I came across an ad stating “Keep baby safe with a Lull-a-baby car hammock” and of course, I had to dig deeper. I discovered, that indeed it was a car hammock for infants and was invented in the “1960s”. (Ad Photo above)
I was surprised to see in the advertisement the words “safest, most comfortable car bed ever made.” Really! How could that be? How was that even accepted. I know I could never place my child in one.
Thankfully, times have changed and car seat safety have drastically, evolved and improved.
Did you know:
1900s – car seats were introduced
1930s – available to purchase (for the convenience of the parent rather then for safety)
1962 – invention of car safety seats (thank goodness)
1986 – law on child safety seats were established in all 50 states
It’s scary that car safety laws have been in place for only 33 years. Not too mention that many other countries still do not even have any type of enforcement for car safety seats.
FYI
* Car seats have expiration dates
* Be very cautious with second-hand car seats (you do not know if it was involved in an accident)
* Replace any car seat involved in a car accident
* If you need help installing your safety seat, contact your local health departments, public safety groups, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and fire departments have technicians or fitting stations to help parents. (If you go to one of these locations, be sure to ask for a certified child passenger safety technician.)
RI Seat Belt Laws & Car Seat Recommendations
Rhode Island has a primary seat belt law (R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22) that encompasses child restraint and child passenger safety.
- A motor vehicle operator shall be properly wearing a safety belt and/or shoulder harness system while the vehicle is in operation of any of the roadways, streets, or highways of this state per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(g)(1).
- Any passenger eight (8) years of age or older, in any seating position, shall be transported properly wearing a safety belt and/or harness system per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(b)(1).
- Any person transporting a child under the age of eight (8), less than 57 inches (57”) in height and less than 80 pounds (80 lbs.), in a motor vehicle operated on the roadways, streets or highways of this state, shall transport the child in any rear seating position of the motor vehicle properly restrained in a child restraint system approved by the United States Department of Transportation per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(a)(1).
- All infants and toddlers under the age of two (2) years or weighing less than thirty pounds (30 lbs.) shall be restrained in a rear-facing car seat.
- All children two (2) years of age or older who have outgrown their rear-facing car seat by height or weight should use a forward-facing car seat with a harness up to the maximum allowed by the child restraint manufacturer per R.I.G.L. § 31-22-22(a)(1).
NOTE: Vehicle operators are responsible for compliance of sections (a), (b), and (f) for all passengers. The fine for a child riding in the front seat and/or over 8 years old not in a seat belt is $85. A violation for transporting a child not in a child restraint system requires an appearance in court.
http://risp.ri.gov/safety/vehiclesafety/seatbelts.php
Resources
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812451
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/on-the-go/Pages/Car-Safety-Seats-Information-for-Families.aspx
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/auto-baby-toddler.html
Thanks for stopping in!
-This Momma Juggles
This Momma Juggles 