Car Seat Safety

This important responsibility begins with selecting a child car seat and using it properly from the moment you bring baby home to every car ride after that. All states and territories in the USA have laws that require the use of a car seat. All car seats manufactured today are designed to meet stringent safety standards set by the federal government.

• Children should ride rear-facing until they reach the maximum rear-facing weight or height allowed by the instructions.
• Children who exceed rear-facing limits should ride in forward-facing car seats with a harness until they reach the maximum eight or height allowed by the instructions for harness use.
• Children who exceed the forward-facing harness limits should ride in belt-positioning booster seats until seat belts alone fit correctly. A vehicle seat belt system is properly fastened and adjusted when a child is sitting all the way back against the vehicle seat back with the child’s knees bending over the vehicle seat edge, the lap belt fitted snugly across the child's thighs and lower hips and not on the abdomen, and the shoulder strap snugly crossing the center of the child's chest between the neck and top of the shoulder.
• Follow the car seat instructions for proper use and your state law and register your car seat with the manufacturer.
• The back seat is the safest place for children under 13 to ride.
• Do not use a car seat or booster car seat that:
  • is second-hand, especially if it is beyond its expiration date.
  • has ever been involved in a crash. If you have questions about whether replacement is necessary after a minor crash, check the instructions or contact the manufacturer (https://www.jpma.org/page/carseathelp).
  • is missing the manufacturer's label showing the name of the manufacturer, model number, and date of manufacture.
• Register your car seat! Car seats could be recalled for safety reasons, and you must register your car seat to be reached in the event of a recall. Call the manufacturer customer service line listed on your car seat labels or visit the manufacturer's website to register (https://www.jpma.org/page/carseathelp).
• Car seats expire! Check your labels and instructions for the specific model’s useful life (https://www.jpma.org/news/455401/Useful-Life-of-Car-Seats.htm).
• Ensure everyone in the car is buckled up! Unrestrained passengers can be thrown with a great deal of force in a sudden stop or crash, possibly being injured and/or injuring others in the car.
• Prevent Heatstroke!
  • Never leave a young child alone in a car, not even for a moment
  • Keep car doors and trunks locked and keep key fobs out of reach
  • Create reminders by putting something you’ll need soon after arrival at your destination in the back seat – a briefcase, purse, or cellphone
  • Place a stuffed toy on the front seat as a visual cue reminding you to “Park. Look. Lock.”
  • Arrange for your childcare center to call if your child is unexpectedly absent after the day begins
  • Take action. If you see a child alone in a car, call first responders at 911
  • JPMA Position on Heatstroke
• Air Travel - Taking your child's car seat along when traveling is recommended. Most car seats with harnesses are approved for use in an aircraft, with a label that states "This Restraint is Certified for Use in Motor Vehicles and Aircraft."
  • Booster seats are labeled, "This Restraint is Not Certified for Use in Aircraft."
  • Pack your booster car seat as luggage so you have it at your destination.

Be sure to visit the Car Seat Safety Resources for more great tips!

Choose & Use Safe Products for Baby, Every time. Everywhere.

Baby products designed and marketed for activities such as nursing, playing, or lounging should only be used with adult supervision and when baby is awake. These products should never be used for infant sleep or placed inside a crib, play yard, or other product designed for sleep.

• Never leave baby unattended.
• Always read and follow product guidance and assembly instructions, including weight and height restrictions.
• Secure any restraints snugly.
• Place product on a low, flat surface like the floor, and keep hazardous items away from baby’s reach, such as cords, blankets, and small items that could present a choking hazard.
• No other products or items should be added or attached, including soft bedding such as blankets and pillows.
• If baby falls asleep, move them to an approved product for sleeping as soon as possible, and refer to our guidance for safe sleep environments for baby.
• Choose age and developmentally appropriate products.
• Monitor your child’s growth and development and discontinue using products as baby reaches the age or development limits defined by the manufacturer.
• Take care of obvious hazards like exposed electrical sockets and blind cords, but also look for not-so-obvious items like empty dishwashers, hanging tablecloths and poisonous plants.
• Consider “babyproofing” an ongoing process and always stay a step ahead.
• Secondhand products should not be used for babies as they may not meet the latest safety standards. However, if it is necessary, make sure all parts are available, the product is fully functional, not broken, and has not been recalled.
• Register your products to establish a direct line of communication with the manufacturer should a problem arise. This information is NOT used for marketing purposes.

On the Go

Strollers

• Never leave your child unattended in a stroller. Always keep them within view.
• Buckle up baby every time — even just for short strolls — and use restraints properly.
• Keep baby’s hands clear when unfolding and folding strollers.
• Use storage baskets and keep handles free of purses and bags so the stroller doesn’t tip over.
• Apply brakes when stationary to prevent a stroller from rolling away.
• Be mindful about what you put in the parent accessory trays, such as hot coffee, so it doesn’t accidentally spill onto baby and cause burns or bruises.
• If your child falls asleep in a stroller, move them to a safe sleep setting as soon as you can. Strollers should not be used for unattended, extended or overnight sleeping.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, warning labels and recommendations for age, height and weight requirements.

