Keeping Your Toddler Safe in the Car

Stephanie Tombrello: Hello. I am Stephanie Tombrello, nationally certified child passenger safety technician and instructor and Executive Director of SafetyBeltSafe U.S.A.

 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 toddlers and young children safe in the car. When we are talking about older toddlers and young children, we are thinking about children who can fit into a safety seat with a full harness system. Today, that would encompass children up to 65 or even 80 pounds, we'll discuss choosing the proper safety seat for your small child and using it correctly.

I'll explain why your a child should ride facing the rear of the car until she is at east 24 months and why it is very important that you use the tether on his safety seat, when you do turn him around to ride facing the front of the vehicle. I'll help you understand the potential dangers of airbags and show you the safest place for your children to sit.

For demonstration purposes, I'll be using this van and a variety of child safety seats. Remember there are many child safety seats out there, made to fit all maximum 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 cannot only jeopardize the safety of your child, but everyone riding in the vehicle. Although clearly 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.S.A., The national non-profit devoting to 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. Now, let's get started and I'll show you how to keep your toddlers and young children safe in the car.