Well, here goes my post cherry! Car Seat Safety

**If you have any photos of your children correctly placed in safety seats and/or extended rear facing, please email them to midwivesinthemaking@gmail.com**

So last night I was sitting in bed watching walrus's fighting for breeding rights (which I would like to say was uninteresting... but it totally wasn't) on the Discovery Channel trying to figure out what our first blog post was going to be, I decided it would be about car seats!  This is ironic because Amanda and I both encountered situations today where kiddos were improperly harnessed into their seats.  In fact, 9 out of 10 children aren't properly placed in the car.  90%?? Come on parents! Car seat safety isn't something to just do and hope you get it right.  (Well, at 90% apparently it is....it shouldn't be)

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that children remain rear facing until at least 2 years of age or until the child reaches the maximum height and weight requirements of the safety seat.

We've heard every excuse in the book.  'My childs legs are scrunched!'  Would you rather have a broken leg (which, by the way, doesn't happen) or a broken neck? 'It's not the law so I won't do it.'  The law is based on severely outdated information.  This new information concludes that a child under the age of 2 years has a "75 percent less likely to die or be severely injured in a crash if they are riding rear-facing."  In fact, I'll even go so far as to ask you to watch THIS video. (if you can get past the kid pics and the lame-o music, it's loaded with good info and some disturbing crash test footage)

On to the idiot proof photos that I came upon via FB. (Thanks Sara!)
(I'm going to use a post by Mama Milkies on Facebook....why mess with a good thing??)


If your childs seat doesn't look like this, it's WRONG!  There is no grey area here moms and dads!

#1.  THE PINCH TEST: The straps must pass the pinch test. This photo shows that the straps are too loose. If the       

                       straps are too loose, the child can be ejected from the seat in a collision.

-Guggie Daly

Your childs straps should be tight enough that you can only fit a finger underneath.  Any more than that is TOO LOOSE!

Chest clip AT ARMPIT LEVEL.  Any lower is TOO LOW!

                         

These are self explanatory.....

AAAAnnnnd, just for fun.... well, on second thought, just in case.....

To conclude this post, we understand not being educated.  But now you are.  

So make the right decision.  

**All references are linked to original source.  Click to view.**