Carriers and Slings

• Choose a sling or soft carrier for bonding, breastfeeding or baby wearing when baby is very young.
• Choose a framed back carrier for hiking or other outdoor activities. A frame-style carrier can be used when baby can sit up unassisted.
• Keep baby’s face Visible and KissableTM. Make sure you can always see baby’s face.
• Make sure all attachments are secured, tighten everything and don’t forget to hook clasps.
• Never cook over a hot surface with a child in a carrier because it puts them at risk for accidental burns.
• Carriers and slings should not be used for transporting baby in a car or bicycle.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, warning labels and recommendations for age, height and weight requirements.

*Visible & Kissable is a trademark of BCIA, registered in the US.

Play Yards

• The play yard, including side rails, should be fully erected and all latching features in place and secure prior to use.
• Never leave your child unattended. Always keep them within view.
• Only use the mattress provided by the manufacturer.
• Infants can suffocate on soft bedding. Never add a mattress, pillow, comforter, or extra padding that was not provided by the manufacturer.
• NEVER place the play yard near windows, draperies, blinds, or wall-mounted decorative accessories with long cords.
• Check frequently for holes and tears. Check for loose or missing fasteners, loose joints or broken parts and contact the manufacturer for replacement parts.
• Don’t tie items across the top of the play yard as they can entangle a baby and cause strangulation.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, warning labels and recommendations for age, height and weight requirements.

Portable Hook-On Chairs

• Chair should have a strong clamp-on device, which keeps the seat level, making it impossible for a baby to kick off.
• Always secure the waist and crotch straps around baby.
• Do not use on a glass or loose tabletop, or on a table with a single pedestal, leaf, tablecloth, or placemat.
• Check stability and sturdiness of table before seating a child.
• Before removing baby from chair, make sure baby’s legs are free from chair straps.
• Always follow manufacturer’s instructions, warning labels and recommendations for age, height and weight requirements.

Safe Sleep

Creating a safe sleep environment for baby is the best thing you can do to ensure the first years are happy and healthy. Each year hundreds of deaths occur when children are placed in a sleep environment that is not specifically designed for children.

• The safest place for baby to sleep is in a bare, JPMA Certified crib or other approved sleep product.
• Use a new crib that has not been recalled.
• Crib must be assembled with manufacturer hardware only. Keep instructions for future use. 
• If baby falls asleep, move baby to their crib as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Always use a properly fitting mattress in baby's crib. 
• Follow manufacturer's weight and developmental recommendations for sleep products. 
• Remove pillows, sheepskins, pillow-like stuffed toys and products not intended as infant bedding from the crib when infants are sleeping. NEVER place additional padding under an infant.
• Do not overdress your baby. Consider using a sleeper, wearable blanket or other sleep clothing as an alternative to any covering.
• For newborns, consider swaddling. Discontinue swaddling when infants show signs of rolling over or can break free from the swaddle blanket or commercial products designed for swaddling.
• Consider placing a bassinet in your room during the first few months when your baby needs to be fed throughout the night. Room sharing is an easy way to be within arm's reach without compromising your child's safety by bed sharing.
• Place monitors or anything with cords at least three feet away from any part of the crib, bassinet, play yard, or other safe sleep environment. Be aware that what is a safe distance today will change as the baby grows.
• Place cribs, bassinets, and toddler beds safely in room away from windows, heaters, wall lamps, drapes and blind cords.
• Always send in the product registration card that comes with every new crib (most crib manufacturers offer this service online as well). Returning the card ensures that the consumer will be notified if the crib is recalled.
• When storing your crib for future use, save the instructions and keep them with the crib. Often manufacturers post or attach instructions to the mattress platform so that they are easy to find when the crib is re-assembled for later use. Instructions can often be found on manufacturers website. 
• When storing your crib, keep all parts, together and labeled for future assembly.
  
  Creative options for that beautiful bedding!
• Consider these creative options for utilizing those beautiful blankets, pillows, and quilts that came with your crib bedding set:
• Hang blankets on the wall as art. It's a great place to store them for the first few years until your toddler is ready to use them in their toddler bed.
• Hang the blanket on the back of your glider/rocker! A blanket comes in handy to keep moms' legs warm during night feedings.
• Pillows are great on gliders to help support mom's back or arms during feedings.
• When your toddler is old enough, pillows are great on the floor for a reading retreat before bed.
• Another great use for cute blankets and comforters is as a "tummy time" mat when your baby is awake and playing. Tummy time is important to strengthen baby's upper body muscles and prevent bald spots on the back of the head.