A nurse is reinforcing teaching with new parents about car seat safety. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Explanation & Rationale
The shoulder harnesses of the car seat should be positioned at or slightly below the level of the infant's shoulders. This helps secure the infant properly in the car seat and provides appropriate protection in the event of a crash. Car seats for infants should not be positioned at a 90° angle. Instead, they should be installed at a reclined angle, as recommended by the car seat manufacturer. The specific recline angle can vary depending on the car seat model and the age of the child. Additional cushions or support devices should not be placed in the car seat unless specifically recommended by the car seat manufacturer. Extra padding or cushions can interfere with the proper fit of the harness and compromise the safety of the infant. It is not safe to have an infant's car seat in the front seat if there is an active airbag. The safest place for an infant's car seat is in the rear seat, preferably in the middle position. If the car does not have a rear seat, it is important to disable the airbag if the car seat must be placed in the front seat.