Child Safety

It just shouldn't be this difficult. I don't understand why there aren't stricter national standards as to sizes and fittings.

By Tunnia on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 08:26 am:

I agree with you Ginny. I spent a lot of time sweating (and a few curses escaped too) in the backseat trying to install carseats. I even broke FOUR seatbelt covers (crummy plastic) in my backseat over the carseat years trying to get them in correctly and tight enough to be safe. I would have loved to have someone like "The Carseat Lady" around.

By Amecmom on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 08:27 am:

Is it that hard because we obsess too much? And of course, it's hard not to obsess when it comes to the safety of our children. Trina would know best, but it would make sense that there is some room for leeway in installation. Does it have to be "perfect" to be safe? Or will it still perform as it should in an accident if it's 90% right?
Our carseats have always been tight and we've never really had any trouble with them. Are we doing it wrong, or are we just not obsessing with levels and tape measures?
Just curious. Is there a percentage for "error" or leeway from the "perfect" installation that is still safe? What's the margin of error? After all, we are so obsessed with statistics in our society, there should be an answer for that.
Ame

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 10:05 am:

Oh Ginny, I hear you! People in the Child Passenger Safety field have been working on this for a lonnng time. It's just not that simple because there are so many different manufacturers and models. There is also a lot of politics involved, hence a long, slow process which involves baby steps. LATCH has made things a little easier, but there are still issues with misuse, etc..

Tunnia, You can find CPS Techs (like the Carseat Lady) in your area at SeatCheck.org or at the Safe Kids web site listed in the article.

Ame, Not all, but many parents don't read instructions and just quickly install car seats not bothering to be sure it has been done correctly. I see big child passenger safety no-nos and gross car seat misuse on a daily basis. (Totally unrestrained kids, loose car seats, loose harnesses, infants forward facing too soon, kids in the front seat, harness straps in the wrong slots, kids riding in lap belt only spots, kids not in boosters when they should be, use of aftermarket products,...) People either aren't aware or simply don't think it's a big deal. Well, it IS a big deal! I don't have time to post all the Dos and Don'ts now, but for anyone interested resources are always available here on MV. **Child Passenger Safety and Car Seat Resources**

I must also add that even we CPS Techs sweat and curse during difficult installations. There is so much to keep up on with all the new vehicles and car seats coming out on the market. So much so that I have decided not to renew my CPS Tech certification next year. I just can't dedicate the time required to be a good tech, especially on a volunteer basis. Of course, I'll still be a car seat nerd and will generally keep up on things but not to the caliber required to be certified.

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 11:56 am:

I think I sweated and swore over trying to get car seats tight enough, in my cars! LOL! I was obsessed with making sure they couldn't move much, when I was done.

By Enchens on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 03:52 pm:

My husband and I have spent many a night trying to figure out the carseats. It's a "two brains are better than one" deal. We read the instruction booklet and curse and try what the book says and retry it. We've done this at night so the kids wouldn't hear us. And this starts inside the house while we're making sure the straps fit and all. Then, we move on to the the car and have some more reading and cursing. It's an ordeal!

I'm glad I read this thread. It reminds me that I need to have the carseats checked, just in case...

By Amecmom on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 03:52 pm:

Barring grossly misshandled installations (like the kind you describe) is there a margin of error engineered into the design and installation instructions of carseats? For example: The seat should ideally be level, however, it will perform to standards in a crash if it is x off level ....
Just wondering if those kinds of things are discussed or if that kind of data is available?
Ame

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 06:11 pm:

I have been taught that once a car seat is installed it should not move from side to side more than 1" when tugged at the belt path. This is the only margin of error that is allowed, but it's better if the seat moves even less and ideally, not at all.

More info:
http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/FFbasics.aspx

By Amecmom on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 06:21 pm:

Thanks. Ours don't move at all, and we really had no trouble installing them, so I guess we're lucky.
Ame

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, May 17, 2007 - 06:23 pm:

Forgot to add...

As a CPS Tech, I have been trained that if I'm unable to install a car seat within the 1" rule, the next step is to try to install the car seat in a different position in the vehicle. If I'm still unable to get a good installation the car seat is deemed incompatible with that particular vehicle. At that point we help the parent find an acceptable solution.