DOING a quick safety check when you pop your little one in their car seat could be lifesaving, child health experts have warned.
The hack takes just moments to do and it’s vital parents use it for short car trips as well as long holiday road trips.
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“Got 5 seconds?” the team of paediatric nurses behind CPR Kids said as they shared a short video on a car safety hack they called the “seat belt pinch test”.
It showed how to run your fingers along the fabric of the seat belt, trying to pinch it, to test whether it’s tight enough to protect your tot in case of an accident.
The video showed two separate clips of someone pinching a child’s seat belt.
In one, the fabric gathered under the person’s fingers and they were able to pinch it.
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In the other, the seat belt was too taut for the person to grasp any of the fabric.
“If you can pinch the seat belt material, it is not tight enough,” CPR Kids said.
“If you are unable to pinch the seat belt material, it is perfect.
The hack is a “quick and easy way to tell whether your little one’s seat belt is too loose or just right,” they children’s health experts added.
They noted: “This isn’t just a potential lifesaving tip for any school holiday road-tripping plans, but for every car trip!”
CPR Kids previously flagged a common car seat mistake parents might make, sharing the heartbreaking story of a mum who suffered a horrifying accident while her son was in the back seat.
“Did you know that if your child’s car seat was forward-facing and you were to get in an accident their neck would get hit with the force of 180kg 220kg?” the mum asked other parents.
“Whereas if they were to be rearward facing, that force would be 40kg-60kg?”
CPR Kids stressed the importance of placing children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible.
“Rear-facing seats can offer high levels of protection for your child’s neck, especially in a head on collision, so the longer they travel in a rear-facing seat the safer they should be in a crash,” the experts wrote.
“It’s safest to keep your child in a car seat with an integral harness for as long as possible. Only move your child to a booster seat when their eye-line is above the back of the child seat or the weight limit is reached.”
The paediatric nurses also previously warned that parents should never buckle children into a seat while they’re wearing a jacket.
The outerwear creates a gap between kids and the harness, which can cause slack when the clothes compress if an accident occurs.
They said: “Large jackets, jumpers, and other winter clothing can add a large amount of bulk to an infant, creating a ‘buffer’ between the child and the harness straps.
“In the event of an accident, the clothing materials can compress, creating slack in the harness straps.
“This increases the risk of injury, and can even lead to little ones being thrown from their car seat.”
In the UK, it’s recommended that children use a car seat or booster seat until they’re 12 years old or 135 centimetres tall – whichever comes first.
Children older or taller should always wear a seat belt, according to UK law.
NHS car seat safety tips
THE NHS recommends you buy your baby a car seat before they’re born, if possible.
It’s important to buy a seat that fits your car and is suitable for a newborn.
It’s also a good idea to practise fitting the seat before your baby is born.
Tips for buying one:
- When buying a car seat, it’s best to try a few in your car before making a decision
- Check whether your car has Isofix connectors built into it, which are designed to make fitting baby and child car seats simpler. Most modern family cars have them. They may be hidden in the cracks between the padding of your car seats.
- If your baby is likely to travel in another car regularly – for example, with other family members – check the car seat fits their car, too.
- Always choose a baby or child car seat that’s right for your child’s current height and weight.
- Do not buy a secondhand car seat. It could have been damaged in an accident, and may not have all its parts, including the instructions. It may also not be the safest and most user-friendly model.
- Only accept a car seat from friends or family if you know its history, it’s not too old and it comes with instructions.
- All car seats in this country should be EU approved. Look for the “E” mark label on the seat.
Car seats are divided into three main groups, depending on your baby or child’s age and weight:
- Group 0+ – rear-facing car seats suitable for babies aged up to about 15 months or who weigh up to 13kg
- Group 1 – rear or forward-facing seats suitable for children who weigh 9-18kg or who are aged from about nine months to four years
- Group 2/3 – rear or forward-facing high-backed booster seats suitable for children who weigh 15-36kg or are aged from about four to 11 years
You can also buy combination seats that cross over these groups, such as group 0+/1 seats, which are suitable from birth until your child weighs about 18kg or is aged about four.
Use a rear-facing car seat for as long as your child fits into it, as these offer better protection in the event of a car accident.
Source: NHS