You may ask what your Tempe auto repair shop knows about babies, but it’s September and we’re celebrating Baby Safety Month here too!  When parents bring a new baby into their lives, they are not just receiving a child, they are also accepting full responsibility for all that comes along with such a tiny bundle.  One of the biggest responsibilities parents have is to make sure their little one is safe and protected.  This doesn’t just translate into baby proofing your home, but also making sure your vehicle is a safe environment for your child.  We know how important vehicle safety and auto maintenance is for the protection of passengers, but when a young one is a passenger, what steps do we need to take to keep them safe?

First and foremost, child seats are a must, the law requires every infant and child to be restrained.  A new child restraint law went into effect last August here in Arizona which states that all children through age 7 that are 4’9” or shorter must ride in a child restraint system.  The accepted guidelines are as follows:

• Infants to 1 year old and up to 22 pounds and up to 29” tall ride in a reclined rear facing infant car seat.
• Children weighing up to 40 pounds and up to 40” tall can ride in a convertible seat facing forward
• Children over 40 pounds, up to 4’9” and under 8 years old can be put in a booster seat.

Installing a car seat seems easy enough, but the majority of children who are injured in a car accident resulted from a child seat that was not properly installed.  So make sure you are following the installation instructions and if you have any doubt whatsoever whether it is installed correctly, drive up to a local fire department and they will check it for you for free.

The safest place for a child in a vehicle is in the back.  Sometimes it is necessary for children to ride in the front however, so make sure your airbag is turned off if they must ride in the front passenger seat.  If your vehicle does not have that option, then put the seat back as far as possible but NEVER place a rear facing infant seat where an airbag is present.

Preventative maintenance is the best way to protect your vehicle, but we want you to go that extra step and make sure your priceless cargo is protected as well.  We are parents too and know how precious our children are so buckle up and stay safe.