Health Check: Buckle up for safety

With three kids, full-time mom Kathryn Sanford has her hands full.

And when it comes to packing up to go anywhere, it can be a long process getting each child secured.

While Sanford might have to deal with some unwanted stress along the way, she doesn’t have to worry about the safety of each child’s car seat.

“What we really looked for was their safety record,“ Sanford said. “From there we decided who was the safest and what was recommended for each child at the appropriate age.“

That’s where things get a big trickier, according to Alisa Stevens of the Office of Public Health.

She says weight and age are factors that have to be considered as one when it comes to car seats.

“The law says from birth to 20 pounds and one year old, a child has to ride rear-facing. It has to be both, not one or the other,“ Stevens said.

Once the child is one year old and 20 pounds, it’s time to move to a new seat.

“Now they need to be forward-facing, in a 5-point harness, meaning that it’s going to meet them in two spots over the shoulders, down by the legs and in the middle,“ Stevens said

The brand of car seat does not matter. If it’s on store shelves, it meets safety guidelines.

For new parents, the installation process can be lengthy, but Stevens offers these tips after locating the belt path.

“Attach it, then to make it tighter, apply pressure to the seat at the same time that you’re pulling the strap,“ she said.

Once the seat is secured - and this can be just a couple of steps or several depending on your car seat and vehicle - you need to test its stability.

“It shouldn’t move an inch left to right and you’re going to check it at the belt path,“ Stevens said.

Most children will go through three car seats before they are eight years old, the rear-facing seat, the forward-facing seat and the booster seat. Sanford’s changed out seats seven times.

“Carson is on his third car seat, Savannah is on her second and Aiden is on his second now,“ she said.

While you might think your child is big enough to sit “car seatless,“ this shouldn’t happen before the child is eight years old and 80 pounds.

It is fine to use “hand-me-down” car seats. You should just have it evaluated by state police or public health officials before using it.