Updated: April 2, 2017
Originally Published: March 25, 2017
Image via Facebook
A recent viral post is prompting parents to reflect on car seat safety. No one wants to envision a car accident while their child is in the backseat. However, it’s essential to consider every terrifying scenario to ensure our kids are as safe as possible. One mother took this to heart and created a thought-provoking visual to illustrate what we should keep in mind when adjusting our little ones’ car seat straps.
In her now-famous Facebook post, mom Sarah Johnson shared a striking image of a car seat held upside down with a child securely strapped in. This startling visual serves as a reminder of what could happen if a vehicle were to roll over during a collision. Johnson wrote, “After securing your child in their car seat, ask yourself if you’d feel comfortable flipping it upside down. Keep in mind that the chest clip should be at armpit level, and the straps need to be tight enough to pass the pinch test.”
Once the image gained traction, Johnson expanded her post to clarify her message and provide further car seat safety tips. “I’m not saying parents should flip their kids upside down before every ride,” she explained. “The goal is for parents to feel assured their child would be safe if the car seat did turn upside down during an accident. This visual effectively underscores the necessity of proper car seat usage.”
To delve deeper into Johnson’s powerful suggestion, we spoke with car seat safety expert and pediatrician, Dr. Emily Carter, known as The Car Seat Maven. Dr. Carter emphasized, “Many children are in car seats with straps that are far too loose. Clearly, we need to do a better job educating parents on the importance of snug straps.” She added, “If this visual helps parents grasp the significance of tight straps, I fully support it—just as long as we don’t see parents flipping their kids upside down and dropping them on their heads.”
Dr. Carter also noted that while rollover accidents are relatively uncommon, they can occur. If Johnson’s post encourages parents to consider this when tightening their child’s straps, it can only improve safety. Most parents fail to tighten the straps adequately or correctly, which involves pulling the slack up to the shoulders and then removing any excess by pulling the “tail,” repeating these steps as necessary. Dr. Carter recommends watching her instructional video for the best methods to adjust car seat straps.
In her original post, Johnson shared several valuable car seat safety guidelines, including keeping children in rear-facing car seats for as long as possible. Dr. Carter supports this practice, recommending it until at least age two, ideally until the child reaches the maximum height or weight for rear-facing in their convertible car seat, which is typically between 2-4 years old.
Johnson also explained the “pinch test,” which SafeKids describes as follows: “After buckling and tightening the harness, pinch the webbing at the shoulder. A snug harness should allow fingers to slide off easily. If you can pinch loose webbing, it’s not tight enough. Keep adjusting until you pass the Pinch Test.”
Additionally, she stressed the importance of proper installation, encouraging parents to consult a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) to confirm the fit of their car seat for both their child and vehicle.
With education, diligence, and up-to-date information, we can better ensure our children’s safety in the car. Parents like Johnson shining a light on car seat safety can only enhance awareness, which is always a positive outcome. For more insights on family building options, check out this excellent resource at https://resolve.org/learn/family-building-options/.
Summary
A mother’s viral Facebook post has sparked discussions about the significance of proper car seat usage. By illustrating the potential consequences of loose straps with a striking visual, she aims to educate parents on ensuring their children’s safety in the event of a car accident. Experts emphasize the need for snug straps and correct installation to enhance safety measures in vehicles.