Keeping Your Baby Safe in the Car

Stephanie Tombrello: Hello, I am Stephanie Tombrello, Executive Director of SafetyBeltSafe U.

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A. and I am here to tell you how to protect your baby in the car. Whether you are going on a few errands or taking a trip around the country, it's imperative to have your young ones buckled up. In fact, your whole family buckled up correctly for every ride. Today, I am going to show what you can do to keep your baby safe in the car. Well, we are talking about babies and child passenger's safety, we are actually talking about children under about 30-35 pounds, up to about two years of age or so, who can fit in a Rear-Facing Seat.

We will discuss choosing the proper car seat for your baby and using it correctly. I will explain why your baby should ride facing the rear of the car until he is at least 24 months and show you the potential dangers of Airbags. For demonstration purposes I will be using this fan and a variety of child safety seats. Remember there are many child safety seats out there made to fit all makes and models of cars. You will want to have a safety seat that is designed to fit the weight, height and age of your child.

Did you know that every state has laws requiring the use of child safety seats? However, when safety seats aren't properly installed it can not only jeopardize the safety of your child, but everyone riding in the vehicle. Although, shot in 1979 this footage still clearly shows what happens during the low speed collision. Keeping your children safe however, is just the first step. Your children look up to you, so set the right example and buckle yourself up properly every time you hit the road.

Before we begin, let me tell you a little bit about the SafetyBeltSafe U.

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, the national, non-profit devoted exclusively to child passenger safety. Founded in 1980, our focus has been getting the message out about the correct consistent use of safety seats and safety belts to protect children in the vehicle. And now, let's get started and I'll tell you how to keep your babies safe in the car.