June 8 , 2007
 Seating Arrangements
"Seat" is not exactly the first four-letter word that comes to mind for any parent who has gone through the frustrating process of installing a car seat. Is it too loose? Too tight?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), at least 70 percent of car seats are not used properly – a sobering statistic when you think about all the road trips families will take now that summer is (unofficially) upon us.
Before you skip town for the weekend, make sure the ride is a safe one. Wonderland, the Brentwood, CA children's emporium, offers something far more valuable than just the newest "it" stroller: car seat installation. Below, Wonderland's NHTSA-certified safety expert shares some basic tips for correct installation:
Rear and Center: The safest position to install a car seat (when you have only one child) is in the rear center seat because it's the farthest distance from any point of possible impact. If that seat does not have its own set of latch anchors, use a seatbelt – not the anchors from the outer seats – to secure the car seat.
Harness: When a child is in a rear-facing seat, use the harness slots at or below the child's shoulders. With a front-facing seat, use the harness slots at or above the child's shoulders.
Chest Clip: The chest clip of the harness should be at chest level or armpit level. A chest clip that is not at the appropriate level may slip and separate, and therefore does not offer the greatest possible protection.
Snug and Secure: You should not be able to move the car seat (once it's strapped in) more than an inch from side to side or front to back.
Infant Car Seat Carrier Handle: Follow the manufacturer's instructions regarding placement of the carrier handle for a seat that's installed in a car. A manufacturer may specify certain positions that are not safe for transit mode because of a greater chance the child could hit his head on it in a collision.
For more information about car safety seats, visit aap.org. To locate a certified child passenger safety technician in your area, visit nhtsa.dot.gov.
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