Car Seat Tips to Keep Your Most Precious Cargo Safe

For many new parents, grandparents and that cool favorite aunt, the car seat can seem like a daunting subject. At Camelback Hyundai, we want to alleviate some of the stress that comes along with car seat installation and bust several myths surrounding various dos and don’ts. Below we’ve listed out a few car seat tips and tricks to help keep your most precious cargo as safe as possible while on the road.

1. Always buy a new seat. While it might seem tempting to buy that used car seat your college roommate is selling on Facebook, most experts recommend buying new. A new car seat is guaranteed to have passed all current regulations and to have never been in an accident. Plus, there’s no need to go all out with a very fancy and expensive seat – unless you want to – as one seat is just as safe as the other, no matter the cost.
2. Follow installation instructions to a T. This is where the biggest stresses come into play, especially for new parents. According to recent data nearly half of all car seats are improperly installed, increasing the risk of injury during an accident. This is why we recommend using your car’s owner’s manual to find out how to use its LATCH system. If you would rather have a professional install the seat, you can find several fitting stations around the Valley.
3. Make sure you have the right seat. For newborns, a rear-facing seat is a must, while older children can eventually graduate to a forward-facing seat and then finally to a booster seat. Always remember to check the label on the seat you are considering to make sure it fits with your child’s weight, height and that it is not expired. Also, keep your child in a rear-facing seat as long as possible, even up to 2 years old.
4. Always keep the kids in the back. No child should be riding in the front seat of a car until they are at least 12 years old, and even then it might be best to keep them in the back until their freshman year of high school. This is mainly due to the explosive nature of airbags and what can happen to most children who are not big enough to withstand that kind of impact during an accident.