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Ask Dr. Su: How Do I Select The Safest Car Seat For My Baby?

Preventing injury before it happens is the best way to keep our children safe. Dr. Su advises parents about preventative measures they can take to keep play safe. Use his tips to choose the car seat that will best protect your infant during car travel.

“When we talk about child safety, we often focus on the rules and sports equipment that help protect children at play,” says Dr. Edward Su. “But no prevention conversation is complete without addressing motor vehicle safety. Car crashes remain a concerning cause of injury and death for children. Knowing how to choose the right car seat for your child can significantly reduce injury risks.”

When your child is a newborn, you have two different car seat options: an infant seat that faces to the rear, or a convertible seat. Convertible seats can save parents money because they can be used safely from infancy through toddlerhood, but there are drawbacks.

“When our son was born at Woodwinds,” says Dr. Su, “the hospital would not release our baby to us to bring home unless we brought an approved car seat up to the room first. This would have been somewhat awkward and unwieldy with a convertible seat, because it is very difficult to carry a convertible car seat safely with a baby in it. The infant seat has a handle specifically designed to make it easy to carry your baby in the car seat.”

A convertible versus an infant seat is a matter of budget and parental preference, but there’s one rule of thumb that Dr. Su insists on. “Whether you opt for an infant or a convertible model, always buy a new—not a used—car seat,” he says. “Safety technology improves rapidly; when it does, older car seats may be recalled. Also, materials deteriorate over time, so car seats do expire. A new seat ensures that your child will be protected by current safety technology.”

Here’s what to look for:

“Car seat installation can be confusing,” says Dr. Su. “Our experience with the LATCH system is just one example of why it is important to have your work checked by an inspector before your baby takes his or her first car ride.

If you want to locate an inspection station close to you, consult www.safercar.gov.

Summit Orthopedics offers proactive wellness services

At Summit Orthopedics, we are committed to providing the resources, tools, and expertise you need to achieve your personal fitness goals. Our Summit wellness center is home to proactive wellness classes and training services for you and the whole family. Wellness experts can work with you or your physician to design an exercise program that supports lifelong health through exercise.

Start your journey to a more active self through our wellness services offered at the HealthEast Sports Center. Schedule a free wellness consultation online or call (651) 968-5766.

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