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LCFD1 Now has 3 Nationally Certified Child Safety Seat Technicians
available to assist you with your child safety seat needs.
Call for an appointment 541-935-2226. |
Child Safety Seat Installation Information
Best Practice for a Safe Journey
Infants to 1 year
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Rear Facing Infant Seats
(ratings up to 20-22lbs)
Convertible Seats
Should be left in rear facing position.
(ratings up to 30-35lbs)
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1 year to 4 years
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Convertible Seats
(rated up to 30-35lbs rear facing)
(rated up to 40-60lbs forward facing)
Can be in rear facing position.
Check your seats information for details.
Combination Seats
(rated up to 40-45lbs)
Designed to be used with a harness for children under 4 years. Harnesses can be removed to be used as a Belt Positioning Booster.
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4 years to 6 years
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Combination Seats
(rated up to 40-45lbs with harness)
(no weight rating for belt position booster)
Designed to be used with a harness for children under 4 years. Harnesses can be removed to be used as a Belt Positioning Booster.
Forward Facing / Belt Positioning Booster
(no weight rating for belt position booster)
Designed to be used with the lap and shoulder belt system. Boosts your child up into a position that allows the shoulder belt to fit comfortably across the child's shoulder and collar bone.
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Best Practice
What the law doesn't tell you that you need to know.
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Infants to 1 year.
Infants to 1 year should be placed in a rear facing infant or convertible safety seat until they are 1 year and 20lbs. Placing your child in a forward facing position at 1 year and 20lbs is not required. Studies have shown that keeping your child in the rear facing position can increase their safety in a motor vehicle crash by over 70%. Be sure to read your child safety seat instructions and manual to be sure that your seat is rated to your child's weight and height requirements for the rear facing position.
In placing your child in the harness system be sure that the shoulder straps are snug to the child's body without pinching the child and that the Retainer Clip (plastic clip across the chest) is at armpit level. Never allow bulky clothing or blankets under the child because this allows space between the child and safety seat and may cause the seat to fail or harness system to be too loose allowing the child to slip out.
1 year to 4 years
Children from the age of 1 year and 20lbs to the age of 4 years and 40lbs are required to be in a forward facing, harness style child safety seat (unless your child safety seat is rated for rear facing over 20lbs).
In placing your child in the harness system be sure that the shoulder straps are snug to the child's body without pinching the child and that the Retainer Clip (plastic clip across the chest) is at armpit level. Never allow bulky clothing or blankets under the child because this allows space between the child and safety seat and may cause the seat to fail or harness system to be too loose allowing the child to slip out. To assure that your child is a good fit for your safety seat be sure that the child's ears are at or bellow the top of the seat and that the legs dangle comfortably from the seat of the child safety seat system. If your child does not meet these requirements the seat may not be the best fit for your child and a new seat may be needed.
4 years to 6 years
Children from age 4 years and 40lbs to the age of 6 years and 60lbs should be placed in a belt positioning booster seat (children up to 8 years may also be considered for a belt positioning booster based on your child's height). A belt positioning booster is not designed to be used as a replacement to the lap and shoulder belt system in your car. The belt positioning booster was designed for those children who do not meet the height requirements for them to be placed in a lap and shoulder belt system safely. In determining your child's needs, buckle your child in the lap and shoulder seat belt system in the rear seat of your vehicle (children are safest in the back seat). If the shoulder belt sits across your child's neck and not comfortably across the should and collar bone then your child needs a belt positioning booster.
In purchasing a belt positioning booster first take your cars design into consideration. If your vehicle seats are designed with headrests then a backless booster may be all you need. If your vehicle does not have headrests then you will need to purchase a high back booster that is designed to cradle your child's head. Next be sure that the seat is a proper fit to your child. Your child should sit in the seat comfortably with legs dangling over the front and the child's ears no higher then the top of the seat.
Belt positioning boosters are designed to be used with lap and shoulder belt systems only. Do not place your child in a belt positioning booster seat while in a lap only belt system. Belt Positioning Boosters are designed to boost the child up into a position that allows the shoulder belt to fit properly across the shoulder and collar bone, so the belt positioning booster is not useful with a lap only belt. Families with vehicle with lap only rear seat belts may place their children in the lap only seat belt without a child safety seat if they are over 4 years and 40lbs.
Best Practice
Best Practice states that your child is always safest in the rear center seat of your vehicle. The center of your car is most always the safest place in your car in an impact due to the amount of space available for intrusion of the other vehicle or object.
Infants and children under 2 years should be placed in the rear facing position as long as their weight and height allow it. These days it is possible to find rear facing convertible seats that are rated up to 35lbs. Rear facing children are shown to be over 70% safer in a motor vehicle crash.
Placing a child in the front seat of your vehicle should be avoided when at all possible. Children riding in the front seat of a vehicle are more likely to be injured or killed in the even of a motor vehicle crash then children riding in the back seat.
Never place a rear facing child safety seat in front of an airbag. Airbags deploy at such speeds that they have been known to tear rear facing child safety seats in half and have even caused death. It is best practice to not have any passengers under the age of 12 years seated in the impact zone of an airbag. If you do have to place a child in the front seat in front of an airbag be sure that this is a forward facing child. Move the front seat as far back as possible to limit the contact between the child and airbag.
Remember. the best child safety seat for you to use . . .
. . . is a seat that best fits your child,
. . . best fits your car,
. . . and one that you can install correctly every time.
Always have a safe journey.
Safekids
http://www.safekids.org/
ACTS of Oregon
http://www.actsoregon.org/csr/subtext/calendar.php