Selina Metcalfe is a Certified Passenger Safety Technician

Long before baby arrives, the anxiety sets in; the need to have everything perfect and the “best”. We worry about which diapers to use, which foods to provide, whether the greater risk lies in sunscreen or the sun itself. Nothing is simple.
So when it comes to the car, why does our concern lessen? Many parents spend more time going over the pros and cons of various layettes than they do on car seats. Don’t our children deserve the best?

Did you know that as many as 90% of children are not properly restrained? Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of injury in Canadian children? Why are we seemingly so willing to gamble with our children’s lives?
I’m sure there are many reasons but most of the time it boils down to a lack of education combined with overwhelming options. There are very few public programs available surrounding child passenger safety. The professionals, who many parents assume have the answers, such as doctors, nurses, police officers and fire fighters are often out of date because their training programs have not been upgraded. This means that parents have to be more vigilant in finding information on their own.

Car seats can be difficult; I’m not going to lie. This is not a situation where you can just walk in to the store and pick out the item based on the colour of the cover. Every seat is different, every car is different and every child is different. This leaves us with many possibilities of things that work, as well as things that don’t. This is the most important piece of safety equipment that you will buy so make your purchase count. Asking questions is the key to making sure that your seat is going to be a good fit for your child, your car, and you. www.car-seat.org is an online forum dedicated completely to child safety. Use resources like this one to your advantage.

Once you have found your perfect seat, settle in for a night of reading the car seat manual. This is the dreaded little book of blue and red diagrams. Read it front to back and then read it again. Make sure that you understand exactly how to install your child’s car seat. Then head out to the car, fully rested, with the car seat in tow. It is advisable to do this when you do not have tired children hanging off your legs. Things never end well in that situation.

Once the seat is properly installed you need to secure your child in the seat, another place where there is room for error. Remember that trusty little manual? It also tells you how to properly secure your child. Everything from where the shoulder straps should be, to the top tether usage, to the chest clip, to bulky winter clothing. It’s all in there.

Now that the seat is in and your child is secured the anxiety may be setting back in. “Did I do it right? What if I missed something?” Now it’s time to call a car seat technician. Yes, there really is such a thing. To find help in your area call the BC Road Safety Foundation at 1-877-247-5551. They can answer questions over the phone or direct you to a technician in your area who can check your seat installation and offer assistance.

If by chance you found yourself struggling with the seat installation or you had questions along the way, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a technician right away. As I said before, car seats aren’t easy. Just remember that help is only a call or click away.

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