Myth: It’s Okay To Buy a Used Car Seat
Fact: You should never buy a used car seat. If the car seat was installed in a vehicle that was in an accident, damage to the car seat doesn’t always show. There could be unseen damage to the straps or plastic shells that would make it unsafe for your child to ride in the car seat.
If you’re struggling to find the money to buy a new car seat, you could take advantage of one of the many opportunities to get a free car seat from WIC, your car insurance company, your local police or fire department, the hospital where your child was born or Buckle Up for Life.
Myth: My Rear-facing Toddler Looks Uncomfortable, so I Need To Turn Her Around
Fact: Toddlers are more flexible than you might think, and can usually find a way to be comfortable. Whether they’re sitting with their feet up on the back of the seat, their legs dangling over the sides of the car seat, or criss-cross-applesauce, they’re safer when they’re rear-facing.
Myth: Using Latch and a Seat Belt Together Makes the Car Seat Safer
Fact: Most car seat manufacturers recommend using either the Latch system or a seat belt, not both. If you use Latch with the seat belt, the car seat could sustain more damage during a car accident than if you were only using one or the other. A car accident lawyer in Baltimore, MD, from Greenberg Law Offices could advise you to read your car seat manual to see what the manufacturer suggests for your particular car seat.
Myth: I Can Turn My Baby Forward-facing When She Turns One
Fact: Children should stay rear-facing until they’re two, or until they outgrow the safety limits of the car seat. This is so important that it’s the law in some states. A car accident lawyer in Baltimore, MD, at Greenberg Law Offices can advise you about the applicable laws in your case. Children are safer when they’re rear-facing because of the extra support for the head and neck. Don’t worry about their legs; leg injuries in rear-facing children are exceedingly rare, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Myth: My Older Child Doesn’t Need a Booster Seat
Fact: A booster helps with proper seat belt placement in older children who’ve outgrown the five-point harness of car seats but aren’t tall enough for the seat belt. Boosters are recommended until the child is 4’9” tall, generally around age eight. Greenberg Law Offices, your car accident lawyer in Baltimore, MD, can tell you about state law regarding booster seats.