Last Updated on December 17, 2023 by Kimberly Crawford
Having a car makes things so much easier for a family. For example, you can take your kids for a tour, pick them up from school or run errands. But it can also become a trouble if you go to get bread while leaving kids in the car and forget the keys inside. You would have to call for an auto locksmith Cleveland Ohio. Or, in the worst case, what if your child opens the door while in the middle of the running car. It even sounds so dreadful! So, having a car is important, but taking care of your child’s safety is more important, and you should take care of it.
If you have a car or are planning to have a car, you should follow child safety measures to keep your family safe on the road.
Here are a few ways how to take care of your child’s safety while being behind the wheel:
Child Safety Locks
Child safety locks are the best ways to save yourself from getting into the situation mentioned above. These locks prevent children from opening car doors and power windows in the moving car and welcoming any unwanted incident. So, it’s better to keep the control in your hand rather than letting children mess around in the car.
Back Seat Belts
Make sure you have properly functional seat belts for the back seat. Unfortunately, most people think only driving, and passenger seat belts are important. But back seat belts are also equally important, significantly for children. Any sudden break can bump their head or make them fall. So, never put your kids on lapse or in the backseat without a seat belt.
Choose the Right Seat
The selection of car seats for toddlers and infants is more important than for other children. But it doesn’t mean you can make other children sit on seats without concern.
Choose a rear-facing seat for babies under one year, a front-facing seat goes well for toddlers under 4, and a booster seat is the best for 4 ‘9” kids. So, selecting the right car seat is very important for kids, and it is better to take your car seats for inspection by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Fasten Belts Correctly
Besides buckling up belts, fastening them correctly is also important. Research shows that around two-thirds of seat belts are not fastened correctly. There are various reasons for this misadjustment, like the height or weight of the kid is less, so he doesn’t fit in the belt. The second reason can be that your child is wearing a coat or any other thick material that distances him from the belt. In this condition, remove the thick layer before fastening the belt and put on a blanket afterward. Whatever the case, make sure your kid is safe.
Don’t Leave Them Alone
I have seen many children sitting alone in a locked car, and their parents are gone for God knows what reasons. I saw a few crying, others tapping the glass, and others helping their younger siblings stay calm, although you can see clear shades of fear on their own faces. Such sights not only make me sad but also fearful that what if they get into any trouble. Things can get even worse on hot days because children’s body temperature rises 3 to 5 times compared to adults, which can cause heat stroke or death. So, never leave your children alone, even if safety and window locks are installed.
Conclusion
All parents love their children, we know, but unfortunately, due to negligence or ignorance, they can commit unwanted mistakes regarding their children’s safety in the car. So, just reading children’s car seat safety guidelines is not enough to secure your kid. Your negligence can put him in a dangerous position and cause trouble for you. That’s why taking care of a child’s safety in and out of the car is important whenever you step out of your house with children. So, don’t miss these points at all.