http://thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2518903
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Everything you could ever want to know about car seats
Posted By JAN MURPHY
Posted 2 days ago in the Kingston Whig Standard
*snipped to include only sections of original*
*my comments italicized and in blue*
"if you've never installed a car seat, why would you when Kingston boasts one of the most helpful programs in the province, if not the country?"
YAY, helpful program. :thumbsup: Not so yay, not even trying to figure this out on your own before giving up. :thumbsdown:
"I have yet to install one myself. Nor do I have any intention to install one."
What about if you need to take it out and out it back in, or move it into a cab or friend's car? Carseats are not rocket science,a and you really only need to learn about *your* carseat, greatly reducing the amount of info needed. Once you see a proper install done, it should become much easier to duplicate. :thumbsdown:
"numerous car seat clinics that take place in Kingston every year."
Exciting to see a community having regular clinics! :thumbsup:
"He directed me the home of another volunteer, who installed that seat for us, too."
A CRS tech should not be "installing" the seat for a parent - they should be showing the parent how to do it and educating them on proper use. There are not enough techs to go around to install for everyone, and as you say, we are volunteers - we don't have all the time in the world to repeat install after install for one parent who isn't even trying to learn. :thumbsdown:
"I began to think about the first-time parents, or any parent or grandparent for that matter, who may not know about this amazing service. "
Very happy to see the word about our services being spread. Some parents really struggle and don't know where to turn.
"... Littlefield said. "I always recommend the 3-in-1 (car seat) right off the get-go for them because they don't have the child that often, and they only have to buy one seat. ..."
3in1s are NOT the only seat a parent or grandparent will ever have to buy. They do make very decent RF seats. They make decent FF harnessed seats, especially the new models since end of 2008 when the harness height and weight limits were increased. The make LOUSY boosters in most cases, fitting poorly and putting kids at risk because of it, having not so great belt guides, and not adjusting tall enough. Old 3in1s would often leave kids too tall for the harness but <40lbs and illegal for a booster, over 40lbs or too tall for the harness much too early and not mature enough for a booster, or parents would not notice that the top harness slot was NOT supposed to be used with the harness and unsafe! if they did so. So for many kids a new harnessed seat was needed, or if they did use it as a booster, they would still need another booster afterward. There are many other seat options out there which make more sense, especially as a booster. :thumbsdown:
"There are eight others scheduled to take place ... As many as 15 inspectors, all of whom are volunteers, are at the clinics. All are trained to install car seats."
Awesome awesome awesome to see such an active, accessible group! :thumbsup:
"They have a three-day training (course) from Transport Canada.," Littlefield says, adding that the training is updated yearly."
(Does TC run courses? I thought it was St. John's Ambulance who provided certification. And that recerts were required only once every 3 years - though of course it is possible their techs recert every year.)
"But don't bother bringing a used or second-hand car seat, because it won't be installed."
Really? Even if it came from a trusted source such as a family member? Because not ALL used seats are necessarily death traps! Otherwise, I guess it's a good message of only using seats that you know/trust the history of. :thumbsup:
"In the event of a car accident, even a very minor one, a car seat must be replaced."
Yes, good info for people to read. :thumbsup:
"Littlefield is so passionate about this cause he helped orchestrate a disposal program in which used car seats...
[are] crushed and disposed of."
Great! :thumbsup:
"When do you turn a child around from rear-facing to forward facing?
His answer is simple.
"If they can't pull themselves up unassisted and stand up on their own, then they have to stay rear-facing," Littlefield said. "I recommend a 3-in-1 car seat. The new ones go up to 35 pounds rear-facing. So if kids develop at 28 pounds -- they can pull themselves up and stand up on their own -- then you can turn around and tether them forward. Then it converts to a booster seat." "
Again on the 3in1 - ugh! But yes, the new ones do go to 35lbs RF. Yay. But you want to keep the child RF as long as they still fit, not "when they develop". The new info from TC is going to call for kids to WALK unassisted, not just pull to a stand. And it appears to say that if the child happens to stand unassisted earlier, it's ok to flip them - my son was walking by 8 mo - he was NOT ready to FF!!! And the 3in1 converts to a *pretty lacking* booster seat. :thumbsdown:
Way to go on including the mention on tethering the FF seat though (I missed that at first read through).
"He also says that as long as you follow the guidelines provided by the manufacturer, it is no safer or less safe to have a child rear-facing versus forward facing."
NOT true. RF is always safer - though you get diminishing returns as the child gets to 3 or 4yo. But stats show it is SAFER to RF at least up to 2yo and as old as 4yo. Yes, FF a child over 1yo is "safe". But RF is safeR. Also, htere really should have been something there to reinforce the bare min of 1yo and 22 lbs, despite it being implicit in the "follow the guidelines" statement. :thumbsdown:
"If you've got a car seat that says you can go 35 pounds rear-facing, with the harness and everything, and you choose to do that, it's fine," he said. "
YES. It's fine. It's *recommended*. The statement makes it sound like FF might be better but it's ok to stay RF. I know a lot of parents rush to FF and this just tries to validate RF, but it would be nice to see a slightly more definite statement *for* RF longer.
"The safest spot is the centre of the back seat. I guarantee that," he told me."
Yes. Well, actually, that's maybe. If you get a poor install in the center and a good install outboard, the center is not safest for your car/seat combo.
"He said failing that, the passenger side is a good choice ... taking your little one out on the sidewalk rather than in the traffic. "
Yes, that is a good recommendation re: loading safety. :thumbsup:
And for those of you out there who may be shirking your legal obligations and transporting your little ones without a car seat or booster seat, Johnny Law will come calling to the tune of $110 and two points.
Good reminder for the slackers out there. :thumbsup:
"If money is an issue, you'll be happy to know that all car seats in Canada are equal, at least when it comes to safety."
Good point. Some seats fit/last better than others etc but in terms of safety, as long as they fit the child properly and install well in the vehicle, they do all pass the same standards. :thumbsup:
""U. S.A. seats are illegal in Canada," Littlefield said"
Great reminder about not shopping across the border. :thumbsup:
