Jeff Lupient on Properly Securing a Child in a Car Seat

Jeff Lupient: A Parent’s Guide to Proper Car Seat Usage

Ensuring the safety of your child during car journeys is a matter of utmost importance. Jeff Lupient provides a comprehensive guide to assist you in navigating this process effectively.

envato.com

Choose the appropriate car seat: First things first: Be sure to select a car seat that aligns with your child’s age, weight, and height, meeting safety standards set by regulatory authorities.

Correct car seat installation: Adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions and consult your vehicle’s manual to install the car seat securely. Confirm a snug fit, minimizing any potential movement.

Proper positioning: For rear-facing seats, place infants and younger children facing the rear of the car. For forward-facing seats, ensure your child faces the front.

Adjust harness straps: According to Jeff Lupient, you can ensure a proper fit by adjusting the harness straps accordingly. For seats facing the rear, place the straps at or slightly below the child’s shoulders. In forward-facing seats, position them at or slightly above the shoulders.

Harness clip placement: Position the harness clip at armpit level, ensuring it is properly placed and securely fastened to ensure the child is comfortable while seated.

envato.com

Check harness tightness: Jeff Lupient reminds parents to assess the tightness of the harness through a pinch test. There should be no ability to pinch excess strap material at the child’s shoulder.

Secure straps in the correct slots: Thread the harness straps through the appropriate slots based on your child’s size. Remember to consult the car seat manual for guidance.

Chest clip position: Place the chest clip at armpit level for proper protection, ensuring it is securely fastened over the chest, not on the stomach.

Ensure untwisted straps: Here’s another thing that some parents might forget: confirm that the harness straps are untwisted and lie flat. According to Jeff Lupient, twisted straps can diminish their effectiveness in a crash.

Winter clothes and bulky clothing: Remove bulky clothing or winter coats before securing your child in the car seat. Use a blanket after strapping them in to maintain warmth.

Utilize booster seats: Jeff Lupient reminds parents to transition to a booster seat when their child outgrows the forward-facing seat. Ensure the seatbelt crosses the chest and rests on the shoulder, not the neck.

Check expiry dates: Car seats have an expiration date. Refer to the manufacturer’s label for this information and replace the seat if it has reached its expiration.

Conduct regular inspections: Conduct routine inspections on the car seat’s condition, examining straps, buckles, and overall structure. Replace any parts displaying signs of damage or wear.

Seek professional guidance: If uncertain about the correct installation or usage, seek assistance from a certified professional, specifically a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST). Their expertise ensures the accurate application of safety measures for your child’s protection during vehicular transport.

To read more insightful articles on buying cars and car seat features and safety, make sure to stay updated with Jeff Lupient. Visit this page for updates.

Jeffrey Lupient: Why Are New Car Seats Safer?

Jeffrey Lupient: Why Should You Buy a New Car Seat?

Putting your newborn safely in a car seat is an important part of taking care of your baby, says Jeffrey Lupient. While buying a new car seat is the best option, many parents wonder whether it’s safe to get a gently used one from an online auction or a garage sale or borrow one from a family member or a friend.

images.pexels.com

While a used car seat may save you money, it could also compromise your child’s safety. Experts generally recommend buying a new car seat due to potential safety issues with used seats.

Why New Car Seats Are Safer

You can save some money on a lot of baby items by buying used, notes Jeffrey Lupient. However, when it comes to car seats, it’s safer to stick with new ones. From a financial perspective, buying a used car seat may save you a few dollars, but in the long run, you might need to replace it sooner than you would if you bought a new one.

In addition, you want your child’s car seat to be as safe as possible. A used car seat may have been recalled or expired. It could have broken or missing pieces or have been involved in a car crash, says Jeffrey Lupient. That’s why most child safety experts say it’s ideal to buy a new car seat, if possible.

istockphoto.com

Newer Models Feature Improvements

Another benefit of buying a new car seat is that manufacturers are continually making design improvements and improving their safety features. Because your car seat is holding your most precious cargo, you want to make sure you are using a seat that is as sturdy and safe as possible. However, Jeffrey Lupient notes that just because a car seat is expensive or has many features, that doesn’t mean it’s safer.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there is no single seat that is the safest or best for everyone. The ideal car seat for you is the correct size for your child, fits well in your vehicle, is correctly installed, and is used properly every time you drive.

While a new car seat is often the best option, that doesn’t mean a used car seat isn’t a reasonable alternative. This is especially true if the car seat has only been gently used and is still relatively new, says Jeffrey Lupient. If you have a family member or a trusted friend who is willing to give you a used (but ideally, newish) car seat, that may be a safe alternative if you can verify:

• Age of car seat
• Crash history
• Expiration date
• Labels and manuals
• Original parts

Subscribe to this Jeffrey Lupient page for more information and discussion on car seat
installation and safety, pre-ordering cars, and buying cars online.