Long gone are the days when it was a rite of passage to have a toddler drive behind the wheel with daddy for the prerequisite childhood photo. After numerous unfortunate accidents, people have come to realize that this life-threatening habit needs to be put to rest once and for all. Countries have put into effect some strict legal measures to ensure that no child goes into a vehicle from the day of birth until he/she can use the regular seat belt without a proper car seat securely installed on the back seat.
Although you might think that since most parents would not even want to take any risks when it comes to the safety of their children, there is still a considerable number of people who believe that taking the child out of the car seat is ok because he/she is crying their eyes out or is being too fussy.
So, if you share the same leniency about the importance of putting your kid in a car seat 100% of the time, read below to understand why car seats are now a must-have and are indispensable to your kids’ safety:
Statistics support the need for car seats
Statistics have shown that buckling up when driving in a motor vehicle will reduce the chance of children’s deaths in a car crash by 45-60%. You will, of course, need to make sure that you are using the right baby or toddler car seat for your child. An old car seat or one that is not properly installed is not that much better than not having one at all. The legal safety measures governing the car seat features vary from one country to the other. If you are a resident of Texas in the US for example, this insightful URL will allow you to understand the standards dictated by federal law. You will find tons of useful information about what to look for in a car seat and some general guidelines to help you find the one that suits you and your child’s needs. You will also come to understand how to act if your child suffers any injuries due to a car accident.
TIP: Make sure to check out the Doona car seat stroller for your stroller needs.
You cannot trust the other drivers out there
You could be an exemplary driver on the street, especially when you have your child driving with you, and still be endangering your child’s life. No matter how careful you are, you cannot guarantee how careful other drivers out on the streets will be. It is your responsibility to take extra precautionary measures to keep your child safe. The only way you can be sure that you are protecting him/her is to buckle them safely in an efficient and proper car seat.
To hold your child in place in case of an accident
Even if you get in an accident that does not involve a serious crash with another car or object, hitting the brakes suddenly and forcefully can make your child fly off the back seat and cause him/her serious injuries. However, when your child is securely restrained in the car seat, any injuries he/she might be subjected to will be considerably milder, since they will remain held in place. If your child is still under the age of two, you have to use the rear-facing car seat as per doctor’s recommendation. Once your child grows in size and height, you will need to upgrade to a forward-facing car seat that uses a five-point harnessing system. This will ensure that your child’s body is adequately protected in case of a crash.
You are legally obliged to use a car seat
Since it has been proven long ago how essential car seats are for the safety of children riding in vehicles, governments have issued harsh penalties against whoever does not abide by their car seat laws. From monetary penalties to imprisonment in extreme cases, it is made clear how intolerable the law has become when it comes to this topic. The slightest fender bender accident with your child sitting in the back seat without a car seat can have you imprisoned for recklessness and disrespecting the law. So, even if you are someone who is still skeptical about the fact that car seats are non-negotiable when your child is riding with you, you will have to abide by the law to avoid being convicted.
Car seats were once considered a luxury, given that they were relatively expensive. However, nowadays after we have come to know better than to consider them an accessory, but rather a necessity, many options have become available on the market at different price points to accommodate all families regardless of their budgets. At the end of the day, it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it concerns our children’s health and wellbeing.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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