Car Seat Installations in Harford County, MD

Did you know that 8 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly?  Is yours one of them?  At Susquehanna Spine & Rehab, we recognize how important it is to keep our children safe.  You wouldn't drive a newborn home without a safety seat, so why would you put a newborn or any other child in an ineffective safety seat?  One of the most important safety measures that a parent or caregiver can take for their children is making sure their car seats are installed correctly.

Dr. Lee and his staff recognize the importance of child-safety, and, for that reason, we do more than just promote good child-safety.  At Susquehanna Spine & Rehab, you can have your car seat installed by a certified car seat technician. 

Susquehanna Spine & Rehab provides car seat installations as a COMPLEMENTARY service to all of our patients AND to the public.  Installations are available by appointment only.  To learn how to provide your children with the best in-car safety, call and set up an appointment at (443)-512-0025. 

Let us help you keep your precious cargo safe

Child Restraints Video

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Key points every parent should know:

• Current Law
• Choosing an appropriate seat
• Booster seats
• Facts about child safety seats

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It’s the Law!!  ...But do you know what the laws are??

• Every child under 8 years old must ride in a booster seat or other appropriate child safety seat *Unless the child is 4' 9" or taller or weighs more than 65 pounds.
• Every child from 8 to 16 years old must be secured in the vehicles seat belt.
• Every child must remain rear facing until they are one year old AND weigh 20 pounds.

*****American Academy of Pediatrics is going further and recommending all children remain rear facing after their first birthday until they reach the rear facing weight limit of the seat (usually between 18 - 24 months). 

Rear-Facing Car Seat Video

If you want to make sure that you're following the laws, or see if you're child's car seat is installed properly, call our office to set up a FREE appointment with Wendy!
443-512-0025

Choosing an Appropriate Seat

• Height and weight specs of seats do overlap.  There are times when two seats are appropriate. 
• Use harness straps until child’s shoulders are above the highest harness slot OR child has reached the weight limit for harness use.  See seat instructions for details.
• Choose seat with most protection that you can use correctly every time
• Children who are not in a child seat should use a lap & shoulder belt in the back seat and head rest for the best protection.

The Different Safety Seats

• Infant carriers with handle & removable base (These are rear facing seats only.)

Infant Car Seats Video

• Convertible seats can be rear and forward facing. They should be installed at an angle when they are rear facing and straight up and down when forward facing
• Flat back seats Forward facing only
• Booster seats will adjust the seatbelt properly on the child

All seats should be installed using the car and safety seat instruction manuals.  Seats should not move more than one inch when you push at the belt path.  Notice on convertible seats there are two belt paths one for rear facing and one for forward.  Booster seat is placed in vehicle seat and is not attached.  Harness should be used correctly. 

Harness Information

• Rear facing - belts are at or below shoulders
• Forward facing - belts are at or above shoulder
• Belts should always lay flat and tight against the child (there should be no slack)
• Harness should only be used until the maximum weight for that seat
• Children should remove coats so harness straps can fit in properly and tightly

Booster seats

**Booster seats are only affective at protecting the child if they are fit properly**

When to move into a booster

• Child must fit in the height and weight range of the seat you are using
• Child must be mature enough to sit in the proper position for the duration of your trip
• Often parents must choose between a harness seat and a booster seat.  Following height and weight requirements, children may fit into both seats.  Always choose the seat that gives the most protection to the child, which may actually be a harness seat.

When to move out of a Booster

• This is always a key question for parents.  Children are big enough to only use the vehicle seat belt if they can pass the Five Step Test.

Five step test:  (to be used once your child is 8 year old or 65 lbs or 4’9”)

1.      Does the child sit all the way back against the seat?

2.       Does the child’s knees bend comfortably at the edge of the auto seat?

3.       Does the belt cross the shoulder between the neck and arm?

4.       Is the lap belt as low as possible, touching the thighs?

5.       Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?

If you answered “no” to any of these questions, your child needs a booster seat to ride safety in the car.  Kids like boosters because they are comfortable too. 

**This test must be done in each car the child rides in since all cars are designed differently.  It is possible for a child to need a booster seat in one car but not in another. 

Facts about seats:

• Any seat that has been in an accident needs to be replaced!!
• Never buy used seats from an unknown source
• Never use seats that have been recalled
• Follow all manufacturer’s directions when installing seats
• Always follow expiration dates imprinted on the back of the seat

For more information about Maryland's child passenger safety laws and loaner programs, call Maryland Kids in Safety Seats at 1-800-370-SEAT or visit their website at: www.mdkiss.org.