If you have a family, you probably spend a lot of time in your vehicle. Whether it is trips to the grocery store, weekend soccer games or grabbing gear for school projects – you and your kiddos are always going somewhere. We want to make those trips more fun and that’s why we sell Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and RAM vehicles. But, we also want to make them safer and that’s why this week we are sharing some car safety tips to keep your little ones safe during those trips!
Children should ALWAYS ride in the back seat. The back seat is generally the safest spot in the event of a collision. If your vehicle is equipped with a front passenger airbag, which most are, children who are 12 years and under should sit in the back.
Infants ride rear-facing until your doctor gives you the okay. Rear-facing seats are the safest for infants and there is conflicting information regarding this, we recommend keeping your child in a rear-facing seat until two years old or told otherwise by your doctor.
The safety belt should hold the seat tight and in place. When installing your car seat or booster seat, the seat belt should be properly strapped through the correct slot. If you’ve chosen a car seat that can face either way, be sure you are using the appropriate slot to buckle in the seat. The seat belt should be snug and must stay tight when securing the seat.
The child’s harness should be snug. Always have the seat harness straps over your child’s shoulders and adjust so that the clip is even with their armpits. This will keep them safe in the event of a collision and will prevent them from slipping out. You should only be able to fit about two fingers between the harness straps and your child’s chest.
Children over 40 pounds should have a high back booster seat. It is important to keep your child in a full harness seat as long as possible, but when they reach 40 pounds, it is time for a booster seat. A high back booster seat will provide further protection in the event of a collision. For children between 40 and 80 pounds, a belt-positioning booster seat is preferred.
