September is Child Passenger Safety Month. During this entire month, we are all encouraged to be come aware of and learn more about ways we can all keep our little ones safe while traveling around town. Here are a handful of helpful tips to achieve more safety for your child passenger.

Throughout the entire month of September, many people are chipping in to help increase education of the child passenger laws and regulations.

During this inspection you can have your LATCH system inspected. What is a LATCH system?

Since September 1, 2002, the US government has required that all car seats and most vehicles have a proper and effective system for car seat securing. The official requirements for this are as follows; "The car seats have lower attachments which fasten into anchors in the backseat of the vehicle where the cushions meet. An upper strap or tether on the car seat attaches to an upper attachment point in the vehicle." These steps make fastening your child into your car easier and safer.

But, this doesn't have to be your only step in keeping your children safe and honoring National Child Passenger Safety Month. Here are a few tips to keep the safety ball rolling.

1. Know where they should go.

  • From their first day in the world until your baby is over 20 pounds, they need to be fastened into a rear facing back seat in an infant's car seat.
  • When they grow to be between 20 and 40 pounds, they should move up to toddler seat that sits in the back seat facing forward.
  • As they get a little bit taller they need to upgrade again. Children between the weight of 40-80 pounds (unless they are taller than 4'9") need to be secured into booster seat placed in the back seat.

To make sure your child is in the proper seat for their age, height, and weight; click right here.

2. Know your booster seat.

3. Make sure it is made to be safe.

There are federal safety performance standards that manufacturers are suppose to follow. They may not, so always make sure you research if your car seat has the federal government's approval. To make sure your child's car seat meets these standards, click right here.

4. Double check your seat belts.

It is an important habit to form of checking to make sure you fastened your seats correctly. Every time you buckle your little one in, double check that you fasten every buckle and belt. Also, keep an eye out for tears or other damage to your car's seat belts or on your child's car seat. Keep in mind, as children get older, they will be more able to unbuckle themselves.

Having a watchful eye on your products, car, and child will make sure they are safe while riding around our East Texas streets.

For a few more tips, check out this great video produced by the Ad Council.

 

 

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