rental company to supply you with an appropriate safety seat or, better yet, bring your own. Allowing a child to skip sitting in the safety seat "just this once" is once too often. All it takes is one moment for a crash to occur, and research shows that a crash is even more likely to occur on a short drive across town than it is on a long haul across country.
Never ride with a baby or child on your lap. No matter how tightly you hold your child to you, you will not be able to keep him or her safe in the event of a crash. The force of even a short stop could wrench an infant from your arms and send him or her hurtling through the air--into the dashboard or an inflating air bag (in a crash), or through a windshield or window. Or the child could be crushed by the weight of your body on impact. Babies and children should always ride secured in a child safety seat.
Never double-belt. Putting two children--or an adult and a child--in one belt is neither safe nor effective; never, ever, do it.
ALSO FOR SAFETY'S SAKE
Always being sure everyone is buckled up may be the first rule of vehicle safety, but it isn't the only one. To further promote auto safety:
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Be certian the person at the wheel has not been drinking alcohol, using illegal drugs, or taking medications that induce drowsiness.
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Be certian, too, that the driver does not drive to the point of fatigue. Sleepy drivers are statistically much more likely to be involved in a car crash.
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Prohibit smoking in the car.
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Never leave a baby or child in an auto unattended. The possible scenarios are many and frightening. For example: a preschooler playing alone in a car.
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could release the parking brake, allowing the car to roll into someone or something; a stranger could take off with the car and/or the child; or the temperature in the car could dip or rise dangerously--a potentially lethal situation. It takes only a few moments for any of these frightening possibilities to become tragic reality.
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If your car has power windows, do not allow young children to control them. Control them yourself from the driver's seat, keeping them locked if possible. And never reach for the button without first checking to be sure that no one is leaning out, and that no hand, finger, or other body part is in the way.
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Never start driving until the car doors are locked. Teach toddlers and older children never to play with door locks. For added protection, some vehicles have rear child safety door locks that prevent your toddler from opening the doors from inside.
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Store luggage and other potential projectiles in the trunk if you have one; if you don't, properly secure the luggage under a tarpaulin in the rear of the car. Don't leave loose objects on the ledge below the rear window, on the dashboard, or in the back of a station wagon--they can go flying into vehicle occupants in a short stop or a crash.
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Attach soft toys to the car seat with plastic links, velcro, or cords shorter that 6 inches--loose toys tends to be flung around the car or dropped, upsetting baby and distracting the driver or interfering with vision. Or use toys designed specifically for car use.
DEALING WITH CAR SEAT RESISTANCE
Tottlers--and even some active older babies--often resist being buckled up. And it's not suprising. Being strapped into a safety seat restricts both
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