you thinking about safety. We guarantee that these lists ARE NOT COMPLETE! You will have to evaluate your own home. No list can anticipate every circumstance. The personal health of yourself , your spouse, children or other factors may dictate that you take precautions not listed here, or that you ignore suggestions made here. Ultimately, you are responsible for your child's safety. When you are unsure or have questions always consult an appropriate professional. We have made every effort to check the accuracy of our information, but we do not guarantee it to be accurate or complete. Use your own judgments and always seek the advice of a physician when appropriate. These lists are intended only to help you identify potential problems. Read our TERMS OF SERVICE for additional information about the conditions and terms under which this list is supplied.