Car seats, a need for the safety of child, if and only if used properly. The very first toddler car seat I bought was $299, 5 point harness, 5 side impact protection, ergo shell etc. But, really, how great is a car seat if it is not attached to a car during an accident. An ingredient for a very bad car experience. It was a crisp hot saturday morning. I strapped Hamilton (4) and Auggie (2) tight in their car seats, and then we were off to Hamilton’s first T-Ball practice. Auggie was screaming out the lyrics to “Hakuna Matada” when the car in front of me abruptly stopped and I slammed on my breaks. I heard someone muffle “helpppp mammmmma”. I turned my head to the right and Hamilton and car seat vanished from their spot. Hamilton was still attached to it but they were both plunged forward and his face pressed up against the back of the passenger seat; while he carried the car seat like a back pack. I panicked put the car in park, crawled back, and freed him from that trapped place. I paid a hefty price for a hefty car seat that put all its weight into my sons back and plunged him forward. How did this happen? Someone borrowed the car seat and when they returned it they didn’t strap it back. And I didn’t notice. Thankfully Hamilton was ok. He had a few strands of car seat fiber stuck to his lips, and every time we would stop at a light or stop sign Auggie would turn to his brother and say “Are you there hamilton?” # Lesson Learned. Parents/Caregivers as you’ve made it a habit to strap in your child before driving off, make it a habit to secure the car seat to the car. # Lesson learned
