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Safety of Evenflo Infant Car Seats

by Kim Scott

Overview

Car accidents are one of the leading causes of death in infants and the number one killer of older children. The safe use of car seats has dramatically reduced this number over the last few decades. Occasionally design problems affect the safety of Evenflo and other infant car seats, but the biggest problem is improper use.
Age and Weight

As with all car seats, your Evenflo infant car seat should be used rear-facing until at least your child's first birthday and until he reaches 20 pounds. If your child is small, you should use it past the first birthday until your child weighs 20 pounds. If he weighs 20 pounds before his first birthday, he should still be situated rear-facing, but you may need to move up to a convertible car seat. Check the weight limits on the seat model you own.

Proper Installation

You will need to read your infant seat's instruction manual and your car owner's manual for guidelines specific to the car seat and car you own; however, there are basic guidelines that hold true for them all. Infant car seats should be placed in the back seat of a vehicle, especially if your vehicle has a passenger side airbag. It should be installed with the LATCH system if your car has this feature. In older cars, the car seat should be secured with a safety belt. When installing, be sure the car seat can move no more than one inch in any direction. Frequently check the tightness of the car seat as the belt can loosen slightly over time.
Tightness of Safety Straps

Once your child is in the safety seat, check that the straps are tight. You should be able to slip no more than two fingers under the strap. Double-check that the straps are securely latched and that the chest clip is at your child's armpit level.
Car Seat Inspection

Have your Evenflo infant car seat inspected. Arrive at the safety inspection event with the car seat installed and your child secured in it. The inspectors will make sure you are using the car seat correctly. They will look the car seat over for wear and weak spots, and they will double-check that your safety seat has not been recalled.
Model Behavior

One of the best ways to ensure your child remains safe in the car seat is to practice safety belt use yourself. If everyone in the car is always properly restrained, the child will learn the routine and importance of this practice. Making sure everyone is buckled up will also prevent them from being tossed around and injuring the child in case of a side collision or roll-over.
Recalls

Car seat recalls happen frequently. This is one of the reasons it is recommended to purchase your car seat new, rather than used. Submitting the registration form will ensure you receive notification of any recall. You can also double-check at Recalls.gov.