Infant Safety
If you were a child of the seventies, you may recall phones that had cords and even televisions that had no remotes; and in case you didn't know- you never had to ride in an infant car seat, as well. In 1978, Tennessee became the first state to pass laws governing baby car seat and child restraint systems. Over the past thirty years, every state has since implemented some type of child restraint usage law. Many states require their drivers to restrain children age 3 and under in child restraint seats, other states have more stringent laws, requiring the use child restraint systems until the age of 8. As parents travel from state to state, they need to know the laws and requirements for that specific state; if not, they could be fined or even held criminally accountable. In states like Florida, Ohio, and California; recent cases have been brought to the public's attention regarding the mis-use of child restraint systems and those that are unrestrained; parents are facing jail time and stiff penalties for their careless actions. Parents need to realize that children and infants should always be properly restrained, depending upon state laws- that could mean buckled up with a seatbelt, in a baby car seat, or in a booster seat.
Most parents use the excuse that failure to restrain their children and infants is due to their hurrying lifestyles. Som evn say they were just going down the street and didn't feel it necessary to take precaution. What parent's may not realize is that most accidents, at least 75%, occur within 25 miles from their home and at very minimal speeds of less than 45 miles per hour. So no matter how far you will travel or how slow you will go- proper restraints for your infants and children are just necessary and required. Baby protection devices like infant car seats are made to keep fragile bones and bodies of small children safe and out of harms way. It's a proven statistic that at least 7,000 lives have been saved since the late seventies for kids under the age of 4 due to properly installed and used child restraint systems.
Lack of education from state to state regarding the benefits of baby car seats and lack of money for purchase of baby car seats is the two most common reasons parents do not use restraining systems for their children. Today, many states are offering free programs that educate new parents on child safety issues. One of the most common classes is those involving baby car seats. Some classes even offer free infant car seats to those that participate. Getting the word out on these free programs and making sure that parent's are aware of the benefits and laws governing child restraint systems is everyone's job. As well, it's important that parent's are educated on the proper use of these baby car seats. Poor installation is the cause for many injuries and fatalities; parents should always read the manufacturer’s manual that accompanies new infant car seats. As well, parents should steer clear of older used models; most car seats do have an expiration date- it's usually 5-7 years after its production date.
Did you know that one of the topped rated manufacturer's for safety is a company called Britax? You can view more information about Britax Car Seats here. Looking for safety and convenience, see Graco Car Seats for their seats that attach directly to baby strollers.