The safety of the baby in the car

For safe trips in the city or nearby areas, or in the countryside for more distant excursions, you must have a special safety seat in the back seat of the car to safely transport your child.

The Highway Code (HC) provides for the use of specific and approved restraining and protection systems, required in our country for children up to 12 years of age. There are many types of seats suitable for children of every age, weight and height available on the market.
Cars safety belts are positioned for people who are taller than 1.35 m. In case of an accident, shorter persons might be seriously injured by the piece of the safety belt that instead of passing over their shoulder, as it should, passes in front of their throat - and by the horizontal part of the safety belt, which instead of passing from their hips passes from their abdomen.
The minimum age until which a child must use a rear-facing car seat is 12 months. From 12 months onwards, it would be advisable to continue using the same seat until the child grows above the weight and height restrictions set by the manufacturer.

Why a rear-facing seat?
In a frontal collision, if it is in a forward-facing seat, its head will move forward with tremendous force and may cause an injury to its neck due to the load applied. In a rear-facing seat, the load to the neck is at least 3 times smaller, thereby reducing the risk of injury.

Tips for safe journeys!
Place the safety seat preferably in the middle of the back seat.
Make sure you lock your doors and windows.
Do not carry the newborn in a bassinet or carrycot (unless fitted with an approved restraint system for cars), on your knees or lap.
Do not leave children in cars parked in the sun.
Different seats fit differently in different cars. Always try a seat you are thinking of buying in your car before buying it. Some require the presence of an isofix system in the vehicle. Make sure your car has one.
Never install a rear-facing seat behind an active airbag.
Use seats that are appropriate for your child's weight.
The installation should only be done in accordance with the instruction manual.
During the installation of child safety seats, you should apply as much tension as possible.
The elasticity of the inner safety belts should be such that it is only possible to introduce two fingers between the shoulder and the belt.
Rear-facing seats are safer than forward-facing seats. It is recommended that children sit in rear-facing seats until at least 12 months of age.
Never buy a used car seat.
If the seat has been involved in an accident, it should be replaced.
Children should be seated in a child seat with adjustable back support until they reach a weight of 36kg or a height of 135 cm.

From the editorial team of babyzone.gr in collaboration with the Paediatric Surgeon Georgios P. Spyridis
Auxiliary Consultant at the First Surgical Clinic of the Children's Hospital "P. A. KYRIAKOU"