Just as scary for parents of toddlers as it is for parents of babies: Car seat safety mistakes are easy to make, especially during the winter. Simply buckling your kid in the car seat still wearing a coat can have lethal consequences, as thick, puffy jackets prevent the straps from tightening against your child's body in the event of a crash. Then there's the whole issue of car seat installation -- as in, most of us fail to install them properly (even if we think otherwise!).
Don't stress: As we did for babies, we've drawn out exactly what you need to do to keep your toddler safe and warm on-the-go. Board-certified pediatrician Dr. Alisa Baer, better known as the The Car Seat Lady, helped The Stir develop these drawings and examined them from start to finish to ensure accuracy and safety.
Following in the footsteps of her mother, Debbi Baer, RN -- the original "car seat lady" -- Dr. Baer has spent the past 15 years trying to change the statistic that car crashes remain the leading cause of death and injury to children.
Did this teach you anything new about car seat safety during the winter?
Also see: Cold Weather Car Seat Safety Tips (For Babies)
Windshield wiper image via Bryan Alexander/Flickr
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Comments 41
I would take a crying kid over one who was internally decapitated any day.
I used to think like you: oh I'd never do that, I'm a better mom than that. Until I had that child.
Thanks for sharing
Wow, I remember when babies were wrapped up and put on floorboards so they didn't roll off the seat. Toddlers were told to sit down and quit jumping in the car. We've come a long way. Don't get offended ladies, you're doing a lot better than past generations and no one has the right to judge without knowing your situation.
My son has been out of a car seat for quite a while.
This is interesting, thank you!