Relocating to another area is sometimes scary. Especially if you are traveling from one state to another. The uncertainty of what lies ahead is challenging. Leaving everything you know to make a new start is scary but a "good kind of scary"
I remember relocating from Florida to Tennessee. I was excited about my move, my new area and all the things it had to offer. The day before we were leaving a felt a wave of panic come over me. Not because I was relocating, but because I had never driven a long distance by myself with my children in the car. Still being the age of car seats being a must governed by the law I think I checked my installation at least 10 days. Although my car seats were installed in my car the difference this time was going 5 miles to the store vs 12 hours to another state. With unfamiliar roads and mountains to climb in the winter the safety of my children were my primary concern. It didn't matter my husband would be following right behind me, what mattered was that alone, I would have my children in my car for a long distance.
Installation of a car seat is the key to ensure the safety of your child if for any reason an accident occurs. It is always comforting to know that no matter the distance your child is buckled in properly.
I have recently included in my Relocation Package "How to install your child's car seat" because this seems to be the concern for many parents when relocating. As it was mine. I hope you find this information useful and eases the stresses of the " Car Seat Blue's" as you head off to Crossville, TN for your new journey.
Amazingly, research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that as many as 82 percent of all car seats are improperly installed and used. It's a significant factor in why automobile accidents are the number-one killer of children under 14.
Before You Start
There are some things to know and rules to follow in any car seat installation:
- Use the right kind of seat for your child's age, weight and height.
- The safest placement for a car seat is in the rear seat; never put a child in the front seat if you can help it. Absolutely never in front of a passenger-side airbag that can't be deactivated. The middle rear seat is generally considered the safest
Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat
Locate the lower anchors in the second-row window seats. Make sure the car seat lays flat against the seat's bottom and back, between the lower anchors.
Hook the LATCH attachment that is furthest away from you onto the anchor. Then, if possible, climb on top of the seat, putting your knee on top. Using your weight to fully compress the vehicle seat, hook the other attachment to the anchor and pull out the slack. If you can't get on top of the seat, use all your strength to push down on the seat while hooking on the second attachment.
Rear-Facing, Infant-Only Seat - Standard Shoulder and Lap Belt Install
First, thread the vehicle's lap and shoulder belt through the correct slots, called the "belt path." If you have a convertible car seat that reverses from forward-facing to rear-facing, be careful to choose the correct path; it will be clearly marked.
Plug the latch plate (male end of the seatbelt) into the buckle (female end), then, using your weight as above, tighten the belt. Make sure all the slack is taken out of boththe lap and the shoulder. Typically, using a locking clip will give you a more secure installation. A locking clip is an H-shaped piece of metal that comes with all new car seats or can be ordered from the manufacturer. To use one, plug the seatbelt in, make it as tight as possible, then unplug it again while holding the belt very tightly. Wind the locking clip around the belt as close as possible to the latch plate, then plug it back in. You may have to bounce down on the seat a few times to get it closed. This won't be easy, but it will give you a rock-solid installation.
Remember that a rear-facing infant car seat should sit at a 45-degree angle to prevent the baby from slumping and to keep his or her airway open.
Forward-Facing Toddler Seat
Use your body weight to compress the vehicle seat. With a rigid LATCH attachment, simply push the attachments onto the anchor. For a flexible one, hook the attachment over the anchor. In both cases, pull the straps as tight as you can.
Then comes the tether, which you'll find at the top of the safety seat. The purpose of the tether, when properly anchored, is to prevent the car seat from snapping forward. Hook the tether to the anchor point, then pull tight on the belt to remove any slack. Make sure NOT to attach the tether to the sliding seat adjuster or to a cargo hook.
Forward-Facing Toddler Seat - Shoulder and Lap Belt Install
Buckle the seatbelt. As before, use your body weight to compress the vehicle seat cushion. If the child seat has a "lock-off" clip - located on the side of the seat - be sure to refer to your instruction manual on how to use it. If it doesn't have a lock-off clip, pull the shoulder belt slowlyall the way out, then let it retract. If you hear clicking sounds, the seatbelt has an automatic locking retractor, and is locking itself. Pull the belt as tight as possible.
If you can still pull out slack on the belt, you do not have seatbelts that lock automatically and you will need to use a locking clip to secure the seat, same as above. To use a locking clip, unplugthe seatbelt and hold it tight. Wind the locking clip around the belt as close as possible to the latch plate, then plug it back in.
When you're done installing any car seat, check it by trying to move it. It shouldn't move more than an inch side to side along the belt path. If it does, tighten the straps or try installing it again.
If you're unsure of your installation, you can have it checked. To find a Certified Child Safety Seat Inspection Station, call your car dealer, or go to NHTSA's Child Passenger Safety section or the National Safe Kids Campaign site. Considering the high percentage of incorrectly installed car seats,it is always recommended having a professional look at it.
There are several wonderful Web sites that offer highly detailed guides to car seat installation that can include video's, they are :
NHTSA's Child Passenger Safety Site
National Safe Kids Campaign
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Tennessee Child Restrain Law as follows :
- Children under one (1) year of age, or any child, weighing twenty (20) pounds or less, must be secured in a child passenger restraint system in a rear facing position, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards, in a rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer's instructions. (Note: If the child safety seat has a higher rear-facing weight rating, usually 30 or 35 pounds, it may be continued to be used in a rear-facing position so long as the child's weight permits. Check the manufacturers instructions accompanying the child safety seat for more information.)
- Children age one (1) through age three (3), and weighing more than twenty (20) pounds, must be secured in a child safety seat in a forward facing position in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer's instructions.
- Children age four (4) through age eight (8), and measuring less than four feet nine inches (4'9") in height, must be secured in a belt-positioning booster seat system, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards in the rear seat, if available, or according to the child safety restraint system or vehicle manufacturer's instructions. (Note: If the child is not between age four (4) and age eight (8), but is less than four feet nine inches (4'9") in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
- Children age nine (9) through age twelve (12), or any child through twelve (12) years of age, measuring four feet nine inches (4'9") or more in height, must be secured in a seat belt system. It is recommended that any such child be placed in the rear seat, if available. (Note: If the child is not between age nine (9) and age twelve (12), but is four feet nine inches (4'9") or more in height, he/she must still use a seat belt system meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.)
- Children age thirteen (13) through age fifteen (15) must be secured by using a passenger restraint system, including safety belts, meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- Provision is made for the transportation of children in medically prescribed modified child restraints. A copy of Doctor's prescription is to be carried in the vehicle utilizing the modified child restraint at all times.
- The driver of the car is responsible for making sure that children under age sixteen (16) are properly restrained and may be charged and fined $50.00 for violation of the law. If the child's parent or legal guardian is present in the car but not driving, the parent or legal guardian is responsible for making sure that the child is properly transported and may be fined for non-compliance.
- Police officers observing violations of this law are permitted to stop drivers and take enforcement action. PLEASE PROPERLY RESTRAIN CHILDREN
COURTESY OF MELISSA GRANT, AFFILIATE BROKER, 931-210-8277 DIRECT
CROSSVILLE TN REAL ESTATE www.crossvilletnrealestateforsale.com
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