A nurse is teaching the parent of a newborn about car seat safety. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
A.
“You should keep the car seat rear-facing until your baby is at least 2 years old.”
B.
“Position the retainer clip over the upper part of your baby’s abdomen.”
C.
“You should place your baby in the car seat at a 90-degree angle.”
D.
“Place the shoulder harness straps in the slots an inch above your baby’s shoulders.”
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is A: “You should keep the car seat rear-facing until your baby is at least 2 years old.”
Explanation:
Car seat safety is crucial for the protection of newborns and infants during travel. The recommendation to keep a car seat rear-facing until a child is at least 2 years old is based on extensive research demonstrating that rear-facing seats significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of a crash. In a rear-facing position, the car seat supports the child’s head, neck, and spine, distributing the forces of a collision more evenly across the back of the seat rather than placing strain on these vulnerable areas.
Option B, which suggests positioning the retainer clip over the upper part of the baby’s abdomen, is incorrect. The retainer clip should be placed at armpit level, not on the abdomen, to ensure that the harness straps fit snugly across the child’s shoulders.
Option C, stating that the baby should be placed in the car seat at a 90-degree angle, is also incorrect. For infants, the car seat should be reclined to a 30-45 degree angle to ensure their airway remains open and to prevent slouching, which can lead to breathing difficulties.
Option D suggests placing the shoulder harness straps in slots an inch above the baby’s shoulders, which is incorrect for infants. For rear-facing seats, the straps should be positioned at or below the level of the baby’s shoulders to provide the best protection.
In summary, keeping the car seat rear-facing until at least age 2 aligns with the safety guidelines provided by organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and is crucial for minimizing injury risk in young children. Parents should always follow updated safety recommendations and consult the car seat’s manual for proper installation and usage.