Every year, we observe the third week in September as Child Passenger Safety Week. Getting in the car is something that we all do every day, and we rarely think twice about it. But despite being so commonplace, driving is one of the most dangerous things we do. On the other hand, it’s not something that we can avoid. What we can do is make sure our kids our safe when we get in the car. At Watch Me Shine, we care about your child’s well-being both when they are with us and when they are on their way home. Safety everywhere is an essential part of Bangor child care.
Let’s take a look at the car seat laws in Maine and the best safety practices for child passengers.
Car Seats
There are three basic categories of car seats: front-facing, rear-facing, and booster seats. In Maine, there are laws that dictate what kind of car seat your child should be using. These laws were actually updated in 2019. For kids under the age of 2, you need to use a rear-facing car seat. Kids who are older than 2 and weigh less than 55 pounds must be in a harnessed front-facing car seat. Lastly, the law states that kids who are younger than 8, weigh less than 80 pounds, and are 57 inches or shorter have to use a booster seat.
Safety Practices
Even though only kids under 2 have to be in a rear-facing seat, it’s safer for them to stay in those seats for as long as possible. A baby or toddler’s head is disproportionately large compared to the rest of their body. If you get in an accident, even just a fender bender, the force of impact will thrust a child’s head forward. In a rear-facing seat, that force will send their head into the car seat, protecting their head and spine from injury.
When your child gets too big to be in a rear-facing seat, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines to keep them safely strapped into their front-facing seat. When they graduate to a booster seat, it’s important where the seatbelt is positioned on their body. It should sit across their hips (not their belly) and over the center of their shoulder and chest. When the seatbelt is properly positioned, it will protect your child without injuring them if you are in an accident.
Watch Me Shine: Bangor Child Care
Watch Me Shine is so much more than just Bangor child care. We unlock every child’s potential with our programs and therapy services. Contact us at (207) 990-0162 to learn more about what we can do for your child.
