Oak Creek Insurance Agency

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IN: Car Seat Recommendations For Your Child

Dear Valued Customer,

In this issue of “——————————–” we focus on car seat recommendations for your child.

There are many car seat choices on the market. However, if you, a relative or friend are presently making a choice, please read the age and size chart information that follows, so you child will be safe in your car. And remember that the safest place for your child to ride is in a rear-facing car seat, in the back seat. In a crash, the rear-facing car seat protects your child’s head, neck, and spine. Keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible according to manufacturers’ instructions.

We appreciate your continued business and look forward to serving you.

Kind regards,

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Car Seat Recommendations For Children

Transportation_ChildCarSeatThere are many car seat choices on the market. Use the information below to help you choose the type of car seat that best meets your child’s needs or print out this PDF (350 KB).

  • Select a car seat based on your child’s age and size, choose a seat that fits in your vehicle, and use it every time.
  • Always refer to your specific car seat manufacturer’s instructions (check height and weight limits) and read the vehicle owner’s manual on how to install the car seat using the seat belt or lower anchors and a tether, if available.
  • To maximize safety, keep your child in the car seat for as long as possible, as long as the child fits within the manufacturer’s height and weight requirements.
  • Keep your child in the back seat at least through age 12

Rear-Facing Car Seat

Birth – 12 Months

Your child under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat. There are different types of rear-facing car seats:

  • Infant-only seats can only be used rear-facing.
  • Convertible and All-in-one car seats typically have higher height and weight limits for the rear-facing position, allowing you to keep your child rear-facing for a longer period of time.

1 – 3 Years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

Forward-Facing Car Seat

1 – 3 Years

Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible. It’s the best way to keep him or her safe. Your child should remain in a rear-facing car seat until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, your child is ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.

4 – 7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

Booster Seat

4 – 7 Years

Keep your child in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether until he or she reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by your car seat’s manufacturer. Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it’s time to travel in a booster seat, but still in the back seat.

8 – 12 Years

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.

Seat Belt

8 – 12 Years

Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. For a seat belt to fit properly the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach. The shoulder belt should lie snugly across the shoulder and chest and not cross the neck or face. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat because it’s safer there.

Source: NHTSA. “Car Seat Recommendations for Children.” http://www.safercar.gov website. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/Right-Seat-Age-And-Size-Recommendations.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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How to Install Your Car Seat

People_FatherHoldingDaughterYour child’s safety could be in jeopardy if your car seat is not installed correctly. Since every vehicle and car seat has different installation instructions, it’s important to follow these tips to help you install your car seat and make sure your child fits in it correctly. Once you’ve read these tips, follow the installation instructions below for specific types of car seats.

Car Seat Installation Instructions by Type

Rear-Facing: Infant
Convertible
All-in-One
Forward-Facing: Convertible
Combination
All-in-One
Booster: High Back
Backless
Combination
All-in-One

Related Resources

Source: NHTSA. “How to Install Your Car Seat.” http://www.safercar.gov website. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/How-To-Install-Car-Seats.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.

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Car Seat Registration

Workers_LadyOnComputerOne of our most important goals here at NHTSA is to make sure motor vehicles and car seats meet all Federal Safety Standards. Sometimes a motor vehicle or piece of vehicle safety equipment, such as a car seat or booster seat, doesn’t comply with these required safety standards—or there’s a safety-related defect. When this happens, a recall may occur so the manufacturer can fix the problem.

We know you, as a parent or caregiver, want to do everything possible to make sure your child is safe in the car. Yet very few people ever register their car and booster seats so they can receive recall notices!

Registering your seat makes sense: It gives the manufacturer the ability to contact you about recalls and safety notices. It’s also easy: Just send in the card that came with your car seat or fill out a simple form on the manufacturer’s Web site. Your child’s safety could depend on it.

Car Seat Recalls

Manufacturers Are Required to Notify You of a Recall

In addition to registering your car seat, sign up to receive e-mail alerts about car seat and booster seat recalls from NHTSA.

When You Discover a Car Seat or Booster Seat Recall
  • Find out which models and manufacture dates are involved.
  • Call the manufacturer or visit their Web site for more information and to verify if your car seat or booster seat has been recalled; or
  • Call NHTSA’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.
Before You Call, Have the Following Information
  • Manufacturer’s Name
  • Model Name
  • Model Number
  • Date of Manufacture
If Your Car Seat is Recalled, Get it Fixed Right Away

If you don’t have another car seat or booster seat to use, keep using the recalled seat while you wait for the repair kit—if the recall notice says you can. Using a recalled car seat or booster seat is almost always safer than letting a child ride in just a seat belt. Many problems are minor, but some are serious. All problems should be fixed as soon as possible.

If you would like NHTSA to provide your child restraint registration information to the manufacturer, please fill out this Registration Form and mail it to the address below. You may also e-mail or fax it if you choose.

U. S. Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Defects Investigation
Correspondence Research Division (NVS-216)
Room W48-301
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.
Washington, DC 20590
Fax: (202) 366-1767
E-mail: childseatregister@dot.gov

Source: NHTSA. “Car Seat Registration” http://www.safercar.gov website. Accessed November 30, 2015. http://www.safercar.gov/parents/Car-Seat-Recalls-Registration.htm

© Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. This content is strictly for informational purposes and although experts have prepared it, the reader should not substitute this information for professional insurance advice. If you have any questions, please consult your insurance professional before acting on any information presented. Read more.