September is National Baby Safety Month. While there are so many subjects to touch on, I wanted to touch on the importance of car seat safety. If you have been following me for a while, you may realize that we love taking road trips. As much fun as it is to get on the road and head to your destination, the idea of having your baby or child in a moving car can be a little nerve-wracking no matter how old they are.
“Car seats and boosters are one of the easiest ways to keep your child safe and, when installed correctly, car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury in a crash by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers. Unfortunately, many parents install their child seats incorrectly. Among children under 5, an estimated 325 lives were saved in 2017 alone because they were properly buckled, but an additional 46 children could have been saved if every child was properly buckled.” (Source: https://www.nhtsa.gov/car-seats-and-booster-seats/child-passenger-safety-week)
Nowadays, there are so many types of car seats on the market. From infant car seats, convertible car seats, and boosters. It is important to know which car seat is best for your child based on their age, weight, and height. To determine which type of car seat is best for you, you can head to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association site here.
Whether you are a new parent or a parent to a rapidly growing toddler, it is important to find the right car seat. The NHTSA recommends that you keep your child rear-facing as long as possible as it is the best way to keep them safe. Once your child has outgrown the rear-facing car seat, it is time to switch to a front-facing car seat. Another important factor in car seat safety is ensuring that your car seat is installed correctly. To have that extra peace of mind, you can find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Tech in your area to make sure that the car seat is installed properly. I have also heard that you can even stop by your local police department for an inspection.
I am no stranger to car seats. This will be my third time upgrading a car seat for my almost 50lb three-year-old. My friends at Chicco are so sweet and gifted Leo his new big boy car seat. He was in a convertible car seat but it was time for an upgrade since he is a tall, three-year-old. Leo is now traveling around in a Chicco® MyFit® Zip Air Harness+Booster Car Seat. Since switching to the new Chicco® MyFit® Zip Air Harness+Booster Car Seat will not have to make any more upgrades. This car seat is meant to last until your child is ready to sit in the car without a car seat.
The Chicco® MyFit® is designed to keep little but big kids comfortable with the security of a five-point harness. There is a nine-position headrest and easy transition to a belt-positioning booster to accommodate years of your growing child. With this car seat, you will have a harness mode and booster mode. The harness mode is for toddlers weighing in at approximately 25-65 pounds. There is a traditional five-point harness that adjusts for your growing toddler. The booster mode is meant for big kids, ages 4 and up, and between 40-100lbs. The MyFit® converts to a belt-positioning booster for older children. There are a shoulder and lap belt guide and nine positions extending headrest.
The Chicco® MyFit® is available in day different styles allowing you to pick the best seat that will suit your needs. We have this one and so far, it has been the best car seat that we have owned. It was so easy to install and feels pretty luxurious. Leo looks and feels so comfortable in his new car seat. To read more about the Chicco® MyFit® Car seat head over to their site. Aside from car seats, they have an array of products for your children. I love their products and used many of their baby products when Leo was an infant.
As always, before sure to make sure everyone in the car is properly buckled in including your tiny passengers. It is important to keep our children as safe as possible. For more safety tips, be sure to visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for additional car safety resources. Thank you to Chicco for giving me peace of mind while traveling with my son and for providing Leo with a comfortable car seat for our travel.
