Things to take care of while putting children in cars

Dubai: From the moment you put your child in the back seat of a moving vehicle, it is important to be aware of the risks involved and to take measures to keep them as safe as possible. There are four stages to keep in mind when it comes to putting children in the back seat. Up until your child is old enough, it is essential that a car seat, appropriate to their age and size, is installed.

Stage 1: Rear-facing seat

Babies have weak neck and back muscles that require extra support in the car. A rear-facing infant seat supports your baby’s neck in a sudden stop or crash.

Installation: You can use any of the three options to install — Universal Anchorage System (UAS) only a seat belt or a seat belt and locking clip or built-in lock-off. Your car and car seat manual should have instructions where to find them and what’s most suitable for your car.

Important: Rock the seat from side to side using your knee and body weight and tighten the seat belt of the UAS.

Leave as much space between the front seat of the vehicle and the child seat as possible.

Should be at a 45-degree angle. This makes it easier for the child to breathe.

The harness should be snug around your child. Only one finger should fit between the harness and their collar bone.

Test the installation. Make sure the car seat doesn’t move. Grab both sides of the seat where the seat belt or UAS belt is going through the child seat. Try to move it in every direction: it shouldn’t move more than 2.5cm in any direction.

Don’t rush to change this type of car seat, it’s the safest. The guide that comes with every car seat tells you the maximum weight and height of a child for that seat.

Stage 2: Forward-facing seat

Always install it with a UAS or seat belt and a tether belt. Follow the same instructions as listed in stage 1 with the help of the car seat manual.

Important:

Make sure the tether strap is installed properly and is tight. You can do this by grabbing the head rest of the seat and pulling it forward — it shouldn’t move more than 2.5cm.

Buy a forward-facing seat with a higher weight limit so you can keep your child in it as long as possible. It’s still safer to keep them in a car seat than a booster seat or seat belt.

Stage 3: Booster seat.

Don’t rush to put your child in a booster seat – they should weigh a minimum of 18kg. Every booster seat is different and comes with specific instructions on how to install it. A booster seat that is installed properly keeps the lap and shoulder belts in place across the child’s hips, chest and shoulders.

Important: Always use a lap and shoulder belt with a booster seat.

Leave as much space between a booster seat and front seat as possible.

Stage 4: Seat belt

Until your child has outgrown their booster seat, parents shouldn’t rush to get them out of it. The seat belt should fit your child correctly or you should stick with a booster seat that fits their height and weight.

Important: The seat belt should be on the shoulder and the lap belt should be snug against your child’s hips. If it’s under the arm, on the stomach or on the neck they’re wearing it wrong.

To use a seat belt your child must be able to sit up straight so that the belt correctly fits their body.

—Maryam Mirza is an intern at Gulf News